"As your boss, I do things my way, on my schedule, not Louie's."
It makes surface sense, but I'm not convinced. "Maybe. But it is still too much, even with reception duties thrown in."
"He's a personal assistant."
"So?" I swallow.
I have an idea of what he might want. And I'm about to voice the worst thing ever to my boss, a man I have secretly known for years. A man who could crush me down and any future with one word.
And I don't care.
I glare at him. "Is this your way to toy with me? Or maybe of getting me into bed?"
Chapter Ten
LOLA
He starts to laugh.
He fucking laughs and shakes his head, and ugly heat burns all over my skin.
Enzo rises and saunters over to me. "If I wanted to fuck you, I would be fucking you, Lola. I never realized you were so into yourself. Then again, you were the one flashing your ass at me, so I'm not sure why I'm fucking surprised."
The heat burns even higher.
"What—"
"Look, I get you've had a thing for me since we were kids, and now it's an adult lust-filled thing, but,Lourdes, I would prefer to keep this professional."
I want to spit words at him, deny I ever had a thing, and say I never tried to get his attention with the wardrobe mishap. But I don't.
I know how these things work. The more denial, the more it sounds real.
I clench my fists, then force myself to release them.
"Then why?—"
"To kill two birds with one fucking stone. I told you yourwork shows you earned that promotion, and I need someone to answer a phone here and there. I'm not asking you to get refreshments, there's a water cooler. I do most of my work myself, but I know your day is organized, your work is always done early, and it is meticulous. You have a few extra minutes a day, maybe a few hours a week extra to do both jobs. And this one is not much."
That deflates my sails.
But I claw for a handhold. "Just a few hours a week that will become more."
"No." He pauses. "Obviously, I can't predict the future, and there will be the odd client here and there I need to see. But it is not going to be much at all."
"But—"
"And even if you don't want the bonus money for doing Luke's job, I need you close because I will be throwing some private jobs your way. Private as in your eyes only. That's it. Nothing more."
"Private as in...?"
"Nothing untoward, Lola. Just private. This isn't my only business."
"Oh."
"Oh," he echoes. "Go pack up and come up here. Luke will show you how to work the phone and anything else you need to know."
I blink. "He's not the friendliest."
