Page 85 of Beauty and the Boss Man

Chapter Thirty-seven

Aiden

“Ihate paperwork,” I growl to nobody but myself in the empty trailer.

The past week without Romy has been unbearable. I wish I could say it was just the paperwork that was the problem, but it’s not. I miss everything about her, but instead of crying out my emotions, I’ve been a grumpy fuck all week—even more so than usual.

I’ve been putting in 14 hour days doing her job as well as my own, but I’m not even entertaining the idea of hiring a new assistant. That’s a step I’m just not ready to take.

I continue to go through papers and send a few emails. An hour later, the door opens, and Tom pokes his head in.

“Hey Boss, there’s someone here to see you.”

My stomach does a flip at the thought that it might be Romy, but when I look up, a woman I don’t recognize enters.

She’s tall and lean with bright red hair and a scarlet dress to match. I bet the revealing outfit was enough to turn a few heads as she walked in here.

Tom sure as hell is staring at her like he wants a taste. I clear my throat to get his attention. When he sees me glaring at him, he steps out, closing the door behind him.

“Aiden, I assume?” The woman asks.

We take our seats on opposite sides of the desk.

Leaning back in my chair, I say, “I’m sorry, but you seem to know me, and I have no idea who you are.”

She mimics me, leaning back in her chair. I bet those long legs of hers make most men drool—most men who aren’t hung up on someone else.

“My name is Veronica.”

My brain searches for who she is, and suddenly, it clicks. “Romy’s friend?”

She nods.

“Is she okay?” I ask a little louder than I mean to.

“Depends on how you define ‘okay,’” she mumbles.

Before I can ask what she means, she continues, “Look, Aiden, I’m here because my best friend is miserable.”

My eyebrows raise. “And that’s my fault?”

“Yes.”

I sigh. “Well, Veronica, I don’t know if she told you this, but I’m the one who wanted more. She didn’t because she didn’t want to ruin our work relationship. And then, she quit her job.”

I leave out the part about how I was a jerk when we came back to work.

“Oh, I’m aware of all of that,” she replies. “She’s being an idiot, but so are you.”

I cross my arms over my chest, anxious to hear what she’s going to say next.

“Romy wanted to keep things platonic because of some shit that happened while you guys were gone. She didn’t want to do anything to mess up her job.”

Now, I sit up in my chair. “What happened? Is she alright?”

She gives a wave of her hand as if pushing away the question. “She’s fine. Everything worked out. She was coming around to the idea of starting something up with you—something real. Then, you went and acted like Mr. Dickhead.”

“Oh, she told you about that?” I ask, feeling slightly embarrassed.

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