I stare at her. “I think you can do better.”
A sound leaves her pretty lips. Wait, did she just huff?
“Fine,Mr. Lawless.The way my luck is running right now, I’ve nothing to lose. If you want it broken down into simple terms, here it is: My bosses were a bunch of morons who couldn’t be bothered noticing anything I did in their pea-sized brains. I did everything, and when I say that, I really meaneverything.”She waves one hand in the air in a swirl around her. “I’d like to blame it on poor management, but I rarely ever saw my boss’s boss. The window washer knew more about what was going on in that boardroom than they did. The thanks I got after two years of tireless dedication? A measly severance. Not even a thank you card or a plastic plant. I may have taken a few liberties with the ficus on my desk, but I’d earned it.”
I break my bewildered stare to hold the bridge of my nose with my thumb and forefinger. “Don’t leave anything out,” I mutter.
“You know what’s worse?” she goes on. Uh oh, I’ve opened a can of worms here. I don’t even get time to answer before she continues her rant. “They promoted the pinhead I trained. Okay, that’s probably harsh. I liked Veronica, emphasis onliked.Paying her was apparently a lot less than me, hence the reason Ifound myself out on the sidewalk, shoeless, with a speeding cab ruining my outfit — long story — not to mention my roommate took all our rent money and I was evicted, plus my ex-boyfriend is being a huge pain in my ass. The only person in my life right now I have to cling to is my cat, Mindy, oh and Bailey.”
I reach over the desk, wordlessly pulling a tissue out of the box and hand it to her. I made the new girl cry.
Wow, that’s a new record for me.
I really am pathetic.
She takes it out of my hand and dabs her eyes.
The words ‘I’m sorry’ won’t form on my lips. I mean, I didn’t make her blurt all of that out. Instead, I say. “Need a minute?”
She shakes her head. “Wow. I’m really sorry about that. I guess I still had some pent up anger inside after all.” She unceremoniously blows her nose and stands. “I’ll see myself out.”
“Wait, where are you going?” I stand too, not wanting her to leave. She’s a magical creature, alluring as much as she is intriguing. I’ve never met a woman like her before.
“I-I don’t expect you to hire me after that. I’m sorry, it’s just… there’s been a lot going on, none of that is your fault, and I shouldn’t have brought my problems to work. I don’t normally do that.”
“I asked.” I shrug. Iz and Mom will kill me if I let Sadie run away, let alone if they hear I made her cry. “I wasn’t exactly prepared for that avalanche, but I like honesty. It’s at the forefront of this business and this family, even if sometimes the truth is hard to hear.”
She looks at me without any signs that I’m making fun of her. I’m not. So she sits back down, clearing her throat. “I’ll refrain from any more outbursts.”
I zoned in onmy ex boyfriend is being a huge pain in the ass.I should ask her why, but that’s not what you do during an interview/induction.
“Your credentials say you’re computer literate.”
“That’s right.” Christ, she’s still dabbing her eyes.
“That’s good because I’m not, and I’ve let the paperwork get a little outta control. My sister has been helpin’, and my mom, but Isabelle is needed for her dog walking service, and at the Lodge; that’s the other business we run.”
Sadie nods. “I’ve read up on the family business. I’ve also been here before to visit Bailey, so I know the town well.”
I nod. “Good.”
She blinks at me, and my heart lurches. I don’t have the heart to give her a grilling, not after her mini meltdown, but we have a few things to discuss before I let her loose. “So, I’m still employed?”
“Let me guess, everyone in town already told you I’m the Grinch?”
Her cheeks flush slightly. “Not in so many words.”
One side of my mouth lifts. “They were havin’ a good day then.”
“I just want you to know I’m grateful for this opportunity, Mr. Lawless.”
While my cock might like her calling me that, I certainly don’t. “It’s Zane.”
“Oh, of course, I’m sorry.”
“You apologize too much,” I tell her. “Sounds like that company you worked for were a bunch of ass hats.”
She smiles, dabbing her nose with her scrunched up tissue. “Y-yes, yes they were.”
