Page 36 of My Favorite Boss

I flashed him a bright smile. “What else could have happened? Now, if you will excuse me, I have the last of your expenses to go through, and then I’ll get back to the printing.”

He nodded. “Fine.”

He was in and out all day, and Laura and Jessica from HR were in his office more than once. He had a meeting with his partners and was terse and impatient. He rushed through his lunch and drank way too much coffee. I had no idea what was going on with HR, but I had an uncomfortable feeling it was about me, and I wondered if it had anything to do with what didn’t happen on Saturday.

The flowers that showed up that afternoon were lovely. Larger than the others I had received and fragrant. This time, there was no card. I traced the petals of the pink rose in the middle with my finger, wondering how long I would keep receiving the weekly flowers. I had to admit, I would miss the brightness and scent of them on my desk, but it was bound to happen. One day, the mysterious Ty would stop sending the lovely flowers. Until then, I would enjoy them.

Bane seemed irked as usual when he saw them, but all I heard was a grunt as he walked past, shutting his door.

Tuesday was much of the same behavior from Bane. Unless it was business, we hardly spoke, and whatever he was so deeply entrenched in was taking up all his free time, which was hard to come by as it was.

Wednesday afternoon, I heard a commotion in the hall, and I looked up, recognizing Bane’s mother’s haughty voice. I stood, rounding the corner of my desk. I met Bane’s gaze, confirming that he, too, had heard his mother approaching. He looked annoyed, heading to his door.

“Get rid of her,” he hissed. “I have enough shit to deal with today. And I don’t need a lecture on what a disappointment I am.”

I nodded, grabbing the doorknob to shut it.

“Under no circumstances let her in my office, Myers. Whatever you have to do, do it. If she gets past you this time, you’re fired.”

I swallowed. “I’ll take care of it.”

I stayed in front of Bane’s door, glad when I heard the lock engage. Short of breaking in to the office, his mother couldn’t gain access to him. Now, I had to figure out how to get her to leave without causing a scene. I grabbed a pile of files and my phone to use as a prop, pretending I just happened to be in front of the door.

She came through the outer door, her face set into a scowl. I wondered if she had another expression—I had certainly never seen it.

“Oh, hello, Mrs. Bane—I mean Mrs. Johnstone. I wasn’t expecting you today.”

“I don’t need an appointment to see my son. Step aside.”

“I can’t do that.”

She drew her already straight shoulders even straighter. “And why not?”

“He can’t see you right now.”

“I’ll wait.”

“No, that won’t work either. He’s tied up all afternoon.”

“Ridiculous.” She tried to get to the door handle, but I stepped in front of it, shaking my head.

“I can’t let you go in there.”

“Can’t or won’t?” She narrowed her eyes. “Tell him I am here.”

“I can’t do that either.”

“And why not?”

My mind raced. Telling her he didn’t want to see her was useless. She would park herself in front of my desk and wait. Admitting if I let her in I would be fired would do no good either. She wouldn’t care.

“He isn’t in his office.”

“You’re lying. I can see the light under the door. I heard his voice when I was in the hall.”

I sighed, desperate, unsure what to do. Except I had to get rid of her. I needed this damn job.

“He is in there,” I admitted. I heard a low growl, and I knew he had heard me. The bastard was on the other side of the door, waiting to see what was going to happen. “But he can’t see you. He’s, ah, dealing with a personal situation.”