I gather the potential clients’ lead list to give to Aiden so he can divvy it up between the salespeople so they can start cold calling. Almost everyone in the office is gone, except the man himself.
He’s tossing a stress ball in the air and squeezing it in his bad hand when I enter his office. I drop off the files and look at him questioningly. Is he stressed because Collin’s daughter is pretty as hell and absolutely his dream girl? Probably.
“What?” he asks, annoyed.
“She’s nice.”
‘Okay?”
“I think…” I roll my eyes at him, and his shitty tone. “I think she needs a friend, and I plan on being that for her. I think she’s sad.”
“Of course she’s sad.”
“Maybe…”
“Listen, Penny. She’s an employee, she’s a shareholder. I’ll be kind to her, not just because I’m her boss, but because she’s Collin’s daughter. Is there anything else?”
“Damn, don’t chew my head off, or I’ll call Aunt Maggie,” I immediately throw out. Totally fine calling my aunt to tell her what a dick her son is being. Especially when Aiden is probably the kindest out of all of his brothers. This isn’t like him.
“Seriously, you’re going to call my mom when I tell you to mind your own business?”
“Yeah, maybe. I’m just saying. Everyone in the office is already gossiping about her; it’s going to be hard. We have to make more of an effort. I’ll make sure to ask her to lunch.”
“That will be great. Is there anything else?”
I shake my head, clearing my throat to leave his office, when I stop at the door frame. “Will you be at family dinner on Sunday?”
He nods and I smile. It’s been so long since he’s really been a part of any of the family stuff and it makes me sad seeing him suffer.
I probably shouldn’t be plotting ways to make him fall in love with our latest employee. But my break from dating men has me antsy and wanting to at least see someone else get their happy ending.
They’ll be none the wiser as I plant my seeds of forbidden office romance.
I collect my belongings and make the walk to my building. I really need to start driving again, but the fact is I hate it. Every time I try to get in the driver’s seat of a car, I just freak out. It’s not worth it, it’s why I was more than happy to take the apartment when my parents offered. I can walk to work and the best food spots, plus Lincoln will drive me when needed.
I eat the leftover Chinese food in my fridge and put on something mindless, trying to ignore the overwhelming loneliness that’s eating me up inside.
My next appointment with Deb is in a few days, and it couldn’t come at a better time.
My phone vibrates, and I pick it up, seeing the notification from Avalon.
A massive smile takes over my face. I shouldn’t be so excited over a man I don’t know wanting to see me again. Maybe he had a busy work schedule, or had something come up and was just now able to reach out. My days of spiraling over why this man wasn’t interested in me seems ridiculous. All the feelings of disappointment are quickly replaced by anticipation.
12
SELFISH
I feellike shit the entire day. The entire meeting with the plumbing company had me wanting to end it all, but I somehow persevered.
I don’t know why I took Penny to Calamity. After that funeral, I just wanted to feel alive, and not so alone. But as I head to pick up dinner, the feeling sinks in again.
Why can I only let my guard down when I’ve been piled with drinks or when I’m fucking a stranger?
It’s all truly pathetic.
My number is called and I grab my bag of to-go food and head back to my car. And that’s when I see her.
She’s walking with her kids, who must be around eight and twelve, in my direction. She doesn’t look any different. The same dark hair, same figure—same everything.
