He is interested in how people are doing with their work, and he listens to complaints and questions. More than that, he holds actual conversations.
It makes my teeth set on edge like someone is scraping fingernails down my own personal chalkboard.
Enzo, it seems, likes to circulate when he can. He likes to chat.
And honestly, something like that would soothe the perfectionist in me—how the new boss wants to get up to speed with what people are doing and how they are doing it.
If only it wasn't Enzo Marino.
The people-pleaser persona isn't something I would put him down as, but he really seems to want to put people at ease and know about everything.
I think the hands-on boss thing would have made me happy when I started. But now? Not with the hands-on boss being Enzo, the man I'm still so angry with, the man I hate.
So much so that I cut the break early and go back to my cubicle to work.
I'm half an hour in when there is a knock on the low outside wall of the cubicle.
Gritting my teeth, I prep myself with as much cold steel as I can find and turn to face Enzo.
Only it is not him.
Ruby smiles dreamily at me, and she is even more of a knockout than usual. Her hair tumbles down, and she is wearing a red dress today that shows off her curves and makes her lips redder. The blush on her cheeks just adds to the attractive-o-meter.
I frown. "What's that look for?"
She doesn't even seem to register any note of harshness from me. "Enzo, the new CEO. Isn't he amazing? He's so fucking sexy that I'm honestly not sure how to get work done." Ruby drops her voice. "I'm also not sure if I should play stupid and pretend I'm struggling just to get some one-on-one time with him."
"Ruby!"
She shrugs. "It used to work in high school. Pretend I'm dumber than the guy and have him ask me out after puffing out. Of course, the guys would always be wrong, but whatever...my grades never suffered. I didn't want them for their brains. I just wanted a boyfriend, or at least a date."
I can't see anyone not falling over themselves to date her. Sometimes, men stop her on the street when we walk to ask her out. It is eye-opening.
And she is now contemplating pretending to be inept to have some one-on-one with Enzo?
She sighs. "He's amazing, isn't he?"
I press my lips together and bite my tongue to stop myself from saying he most definitely isn't amazing.
She fans herself. "And hot, right?"
That one might be true, but hot doesn't mean good.
So, I go for the generic nod, and then I make a sound. "Mhmmm."
Ruby arches her brow, coming out of her dreamy mode. "So, you agree?"
"I said mhmm. It is a yes."
"Okay. So, why do you look like you gargled with industrial-strength cleaner?"
I smile. "Did you know mouthwash was floor cleaner put to another use?"
She looks at me uncertainly. "I don't think—" She stops and shakes her head. "Do not distract me. And answer my question."
Fuck.
I try to think of something that won't make me admit his hotness but also won't make me sound like a fawning fan.
