Page 54 of By A Thread
“Unless?” Ally repeated.
“I’m going to need sweaters, people. With flowers. And belts. Long, gold ones. Don’t just stand there!”
19
Ally
“Give it to me straight. Am I fired?” I asked Linus, collapsing against the leather seat.
He was slumped next to me as a car that hadn’t escorted five dogs all over the city headed toward the office. “I don’t have the energy to fire you,” he sighed.
“I think it went well,” I said. “I checked with the online content team and they got video of Dominic getting French kissed by the lab.”
That got the teensiest smile out of him.
“It wasn’t the worst disaster in the history of my career,” he said magnanimously.
“You managed to combine fashion, art, and good karma in one shoot. Face it, Linus. You’re a genius.”
The rescue director had personally arrived to escort the dogs back to the shelter, and I’d noticed the Croatian model cornering her and demanding a business card. I had a feeling Pirate and Mr. Frisky were about to find the most amazing home.
“Genius? Ha. I’m just lucky.” He produced the flask from his jacket and took a long pull before handing it to me.
“Thanks. I can’t. I have a dance class to teach.”
He wiggled the flask. “It’s not alcohol. It’s a super greens formula. It’s the reason I look like I’m forty-five when I’m actually 107.”
Curious, I sipped and winced.
“Beauty is pain,” he quipped.
“And bitterness apparently,” I said, handing the flask back.
“Speaking of bitter. You and Dominic seem to have a rapport.”
“Do we?” I asked innocently, pretending not to notice his fishing expedition.
“Oh, come on, Admin Ally. The mansmiled. His mouth lifted at the corners, and the clouds parted and angels sang as a sunbeam held him in a spotlight.”
I laughed. “Are you sure there’s no alcohol in that?”
“I’m saying the man has been a miserable bastard since joiningLabel. But when he looks at you…”
I wasn’t biting. “He looks like he wants to commit murder. We don’t get along. We don’t like each other. However, Idolike annoying him.”
“Well, keep annoying him. It’s nice to see him have a little fun for once.”
“He is very serious,” I said, annoyed with myself for wanting to fish for information.
“He was brought in to clean up a serious mess,” he said. “He takes family and business very seriously.”
“He also takes the arrangement of pepperonis very seriously.”
Linus sat up straighter. “Thatisn’ta rumor?”
I shook my head. “Nope. He was an ass. I spelled out FU on his pizza. He had me fired. And Dalessandra offered me a job.”
“You aren’t nearly as boring as you look, Admin Ally.”
