Page 68 of One Bad Idea
Chapter 26
I spent the next half-hour pacing up and down the executive suite. As I moved, I kept glancing at my watch.So much for returning in five minutes.
It felt like forever before Jaden finally strolled in, looking like he didn't have a care in the world.
I stopped in my tracks. "What happened?"
"With what?"
As if he didn't know."With Bryce."
"You saw what happened," Jaden said. "I walked him to the garage, end of story."
I didn't believe that for one minute. "Yeah, but I didn't seeallof it."
"Eh, you weren't missing much."
"But you were gone thirty minutes."
"So?"
"So you said you'd be back in five."
"Yeah, well, I made a stop on the way back."
"Where?"
His only reply was a long, silent look. From the set of his mouth, it was easy to guess what he was thinking.Just who worked for who around here?
I cleared my throat. "I’m just curious, that's all."
"Alright," he said. "I stopped at Accounting."
That sounded harmless enough, but thatwasn'twhat I was desperate to know. "So…" I bit my lip. "…what happened down there?"
"Not much." Jaden's mouth twitched like he just might smile. "They gave me the new sales figures, had some cake from Rhonda's party…"
"What?"
"Chocolate," he said, "since you look so curious."
I wasn't curious. I was frustrated. I didn't even know who Rhonda was or why she'd have a cake.A birthday? A promotion?A welcome back from wherever?
I had no idea. I was so distracted, I couldn’t even care. I felt my jaw clench. From the look on Jaden's face, he knew exactly what he was doing.
He was messing with me.
As usual.
Through gritted teeth, I said, "Imeant, what happened with Bryce?"
"You already asked that." There was no trace of a smile now. "And I answered." With that, he strode past me, heading toward his own office.
I turned and scrambled after him. "But wait, I've got something to say."
He stopped and turned around. "Yeah, what?"
I froze. Now that I had his attention, I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to tell him. I wasn't even sure what he deserved.
