Page 41 of Boss On Notice
I can look at him again and so I do. “Very much so.” I’m simpering.
“Happy to hear it. Since your weekend is unencumbered by me, do you have any dates lined up?”
A lot goes through my head as I try not to let my expression show the cards I’m now playing. For some reason, I wish I could say that I have a hot date planned for the weekend because I want to see his reaction. But I’m already lying to him even as I sit here in silence. “Nope,” I say, taking a bite of my pizza. “You?”
He sets down his half-eaten pizza slice and presses his back against his chair. “Only a family obligation.”
“Oh, that sounds fun.”
“It depends,” he says, frowning and then shifts abruptly in his seat. “Anyway, I like what you said earlier about AI and sentience. It’s definitely human to shove square pegs into round holes, isn’t it?”
I laugh, welcoming the change of subject. “Definitely.”
Orion and I discuss the idea of AI being more superior than humans and how that can benefit LTI. It’s nice having a real professional and adult conversation with him. For the first time ever, we’ve officially entered a period of getting along.
“Wait,” Orion says out of the blue. He’s glaring at my chin.
Like watching a car crash in progress, I observe his finger moving toward my face. His finger lands on my chin and swipes left. “You had cheese on your chin.”
My mouth is stuck open and my heart is beating like a drumline. The time has come to officially admit that I have become sexually attracted to Orion Lord. And now that I’m being honest with myself, it’s time to become unsexually attracted to Orion Lord. He’s not good for me. He said it himself, women are conquests for him. He’s still a fuckboy, which is why I fucked him while drunk.
So, I close my mouth and smile warmly at him. If we can’t be lovers or remain boss and employee for longer than two months max, then maybe we can become friends. “Thank you,” I say.
He winks. “You’re welcome, Lila.”
CHAPTER13
Results
ORION LORD
Friday night goes by in a blur. I’m attending a Lord Foundation charitable benefit. My mother strongly suggested that I be Heather’s date. Heather looks stunning tonight as usual. She’s a beautiful woman but she and I are like fire and ice. I’m the fire. She has the ability to freeze a lake of lava. We move around the room, shaking hands, thanking guests for their contributions. Everybody believes we’re a real couple. I know better than to correct them. My mother wants us to leave that impression on donors. In Marigold’s eyes, Heather would be the perfect daughter-in-law. Her family has lots of money and connections, and as my mother said, “Heather can throw one hell of a fundraiser.” She also thinks Heather will improve my bad reputation.
People think Achilles runs our family but he doesn’t. Marigold is the true puppet master, and my brothers and I know it. That’s definitely why I’m being a good son tonight. However, I can’t get Delilah off my mind. I see her face even when I’m trying not to. I do remember kissing the top of her head in the back of the car. I also recall dancing with her and then we kissed again. She has to remember some of that, but she’s pretending not to. Is being with me that much of a problem for her?
We had to have fucked. Before driving to Heather’s house to pick her up for our date, I made a call to the hotel. Our suites were on the VIP floor where there were cameras. They had to have been working due to the guests that were being housed for the weekend. I asked for security, told them who I was. Manuel, security chief of the hotel, said I had called just in time. The hotel wipes security footage from the previous week every Saturday at midnight. He said he’ll search the footage and get back to me if he finds something.
I’d been distracted all night waiting for that call. He probably won’t find anything.
My eyes catch sight of two people I really don’t want to see tonight. “Shit,” I say under my breath. Here they come.
“O,” Mina calls with her sister in tow. The twins rarely do anything apart.
“Mina,” I say. We hug and then I hug Lina too.
They both smile at Heather. The twins don’t like her and she doesn’t care for them.
“I thought you’d show up with your new squeeze,” Mina says. “What’s her number anyway?”
“I have it,” Lina replies.
This fucking moment is moving too fast for me to keep up. “Who the hell are you talking about?”
“Lilly,” Lina replies.
They think she’s my new squeeze? “Lila is my assistant.”
Lina elbows Mina. “Mina’s been having fantasies about turning her.”
