Page 31 of Assistant to the Billionaire CEO

“Well…I don’t know about that,” Damon said. “But I’m glad I could help. Actually, speaking of help, there’s something I need to ask you.”

“Yeah?”

There was another long pause. Something was odd. Then I heard a sigh. Finally, he asked, “Are you doing anything to celebrate?”

“Are you sure that’s what you wanted to ask me? I’m going out for a few drinks with Bonnie. Why? Do you want to come with us?”

“No, I’ve got to work. Have an extra shot for me,” he said. “We’ll speak again soon.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too.” With that, he ended the call and left me alone with my thoughts of my new boss.

12

ACE

“Gracie, he’s serious this time,” Miles said to our wide-eyed waitress as she handed me my drink. “He wants a fresh beer in front of him every two minutes. Don’t keep him waiting like last time.”

“Fuck off,” I grumbled and couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Wasn’t that what you were about to say, man?” Miles asked, grabbing the beer Gracie set down in front of him. “I thought that’s what you were about to say.”

“Get out of my ass.”

Miles and Oliver laughed. The three of us were seated at our usual table in a dimly lit corner of Talia’s. Music roared from the speakers: a combination of ’70s music with some new-age beats. It wasn’t to my liking, so I tried to block it out.

Gracie handed Oliver his whiskey, then scurried back to the bar at the other side of the almost-empty dance floor. “Like I was saying before we were interrupted,” Miles said once she was gone and we clinked glasses, “Damon couldn’t make it. So, no talking shop. Tonight is about having fucking fun.”

“All right.” Oliver banged his tumbler on the table’s surface.

“Where’s Damon?” I asked, lifting my glass.

“Working late on some shit.”

“So how did that interview go, Ace?” Oliver asked me. “Did you end up interviewing Damon’s little sister?”

“I did. Cheers,” I said, and we clinked glasses. “Jesus, the beer is getting warmer each time we visit.”

Miles shook his head after taking a gulp. “Dude, the beer is fine. Maybe something’s wrong with your tastebuds,” he teased and wiped foam from his upper lip. “So, wait now—how did that interview go with Damon’s little sister?”

“I hired her. She’s starting on Monday.”

“Excellent. Dude, seriously, that’s fuckingexcellent.” Miles seemed surprisingly excited. He raised his beer again, and we knocked glasses for a second time. “Cheers! I bet she’s thrilled about it. Thanks for giving her a chance, man.”

I eyed him with a certain suspiciousness. “No problem.”

“Make sure to get her involved in everything as soon as you can. Is she… Wait, what was her name again?” Miles asked.

My bullshit alarm went off. His enthusiastic reaction was strange in itself, but it turned out he couldn’t even remember her name. It didn’t add up.

“Stella,” Oliver answered for me.

“Right.” Miles nodded. “Is she still as goofy as she was when we were younger?” He crossed his eyes and made an even goofier face than he had done back in Damon’s presence.

Okay, maybe I was overreacting. He was my buddy, and maybe I was just overworked. Miles was the same clown as ever.

“Bro. You can’t ask him that,” Oliver warned him. “There’s no right way to answer that question. Also, I bet you wouldn’t call Damon’s sister goofy if he were here.”

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