“Wild weekend, eh? I never took you for a party girl. You should have invited me out. I liven up every room I enter.”
I squinted at him. “Really? Is that the only reason a person might have a headache?”
He tapped his chin. “In my experience, it’s the most common reason.”
“Which says a lot about you, Miles.”
“You’re sassy on this sunny Monday morning. It’s very becoming on you.” He waved his hand in a vague circle around me. “This whole thing is working for you. I like that you haven’t succumbed to wearing Andes like the other carbon copies who work here.”
I wore yellow today, hoping the sunny shade would put me in a better mood. So far, it wasn’t working. It would take more than my favorite cardigan to pull me out of this slump.
“Thank you for saying so. If you want to know the truth, Ididbuy some things from the company store, but I can’t bring myself to wear sportswear in the office.” I grimaced. “I just can’t do it.”
Miles smoothed his hand over his tailored vest. “It’s you and me to the end, Lisie. You won’t catch me dead wearing Andes to work. It will never happen.”
My phone started ringing before I could reply. Miles made no move to leave, so I answered it.
“Good morning, this is Elise.”
“Hello, Elise. Weston asked me to remind you of your appointment,” Renata breezed out.
My eyes closed, and I sighed. “I haven’t forgotten. I’ll be there at 9:30 sharp.”
Her voice dropped. “He doesn’t mind if you’re early. In fact, I would suggest it. He’s pacing inside his office like a lion in the zoo.”
Another sigh. “Fine. I’ll be right up.”
With my agreement, she hung up without saying goodbye. I replaced my phone and pushed my chair back to stand.
“Have you been summoned?” Miles asked.
“I have.” I started to touch my hair to make sure it was all in place but decided not to care.
“Is my brother giving you a hard time?”
I grabbed my phone, tucking it in the pocket of my A-line skirt. “He’s just being Weston.”
Miles scoffed. “So, that’s a yes.” He shoved off my desk, walking with me to the elevator. “Don’t let him trod all over you, Lisie. When he gets in his moods, he forgets other people have feelings too.”
He’d behaved that way last night, taunting me in that hallway. Jealousy, or something close to it, had driven him to piss all over me without any regard for how it would affect me.
“Don’t worry about me.” I patted his chest. “Don’t you have work to do?”
He jumped back as if I’d scalded him. “Jeez, why do you have to remind me like that? I’m being all supportive and all you can talk about is work. What’s up with that cruelty?”
I laughed even though I wasn’t feeling particularly cheerful. “Shut up, Miles.”
He stepped closer, poking my dimple. “Nice smile.”
I gave him a shove. “Go away.”
“You wish.”
He stayed until I was on the elevator, waving at me as the doors slid closed. I shook my head, still smiling a little at his antics. When he was like that, it was easy to forget he’d made my life miserable for years.
Then again, I’d changed in the eight years since graduation. Miles obviously had too. Holding on to old hurts had gotten me nowhere. I had to let go of it for the sake of keeping the peace at work. It would do me no good to be angry at him until the end of time.
I hadn’t been up to the executive floor. Here, there were offices instead of open spaces. The receptionist directed me down a quiet hallway. Weston’s office was in the corner.