Page 40 of Tempting All The Way

“I do. You should meet my boss. If you looked up the termgrumpy asshole, you’re bound to see his face.” She giggles.

“Maybe I should have a few words with him. No one should be an ass to you, Shardonnay.”

“Yeah, you do that.”

Chapter Nineteen

Xavier is my boyfriend.

That thought has played on constant repeat in my mind over the past week. Ever since last Sunday when he said he wanted to be an official couple, I haven’t been able to wipe the smile off my face. I did tell him that we really needed to keep our relationship on the downlow in the office. I don’t want or need any rumours about me sleeping my way to the top, notthat I have any desire to be a lawyer or to stay in the position of Xavier’s secretary long-term. I just don’t want to be the source of office gossip.

We’ve spent every night together this week. He even came and stayed at my place a couple of nights when I insisted I needed to go home and water my plants. He didn’t mention how crappy my tiny shoebox of an apartment was, and he never complains about having to sleep on my bargain sheets that probably don’t even have a thread count—although I’m tempted to steal a set from his linen closet to take home.

“Hi, Shar, is Xavier free?” Bentley, one of the first-year associates, stops at my desk.

“Ah, let me check.” I pick up the phone and dial into his office.

“Miss me already, babe?” Xavier answers, and I’m bloody relieved I used the handset instead of the speaker. I know that Bentley (along with the rest of the office) probably knows about me and Xavier being… well,together,I guess. But I would like to remain somewhat professional. I want to be respected, not looked at as the boss’s latest fling. Or worse, the girl trying to sleep her way to the top.

“Bentley is wanting to see you, sir,” I tell him in my most professional tone.

“I’d much rather be seeing you, but send her in,” he replies before cutting the call.

“You can go in.” I offer Bentley a smile. She’s been polite and friendly towards me in the few weeks I’ve been here.

“What kind of mood is he in?” she asks.

“Ah…” I don’t know how to answer her.

“I need to ask him a favour and the chances of him reaming me out and telling me where to go depend on his mood,” she says nervously. “Actually, maybe I should just ask Alistair.”

“He’s in a good mood. I think.” I try to reassure her.

“Okay, here goes nothing,” she says, walking past me. I watch as she hesitantly pushes the door open. I don’t know why people are so scared of Xavier. He’s nothing but a big teddy bear underneath all the grumpy growling. You just have to dig hard to find it.

Within five minutes, I hear yelling coming from Xavier’s office. I don’t know what has him so riled up but he’s not impressed. Bentley comes out with a smile on her face, which is odd, considering how terrified she was moments ago.

“What happened?” I ask.

“I gave him my four weeks’ notice,” she says.

My mouth hangs open in shock. She’s leaving? “Why?” I ask, dumbfounded. I may not be a lawyer but even I know this is the top firm in Melbourne.

“There are other things I want out of life. This job, it’s one of them, but it’s suddenly not the most important. I can be a lawyer at any firm. Who knows? I might even start my own.”

“But you love it here. You told me just last week,” I remind her.

“I do, but sometimes love isn’t enough, you know.” Bentley walks off.

I nod my head, but I don’t know. What could possibly be more important than the firm you worked your ass off to get into?

“Shardonnay, get Nathan and Alistair in my office immediately,” Xavier grunts through the intercom.

I press the button. “Sure.” I want to ask him if he’s okay, but that’s a stupid question. Of course he’s not. So, instead, I stand and walk past Tracey, Alistair’s secretary. She’s an older woman, who doesn’t appear impressed by my rudeness of helping myself to her boss’s office. Alistair’s door is open. Knocking a few times, I walk in. “Mr Christianson would like to see you in his office, immediately,” I rush out.

“Why?” Alistair says, looking up and dropping the highlighter that was in his hand.

“No idea, but I probably wouldn’t keep him waiting.”

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