Page 17 of Handling the CEO

“Yes,” I lied, “just fucking great. I don’t want to generalize, but most men truly are idiots, aren’t they?”

“I can’t disagree, but suspect idiocy in relationships applies to all genders.” Marcus sighed and poured us both some more wine.

Laura came outside, glanced at us chugging fermented grape juice, and got a glass for herself. “So, are we drinking or are we Drinking? Is this the man from the other week—the one who you lunched on in the store?”

I could see Marcus’s face turning green. “You did what in my shop?”

“I admit nothing.” Not to Marcus. He would have rubbed it in, his older sister debasing his workplace.

“Jeez DJ, I thought you just flirted with the dude! How am I the least strumpet-y of all of us?”

Lau and I shook our heads, as Marcus wasn’t exactly a catholic priest when it comes to getting some. Just a bit of a prima donna when he can poke at one of us.

“Probably because you can’t get a date without mom playing Cupid,” my sister goaded him, knowing he doesn’t need the help. “So, what if DJ got a man snack? What happened? Did you see him again? Thought you were on a date yesterday with a doctor?”

“I was indeed. But before I talk about last night, I must tell you something.”

They stared at me.

“Well… are you telling us or what?” Marcus asked with impatience.

“My meeting with McAv, the ones I told you I got the contract with. Their CEO… Jon McMaster… is the GUY from the store.”

It is Laura who spoke first, with a shit-eating grin on her face, as my brother was still in shock.

“I bet you got that contract, wink wink! Just kidding sis’, I know you are outstanding. They would have been stupid not to sign with you. So is the reason you are in a ‘feed me wine’ mood today because you can’t ride his magic cock anymore if you work together?”

“Jeez Lau, can you not say the words ‘ride’ and ‘cock’?” Marcus blushing like a nun every time we use sex phrases is one of our favorite pastimes.

“Pretty much why I was angry earlier in the week. I can’t get into it with another guy at the job after Richard bad mouthed me at Hove and basically made me quit. The reason I am fuming today, however, is that I accidentally saw him at the bar I was in yesterday.”

“When you were on that Tinder date? Wow, Telenovela much?” Laura snickered as she refilled her wine glass, nodding at me to continue.

“Yep, the guy was not that exciting and anyway… I ran into Jon and his friend, and he ended up giving me a lift. We had a bit of a conversation in the car…” I didn’t want to tell my family about the reporter. Laura had t-shirts made up with 'orange is the new black' when she heard about the police incident in California. I also didn’t want to admit to losing my shit to them, and I am still a tad embarrassed by that.

“And you ended up christening his back seat!” she whooped.

“No, we didn’t re-enact your high school nights, you hussy.” I rolled my eyes at her. “We made out like the world was ending though, but then he goddamn stopped, telling me we can’t do this as I work for him. Then the pendejo runs off, leaving me in my driveway!” I exploded, also chugging my wine and start opening a fresh bottle.

“Wait… didn’t you just tell us you can’t get on with him because you work with him? Why are you worked up now?” our male sibling asked, confused.

“Oh, sweet child of summer…” Laura tried to pat his head, and he batted her hand away. “She can claim all she wants that she can’t get on with him—Richard needs another whack for that—but it doesn’t mean she doesn’t WANT to climb him like a jungle gym. Right, lil D? Based on the French-and-dash session, I suspect he has the same conundrum.”

“I can’t answer what his issue is, but he kissed me this time and then he ran off.”

“OK hermana. We are definitely Drinking today, but tomorrow you need to start figuring out if you can drop the ‘we work together’ act and try to see if there is something there. You, sis, don’t take the first ‘no’ for an answer when you want something. At least you should talk to him and clear the air.” My younger brother is somehow the calm one between us. Me and my sister are more alike, but Marcus is often the peacemaker in the family. He was right this time.

There were quite a few bottles of wine emptied on Sunday between the three of us, with my mamá and my uncle Antonio looking at us like aliens. Monday—let’s just say working from home was the best idea I ever had, between my headache and not admitting I don’t want to face Jon in the office. Or maybe I wanted to grab him from the lapels of this jacket and shake him.

***

I continue thinking as well why would Jon keep saying I work for him? But I suppose I need to put on my big girl pants and talk to him. Which implies actually ‘woman-up’-ing not just hiding in the basement.

My stomach growls around lunchtime, but I am close to repairing the wind speed section of the code and don’t pay attention to the door opening until I jump in my seat, hearing a high-pitched voice.

“Hi Dahlia!” Mike Jones walks into my den and brings me a cupcake. “Here is a ‘Welcome to the office’ treat!” The jolliness continues as though we are in a bad sitcom.

“Thanks,” I say and look at her, waiting for the actual reason she stopped by, strongly suspecting it has a lot to do with a certain Thor lookalike.

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