Page 9 of Mistlefoe
“Can we not talk about him? I’m already dreading Monday as it is.”
I managed to avoid being in his physical vicinity yesterday and, of course, the long holiday weekend buys me a reprieve. But on Monday we’re supposed to put together our ideas and I know for a fact that it’s gonna be a whole mess. There’s no way I’ll put my best ideas on the table for him and I’m sure he’ll take the same measure. So, we’ll end up having to come up with something semi passable so we can get the green light from Richard, even though we’ll be working on our own thing in the hopes to show up one another.
Who could possibly be excited by that prospect? I’m tired. I just want some holiday vacations with my family.
“Just try not to murder each other until I get my new job.” She pauses. “Or after.”
I grin. “I’m proud of you. No one has worked harder inSPORTYthan you and you deserve to manage campaigns with hot, semi naked athletes.”
“That’s it.” The noise from the TV draws to a halt and Adrian stands up with a huff. “I’m looking for those earplugs now. Hold the gross talk until then, please.” We watch him pass us by on his way to the back of the house.
“How cute, he’s still an innocent baby,” I muse.
“Yes, I cherish every second I don’t need to have the bees and the flowers talk with him.” She props her chin with her hand. “You, on the other hand…”
“Me?” I blink fast. “Why is that relevant to me?”
“You’re going to be working very closely with your extremely attractive nemesis whose shoulders make you salivate on your desk.”
I drop my jaw. “That only happened once.”
“That it happened at all means you’re in trouble.”
“It was before he made me look like a fool in front of Richard when I was on the tennis shoes campaign.” I had made a glaring mistake in my presentation and not only I didn’t notice, Richard didn’t either. Instead of taking me aside to tell me, Conor pointed it out in the most gloating way. Richard fawned over him like Conor was the direct descendant of Einstein. The humiliation still burns.
“I’m just saying. If things get all hot and bothered between you both, I give you full permission to let go of your grudge and jump him.”
I narrow my eyes on her empty wine glass. “Just how much wine did you have before I arrived, señorita?”
“Actually…” She looks up as if in thought. “Don’t let it go. Just angry kiss him. Angry do more than kissing him. For both of us, please.”
I snort. “Are you the one who’s hot and bothered for Conor?”
“What? No. He’s younger than me.” She reaches over for the wine bottle to pour herself a glass.
“So?”
“I’m also more into the bad boy types.”
This is when Adrian chooses to return but it looks like he’s outfitted with earplugs. We don’t get any further ew’s tossed our way and the video game resumes.
I pat Rachel’s hand. “Bad boys aren’t good for you.”
“Grudges aren’t good for you, either.” She takes a careful sip of wine, watching me from above the rim of her glass.
“Fine.” I blow a raspberry. “I will consider being civil. Happy?”
“I don’t believe you but I’ll support you either way.”
“Likewise, you clown.” I throw my arm around her and squeeze her tight. “You just watch, you’ll get that awesome position and I’ll get the promotion.”
“That’s right, bebé.” She clinks her glass with mine. “Cheers to the women making power moves regardless of the men in and out of their lives.”
“Cheers!”
CHAPTER 5
CONOR
