“What? I’m just saying,” Marina shrugs and grins. “You miss one hundred percent of the shots you don’t take.” She looks back at me. “So have you gone to a lot of shows, Mr. Heathcliff?”
“I doubt he has,” Katherine says flatly. “I have a feeling this is the first show he’s been to in a long time. Am I correct?”
“Why, I’m hurt,” I say. “Katherine, do you not consider me cultured?”
“I don’t know you well enough to know if you’re cultured, sir,” she replies, her eyes narrowed as she stares at me. “But we should really be getting to our seats. We don’t want to be rude and have to step over people.”
“Well, actually,” I say, glancing at Marina, “I got a box, and there are more than enough seats. If you’d like to join us?—”
“Oh my gosh, you got a box?” Marina says loudly. “I definitely want to sit in a box. I’ve never sat in a box. I always see people in boxes and think, wow, one day I’d love to sit in a box.”
Katherine presses her lips together. “But we already paid for our seats, Marina.”
“Girl, we paid twenty dollars,” Marina says. “Do you know how much a box costs? I’m willing to lose twenty bucks to sit somewhere better.”
Katherine glances at her, then at me. “I guess we’ll be joining you in your box… sir. If Willow and Brielle can also join.”
“Call me Jack when we’re not in the office, and of course, they can join. The box is huge.”
“I think I’ll call you Mr. Heathcliff,” she says coolly. “Just so we both remember that I’m your employee and we don’t accidentally cross any unprofessional lines.”
“It’s a little late for that, don’t you think?” I whisper in her ear. “When you were on the phone with me last night moaning, my words made you come.”
She blushes. “Really? Let’s not discuss that now.”
“Then when?”
“Never.” She wrinkles her cute little nose and I laugh.
“What about later tonight, in my bed?” She shakes her head, but I can see that there’s a small smile on her face. Progress! “Follow me, girls. We’ll go up the stairs and take our seats. I havesome other friends there,” I say, “but they’ll be happy to share the box with you and meet your friends.”
“Like who?” Her eyes narrow. “Your guy friends?”
“Yeah. Levi’s there. You’ll see,” I say, smiling. We reach the box, and I pause. “Hi, Levi. Lisa. Danielle. I’d like you to meet Katherine and Marina. They both work for me. And their friends Willow and Brielle.”
Lisa sits up and stares at the two women in disgust. “Okay… what are they doing here?”
“They’re going to join us. You don’t have a problem with that, do you?” I ask.
“I thought this was a date. I didn’t know there were going to be a bunch of randos,” Lisa says, frowning slightly. “No offense.”
“I guess we don’t have to join you,” Katherine says, looking at me angrily. Maybe I shouldn’t have invited Lisa and Danielle, after all. “We really wouldn’t want to intrude.”
“It’s fine,” I say, quickly. “Never let it be said that I think I’m above my employees. If I get to sit in a box, you get to sit in a box.”
Marina’s eyes light up. "Can I sit at the front?” She practically bounces when I nod, and she takes a seat next to Levi. She looks over at him, grins, then looks back at Katherine. “He’s hot, girls. Is he single?” She starts giggling, and I can see Katherine, Willow, and Brielle attempting not to groan.
“Been drinking tonight?” I ask Katherine softly as she stands there. I can tell from the uncomfortable expression on her face that she doesn’t really want to be in the box.
“A little.” She nods. “Barely two drinks, but apparently Marina is a lightweight.” She takes a step forward and whispers softly. “Do you come here because of me?”
“What do you mean?” I ask her innocently.
“You know what I mean?”
“Have a drink with me and let’s discuss it further.”
“The show’s about to start.” She shakes her head. “Plus you have someone here.”
