Page 28 of My Favorite Boss

“Both. I’d suck him so good, he’d forget everything and everyone else.”

There was another round of laughter. I couldn’t listen to them anymore. I headed out the back hallway door, coffee forgotten. I was horrified at what they were saying. Not only about me, but Mr. Bane. The disrespect. The horrible image of Verity doing that to him. Being close to him at all.

And she had hit the proverbial nail on the head when it came to me. Poking at my clothes, my weight, my attitude, and my work ethic. The fact that I was embarrassing.

I slipped into the bathroom, closing the stall door behind me. I leaned on the cold metal, taking in some deep breaths.

They were jealous. Spiteful. Nothing they said mattered.

I kept repeating those words to myself.

I heard the door open and a quiet voice say my name. “Magnolia? Are you okay?”

I recognized Rylee’s voice. Unlike the other women, she was sweet and kind. Friendly. We hadn’t gotten the chance to hang out together yet, but I liked her.

“I’m fine.”

“I heard those cows,” she said. “I told them off.”

I opened the door. “You did what?”

She was short like me. Curvy, too. Sweet and soft-spoken. Usually quiet. Everyone liked her. Her stature and disposition hid an incredible talent for all things computer. I had heard she was the smartest of them all and could write code no one else could. I knew the partners, including Bane, thought the world of her.

But imagining her going against Verity made my head spin.

“Why would you do that?”

Her normally warm green eyes flashed. Right now, they looked like hard pieces of jade. “They’re horrible, and they were all lying to make themselves feel better. Jealous bitches.”

“They aren’t wrong. I’m not like the other assistants.”

“That’s why I like you. You’re real and nice. You’re polite and friendly. Honest.” She smiled, dimples appearing on her cheeks. “And I like the way you dress. You always look so pretty.”

“Thank you.”

She stepped forward, laying a hand on my arm. “Ignore them. Don’t let them get into your head. Be you.”

I smiled, patting her hand. “Thanks, Rylee. Are you going to the awards banquet tomorrow?”

She nodded with a frown. “I was told I had to.”

“We could sit together.”

“Oh, I’d love that!”

“Okay. It’s a date.”

She chuckled. “Awesome.”

She left, and I stared in the mirror, wiping my eyes and blowing my nose. I straightened my shoulders and headed back to my desk.

I sat down, frowning at my computer. A moment later, Bane yelled my name, and I went to his door, which was ajar.

“Yes, sir?”

He looked displeased. “Did you get lost?”

“Lost?” I repeated.