“Was her resume that vague?” he asks.
“No. It was very detailed. I just…” I’m stuttering. I fucking hate stuttering. Only idiots stutter. I take a swig of my coffee, blaming it on the lack of caffeine.
“You just…”
“I didn’t read her resume until Friday,” I admit as quietly as possible. Diego, on the other hand, is anything but discrete and lets out a hearty laugh.
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Listen,” I say to him. I’m pretty sure every employee of mine within a twenty-five-foot radius startles and starts working harder. “I have a lot on my plate. It’s not nothing running a hotel like this, not to mention keeping an eye on the sister hotels. I hire people to do the vetting. She made the cut, came in for her interview, and I could tell she was right for the job.”
“I’m sure you could,” he continues to jab, and I continue to glare. “Listen, boss. I don’t really care what your process is, but I do think it’s a little weird that you hired Ellie blindly.”
“Don’t call her that,” I snap.
“Ellie? But everyone calls her that. I bet if you looked on her resume, it probably says that she insists on being called that. Jesus,” he shakes his head, and I do my best to simmer down, not just because we are in the lobby surrounded by workers and guests, but because I don’t like Diego thinking he has an edge on me.
“You want to know what I think?” he goes on as we make our way back to the elevator.
“Not really, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me anyway,” I answer.
“I think it’s finally happening,” Diego grins.
“What’s finally happening? What the fuck are you talking about?”
“You like your assistant,” he states.
I take a casual sip of my coffee, that for whatever reason doesn’t taste as good today.
Maybe because Annelise didn’t make it.
“Of course I like her. She’s good at her job.”
“You know that’s not what I mean. I think for the first time maybe ever, you’re interested in someone.”
“You’re out of your fucking mind,” I smirk, only because I don’t want all the guests around us to think that I’m a prick. I do have to save face, even if PR isn’t my job.
“Just admit it already, D. You’re falling for Ellie.”
Everything about the sentence pisses me off, and I make a point of closing the elevator door before anyone else can come inside.
“You’re out of line,” I snap. “I do not have feelings for her.”
“Are you sure about that? Because I’ve seen the way you look at her. The way you act around her. The way you take care of her.”
“She doesn’t have a lot,” I tell him. “She’s a single mom.”
I wasn’t planning on admitting the last part to him. I also have no intention of telling him that Annelise is the girl I fucked over five years ago at the gala. I will omit that for now. It would only give him more ammo in his argument, even if he is wrong on all counts.
“Damn,” he says while clicking his tongue. “Or should I say, a damsel in distress?”
“She’s not that either. Look, I hired her because she’s smart and good at her job. I can detect competency right out the gate.”
“I believe that, boss,” Diego says as he sucks on his iced coffee. “But that doesn’t mean you aren’t developing feelings for her.”
“I do not have feelings for my assistant!” I thunder just as the door opens. Diego only continues to smirk, following me to my office. I know he’s not about to drop the conversation, so I close the door behind us.
“I don’t understand why you fight it so much. Everyone falls in love at some point in their lives. Most people do it more than once. Why the denial?”
