Page 42 of Hate Notes

If the ghost of mom’s judgment wanted to reach me from halfway across the country, she could knock herself out. I gave up caring what she thought years ago, and I was far better for it.

My phone buzzed with a text from Kora.

Kora:Wear the black dress! It makes your boobs look good enough to eat with a spork!

I rolled my eyes at the text, but smiled.

Me:First... nobody uses sporks. Second. What? Third... I already have the black dress on, and shut up before you say what I know you're going to say.

Kora:You know I'm going to tell you to get that D?

If there was any doubt about what "D" she meant, the text was followed by an obscene number of eggplant and other related emojis to clear up the confusion.

Me:It's a business dinner, Kora. I'm not getting anybody's "D" tonight.

Kora:Then tell me what underwear you wore.

Me:I don't see how that's relevant.

Kora:Tell me.

Me:Fine. Red thong with matching lacy bra. So what?

Kora's response was a waterfall of cry laughing emoji's, eggplants, and fingers being poked through holes.

I grinned, but tapped out an annoyed response.

Me:I'm putting my phone on silent. You're a bad influence.

A single knock sounded at exactly eight.

I opened the door to find Orion looking good enough to lick in black jeans and a fitted shirt open at the collar. The sight of him in something other than a suit was doing very unprofessional things to my brain.

His eyes traveled over me appreciatively before he remembered himself. "You look...nice," he said, voice slightly rough.

"Thanks. You look...also nice." Smooth, Ember. Real smooth.

We exchanged awkward looks as we made our way down the elevator and out to the chilly city street, hardly saying more than a few words.

"So... do you usually escort your employees from their doorstep to company dinners?"

"When I'm already in town? Sure."

"You were in the area?" I asked.

"No," Orion admitted slowly. "Your building is close to my mom's place, but I had my driver bring me here from the office."

I smiled to myself. "So you're saying I'm special."

"I didn't say any such thing."

"You're implying it, then."

"I admire the work you do," he countered. "When I first met you delivering those hate notes, I suspected there was something extraordinary about you. You have a way of getting to people."

"Under their skin, you mean?" I asked with a self-deprecating smirk.

Orion frowned. "I mean you seem to have a way of connecting with people who prefer not to be connected with."

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