Page 49 of Rude Boss 2

“No. I just want to see you.”

“Um, I—”

“Come over. I can get a chef to make us some lunch. If you don’t feel like driving, I can send Cooper to pick you up.”

“Um…let me get back to you.”

“No,” I tell her. “Give me an answer now.”

“Essex—why are you like this?”

“The question you should be asking is, why do you like it so much?”

She giggles. “Who says I like it?”

“I can hear it in your voice. Now, what time should I expect you?”

“I don’t even know where you live.”

“I live thirty minutes from you. If you were paying attention, you would’ve seen my address in the email Shanice sent out last week.”

“What email?”

“The email for the employee appreciation gala that you still haven’t RSVP’d to.”

“Oh,thatemail…”

“I’m texting my address to you now.”

“Okay. Then I’ll see you in about an hour. Is that sufficient,boss?”

“It will be when you get here. Are you coming?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, Essex.”

“Don’t tell me yes and then don’t show up. I will come looking for you.”

Laughing, she says, “I’ll be there, okay?”

“Okay. See you soon.” I hang up the phone and stretch my hands in the air and rotate my neck. Finally. I get to have some alone time with her. I need that more than anything right now. I have some things to get off my chest – my heart. The time has come. She needs to know who I really am.

---