Page 10 of Grumpy Boss in Love

“Oh, God,”Cassandra groaned, looking skyward.

I smirked and finished, “I am today because of my big sisters.”

“We need to get off the phone right now beforeIstart crying,” Cassandra grumbled.

I squinted at her image in the tiny square on one side of my phone. “You’re not preggers again too, are you?”

“Nope.” Her lips lifted into a teasing smirk. “Not yet, anyway, but we’re working on it.”

“Ugh.” I grimaced. “You’re right, we need to get off the phone because…” I gazed ahead at the mammoth skyscraper building across the street. There was a sign on top of it that I was pretty sure was visible from space. “I have arrived. Westwood Collective,” I breathed.

“And she’s already checked out, folks,” April said with a giggle.

“Ruby, you’re practically drooling.” Tessa shook her head. “Pull yourself together.”

I glanced back at my phone screen. “You guys have no idea how lucky I am to have gotten this prestigious internship. Joining the marketing team at Westwood Collective is my dream. Soon, I’ll be head of the department, then I’ll have enough clout in the business world to start my own firm.”

Cassandra grinned. “That’s the spirit. Go get ‘em, you little tiger… who’s wrapped in a ridiculously bright girly suit…”

I glowered at her. “Way to ruin my big speech.”

She cackled and soon the others joined in. I huffed and rolled my eyes, but then I smiled at them because I knew they were all rooting for me. “Later, ladies,” I sang. “I’ll tell you all about my first day later.”

There was a chorus of “Okay” and “Love you” before each sister disappeared. Dropping my phone into my handbag, I stared at Westwood Collective’s exterior for a moment longer. The conglomerate’s headquarters stood as a testament to its success and innovation. It was majestic with the glass-paneled facade gleaming in the sunlight.

Still staring at the steel and glass structure, my heart thumped with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. I stepped down from the curb to cross the street. A blaring horn yanked me from my trance and I gasped, whipping around to see a car inches away from me.

A red-faced man stuck his torso out of his window. “What the hell is the matter with you, lady? Do you have a death wish?”

“I’m so sorry,” I said, holding up both palms. Then I teetered the rest of the way on the stilts of my pumps. “Oh, my gosh.” Tessa was right, I needed to get it together.

Admittedly, I was a daydreamer, always getting caught up in the fantasies in my head… no, not fantasies,dreams. I was going to work until they all became reality. Recovering from almost getting run over, I tugged my blazer, squared my shoulders, plastered on a smile, and marched up the stone steps toward Westwood Collective’s colossal revolving doors.

When I stepped into the lobby, I pulled in a breath. It was like entering a new world, a realm of prestige. I practically smelled money. The combination of wall sconces and pendant lights created an inviting atmosphere. The reception area consisted of the biggest and shiniest curved counter I’d ever seen. It was operated by two well-dressed people.

My heels clicked on the marble floor as I did a three-sixty, taking in everything and everyone.Jeez. Cass was right. Executives in plain black and gray suits whizzed past, some of them talking rapidly into their phones or to each other. In the midst of the grandeur of the room was an anxious energy that floated around. Everyone seemed so tense.

Nervousness pricked me harder this time around. I stood out like a blue hydrangea in a field of monochrome. People were even stopping to stare at me. The bright, confident smile I'd worn into the building slipped a little.

I headed toward the elevators and collided with something hard.

“Omph!”I staggered backward.

A hand wrapped around my arm to steady me. The person held a lidded cup and dark brown liquid splashed from the opening of it and onto the mystery person’s hand.

I knew it was a man because of the baritone of his grumbling,“Shit.”He managed to jump back before the liquid caught his immaculate navy blue suit.

“I’msosorry,” I gasped. “I seem to be accident-prone today.” My vision panned out and moved up to land on…“You.”

Elliot Sinclair blinked.“Ruby?”

I snorted because he sounded just as disappointed to see me as I was to see him. For the love of my sanity… Why did Elliot keep popping up everywhere?

“Are you alright, Mr. Westwood?” asked a blonde woman beside him.

“Fine,” he grunted.

“Westwood?”I canted my head to study Elliot.

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