Page 35 of Show Me How
Millie takes the questions on the chin without crumbling. She’s growing less nervous as the questions come, until suddenly, she’s uncrossing her legs and straightening.
“I’ve been here for all of five minutes, so no.”
I swallow slowly, revelling in the sharp lash of her tongue. The switch between nervous and smart-mouthed keeps my mind running as I watch the both of them, waiting.
Bryce lifts two black brows and cocks her head just slightly. Then, the scowl on her lips begins to transform into a crooked grin.
“Alright. I’ll get it for you before we start,” she tells her.
Millie stares at my friend, confused at the switch up. I’m not. Bryce respects a backbone, and after nothing more than a first impression of a rich girl with an expensive car, she was waiting to see if there was one hiding beneath the fancy clothes and perfect hair.
After spending the time I have with Millie, I had a feeling there was one just waiting to introduce itself to Oak Point, but I’m pleased to have seen it so soon.
Millie nods at Bryce. “Thank you. I’d appreciate that.”
“How do you take your coffee?” Bryce asks her, lifting the two cups she brought from the diner.
“I’m not big on more than an espresso shot.”
“Try this.”
She hands one of the cups to Millie, and I watch as she takes it and sniffs the small hole in the lid. “What is it?”
“Shade’s.”
“Mine?” I guffaw.
Bryce stares at me, deadpan. “Did you think I was going to give her mine?”
“I was hoping, yeah.”
“Get your own, asshole.”
Millie’s giggle snags my attention, drawing my eyes. I focus on her, watching as she lifts the cup to her lips and takes a small sip, staring at the both of us. Warmth fills her face before she takes another one, this one longer, making her throat move harder.
“Look at that. You both like mochas,” Bryce states, reading me like a fucking book.
I chuckle, crossing my arms. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You do that.”
Millie takes another drink of my—her—coffee before lowering the cup. “I’ll pay you back for it.”
“You won’t. Coffee comes with the job, even if I need to go get myself another one. I’ll be back before my client gets here,” I say, already pushing past Bryce to the door.
Bryce’s smirk is devilish, and I’m already prepared for the comment before it comes, quiet enough for only me to hear.
“Don’t worry too much while you’re gone. I’ll take care of her for you.”
11
MILLIE
Landingmy first job at twenty-six is embarrassing.
I could have done anything in the world, and I chose to be tugged around by my sleek ponytail instead, living naively in my privilege. Being born into the world of business meant that I picked up on things here and there, but I never really thought I’d ever need to put that information to good use. I wasn’t invited into my father’s board meetings, but I was always the one trying and sometimes failing to shmooze the men my father wanted to invest in the lodges or join him in another venture that would lead to another few million in the family trust.
My lack of real experience in the hands-on aspect of business has been made obvious today. Popping a bottle of champagne for Bryce when she began running through the online calendar wouldn’t have helped me remember the right buttons to push, and offering a special tour of the studio to the woman who came in for her appointment with Shade wouldn’t have done anything but make me look as out of water as I feel.
