Page 9 of Tempting All The Way

“She died? I didn’t know…”

“Look, Shar needs this job, Xav. She’s saving so she can actually go to uni next year. She had to defer to care for her mum. She’s trying to get her life back on track. Don’t take this opportunity away from her. Please.”

Damn it, how the fuck can I find a reason to fire the girl now?“You’ve learnt that whole guilt trip thing from mum way too well, Lucy.” I sigh.

“So you won’t fire her?” she pleads.

“For now.”

“No, promise me, Xav. Whatever happens, you won’t fire her. If it’s so unbearable to be around her—which I know it isn’t, being that she’s my best friend and all, so she’s obviously awesome—but if you can’t handle her awesomeness, then just put her in a different position within the company.”

“I don’t even know how to respond to that.”

“You promise me you won’t fire her, that’s how.”

“Fine, I promise I won’t fire your little friend.” I find myself agreeing with my sister's madness.

“Great, see you at Sunday dinner. Mum and Dad were not impressed you were a no-show yesterday.”

“Can’t wait.”

Chapter Five

Iwalk into my apartment to find Lucy setting up the little two-seater square dining table with plates, four boxes of Chinese takeout, and a bottle of my favourite prosecco. I had a key made for her for emergencies. This is very much an emergency. I’m about to have a mental breakdown.

Holding up a finger, I dump my bag on the floor, take the two steps between myself and the table, pick up the wine bottle,and pour a glass—filling it to the rim. I keep my finger paused midair. Lucy doesn’t move a muscle as she watches me drink the entire contents in one breath. Placing the glass back down on the table, I turn to her. “I am seriously going to murder you. I’ve been thinking of creative ways to do it all day.”

“Oh yeah?” She smiles. “And how am I going out? What have you come up with?”

“One, I make you a batch of your favourite brownies, adding enough arsenic to do the trick.” I hold up two fingers. “Two, I take that knife out of the block over there and stab you in the neck. You’ll bleed out in seconds but it’d be messy and I’d hate to have to clean it up.” I hold up another finger. “Three, I knock you over the head with a frying pan, drag your unconscious body to a cliff, and dump it. Let the wild animals finish you off.” Holding up a fourth finger, I continue. “Four, sell all your organs on the black market to the mafia.”

“Okay, I choose option four. At least then I’ll finally get touched by a mafia boss.” She waggles her eyebrows.

“You’re demented. You know that, right?”

We both fall into the mismatched dining chairs in a fit of laughter. Wiping the tears from her eyes, Lucy sobers up. “Tell me honestly. It wasn’t that bad working for Xavier, was it?”

“I barely had to see him. But he’s the devil. How your sweet and loving parents spawned that man, I have no idea.” I shake my head, dumbfounded.

“I reckon he was adopted, but they don’t want to make him feel bad so they’re not telling him.” Lucy giggles.

“That must be it,” I agree.

We eat in a comfortable silence, while thoughts of my new asshole boss only invade my mind every other minute, as opposed to every minute.

I’m so stuffed from dinner I can barely move when Lucy finally asks, “Okay, where’s this list of rules? Let’s see it.”

“Argh, you had to remind me,” I groan, digging the piece of paper out of my bag. I’m meant to have this list memorised.

Handing it over to her, I watch as she reads his rules aloud. “Number one: No fornicating with employees or associates of the firm.” She uses her best impression of her brother’s no-nonsense voice. “What is he, fifty? Fornicating? Really? Who says that?”

“That’s what I said!” I laugh. “It’s a shame, really. Have you seen his partners? They’re freaking hot, Lucy. How have I not met your brother’s friends before?”

“They are hot, but also complete hoebags. Stay away from them,” she warns me.

“Oh, don’t worry, I have no intention of sleeping with anyone in that office. Ever.” I emphasise the last word. Though I’m not sure who I’m trying to convince, Lucy or myself.

“Well, you know, you shouldn’t really say never. Besides, how’s Xavier going to know? Unless he’s the one you’re boning, he’ll never figure it out.”

---