Page 17 of Say I Do

“I don’t think I care for the idea that I can’t reach you either.” He told me not to worry about money, but that doesn’t stop me from worrying over him thinking I’m using him.

“Then put us both at ease and take the phone.”

“All right.” It doesn’t ever take him much to talk me into things.

“Sir.” Another knock echoes from the door.

“Come in,” he calls out. I try to quickly stand, but Caleb keeps his arm wrapped around me. The door pushes open. The second I see the woman, my stomach drops.

It’s her.

Her eyes widen when they land on me. I’m sure mine are just as big. My heart starts to race in panic.

“You okay, sweetheart?” Caleb says next to my ear. I nod my head, unable to find words. A panic starts to rise inside of me. This woman got me fired from one job. I’m sure she can get me fired from this one too.

“I have the phone, sir. I got it all set up like you asked.”

"Good."

The woman comes closer, holding the phone out. Before today I never thought about how pretty she was, but now knowing she works alongside Caleb, I'm thinking about it. She is everything I’m not. We couldn't be more different in appearance.

“Lauren, this is Gabriella. Gabriella, this is my assistant Lauren. She has worked for me for a few years now,” Caleb introduces us. The woman gives a smile along with a nod of her head. “The phone is for Gabriella.” He takes it from her outstretched hand and gives it to me.

"We missed our dinner reservations with the Greens the other night, so they wanted to reschedule. They requested tomorrow, which coincides with the company's holiday celebration. We could skip it, though.”

They had a dinner date? I must have misunderstood because I’m sitting in his lap. That kind of makes it clear we’re together, but then again, he hadn’t said I was his girlfriend.

“Don’t you oversee the holiday party?” Caleb asks.

“I do, but I know this is more important, and you never go to the holiday party anyway.” The way she says it makes it sound as if she knows everything about him.

"I plan to bring Gabriella along for the dinner reservation. She is now also my personal assistant, but more personal. Gabriella will tend to my home and other areas outside of work, but she is capable of going to events with me.”

Heat rushes to my face. He did not just say that. He made me sound like a whore that he hired. Suddenly this is all feeling veryPretty Womanto me.

“She doesn’t know anything about the Greens or the?—”

“Lauren.” He cuts her off. She presses her lips together.

“It’s okay. If she has more knowledge, perhaps you should consider taking her along.” This woman already doesn’t like me. I’m sure this isn’t going to help. I can tell she’s territorial. What I’m not sure is if it’s over her job or Caleb.

“I can invite the Greens to the holiday party. They might actually like that more. You know how they are.”

“That’s not a terrible idea. See to it,” Caleb agrees.

“Yes, sir.” She gives him a bright smile, but Caleb is staring at his computer screen, pulling up his emails. Her gaze shifts back to me, the smile subsides, and I receive a chilly glare. Yeah, it’s safe to say she’s still pissed.

“That is all.” Caleb dismisses her. I can sense some weird tension between them. Lauren turns to leave. “Lauren.” He calls her back when she reaches the door. “If there is anything blueberry on the catering menu, have it removed.”

I’m allergic. He really does think of everything. I guess that's how you get to run a big company.

“But—”

“Lauren,” he snaps at her. I even sit up straighter. Okay, there is serious tension here.

“Of course, sir.” She turns, leaving his office. His focus is still on his computer.

I watch him, wanting to ask what that was all about, but I don’t think it’s my place if they’d been together before. It’s clear he mixes business with pleasure.

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