Page 3 of My Best Friend's Grump Brother

“You’re going to fall in love with me one day.” I could hear the humor in her voice, and I knew she was teasing me, but for some reason, my chest still tightened.

“Unlikely, Abrams.”

“Stranger things have happened.”

The day I fell in love with Selena Abrams would be the day I would give up law and become a hippy. She was a loud, fast-talking know-it-all, and despite being beautiful and having a great body, she was my sister’s best friend. And she was off-limits.

It would never happen in this lifetime. Or the next.

Chapter two

Fresh Start

Oneyearlater

Selena

I cut my engine off and put the phone to my ear. “I promise that I won’t get fired from this job.”

Amelia sighed, “I hope so. You can’t keep acting out at work, Sel. It’s not good.”

“The last guy was a total ass. Who calls someone repeatedly on Saturday to answer his emails.”

“Your boss,” she said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “You were basically his assistant, Sel.”

“Correction, I am a paralegal.” That distinction had to be made. I had studied hard to become a paralegal; anyone could be a personal assistant.

“Which means you are technically the assistant to a lawyer, Sel. Look, I don’t want to fight with you right now. This is your first day, and I want this job to go smoothly for you.”

Amelia and I have been best friends since our childhood. She moved here to Chicago a few years ago after her ex broke up with her suddenly while she was still living in Braven Bay. It worked out for her, though, as she ended up marrying her ex’s brother, Nate, who is hot as shit and a firefighter. The girl hit the jackpot. But she worries about me. My other best friend Claire does, too, even if she is a five-hour drive away in our hometown of Braven Bay. They both felt like they needed to protect me, but I was fine. I didn’t need protection. I was more than capable of handling myself.

“It will be good because these bosses aren’t a bunch of asses that will abuse me and my time.” I was still a little bitter from all that had taken place between me and the old firm. “I think this change will be good for me. And I think this fresh start is something I need. I was outgrowing Scotts and Mallory, anyway.”

I meant to say that I had accidentally flirted a little too hard and made a man fall in love with me. That man just happened to be my boss's son, but that was another story for another day. I was going to be a new woman here. No flings. No sex. Just work.

“I just want this one to work out for you,” I hear Amelia groan as she switches positions, “I swear I am only 20 weeks pregnant, but I feel like I’m 40.”

This was baby number two for Amelia, and I was over the moon happy for her. She was born to be a mother; this had been her dream ever since she was a little girl. She didn’t care for the high life like some of us. She wanted the onesies, naps, poopy diapers, bottles, and saggy boobs.

I was more than happy to play the successful rich aunt who jetted off every two weeks to a new location. I had no interest in being a mother, not after—no, today was a happy day, and I was only going to think happy things.

I made my way to the elevator with Amelia still on the phone as she did her best to give me as much motivation and confidence as I needed. We said our goodbyes as I got into the elevator and made my way up to the fortieth floor.

Yep, my new firm was in one of those new Chicago sky-rise buildings. If I was being honest, when I applied for the job, I hoped that I got it for the sole purpose of being able to work on the top floor.

The doors dinged open to reveal a gorgeous reception area. There was a wall with the company logo on it behind a big white marble desk. Water cascaded down from the roof all the way, creating a beautiful and serene feature. The large white half-circle desk stood in the center with a woman at the back who had a headpiece on.

“You must be Selena. I’m William, your welcoming committee and one of the partners here,” a man standing to the side appeared in front of me with a charming smile on his face.

He’s cute. I mentally slapped myself, remembering that I was to be a changed woman.

No sex. No flings. Just work.

He wore a rather expensive-looking suit with an even more impressive Rolex on his wrist. It was a classic Daytona and cost more than I could make in a year.

Suddenly, my little Zara dress that I had rushed to pick out yesterday seemed like a terrible choice for today.

“Y-yes, that is me.” I held out my hand awkwardly, “it’s a pleasure to meet you, William.”

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