Page 57 of Teasing Her Grumpy Boss

‘Not really, Daniel.’ Which was a major understatement, but if he could be clinical and detached, so could she. ‘It’s time for me to move on.’

‘Really?’

She nodded, not trusting that her voice wouldn’t betray her wobbly innards.

‘What about us?’

She steeled. ‘What about us? It’s just an arrangement, isn’t it. Daniel? Bed mates—providing a little relief for each other to ensure a few hours’ sleep.’

His face grew rigid. ‘Of course.’ His hands went into his pockets, distorting the line of his immaculately tailored trousers. ‘So you found out the bar was going up for sale and decided to skip it.’

‘Actually it was because you were looking for another manager that I realised the time was right for me to leave.’

There was a sharp silence.

Finally he asked, ‘How do you know that?’

‘The agency rang while I was here. They’d mislaid your number and called the club directly.’ She folded her arms tight across her body and clenched her fists into her sides. ‘Just when were you going to tell me my services were no longer required?’ Did you want another round of sex first?’

‘Lucy.’ Not conciliatory. Cross.

‘You don’t think I’m doing a good enough job, do you? You’ve been sitting at the end of that bar night after night just watching, waiting for me to stuff up. Judge, jury and executioner. What was it I did, Daniel? What rule or regulation did I break?’

‘Don’t make out like you’re some sort of failure, Lucy. It’s beyond time you lost that chip. You’re not that much of a rebel. It’s not like you left school early and descended into some drink and drugs hell.’

‘Yeah, that’s me. Second-rate rebel.’ Second rate all round. Clearly the only thing he thought she was good at was sex. Well so what? You didn’t need to be much of a success at anything to manage that and it wouldn’t be long until he found someone else to be as physical with. Her stomach convulsed, revulsed at the thought, but she quelled it—swallowing the nausea. She’d tried so hard. And he hadn’t believed in her. He never had.

She was so far out of his league—she knew it and he knew it. Lust was the only reason he was with her and that was transient.

It hurt. Really hurt. She’d hoped that he’d seen the work she’d put in. Thought she’d impressed him. It was pathetic that she wanted to. Since when did she care what some guy in a suit thought? But he wasn’t just a suit. He was special. And if he’d believed in her then she’d really have done it—found her place at last.

He frowned at her. ‘I think you’re doing a great job here, Lucy.’

‘Rubbish, Daniel. You wouldn’t be looking for another manager if you did.’

‘I was worried you were working too hard.’

‘Oh, please. That’s ridiculous coming from you. I was handling it fine and you know it. That’s the most pathetic reason. You just wanted someone else. Be honest.’

‘Okay. I thought I had better find a replacement. And you want to know why?’ He stepped closer. ‘Because I knew the minute you found out that the club was going on the market you’d be out of there. Because you’ve never stuck at anything your whole life, have you? One sniff of anything getting remotely complicated and you’d be gone.’ His volume increased. ‘And wasn’t I right? That’s exactly what you did the minute you found out the club was being sold.’

‘Actually, you’re wrong, Daniel. Wrong. Maybe I would have done that before. But not this time. For once in my life I was going to stay and fight for that job. I love it. I don’t want to leave. I thought I’d see if I could get the new owner to keep me on. It wasn’t until I found out about your hunt for a manager that I decided to go.’ She stopped for a quick breath. He looked shocked. ‘Because now we know what you really think of me. And I can’t say I blame you. That’s fine. I never expected you to believe in me.’

‘Lucy.’

‘Let’s leave it. No analysis, remember?’ She looked away, not wanting to hear him try to defend something that was simply, painfully true. There was nothing he could say that would put a gloss on it that would make it palatable for her. ‘I really think I should go now.’

‘Where are you going?’ He didn’t even try another argument.

Her heart shredded. ‘I’m not sure yet. Maybe north. Somewhere warm.’ Because she felt so cold inside.

He made a move as if he was going to reach for her and she backed off quickly, opened the door. ‘It was fun, Daniel. That’s all it was ever meant to be.’

She didn’t look at the others as she left. Just put her head down and tripped down the stairs as fast as possible without falling and breaking her neck.

* * *

Daniel remained in the room. Immobile. Stared at her cowgirl boots still on the table. After a moment he looked around the small office. It was so different from the day he’d walked in when he’d found the old manager slumped behind the desk drunk and drowning in an array of papers and bottles. Not only had she come in and run it, she’d tightened it—the shelves were stocked with neat files, books, regulations, supply brochures neatly stacked. The desk cleared, the staff roster neatly written up on the whiteboard on the wall. Contact numbers of bar staff alongside. He picked up the paper draped over the keyboard. Scanned the first couple of paragraphs—a report on the club and future prospects. He couldn’t read on. Bad feeling prickled. The bruise on his hand ached. She had been doing a good job and she’d wanted to keep working there.

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