Page 149 of Crazy for this Girl

“Then, by all means, Miss Reese. I’ll manage.”

Mom breaks out into an excited frenzy, spewing on and on about what she’s going to make for dinner as if Dad won’t be making it instead.

All while Cal and I remember everything that small little place on Earth meant to us as we gaze at each other.

That place was heaven on Earth.

It was ours when we were each other’s.

“Miss Reese, I need to see you in my office, please?” Cal’s voice ripples smoothly over my phone, and I outwardly cringe that the day is not over yet. That I have to last four more hours in this office after the lunch conversation with Mom still ping-ponging in my head.

I’ve filed it as the most embarrassing thing—as a grown adult—that I’ve ever had to endure. She laid all my dirty laundry out to dry, along with my failed attempts at relationships in front of the one person I never would’ve told, even with a gun to my head.

“I’ll be right there.” He hangs up without another word as I stand from my chair, straightening my dress and intaking a huge inhale before coming out of my office.

I give Marie a small wave as we make eye contact, and she returns the gesture as I knock on his door. Immediately, I’m called in with his deep voice that poses no bullshit and strictly business now that we’re back from lunch and into reality.

His somber focus thankfully doesn’t come off his laptop as I enter, either, typing away as I notice his suit jacket casually hanging over the back of his leather chair. The dark brown strands of his hair are slightly disheveled as if he’s been raking his fingers through it for hours.

How did this man who used to wear punk band shirts and ripped jeans transform into a CEO of this caliber?

He can blueprint a suit perfectly with those shoulders that widened within almost two decades and a chest that looks like he linebacks people instead of running luxury hotels. His face is flawlessly shaped as if God decided to just throw a perfect man out there just for shits and giggles.

Temptation never looked this good, and I feel like Eve about to take a huge bite out of the apple, prepared to worry about the wrath of God later.

“Take a seat, Miss Reese.” His voice comes out stern and focused, immediately setting my nerves on end. He’s probably irritated about lunch because of random people coming into his building, disrupting his work balance.

Mainly, my mother.

I follow his order, wanting to tell him to spit it out already so that I don’t have to sit and be lectured about something I already didn’t want to walk into this office to talk about, but I refrain.

We’re not friends in this office.

He’s my boss, I signed a contract that’s to serve under the CEO, which is now him, and I’m under his payroll.

“Is your mom out of your hair, yet?” I look up at him rising from his chair and rounding his large wooden desk. He casually fixes the rolled white sleeves at his forearms and waits for me to answer.

“One can only hope,” I mutter, smoothing the neon pink nail polish on my fingernails.

“She’ll get a notification on her phone that I upgraded her plane ticket.” He loosens his blue tie around his neck. “She’ll take advantage of it. I booked it for a few hours early.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

He props himself against the edge of his desk in front of me. “You wanted her out, right?”

“Yes, but—”

“So, I got her out of the city. You’re welcome.”

I tighten my jaw because my pride takes hold. It wasn’t his problem, and I don’t want to owe him anything. “It was a waste of money. With the way she acted, she doesn’t deserve it.”

“It paid for itself,” he deadpans with a slight shrug.

“Ca—Mr. Harper…” I mold my tone to one of placidity. “Thank you for booking her in a higher class than she’s ever flown in her life. However, please take it out of my pay. The company doesn’t need to compensate for an intruder to be flown back home.”

Cal’s brow lifts at my last comment, but replies with, “The company didn’t pay for it. I did.”

I inhale a deep breath, demanding my lack of appreciation show up in my words. “Then how much do I owe you? It was a misuse of funds, and I’d be more than happy to pay for it.”

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