Page 28 of The Heiress's First Date

My mother chimes in again. “Think of it as a vacation, darling.”

11

KATHERINE

“Charlotte, could you bring me a box, please?” I give the call button on my desk phone a vicious jab.

My temper rises like a tidal wave.

The way they just expected me to fall in line blows my mind.

I was on a rooftop with a man.How scandalous.

“One box coming up,” she replies.

I turn to my computer and create an email to Ms. McKune, making sure to send it to the general HR address. Let’s create a paper trail. Fingers flying over the keyboard, I recap what was said by both her and my mother. Then I play innocent and double-check that they intend for me to really be out of the office for three weeks.

That’s a long time to be away without someone to manage my workload. Which I brought up just to see if they’d thought this through. Needless to say, the answer wasn’t convincing.

I can’t freaking wait until everyone realizes I was not a nepotism hire.

Charlotte steps through the door just as I hit send. Okay, I stab the button, which the mouse doesn’t deserve, but it feels good.

She remains silent as she hands me the legal box, already assembled, and my appreciation for her doubles again. The CEO and the head of HR visiting have got to have tongues wagging. I need to be careful how I play this out. What I say. Not that I think Charlotte will run off and spread anything around the water cooler, but you never know.

I’m tempted to walk out without any instructions. Let the whole department burn.

“Thanks.”

“Anything else?”

“Not right now.”

She nods and heads back to her desk.

It’s time to play the long game.

Hands trembling, I start with a careful round of Tetris, filling the box with my plants. I shoot Charlotte a quick email with instructions on where to direct calls and that she should work with my boss to reschedule appointments. There’s a perverse satisfaction in being a team player ’til the end. Especially when I’ve read the employee handbook cover-to-cover, and it seems like my mother and Human Resources did not.

Then, I put my phone in my purse and look around for anything else I can’t live without.

They want me to fall on my sword?

They’re going to find out just how hard I can swing back.

???

I’m in the backseat of Roman’s SUV when my phone chimes with a familiar and much welcomed tone. The box of plants is on the seat next to me, and the kaleidoscope of green soothes me ever so slightly. Retrieving my phone, I pull up the group text with Kingston’s sisters. My hands are still vibrating, and not in a good way.

Mel: so...

Mel: what are your intentions toward our brother?winking face emoji

Katherine: I take it you saw the picture.

Soph: oh yeah

The youngest Saint sister chimes in.

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