Page 43 of Man Flu

“Great, so you can show me how to play,” Brielle pipes in again. “What are you doing tonight after work?”

My head falls to the side as I press my tongue against my cheek. She’s freaking playing me like a toy right now.

What if he says yes to her?

I shouldn’t care. They belong together, but she has a boyfriend …, I thought.

“He’s going out with me tonight,” I say, quietly.

“What was that?” Brielle asks.

“She said she was going out with me tonight,” Logan repeats with a smirk.

“Will you both stop it,” I hiss, looking from side to side. I’m just waiting for Nick or Taylor to walk up and add to the fun.

“Going out on a date with the boss.… You’re totally in,” Brielle tells him, offering him her fist to pound.

He pounds her fist and turns his chair away from us, centering himself back in front of his monitor.

I take the opportunity to grab Brielle’s arm and drag her into the office, but not fast enough before we’re stopped by Nick.

“Ladies, ladies, ladies,” he greets us. “I have a proposition for you if you have a moment to spare?”

“What is it, Nick?” I ignore his chagrin and sit down behind my desk. Not that it stops him from entering, but at least Brielle is sitting in the only guest chair … which leaves the corner of my desk available. Of course.

“So, I have this vendor attending the event next week. His name is Fitz O’Brior.”

“The CEO of GoGo Toys. Yes, I’ve heard of him, Nick.”

“Good, good, so I need you to cozy up to him a little bit. You know, loosen your collar maybe, put a little makeup on. We need him to buy ad space for Q2.” If he jiggles his eyebrows once more, I’m going to tear them off, one hair at a time.

Breathe, Hannah.

I hate playing this card. “Nick, first, I already have an appointment to meet with him. Second, have you heard the term sexual harassment? There are video training modules if you haven’t. I can familiarize you with one … or ten.”

“What are you talkinnnn’ about? You can have a sleepover with the temp, but I ask you to do something for the business, and it’s suddenly considered sexual harassment? Should I remind you of the company policy on interpersonal work relationships, Hannah?”

My blood is boiling. I haven’t done a thing except upchuck a sandwich on Logan. “Nick, not that it’s any of your business, but I haven’t broken any sort of policy. Whatever assumption you may have, is purely for your own fantasy, so do me a favor and get your ass off my desk, walk out of my office, and use that brain of yours before you say something that utterly stupid again. Do you understand?” Brielle is pale, but with splotches of pink peppering her cheeks.

“You never have been much of a team player,” Nick says, clearly in need of having the last word.

“I can’t believe you just said all that to him,” Brielle says.

“I’ve had it with the comments around here.”

“Yeah,” she says with a guilt-ridden grin. “I hear ya.” She doesn’t hear me. She loves the attention. I don’t know why, considering every man in this office other than Logan is married, and/or middle-aged, and lacking social skills, but whatever floats her boat, I guess.

“Well, in other news, you have a date tonight. What are you going to wear?”

I close my eyes, trying to piece together how this all came about. I’m asking for trouble, but at this point, I don’t think I have much to lose. “This?”

My eyes are still shut, but I can feel her stripping me with her blazing glare. “No, you’re not. I’ll handle it. Just smile and look pretty.”