Page 29 of Be Your Anything
“That good, huh?” I say, chuckling slightly, and Lennon laughs, too, though she doesn’t actually say anything. I pop open my soup, slurping some up directly from the bowl. “I thought you were enjoying it. Maybe not working for your family, but planning the events, at least.”
She twists her lips, and I can tell she’s trying to be careful about what she says.
“It’s definitely been a balance of challenging and enjoyable,” she replies, her political response making want to chuck my soup at the wall.
“Cut the shit, Len. I know you don’t want to be working here, regardless of whether you get to plan events or not, and I’m sure the dragon lady isn’t helping at all.”
She giggles, getting up out of her seat and wandering across the office to grab a box from the corner. “Dragon lady?”
“Ellison.”
“I figured you meant her, but where does dragon lady come from?”
I shrug. “It’s just how I’ve heard really bitchy, manipulative women referred to.”
Lennon snorts then slaps her hand over her mouth as she tries to stop the laughter. It’s adorable.
“Alright, if I’m completely honest, Ellison has been making me want to rip my hair out.”
“There you go.”
“Seriously. Like, I’ve met rich bitches. I went to school with every trust fund baby and wannabe trophy wife on the east coast. None of them hold a candle to this woman!”
I grin at her, loving that she’s finally venting some of this. I can’t imagine working with someone as toxic as Ellison can be healthy, but holding all of that shit in? That would drive anyone crazy.
“Why? Why is it so hard to work in a group? To help your teammates? To go with the flow? Why doeseverythinghave to be an argument? Why is everything so fucking dramatic?” Then she looks right at me and lets out a dramatic sigh. “You know what we need right now?”
“Excessive sugar?” I ask.
“Hell. Yes.”
She opens the box and digs out the samples, ten in total.
“We’ll never be able to eat all of these.”
“Psht. Speak for yourself.” I look at the list she hands me. “So these are the top contenders for the fundraiser?”
She nods. “Yup.” Then she pretends to roll up some non-existent sleeves. “Alright. Let’s do this.”
We spend the next thirty minutes in sugary heaven.
Chocolate chip.
Shortbread.
Peanut butter.
They’re all delicious, though some rise far above the others.
“So we’re between Sugar Cookies Bakery and Miranda’s,” Lennon summarizes, setting the empty box back on the desk and beginning to pile in all the trash from both our cookie feast and our Chinese dinner. “Maybe I’ll take my team to both of them tomorrow and have them vote, though I’m pretty sure Sugar Cookies is owned by Ellison’s best friend.”
I roll my eyes. “Just don’t invite her to the tasting.”
“I can’tdothat. I can’t intentionally make her feel left out. I need to go overboard to make her feel like a part of the team so maybe she’ll quit being such an asshole.”
She lifts her hands up to stretch above her head.
I don’t like it when I see her wince.
