Page 5 of Big Boss
I huff out a breath. This is possibly the most awkward conversation I’ve ever had in my life in front of a near-stranger, but it can’t be avoided—not if I want Jackson’s help as soon as possible.
Let’s face it. This whole mess with Crystal has already turned into an avalanche of bad press, and I’ve already had enough of that to last my entire lifetime. Besides, I don’t really care what some random girl in a terrible dress who has nothing to do with my life thinks about me.
I mean, I don’t, right? Because that would be weird, especially seeing as how she probably hates me right now.
“So, you didn’t take her up on her offer? You sure?” Jackson’s doubt sits bitterly in my throat, but I manage to respond with civility.
“Yes, I’m sure. When I finally told her she was fired, she was so angry that I was legit worried she was going to slash my tires. She told me she didn’t see why I wouldn’t give her what I’d already given to so many other women.”
It’s beyond embarrassing to repeat the ugly words my ex-assistant had hurled at me, but if Crystal’s busy dragging my name through the mud, then I need for someone to know the truth.
Besides, Jackson’s heard it all by now. He knows what I used to be like before I cleaned up my act and became marginally respectable. He’s not exactly in a position to act like he’s surprised.
Erica, however, looks like she might pass out at any moment. I close the distance between us and touch her shoulder gently.
“Hey, are you okay?”
“Fine. Yep. I’m absolutely fine. No way I wouldn’t be fine, what with Bethany Boggs screaming at my choice of attire, the coffee theft, the sleazy elevator moves you pulled, the out of control horde of photographers, and now this thrilling sex scandal. Also, aren’t you on the phone?”
I return my attention to Jackson’s call just long enough to tell him to do whatever he needs to in order to kill whatever photos of me were just taken. He assures me he’s got it handled, and I end the call and return my attention to Erica.
“I’m sorry you got stuck dealing with my mess.”
She wets her lips once before answering me. “I thought you were the kind of man who didn’t apologize.”
I squirm a little, because I did completely use that tacky line on her back in the elevator. But hell, I was certain she was a groupie, and I figured she might be fun to mess with.
“I don’t usually apologize to anyone, but I really am sorry about dragging you into my current shitshow.”
Her nostrils flare a little. “You mean you’re sorry for stealing my delicious coffee? Well, I forgive you. But only because you’re having an even worse day than me.”
I can’t help it. Her matter-of-fact tone brings out the naughtiness in me, and I flash her a smile meant to unsettle her, to light up that spark I saw in her eyes when I was teasing her before.
“My day hasn’t been all bad. I mean, here we are. Alone. Together.”
She rolls her eyes so hard it almost hurts me. “Save it, Romeo. We’re only together because you’re a coffee thief. And we’re definitely not alone.”
She jerks her thumb at the heavy doors to the entryway. “Remember? You, me, a twenty dollar bill and a few dozen of your sleaziest reporter friends?”
Ouch. I rub the back of my neck with one hand and decide it’s better for everyone if I dial down the fake charm with this girl. At least right now. She doesn’t seem impressed at all by the sleazy playboy version I can usually sell to people I meet.
Instead, she’s just pointing out the ways that I’m a liar.
And she’s right. The front hallway is swarming with lowlife journalists frothing at the mouth for a scandal and a quote that can be taken out of context. I know building security is good, but even the entirety of the elite security team employed at this building won’t have cleared out the entryway just yet. That means I really do need her to stay put for a few moments at least.
But even setting all those things aside, the girl in the ugliest dress in the world is absolutely not my type. She’s awkward and too blunt for her own good, and I suspect she might slightly hate me. So just—no.
If only she wasn’t staring daggers at me. She’s actually got the potential to be kind of cute, especially now that I know she’s not a groupie like Crystal was.
“Give me a minute or two. I’ve arranged an escort for you to your next appointment. Or to get another coffee. Whatever you need.”
After the last word is out of my mouth, I give her a little wave and head to my desk. It’s better for both of us if she has a little bit of distance from me, so my tarnished reputation doesn’t end up dirtying hers up, whoever she is.
“Oh, so we’re done here?” She sounds pissed again, but why?
I mean, between me taking her coffee, teasing her about it, and then dragging her into the embarrassing paparazzi party in my lobby, I can’t imagine why she wouldn’t be delighted to be rid of me. She just said as much herself, didn’t she?
I finally turn to her again, and watch her wrap her arms around herself and squeeze. I briefly wonder what she did with that twenty I’d slid into her cleavage. But nope, nope, nope. Not the right time to be thinking about putting money in this woman’s dress.
