Page 42 of Say You Hate Me
If I had to.
Anderson opens the door for me, and as I walk out, he grabs my arm and pulls me backwards slightly.
“That’s a nice skirt,” he growls before pushing me out of the office and closing the door behind me.
The flush spreads across my chest as a few people look at me, so I clear my throat and walk to my office nonchalantly.
What the hell didthatmean? A nice skirt? My grandmother wears nice skirts. Nice is such a neutral word. Is it a euphemism for sexy? Or is he just trying to be nice? I look down at the brown leather, smoothing it out as I sit down at my desk.
I refuse to give Anderson any more headspace today.
I finish my day with some emails to some of my media contacts, and by five, I’m ready to go home.
As I close my office door, I can’t help but look over at Anderson’s office.
The door is open, and he’s gone.
Go figure.
22
Natalia
The next weekpasses in a similar manner—I show up with coffee for Andi one day, Luca the next, answer emails, formulate marketing plans, and get our mailing list in order. Anderson continues to pretend he never kissed me. But I have to learn to work with him. I have bills to pay—and a cat funeral—so whether I like it or not, I’m in it for the long haul.
Luca stops by my office on Friday evening, grinning.
“What time should I have Anderson pick you up tomorrow?”
I narrow my eyes. “What’s tomorrow?” I lean back in my desk chair and stretch.
“You’re kidding, right?”
I throw my hands out to the side. “Obviously not.”
“It’s our trip to Napa. Nathan can’t go,” he adds, pouting. I stiffen.“You forgot, didn’t you? We’re potentially buying an old winery up there. Anderson’s idea.”
I shake my head. I vaguely remember Luca mentioning a crazy travel schedule when I agreed to take the job, and Idoremember him mentioning Napa. I didn’t realize it was tomorrow.
“I did not forget, but it did slip my mind with all the first-week chaos. And awinery? Why?”
Luca looks down at his nails. He shrugs. “It’s good business, I guess. He thinks if we buy the winery, it’ll open up a path to alcoholic beverages, which is something he’s been talking about since he started a year ago. So, I’m humoring him.”
“Why does Anderson need to pick me up?” I ask, rubbing my eyes. It’s nearly seven, and I’m so burned out. All I want to do is eat some Top Ramen, binge watch Pride and Prejudice, and then pass out.
“We’re taking his plane.”
I nearly choke on my own spit. “He has his own plane?”
Luca laughs and backs out of my office. “It’s not fancy, I promise. Be ready by six and he’ll pick you up. I’ll meet you guys there since I’ll be at Nathan’s, and he lives by the airport.”
Then he’s gone, and I’m left wondering how the hell I’m going to survive another business trip with the infamous Anderson.
I wakeat five and throw on a pair of leggings, a baggy sweatshirt, and sneakers. I packed my overnight bag last night, and because we’ll only be there for one night, it didn’t take long. Kira will probably be asleep until after we arrive in Napa in a couple of hours, so I send her a quick text updating her. Once I’m done drinking coffee and eating my granola bar, I lie down on the couch and read until I hear a car pull up in the light pink, misty morning. Grabbing my bag, I walk out and get into Anderson’s Tesla.
“Thanks for picking me up,” I murmur, my voice still groggy. I’m usually on top of my game at this hour, but right now I’m exhausted.
“I didn’t really have a choice,” Anderson replies, his eyes on the road.
