Page 62 of Unbossly Manners

“It’s run its course,” he said.

I swallowed over the lump of emotions in my throat. “Yep,” I forced out. “We, uh, ended everything last week.”

Prathi typed on her iPad.

“If this changes, let me know.”

I could guess what Jackson was about to say, so I jumped in.

“It won’t,” I said.

For the first time, Jackson flicked his eyes to me. I popped my lips up into a perfunctory smile. His eyebrows knitted, but I kept the smile on my lips like everything was as it should be and I was cool with it.

“Jackson, you’re free to go,” Prathi said. “I have one more thing to discuss with you, Peyton.”

He rounded the table and paused for a brief moment beside my chair but then walked out the door.

“Are you still in a relationship with Derrick?” she asked.

Jackson stopped again just outside the door. I walked over and shut it.

“We went out two weekends ago. And I’m his date for the company party.”

Prathi typed and then turned the screen to me and I read the short report.

“All the information looks correct,” I said.

Correct on paper. But there was so much more underneath it all.

“There’s a big meeting with NOW’s podcast division tomorrow. I need you to stay late and put together the numbers for all our social media accounts.”

Analise had been scrambling all day, preparing for the meeting. Dreamary and NOW agreed on a price for the acquisition—if we’re the one they choose to buy—now it was figuring out all the nuts and bolts before they made their final decision.

It was well after nine when I sent Analise the final document. Most of the lights in the office were off, the last rays of the sun gone. I packed up my tote and passed by the lounge, filling my water bottle with white wine from the wine carafe.

“That’s against company policy.”

The voice startled me, and I spilled wine onto my hand.

Jackson walked to the fridge and pulled out his leftovers from lunch.

“Are you going to tell on me?” I asked, shaking off the droplets and wiping my hand on my shorts.

“Never.”

He didn’t smile, but his tone was light. He tapped the top of his Tupperware container.

“Did you get me that thing of bananas?” he asked.

“It was meant to be a peace offering. A fruit basket of bananas. I liked the innuendo.” I slid past him and he followed me down the hallway. “I didn’t know you’d be gone for a week.”

“It was a nasty site this morning.”

I’d purposely left the rotting fruit in his office. I wanted him to know that I’d tried to apologize and come back to the mess.

“I’m not sorry.” I’d meant it as a joke, but it sounded like I was still mad about how we’d left it. “I mean, I am sorry. That’s why I sent it. I was trying to get you to laugh.”

“It was funny.” His steady gaze found mine. “Can we talk?” he asked when we were outside his office.

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