“I can, but, uh, I can’t work the entire day tomorrow. I’ll need to leave at three. Actually, my hours will need to be flexible in general, if that’s okay.”
“That’s fine. You can just jot down your hours somewhere. I’m flexible.”
“Okay.”
There’s a pause on her end of the line. I know she wants to ask me something else. “What else, angel? What else do you want to ask?”
“How––how much does it pay?”
My girl’s worried about money? Didn’t that fucking ex of hers leave her set? I grit my teeth. I don’t even know him or the story, but I still want to fuck him up. “How’s thirty an hour?”
“Thirty dollars?” she says sounding shocked, squeaky.
“Not enough? Forty?”
“Oh my gosh, Keeton. I was thinking ten,” she giggles. “Thirty is insane.”
“It’s what I pay Molly.” Yeah, she’s my sister so I pay her well.
“Well, I’ve never been an office manager before, Keeton. I don’t deserve the same pay as Molly.”
She thinks she doesn’t deserve to get paid? God, I want to take this woman, wrap her up in my arms and tell her how much she deserves. So much. She deserves everything. I know she does. “Lainie. The job pays thirty. Don’t argue with me.”
“Oh.” She sounds surprised. “I’m sorry. Okay.”
Fuck. Now she’s just being obedient. In the bedroom, that’s a plus; in normal life, not so much. “Lainie, sweetheart,” I say softly. “I didn’t mean to sound so harsh. The job is not easy. I’m a terrible boss. I’m disorganized, forgetful, and an asshole most days. You’re going to wish you took the forty by the time you’re done.”
She laughs. “Okay, Keeton. If you say so.”
I say so, but I don’t say it out loud. I get the feeling I’ll need to treat my woman with kid gloves until she understands what’s happening here. In the meantime, I need to know more about her fucking ex. “Good. Now, tell me about your ex-husband.”
“What?” she squeaks again. “Why?”
“Call it curiosity.”
“Keeton…”
“Tell me, honey. I need to understand it. You knew he was gay when you married him. Why did you do it?”
