“Um,no, not yummy. Nerve-wracking and a terrible start to the morning.”
“Aw, did he have you in a state?” Jess giggles then swings around in her chair to face the young man approaching our desks.
“Did someone bring donuts?” Jess coos at the intern.
“I figure you ladies are the ones who run things around here and we should be friends.” The young man gives us a winning smile.
“Isn’t he adorable?” Accepting the box, I inhale the scent of sugar and fried bread. “Just what I need.”
The kid’s wavy dark hair falls over his forehead as he grins, leaning forward.
“And from Belltown Bites,” I add. “I feel so special.”
“Only the best for you!”
“He’s trying to flirt with us,” Jess whispers to me.
The kid’s cheeks, still slightly plump with baby fat, redden.
“I know—it’s so cute!”
“He has eyes like chocolate chip cookies.”
He soldiers gamely on. “You ladies let me know if you need anything.”
Jess makes a heart shape with her hands. “I just want to wrap him up in warm blankets and feed him hot cocoa and keep him safe from this bone-crushing finance firm that’s going to suck the life out of him.”
Those big brown eyes grow even wider and more alarmed.
“They just get younger and cuter every year.” Jess rests her chin on her hands. “So, what kind of donuts did you bring us, darlin’?”
The scent of sugar wafts out as I open the box.
“The chocolate one is mine. Did you get a donut? Have the cream-filled one—neither of us like them. Go on.” I wave it at the intern. “You’re going to need your energy. You’re about to enter hell week.”
His hand extends, fingertips grab the crackling glaze…
A deep voice snarls, “You eat that fucking donut, and you can kiss this internship goodbye.”
The intern screams and claps his hands over his mouth. The donut drops on my desk then rolls onto the floor as Salinger pounces.
“Are you trying to butter up my assistant?” Salinger growls, stepping around my desk.
The intern tries to scuttle back and run away but Salinger’s circling him now.
My boss smiles. It is not a friendly smile.
“You think you’ll get in good with her and she’ll talk sweet nothings into my ear and you’ll get a promotion? Guess what, smartass—you miscalculated. I can’t stand Mandy. Even if you tied her down and force-fed her coffee and fried pastry until she agreed to sing your praises to me, I wouldn’t care. I am not someone who you can use social engineering to manipulate. Save that for the idiots we milk for investment cash. If you want to impress me, bring in a contract. Don’t think you’re going to coast on your frat-boy drinking-buddy bullshit.”
“Yeah,” the intern squeaks, nodding.
“Yeah?” Salinger snarls softly. He’s a good head taller than the brown-eyed intern, who’s shaking in his shoes as Salinger lowers his face so his nose is almost touching the intern’s.
“Yes”—the intern gulps—“sir.” His teeth are clenched. He’s going to go to the nearest supply closet and burst into tears.
My heart melts. “Go away, Salinger.”
“The fuck did you just say?” Salinger turns on me.
