Page 46 of The Grumpy Billionaire

He stops dead in his tracks. Slowly he turns.

Everybody’s staring, but I don’t care.

I pick up the pen he left on the desk and hold it out innocently. “You forgot this.”

Hugo’s eyes blaze into mine, and my chest explodes with this strange, heart-pounding feeling that might be pure bliss. “You’ll address me as Mr. Jones,” he says.

I’m biting my lips to keep the smile at bay. Thrumming with joy, I hold it out farther. “Your pen,Mr. Jones.”

He comes in close. “Don’t be late.” He snatches the pen from my fingers and leaves.

Tinley turns to me. “W-what…” She’s studying my face, confused. She has a bottleneck of questions, all crowding into her mind at top speed.

Jane rolls up and grabs my arm. “Did you call him Mr. Roboto?”

“Something came over me.”

“You’re gonna get fired,” she whispers.

I turn to her—I’m sure she’s bummed. We get along so well, and they really do need my help here. “Sorry—”

“No,” she hisses. “You are livin’ my dream.”

“You’re living my dream, too,” Tinley squeak-whispers.

Hesh is there. “God, his face when you said that?”

“Chef’s kiss,” Tinley says.

Jane lowers her voice and looks around. “I feel like Viola’s gonna storm in here at any moment and cut you loose.”

“Tell them you have a medical condition,” Hesh says.

I snort.

“Maybe she won’t get fired,” Tinley says hopefully.

Another admin comes by. “That’s one way to get out of a research project,” he says as he plops down a stack of folders.

“She didn’t even get out of it,” Hesh says.

Jane shakes her head. “Is it possible she won’t get fired?”

Hesh shrugs. “Itdoessound like he still expects her.”

“‘Don’t be late,’ he said,” Tinley reminds us.

“How much do I have to pay you to bring him a pineapple?” Jane jokes. “As an apology gift?”

“Oh my god, not even funny. He’s deathly allergic!” Tinley says.

“But it’s a little funny,” Hesh puts in.

Everybody agrees it’s a little bit funny.

Jane’s worried. “It’s gonna be a bitch of a project, and we’re not gonna see you for the next five years.”

“It’ll be fine,” I say, but I hate that Ihaveto go, now, like a kid sent to the principal’s office. He costs me my dream job and we have ill-advised sexytimes and now he gets to order me around?

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