Page 2 of Hard Boss

“No, because you pay attention,” he says. “Tina, cancel my lunch meeting and set a reservation up for two at The Trinity for two.”

“What? I was supposed to be joining you for that meeting?” Tina says with a deep frown.

“And now you aren’t. Set it up, please,” Wilder says simply.

“I brought you an egg wrap,” I say.

“Hired,” he says. “Come on.”

“Nice to see you, Tuna,” I say. “I mean Tina.”

“You bitc—” she starts to say, but Wilder shuts his office door before she can finish.

“You don’t let her have a keycard?” I ask as we sit.

“No, because then she has access to my office. The last time she had access, she came in while I was in a video conference and tried to suck of me off under the table. I couldn’t react and tell her to go the fuck away, so I had to finish talking before I could do anything,” he says.

“Gross,” I frown. “Should have kicked her in the forehead. Maybe it would fix her face.”

“Mhmm. I wish,” he sighs. I hand him his wrap and we sit on the black leather couch in the small seating area.

“So, interview?” I ask, taking a bite of my wrap.

“Hmm,” he says with a smile. I look away from him because I can’t handle him looking at me like that. “You’re hired.”

“Wilder,” I sigh. “Come on. Be serious and interview me.”

“Okay. Ms. Douglas, what would you consider you biggest weakness in relation to this position?” he asks.

“Hmm,” I say, thinking. “I am meticulous to a fault sometimes. Occasionally, that can slow me down.”

“Okay. And your strengths?”

“I can do as I’m told without arguing,” I shrug. He laughs heartily, and I glare at him.

“I don’t like that tone, Wilder,” I deadpan.

“Macie, honey. You’re a brat,” he says, still laughing. “I know you’ll do the job well, but to say that you’ll do it without arguing is a lie.”

“Oh yeah?” he asks.

“Mhmm.” I smile and take a bite of my food.

“Lies,” he says. “You’re still hired, though. When do you want to start?”

“I can do paperwork today, if you want,” I say.

“Okay. We can get your stuff moved in this evening.”

I choke on my food and start coughing when he says this. “What?!” I ask between coughs. “Moved in?”

“Did Arden not tell you?” he asks. “You have to move in with me, Macie.”

“What?” I ask. “She didn’t tell me that. Why? You mean… what?!”

“Breathe, Macie,” he laughs. “In order for you to be my personal assistant, I need you close by. If you are across town, it would be a pain to ask things of you in the evenings. Also, Arden said you have to move anyhow. This way, you don’t move back in with your parents.”

“I… I can’t live with you, Wilder,” I say.

---