Page 38 of Don't Quit the Day Job

"Lila." I say her name out loud. “Lila, Lila, Lila.” I repeat her name and an image of her beautiful face pops into my head. Her beguiling blue eyes, her blonde, silky hair. Marie had been correct in her statement. Lila is drop-dead gorgeous, and even though I don't want to admit it to anyone, especially myself, I can’t stop thinking about how perfectly proportioned her body is and how sparkling her blue eyes are or how luscious and pink her lips are.

She’s going to be trouble. The fact that she has a sense of humor and makes me laugh is even more damning. I don't need this complication in my life. And now she wanted to complicate the case with Jack Whittington, who I couldn't stand. He is obviously a jackass and when he started flirting with Lila, I'd been about to smack him. But he’s a potential client. A potential client worth hundreds of millions of dollars, millions of which would be poured into my law firm. I can't lose him as a client.

I let out a deep sigh and before I know what’s happening, I’ve picked up my phone and went to log into the HR database so I can find Lila's phone number. It’s easy enough. Her name isn't exactly common. I stare at the number on the screen and debate calling it. I have no reason to be calling her at this time, but for some reason I just need to have some contact with her. I wonder if she’s thinking about me. I wonder if she’s even going to come back into work tomorrow. I feel a dip in my stomach as I think about the possibility that she won’t come back to work. I need to ensure that wasn't so. I need to see her again.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I’ve typed her phone number into my phone and sent a message.

"You up?" I text, then put the phone back down.

I don't know what I’m doing. Maybe this was the biggest mistake of my life. Maybe she won't even respond, but as the phone pings a few seconds later, a smile crosses my face. She’s up and ready to flirt back. At least that's what I’m hoping.

“Who is this?” The message reads.

“It’s your boss.”

“Mrs. Cartwright?”

“This is Max Spector.”

“Do you have the right number? I have no idea who you are.”

“Lila?”

“My name is Bob.”

“Sorry.” I frown as I stare at the phone. Had Lila deliberately given us an incorrect phone number? I go back into the database and find her email address and try emailing instead.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Re: My bagel

Please let me know if you need my bagel order for the morning.

I send the email and wait. Five minutes later, a response comes through.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Re: My bagel

Get your own. Also, I’m not your assistant after hours.

A warm feeling settles in my stomach when I see her response. Email isn’t as good as texting, but it will have to do for now. I just need a distraction for the evening that doesn’t involve the law or my very messed up family.

Chapter Twelve

Lila

I can feel the air dissipating from my blow-up mattress and I sigh as my back approaches the floor. I look around my small apartment and stare out of the window into the night sky. I can't see stars, but there are a lot of street lights that resemble stars. I almost wish I lived in the countryside somewhere so I could stare into an unpolluted night sky, but if I was in the country, I wouldn't be working for Max Spector and exchanging emails with him before I went to bed. I pull out my phone to see if he responded to my last email.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Re: My bagel

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