Page 43 of Until We're More
“Love it,” he said. “I’d like those changes worked up by Monday.”
A quick nod and he moved to the next item on the agenda. My fingers itched for my phone. More than anything, I wanted to text Liam a dozen messages about how assertive I’d been, and that I’d used his stare, andgah!Once I got home, we were totally going to celebrate.
Then maybe I’ll use that boldness to tell him that I can’t stop thinking about putting my lips on his.
A different type of heat twisted through me. While I’d never actually go through with it, thanks to the many various reasons I’d rehashed until I was sick to death of them, it was fun to dream.
And I had a feeling that tonight when I went to bed, I was totally going to have another dirty dream about my best friend.
“I…I’m sorry,” Ashlee said. “I thought maybe if he heard my idea—”
“There’s a reason I shut it down in our group. I’ve been working with this company for a while and have a pretty good idea of what Brad likes, what the client wants, and what’ll fly in pitch sessions. The reason we have teams is to make us better, not so we can throw each other under the bus during meetings.”
I expected a huff, and for her to give me a look that spoke to plans of retribution, similar to the ones I’d received earlier this week. Instead she blinked back tears and ducked her head, and I suddenly understood Liam’s panic around tears.
Did I continue to act tough?
Did I go give her a hug like everything in me wanted to?
What would a good boss do? None of mine had ever doled out hugs, but maybe that was what was wrong with the corporate world. Something I could change.Coffee first, then hugs all around!
There’d definitely be that one creepy guy who ruined it for everybody. Then someone would roll their eyes about emotional women, and I’d use my self-defense lessons on them and end up with a lawsuit on my hands.
“Can you give me another chance?” Ashlee sniffed. “I really need this job, and I promise I won’t let you down.”
“Of course. This is hardly one strike and you’re out. I get that thanks to our first encounter, you probably think I’m a hot mess.” Presumably, reminding her of the coffee-boob incident wasn’t the best move, but since I’d put it out there already, I’d own it. “But I’m not someone who’ll be pushed around. I deserve a little respect.”
Dang it, I probably should’ve said respect, no “little.”
Ashlee nodded. “I guess I sort of saw that you were the only other woman in the office and automatically viewed you as my competition.”
“We women really need to stop doing that. We could kick ass if we joined forces. Make the guys keep up withus, you know?” I wished I could silence the voice in my head that said she might use that statement as ammo against me. Trust was a tricky thing, and I wasn’t sure my boss would approve of drawing gender battle lines—although with only two women in a group of twenty-two, it sort of seemed like they’d done that already. And seriously, why did she and I inherently view each other as competition? I was far from exempt in that regard. I’d done it to her because she was pretty, because she’d reminded me of mean girls from high school.
“You’re right,” Ashlee said. “It’s just you’re so pretty and—”
“I’mpretty? You’re beautiful. Like, I’d kill for your hair—mine frizzes like crazy in this humidity.”
“Whatever. Yours is so thick and long, and the color is amazing. And you can pull off that red lipstick, which is something I’ve always wanted to try yet never been bold enough to do.”
“Thanks,” I said, and she smiled. “You could totally pull it off, by the way. It’s about finding the right color to go with your undertones.”
“Useful to know. And thank you.”
“So, fresh start?”
“Deal.” We shook hands over the table, which I supposed was almost as good as a hug, and then she left the conference room. As I was gathering my stuff, Brad came in.
“You impressed me today. Both with your pitch and with how you handled the situation with your trainee.”
Funny, hearing her referred to as my trainee. I supposed I outranked her, and I’d basically said as much to her, but I still didn’t feel like a boss. “Thank you. I’ve been working on it.”
“I can see that. Keep it up.”
With that, he walked out of the office, and I finally had the chance to text Liam about my win. And it definitely felt like a TKO.
Chapter Nineteen
Liam
