Page 44 of Stuck with Mr. Grump

I think I said all those words in one breath. Anika blinks, and I blink as well. And then she’s walking toward my bed and slowly lowering herself onto it.

“Yeah, that made no sense,” she finally says.

I snort. “Which part, exactly?”

“All of it,” she exclaims. “What do you mean you’re working at Harrington Holdings? What would you even be doing there?”

“I’ll be Sterling’s assistant.”

My sister falls silent yet again, her brown eyes practically piercing into my skull. I allow myself to be the subject of her scrutiny considering I did wake her up at this “ungodly hour” to lay all this overwhelming information on her.

“So you’re going to be working as Sterling’s assistant,” she starts slowly, and I nod. “Despite you asking for the job just yesterday?”

“Yep.”

“And he’s hiring you despite you not having any qualifications to be an assistant.”

“How hard can it be?” I shrug. “I just need to answer his calls and read his emails. I’m honestly so glad. A part of me was worried he’d tell me that the only position available was a janitor or something. Not that there’s anything wrong with being a janitor,” I hurriedly say. “My skin just reacts badly to the chemicals in most cleaning agents.”

“Uh-huh,” Anika murmurs. “And you don’t think it’ll be a bad idea to work as an assistant to the guy you like?”

I choke on air and Anika starts to laugh.

“Holy shit.” She giggles. “You actually like a man, Em. That’s… crazy.”

I’m quick to protest. “No. I don’t like him. You’re being ridiculous, Nika.”

“Oh, really?” she says, arching an eyebrow. “In the time I’ve known you, you’ve never once asked me to help you to pick out an outfit to anywhere.”

“That’s just because I’m nervous,” I insist. “It’s my first day and I have no idea what to wear.”

“Sure, I believe you’re nervous,” Anika says. “Nervous to see your crush. Sterling Harrington. Honestly, that’s insane. I can barely believe it. I knew I was sensing some sexual tension between you!”

“Nika!” I yell, flustered.

Her words are reminiscent of what Paige said the day Sterling was in my office. And now I’m thinking about Paige. I wonder if she’ll already be awake so I can call and ask how she’s doing.

“Hello?” Anika draws my attention. “What are we going to do about this? When are you going to tell Sterling you like him?”

“I’m not!” I snap. “Because I do not like him and we are not telling anybody anything.”

She smiles. “You’re right, we should probably keep it a secret for now. If Carson finds out, he’ll lose his shit.”

“He’s not going to find out anything because there’s nothing to find out,” I say in frustration.

“Come on, Em. You can admit it to me.”

I groan loudly before falling face down on my bed. There’s no use trying to convince Anika otherwise when she’s fixated on something.

“I don’t have time for this. Can you just help me figure out what to wear?” I ask, my voice muffled. “Something office appropriate.”

“But sexy,” Anika adds.

I turn my body around to look at her. “No.”

“Yes. Don’t worry, Em. Let me handle this. I am so excited!” she squeals, heading into my closet.

While she does that, I continue staring up at the ceiling. Wondering at the position I’ve somehow landed myself in. If you’d asked me two weeks ago if I saw myself working as Sterling’s assistant, I would have laughed in your face.

---