My phone pings, reminding me I should be on a call with our director of distribution to give him the bad news about the Zoom meeting. “I’ll try to find a way to make it up to her while we’re here. In the meantime, I need you to leave so I can make some calls. It wouldn’t kill you to go back to your room and spend a couple of hours reading what I’m sure is an overflowing inbox.”
Scrunching up his face, he says, “Yeah, I’ll have to do that another day. When I haven’t started drinking already.”
I let out a long sigh. “In that case, please try not to cause any type of scandal. I have enough on my plate right now.”
“Like insulting women—”
“Out.” I point towards his room. “And close the door behind you.”
As soon as he leaves, I undo the top two buttons on my shirt and roll up the sleeves. This is going to be a very long day. Actually, it’s going to be a very long year. I only hope I’ll still have a company at the end of it.
9
Handsome is as Handsome Does…Unless the Guy is Insanely Handsome
Nora
“I can’t believehe said that.” Hadley pulls me in for an awkward hug that requires me to morph my torso into a letterC. “What a jerk.”
“He’s the worst person I’ve ever met. Rude, arrogant, and…rude.”
Hadley lets me go, and instead of sitting down to eat lunch at her desk, I pace the yoga studio. “You know what? This suit wasn’t cheap. It cost me over three hundred dollars, which is why I keep wearing it even though it’s a bit loose.”
“Hmph.” She stares at my outfit. “I’m not saying I agree with the creep. Obviously he’s the devil incarnate, but you might want to treat yourself to a few new outfits. You know, things that don’t look like they’re about to slip right off.”
I stop pacing. “Is it that bad?”
Nodding, Hadley says, “It’s not great.” Then she scrambles to add, “And you deserve great. You’ve worked so hard to get in terrific shape. You should definitely reward yourself.”
Realizing I was about to hitch up my skirt for the thousandth time today, I pop my lower lip. “I guess it can’t hurt to look more professional, butonlyfor the promotion and not because Mr. Thinks-He’s-King-of-the-World said anything.”
“Absolutely,” Hadley answers, sitting down in front of her bowl of spicy conch chowder, which smells amazing. Her husband, Heath, made it for their supper last night so she has leftovers.
I’m having a salad. Again. Yay.
I plant myself in the chair and stab at some spinach with my fork. “You know what? Iamgoing shopping. Right after work. Can you come?” I ask before I remember she’ll be teaching right up until the stores close for the evening.
“I wish I could,” she says. “But send me pics of anything you’re not sure about. I’ll keep my phone on me so I can send a thumbs up or down.”
“Oh, I will,” I say, still sounding furious (which I am). “I’ll send pics. I’ll buy fabulous stuff and I’ll be the queen of professionalism when I come back here tomorrow. And if I’m really lucky, Mr. Jerkface will get swallowed up by a shark in the meantime, so I never have to see him again. Can you believe he called me unprofessional?” I ask. “Me?!”
“No, I cannot. You’re nothing if not professional.” She slaps her desk. “He really shouldn’t talk, if you ask me. Not after what’s happening over at his company.”
I should probably know this, shouldn’t I? I mean, as someone totally professional and all. “Um, what exactly is happening?”
I’m hoping a sex scandal that leads to a future of him being canceled by polite society.
“The whole James Prescott thing? With the drunk driving charge?”
“Oh, right!” I say, snapping my fingers. “I totally forgot about that.”
“Anyone who knows anything about James Prescott knows he’s got a drinking problem. Rojas really should have done his homework before bringing him on board. Heath said their market share dropped big time after that happened and again last week when Prescott gave that disastrous interview. Apparently, Rojas Rum is in major trouble.”
“Talk about poor business decision-making. Hiring an alcoholic to represent your alcohol.” I snort. “And here he is being all high and mighty about my suit. Someone needs to stop throwing stones from inside his glass house.” I pause, hearing what I just said. “Or whatever that saying is.”
“I knew what you meant,” Hadley says reassuringly.
“He can kiss my ass.” I shove an overly large bite of greens in my mouth.
