Page 71 of A Mutually Beneficial Mistake

Chapter Twenty-Four

YOU’RE FIRED

Bentley

That Friday,Kenzie is having another girl’s night and I’m stuck at work with Owen. I could go home, but since their house seems to be the place for the women to gather and he’s been banished, I decide to stick around.

“Did you get the management on board at Sampson’s for the pop art branding?” I ask from across the table.

We’re in the conference room and among the last few still in the building. The extra room is helpful.

He nods. “Martha agreed it was just the kind of change that they needed. We’re rolling out everything next month before people get too distracted with the holidays.”

“Good call,” I say, reorganizing the folder I’ve just finished going over. I look back up at him. “I’m meeting with the board on Wednesday next week.”

He cocks his head. “Yeah? About anything in particular?”

I grin. He knows damn well what I’m going to talk to them about. Owen officially gave me his interest in the Vice President position last week.

“Not much. Just maybe creating a new position within the company. Nothing serious,” I reply and divert my eyes back to the papers in front of me.

I hear his pen drop onto the table. “You know, I really appreciate you giving me a chance at this opportunity. I know you can’t guarantee anything, but to even be considered means a lot.”

My stare meets his again. “You’ve worked for this company for over five years now. Hell, you put up with more than any sane person ever would. You deserve this. I know it, and so will the board if they don’t already.”

“Thanks, man. I’m glad that part of my life is over now. It’s crazy how quickly things can change. Hell, I’d only known Ella a few days and I was ready to throw all of this away without blinking. You know what I mean?” Owen asks with a wistful smile on his face.

Fuck, do I.

But I’ve barely even admitted that to myself. I’m not about ready to do so with an employee. Though, that’s more of an excuse. I’ve already accepted that Owen has quickly become a friend I can trust.

“Yeah, life has a way of shaking things up,” I say, thinking about how Kenzieshookthings up the other night with her little box of toys. My shoulders shudder just remembering what that vixen did to me with her little vibrator.

Owen laughs. “Oh, man. You’ve got it bad, and you don’t even really know it, do you?”

My face scrunches. “Know what?”

He leans back in his chair. “I know I haven’t really asked about you and Kenzie, but I know you didn’t just stay late with me tonight because you had your own shit that couldn’t wait until next week. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say it’s because we’re friends since that’s how I think of you now. If you hadn’t stayed with me, you knew I’d be here, sulking, all by myself.”

I shrug. He’s not wrong.

“Well, then. I feel like I can say I’ve been watching the changes in you around Kenzie, and I’ve seen the changes in her over the last month. The two of you, regardless of how different you are, work together. I assume you at least know that?”

“I do. I wouldn’t be dating her if I didn’t,” I reply, suddenly intrigued by where he’s going with this.

“You’re not just dating Kenzie. You love her,” Owen says so simply and matter-of-fact, but the moment he says the words, I feel like the ground has crumbled out from beneath me.

My chest tightens, breathing is nearly possible, and my mouth is drier than the Sahara.

Love? No, I didn’t love Kenzie.

Sure, I enjoy ending my days with her in my bed. I like how she challenges me to not only relax, but to appreciate life more. She has a way of making me smile like nobody else does and…fuck.

Owen points at me, then smacks the tabletop. “There you go. I can’t believe you didn’t see it before.”

Hell, neither can I.

I glare at him. “You tell Ella about this and you’re fired.”

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