Page 19 of The Relationship Clause

Later that night, after we finish our movie and I get back to my house, which is still a disaster thanks to the pipe bursting situation, I relegate myself to my bedroom. It’s pretty much the only area of my house that feels peaceful. I lie on my bed and pull out my phone.

My fingers hover over the keys for a solid minute before I start typing.

Junie: I’ll take the job, but I’d like half of the first month’s pay up front.

I wait for what feels like forever, heart racing, overthinking my text. It’s already eleven o’clock at night. I’m an idiot. He’s a businessman. He’s probably sleeping. He’s probably—

Owen: I’ll have my lawyer draw up the contract. When can you start?

Junie: Pete was cool with it. He says I can start as soon as you need me. I do have a request though.

Owen: Yes?

Junie: I’m in the process of trying to improve my resume. I don’t think it would look good if I only worked at Pete’s for a few months and then for you for a few months. I’d like the option of continuing my contract with you past the three month mark if you like the quality of my work.

There’s a long pause after my message is sent.

Owen: That can be arranged. Can you come sign Monday morning?

I chew at my thumbnail, reading his message over and over. Kiera’s warning rings in my ears. I try to picture myself working in that office every day. Answering phones, taking care of Owen’s calendar, socializing with the other employees and keeping an eye out for anything suspicious, gazing at the handsome Owen all the time, crushing on him from afar…

I shake my head. It’s a little crush.

I can work with a little crush. And like Kiera said, working with her brother every day will probably show me more of his less-attractive qualities and the crush will fizzle out quickly.

I gaze past my open door. I can still see the cabinets sagging from water damage and where the flooring has been torn up. No further work’s been done on it because I can’t afford any further work. And any day now, those hospital bills are going to start showing up…

Junie: Yes. See you Monday.

CHAPTER 7

OWEN

Monday morning comes, and for some reason, I’m more antsy than a kindergartener on the first day of school. I get to the office early, or at least earlier, and keep checking the clock. My lawyer arrives with the paperwork he drew up over the weekend, and I have the first check for Junie already inside my desk drawer.

Eight o’clock rolls around, and most of my employees are already here, including Kiera. She keeps eyeing me through my window. All weekend, she texted, trying to ask me personal questions about what was going on and asking if Junie had accepted the job yet.

She pokes her head into my office at 8:05. “She’ll be here,” she says, staring me down.

I roll my eyes. Somehow my little sister always seems to know what I’m thinking. “So you say.”

“She’ll be here,” she says in a lower tone, almost growling the words. Her gaze sweeps my office. “What, no coffee run today?”

I’m startled at her comment. “What?”

She points at my desk. “Usually you have a cup of coffee on your desk right about now. A small dark from Pete’s Perk with zero cream, zero sugar, zero fun. A coffee which ultimately grows cold on your desk until you throw it away at the end of the day.”

Color warms my cheeks, and a weird, flustered feeling that I don’t like flutters around in my gut. “What are you talking about? I do too drink my coffee.”

“Mm-hmm…” She eyes me with pursed lips. “So you didn’t get one this morning because…?”

I know what she’s thinking. She’s thinking my not getting coffee has something to do with the fact that Junie isn’t at Pete’s to give me said coffee. By the look on Kiera’s face, she’s waiting for me to admit this. Ha. Even if that was true, I’d never say it out loud. I would literally never hear the end of it, and that would make the next three months with Junie an unmitigated disaster.

Three months with the possibility of more.

I’m not sure how I feel about that “more” part. Junie’s request was completely understandable. It’s not good to jump from job to job, any employer can see that as a red flag. I wasn’t thinking of her resume when I proposed the three months, and I don’t want to hurt her future prospects. But…

What if her staying longer than three months becomes too tempting of an idea?

---