Page 26 of Simply Irresistible
“But someone needs to turn him in for that to happen, and you’re in the best position to do that.”
“I’m not a rat, Mel. The last thing I need is to go running to Preston to tell on my boss. That kind of thing would spread through our industry like wildfire. I’dneverearn a writing job with that on my resume.”
“Don’t think of it as being a rat, Tyler. It’s your brother-in-law’s business and Roger is giving the magazine a bad name. Surely people in the industry would understand, no one likes Roger. You’d probably get job offers.” It wasn’t even a lie; people would probably praise Tyler for getting rid of Roger. I know Brianna would.
“Preston knows Roger is a dick.”
“Then why doesn’t he get rid of him?”
“It’s not that easy, I guess.”
“Because he’s so good at his job? The one you do for him? Preston doesn’t know that, does he?” I didn’t know Preston Parks well, but from what little I did know, he wouldn’t tolerate Roger taking credit for someone else’s work, whether that person was his brother-in-law or not.
“Look, I’d really rather not be talking about Roger or Preston right now. Can we just bask in the afterglow and enjoy this moment?”
I sighed, knowing he was right. I was ruining our post-coital moment. “Yes, of course. I’m sorry.”
He pulled me into his side, and I rested my head on his chest. He kissed the top of my head. “Tonight was amazing, Melanie. Thank you.”
“Thankyou, Ty.”
“Go to bed,” he kissed my head again and I closed my eyes, instantly falling asleep.
13
Tyler
I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job.
I was sitting in a meeting, taking notes, listening to Roger blast the advertising department for their lack of productivity. Roger. Talking. About. Lack. Of. Productivity. I could count on one hand—one finger—the amount of times Roger has actually done Roger’s job. He had some audacity.
“Did you get all that, Scott?”
Patronizing mother fu-
“Yes, Mr. Hoffstadt.” I was jotting down the names of the five people he just put on warning. In front of all the other departments.
“Now, if you could all be as productive as Scott here.”
“His name is Tyler.”
Oh...no he didn’t.Poor Joe. Poor, dumb Joe. He was a new hire, worked in the mailroom. While I appreciated him having my back, he had no idea what he’d just got himself into. You didn’t correct Roger. You just didn’t. It wasn’t worth it. If Roger wanted to call me Bob, I’d let him call me Bob.
“Excuse me?” Roger glared at Joe.
Joe shifted in his seat and looked at me. I gave a quick shake of my head that Roger couldn’t see. Then he looked at Roger. “I said,” he cleared his throat, “I thought his name was Tyler.”
I rolled my eyes.Shouldn’t have said anything, Joe.
“What does it matter to you what I call him?” Roger asked Joe, hooking his thumb at me.
“N-nothing, sir.”
“That’s what I thought.” Roger looked down at the agenda on the conference table. He probably would have fired Joe, but I didn’t think he knew who he was. “If no one else has anything to add, this meeting is adjourned.”
Everyone smartly said nothing, just collected their things and left the room. I stayed behind, straightening up the room so the next group who came in didn’t have a mess. That, and I knew if I waited long enough, Roger would be gone by the time I returned to my desk.
“What an asshole, huh?” I looked up. It was Joe.
