Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 41482 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 207(@200wpm)___ 166(@250wpm)___ 138(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41482 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 207(@200wpm)___ 166(@250wpm)___ 138(@300wpm)
A very good broken record.
“So spill it.” He scooped out some lo mein, wrapping the noodles around his chopsticks before bringing them to his mouth, his eyes trained on me as he expectantly waited for me to answer.
“Okay, well, do you want to hear about the interview or the blind date first?”
Michael leaned back so he was resting against the couch, his expression showing me he was actually thinking about it. “Surprise me with the best one.”
I thought about that and honestly didn’t know which one was better. But I decided to tell him about the interview first, because the whole Pope situation was going to be long and detailed, and no doubt Michael would ask question after question.
“I got the job at Dexter and Calvin.”
Michael’s eyes widened and he raised his arms in the air as if he just scored a goal. “That’s my girl. Fuck yeah.”
I started laughing at how extra he was being with the whole thing, but then thought to myself, yeah. Fuck yeah, in fact. I’d made this day my bitch and came out with my goal in hand.
“So, what about the blind date? Was Pope a winner or should we chuck him in the hell no pile?”
I instantly felt my cheeks heat as I thought about Pope.
“Olive, girl, you better tell me what’s going on, because right now your face is as red as a stop sign and you’ve got this goofy little smile on your face.”
I looked down, embarrassed, but the more I thought about it, the more that smile faded. How could this really ever work? I really liked Pope, liked the way he looked at me. I genuinely felt like he respected me and my thoughts and ideas.
If he didn’t like me, he wouldn’t have hired me after finding out I was fired, right? But on the heels of that, I felt everything else fade. My emotions, the reality of the situation... everything.
I was his employee now. Like, his employee. I would be working directly with him. There’s no way a relationship could stem from anything. Not only would it be inappropriate, but the complications that could come from it terrified me.
What if he broke it off? Would I still have a job afterward? And if I did, how fucking awkward would it all be?
No, I couldn’t give in to my feelings, no matter how strong they were. Because having a job so I could eat and have a roof over my head trumped my personal happiness. No matter how much I desired him, how comfortable I felt with Pope, and I’d never felt this way about anybody else, I knew I had to put my feelings for Pope Shelby behind me.
Because anything else might just be a disaster waiting to happen.
I spent the next ten minutes talking to Michael about everything. I didn’t sugarcoat anything, didn’t lie about having gotten drunk. I told him the truth about waking up in Pope’s bed, and I did the grand finale of how Pope was the one who’d interviewed me, and how he was now my boss.
After I was done saying all of that, Michael just stared at me, the expression on his face telling me he was shocked, intrigued, and curious.
“So… what does that mean?”
I shrugged. I really didn’t know what it meant.
“Are you going to pursue things with him? It’s clear he wants to, and the way your voice hitches when you say his name, I know you well enough that you clearly want him too.”
I slowly shook my head and reached out to grab my wine glass, bringing it to my mouth and taking a long drink. “I can’t explore those feelings. I won’t.”
“What? Why?” Michael sounded aghast.
I set my wine glass back down but kept my fingers wrapped around the stem, looking at the red liquid inside. “It’s a disaster waiting to happen, Michael.” When he didn’t say anything in return, I looked up at him. “Because no matter what my heart wants, it’s my head that’s winning this fight.”
This was the right call, but God... it fucking sucked.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Pope
“Can you believe they actually came to the boardroom with that portfolio?” Brayden scoffed. “Pieces of work, those Harrison brothers are.”
“Completely unprofessional,” Mitchell responded.
“They’re a bunch of pricks is what they are,” Brayden said.
I kept my mouth shut, because I didn’t give a shit about any of this.
“What do you think about it all, Pope?” Brayden asked, and I turned my attention to him.
“Honestly? I don’t give a shit. I thought we were leaving the work bullshit at work.”
Brayden and Mitchell looked at each other then both started laughing.
“Fair enough.” Brayden tipped his beer in my direction, and I picked up my own, finishing it off and signaling the waiter for another.
The truth was, my mind was consumed with thoughts of Olive, how she’d acted in my office just a few days ago... how she’d look so damn good. Hell, I’d wanted to clear off my table, push up that little pencil skirt of hers, and see how tight she really was.