Page 5 of The Guy Who Became My Grumpy Boss

Aunt Mei snorted. “Are you serious?”

“Yes, ma’am. You and Harold both.”

“Fine.” I could feel her eyeroll through the phone. “But I want the same from you.”

“What?” I stopped outside the door to the building.

“One picture from you every day,” my aunt said.

“Why?” I asked. I wore basically the same thing each day, and my schedule was predictable down to the minute.

“To put my mind at ease.”

At this moment, a voice sounded from my right. A voice I would recognize anywhere in the world.

“No, Brooke, I’m fine. I promise.”

Jessica. My personal assistant.

How had I forgotten that she was taking a long lunch and might arrive at the same time I did?

We both had a meeting in a few minutes. Of course she’d return around now.

My fingers tightened on my phone, and I meant to turn away, but instead—like iron to a magnet—I rotated until I saw Jessica coming up the stairs.

She had huge black sunglasses on, so I couldn’t tell if she was looking at me, but it felt like she was, and it took all of my concentration to stand perfectly still, instead of stepping away.

“It’s an idea. I’ll add it to the others.” Jessica sounded irritated. “Of course I’m not mad.”

I’d been at the other end of that tone a few times, and I pitied the woman on the phone with Jessica at this moment.

I noticed she had a coffee in her other hand. She always went to the same place and might own stock in the store. Knowing she would need help, I strode forward, grabbed the door, and pulled it open for her.

As she passed, the tantalizing aroma of strawberries and something floral filled the air. Today the bold red of herlipstick matched the color of her blouse. Of course she wore a dark, business casual suit coat with slacks, just like the office guidelines suggested. Her brown hair lay piled on her head with a few curls cascading down her neck.

Since I couldn’t see her eyes, my gaze was drawn to her lips as she whispered, “Thanks” to me for holding the door.

One minute she was there and the next she was gone, and I was left waiting for three other people to go past.

Why was my heart pounding so fast?

“Peter?” Aunt Mei asked.

Why did I want to follow Jessica so badly?

“Peter? Is everything alright?” Aunt Mei’s worried voice sounded in my ear.

I jumped as if my aunt had reached out and touched my shoulder.

How much of our conversation had I missed? “Sorry, what?”

Aunt Mei didn’t answer right away, which gave me a moment to gather my wits. “What happened?” she finally asked.

“Nothing.”

“Are you sure?”

I had to cut this off and get inside. But not too soon, just in case Jessica was still waiting for the elevator. I needed a minute to regain my mental balance, and that meant not being stuck in a sweat box with Jessica. “I’m fine. Just thinking about my next meeting.”

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