Chapter 51
Melissa
A groan hung in my throat as I returned to work. Chloe was sitting down and typing a document by the time I walked in. She looked at me and then back at her system before she frowned.
“What?”
“What?” I asked her back.
“How did it go?” She was referring to the meeting with the board. I exhaled and crouched in my chair. “Not bad. Chris and Jimmy have everything figured out.”
“Always known Jimmy to be a hero.”
“Hmmmm.”
“C’mon,” she teased. “Don’t be jealous.”
It isn’t about being jealous. I’m definitely miles away from feeling anything like jealousy. It’s just that when it comes to a hero, Marcus is all I can think of.
Running a company this big, with humans, and still making it to the top chart despite financial setbacks can only mean he’s a genius, the real hero in my world.
“Get off it,” I told her shaking my head. “If there’s anything I’m jealous of, it’s that you’ll be having a lunch break soon but I have to sit my ass here and work on this. Hell, I wasn’t even listening.”
“Oh no,” she reacted when she heard how I sounded. “What was on your
mind?”
Marcus.
“Nothing in particular, just random unimportant things.”
I should be more than a secretary cause my skills when It comes to convincing people is just everything. Chloe looked convinced and I felt a rush of guilt for lying to her.
But I’m not lying. I just think this part of my life; who I’m fucking, obsessing about, or who actually makes me feel this miserable should be kept away from public knowledge.
“You know what?” I said and gestured to the coffee on the table. I’ll just take this and see what I can get at.”
Chloe gave a nod, returning her attention to the screen. “Just let me know if you need anything.”
“Of course.”
I racked my brain trying to recall all the shit that was said but I couldn’t. A part of me felt like this wasn’t going to work and I weighed my options. Show how inefficient you’ve become and get kicked out or figure a way around.
Well, as much as I wanted the former and even submitted a resignation letter, I think it’s best to leave with your dignity intact and not as some inefficient fellow who couldn’t get a simple job done.
Just as I was wallowing in my thoughts, I heard sounds from the corner of the hallway and it was Jimmy.
“Oh shit.”
I stood up immediately, grabbed my phone, a pen, and a book, and hurriedly strode to him.
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He was just getting off phone and he had a smile on his face. Anyone could guess it was his boyfriend but just maybe he had a life outside his relationship, unlike the rest of us.
“Jimmy!” I called and swallowed hard. “I’m really sorry but I need your help.”
“What does Melissa need this time?” he asked shoving away his phone. He’s a very nice guy so I didn’t find it difficult to tell him how I was distracted during the meeting.
“Oh, that’s normal,” he responded and brought out a small recording. “For me, I have an information retention issue so I always go in there with a recorder. You can play it in your free time and get the information you need.”
“Oh my world, you’re such a lifesaver.”
He smiled at me and turned to leave. Lord knows how much of relief that was. I returned to my space immediately. I have very limited time to work on this and turn it in as instructed.
I got to work and a few minutes later, I found Chloe smiling on her phone.
“What’s that?” I asked her and she blushed harder.
“Uh—” she started, trying to hide how red her cheeks had turned. “Frank arranged a dinner.”
I smiled back. “That’s so sweet.”
I love it for her, how she’s happy, and how nothing else matters. Trust me, you are lucky.”
She attempted an eye roll but failed helplessly, leaving me to laugh at her failed attempts.
“How about you join us for dinner?”
It was unexpected and so my brows arched together. “What?”
and
got
to work
“I mean, that could pass for our parting dinner. Say yes, please. You can come over with Ian. It’s going to be all shades of romantic.”
No, it won’t.
I tried to swallow hard and tackle this one like every other request she’s made and I’ve rejected but when she mentioned Ian I was thrown off balance.
“I don’t think—”
“Well, my thoughts should be okay for all four of us.” She paused. “You know? I haven’t really been opportune to meet Ian. I’ve heard a lot about him, especially from Nate.”
Nate Bisley, of course.
She noticed the look on my face and twitched her lips. “Nate says he’s a possessive uh-” She was trying to get another word to replace a cuss word and I knew it. “Anyway, I did beat the information out of him.”
I didn’t respond to that.
just took a little more coffee and licked my bottom lips.
“So what do you say to my dinner invitation?” she asked, holding her hands against each other. “What do you say to bringing your boy-”
“Okay look,” I said trailing her off. “Ian and I are no longer together. He’s not my boyfriend there’s no way I can bring him over to dinner.”
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Her jaw dropped but before then she had succeeded in blurting loud ‘holy shit.‘
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“I’m so sorry,” she said and I gave a nod. I should also be sorry for not mentioning it to her but I just needed to move at my own pace. “You shouldn’t be.”
“Actually, I should.”
I noticed she was gnashing her teeth like she just got us in trouble and when I turned, Marcus was standing there.
“I think the Boss wants to see you,” she muttered under her breath and I gave a nod. He didn’t need to say it before I stood up and walked over to him.
“After you, Miss Kane.”
