It’s seven thirty and Mia will be out with her new friends by now, doing god knows what.
I type out a message to her but decide it’s best to leave her to it. She’s not my problem and never could be. She’s my employee dammit. Deleting the message and shoving the phone back in my pocket, my foot starts to tap out of time with the beat. A bead of sweat runs down my back as the image of her sat amongst three brawling guys torments me.
Fuck it.
I pull out my phone, find her contact and send a message without hesitating.
Alfie:Let me know if you need a ride back from the Jonas Brothers house. I’m free later.
I don’t know if that was the right thing to do. We’ve barely spent time together outside of work and yet, the thought of her with another man, let alone three of them, has me feeling like I could kick through a door, throw her over my shoulder and growl at anyone who tried to stop me. I pull up the group chat of the only people in my life who will tell me the truth. Unfortunately they’re as stupid as I am when it comes to dating or romance, not that this is what this is…
Alfie:Is it appropriate to offer a colleague a lift home from a social event?
They know I only work with Mia but I’m curious to see whether they will remember.
Jonesy:Stop being a prick and just ask her if she needs a ride. Jesus, you know how to talk to women.
That answers that question.
Alfie:I’ve already explained why it’s not that simple. Remember when you talked about how hot my office manager was when you visited the office?
Caleb:Put us all out of our misery Adams and just call the girl. You’re an awful texter.
Alfie:She’s out with three guys. She’s not going to pick up her phone.
Katie:If what Lottie said was true, I think she’ll definitely pick up.
Excellent. Lottie has told everyone already.
Lottie:Oh, she likes him. I could tell. Not as much as he likes her, obviously. But we can work on that.
Alfie:I don’t like her. I just want her to be safe and not in danger. Finding a new office manager would be a nightmare.
Jonesy:You’re an idiot.
Alfie:I’m gonna try and call her.
I hit Mia’s contact and put the phone to my ear. The music is loud as hell in here so no doubt I won’t be able to hear a goddamn word she says. Maybe I’ll have time to swing by the bar where I saw her with the three beefcakes and find out if the barstaff know them and where they live.
It quickly goes to voicemail and a text comes through.
Mia:I’m a little tied up right now.
Tied up?Tied fucking up?No fucking way is she getting tied up by three lumberjacks who have moved to the fucking city. Not a hope in hell am I going to let that happen.
“Fuck my life,” I grumble, pinching the bridge of my nose, clicking back on the Dinner Club group chat.
Alfie:She screened my call and then texted saying “I’m a little tied up right now”
Caleb:Ouch.
Jonesy:Oh shit…
Katie:She’s annoyed with you. Be nice and see if she comes around.
Lottie:Agree with Katie, you boys are too gullible.
I steel myself, taking a deep breath. I’ve all but forgotten about Helen at this point but one glance at the dancefloor lets me know she’s doing okay with the neighbor.
