I look at Austin to see that his mouth is closed and he is swallowing, since he hasn’t said anything else. “We just finalized it last week. I’ll send it over,” he says and walks away, leaving me and Barbara by ourselves.
I look at her and see her smiling as she raises her cup to her lips. “I hope you know that I won’t be staying here long,” I inform her. “I’ve already informed Penelope to look for a suitable replacement for me here, as well as another position for me somewhere else.” I watch her sip her coffee and ask, “Does he always take half a sugar and no milk in his coffee?”
She looks at me with a surprised look. “I’m very observant.” I smile at her and head to my desk. I turn on my computer, noticing that some of my Post-its have been moved.
I get up, heading into Austin’s office. The door isn’t closed, so I walk in. I check and see if he’s on the phone before I ask him, “Do we have a cleaning crew come in here?”
He looks up from his paper, and his eyes slowly eye me from toe to head. “Excuse me?” he asks.
“My Post-its have been moved.” His Adam’s apple moves like he’s swallowing. “I’m assuming someone was cleaning and moved them. So, my question is, do we have a cleaning crew?”
He leans back in his chair. “How do you know they’ve been moved? What do you do? Memorize them before you leave?” He laughs, but it comes out shaky.
“I don’t have to memorize them. I post them alphabetically, which is why I know they’ve been moved.”
His face turns a nice shade of white. Yup, asshat moved my shit. But instead he says, “Must be the cleaning crew.”
I glare at him for a second. “If you could please let them know that I’ll be cleaning my own desk from now on. Or you know what, I’ll see if I can find their number and get in touch with them my—” I don’t have time to finish before he pipes in.
“No”—he shakes his head—“I’ll call Hector now and mention it.” I nod yes at him. “Now, if that’s all, I have a busy schedule and discussing your filing system isn’t on it.”
I turn around and head out the door, but right before I’m out of the door, he informs me, “I’m having a business lunch in my office with a friend. If you could make sure we both have lunch ready for noon. It will also be a private lunch. She eats light. So, a salad for her is good. I’ll have my usual,” he says.
My back is still facing him, so he doesn’t see me close my eyes slowly and open my mouth in shock. It takes me a second to turn around, putting a mask on my face. “Considering I’ve been here for twenty-four hours, I don’t know what your usual is. If you want me to order your lunch for you and your booty call”—I let out a little forced laugh—“oh, sorry, your ‘private lunch,’ I’m going to need to know exactly what you want for lunch. Send me the details via email.” I turn and walk out of the room, not giving him a chance to reply.
I open my email and start a message to Penelope.
To: Penelope Barns
From: Lauren Harrison
Subject: GET ME THE FUCK OUT OF HERE
If you don’t want to be responsible for my children being raised by Jake and his side slut, you will make sure I’m out of this job by Friday. Or better yet, tomorrow. Because I may kill him.
Sincerely,
Lauren
MY BOSS IS THE MAYOR OF DOUCHEVILLE
I hit send and then continue going through the emails. I forward the necessary ones and start making notes on what has to be done with the ones that I can handle. Within three minutes, there is a reply from Penelope.
To: Lauren Harrison
From: Penelope Barns
Subject: Re: GET ME THE FUCK OUT OF HERE
I’m working on it, but it doesn’t help that Barbara is blowing up my phone to get you in there permanently. She isn’t caving. PLEASE DON’T KILL HIM, HE’S MY BIGGEST CLIENT.
Sincerely,
Your friend Penelope, who is so fucking sorry and knows she owes you big time.
Ugh. What the hell am I supposed to do now?
To: Penelope Barns
From: Lauren Harrison
Subject: Re: GET ME THE FUCK OUT OF HERE
I don’t know how you are going to repay me for this. There isn’t enough wine in all of Italy to call this even.
I won’t kill him, but I may poison him slowly.
Sincerely,
Your friend Lauren, who is already plotting how she will be getting you back one day.
I quickly reply and then take out my phone to text Kaleigh.
I’ve thought about it, he has a pencil dick and doesn’t manscape.
She replies right away.
Fuck me, what did he do in ten minutes?
Besides the fact he fucked with my Post-its, he asked me to order lunch for him and his fuck buddy.
Whoa, he touched your Post-its!
Really? That is all you got from the text? Did you not read he wants me to order lunch for him and his date?
I’m sorry, that was rude of him. You should make him pay. I mean, the last time I touched your Post-its, you switched my almond milk for cow’s and I drank the whole thing.
I giggle to myself at the reminder. It was really funny watching her drink the whole carton in ten minutes. She was oohing and aahing about how great it tasted.
I continue with my task, trying to organize all the items that have been scanned, placing them in the correct files and relabeling everything so it actually makes sense.
The phone buzzes on my desk. I pick it up, but I don’t say hello till I hear his voice bark into the phone.
“We have a conference with Denis and his team at three. I need all documents printed and labeled so we can see what is going on.”
“Isn’t it better if I just do a slide show with PowerPoint? That way, you can display it bigger instead of on the table,” I suggest, smiling to myself.
“I wasn’t sure if you knew how to do that, since you haven’t been in an office environment in a while. I didn’t want to expect anything.”
I take the phone from my ear, ready to smash it on the desk. “I think I can manage it. If not, I can always use YouTube; they have tutorials.”
I look into the office and see him staring straight at me. All I see is his jaw getting tight. “I hope you can manage that one.” And he slams the phone down.
I quickly place it down in its cradle, smiling to myself. Score one for me.
But my mood doesn’t last long. He sends me an email.
To: Lauren (Latest PA)
From: Austin Mackenzie
Subject: Lunch Order
Please order me a pastrami on rye and a grilled chicken salad, dressing on the side.
I want this by noon. Try not to mess this up. She’s expecting it to be perfect.
Austin Mackenzie
My eyes glare at the screen, thinking if she wants it to be perfect, she’s starting with the wrong date. I don’t have time to answer when another email comes through.
To: Lauren (Latest PA)
From: Austin Mackenzie
Subject: Conference with Denis
Although I don’t think you can bring anything to this meeting, you need to be there to take notes.
Try not to flirt, since he is also considered a co-worker.
Austin Mackenzie
My blood is boiling. I want to reply with a simple ‘fuck off,’ but instead I think of something better. Oh yeah, I’m going to give him something better, alright.
I place the order at the deli on the corner. At eleven-thirty, I start to get up, but I’m stopped by a woman walking down the hall.
She is wearing a brown trench coat tied at the waist. The trench coat falls to her mid-thigh. Her short blond bob of loose curls bounces with every step she takes. Her blue eyes shine. Her black Louboutins click-clack against the floor as she approaches.
“May I help you?” I ask while walking around my desk. She gives me the once-over.
“No, thank you,” she huffs and continues walking straight int
o Austin’s office. “Darling,” I hear her purr. “It’s been forever.”
I look into the office, seeing her walk around the desk and sit on his lap. I don’t know what he says, but I hear giggling that has me rolling my eyes.
I hear my phone ring. “Hello?”
“I’m going to need that lunch later. And would you close my door?” he says and then hangs up before I can answer.
I’ll close his fucking door. I walk in and hear them whispering, the bottom half of the desk covering whatever he is doing. So gross. It’s the middle of the day! My heart is beating so fast. I try not to look up, but he looks up right before I close the door. Something flashes in his features, but I don’t get a chance to figure out what it is before the door closes. I hear the blinds start to shut. I’m not sitting out here while he fucks in his office.
I walk around the desk, grabbing my purse, and leave to go to lunch. I guess I’ll be having the grilled chicken salad, dressing on the side.
I pull my phone out of my purse and shoot Kaleigh a text.
He’s fucking some woman in his office!
Your boss?
No, the fucking tooth fairy! Who else would I be talking about?
Barf. Make sure you use Lysol wipes on the surfaces you sit on. You don’t want to be catching cooties.
Do people still use the word cooties?
Ummm. Yes.
I walk out of the building to the hustle and bustle of lunchtime. Once I make it to the deli, I pick up the order and eat the salad there.
I’m almost done when my phone buzzes. When I pick it up, I see ‘Asshat who hit…’
Where are you?
I look at the clock and notice that it’s only been twenty minutes since I’ve been gone. Wow, I guess he’s a wham bam thank you ma’am kinda guy.
I’m at the deli having lunch. I didn’t think you would be finished so soon. My bad.
I don’t pay you to think. Bring me my lunch.
I smash my phone down on the table. That’s it. I’ve fucking had it.
I walk over to the Walgreens across the street. I pick up a bottle of Dulcolax. “You don’t pay me to get your lunch either, asshole,” I grumble to myself while I walk back to the office. Once I make it there, I go the other route, picking up a water bottle from the kitchen.
I take a quick look around the kitchen, checking to see if anyone is coming this direction. When I see no one is there, I take out the Dulcolax and open the package.
I start reading the dosage instructions on the package when I hear someone coming. I shove the box and the bottle into my purse. When I turn around, I see Steven walking in.
“Hey. Are you having lunch?” he asks, going to the fridge and grabbing his bag.
“Nope, just finished. I’m picking up a water bottle for Austin. I just got his lunch.” The fact I’m lying and that I might be caught is too much.
My neck starts to burn, and I’m pretty sure he can hear my heart beating it’s so loud.
“Oh, he hates water. Bring him a Coke instead,” Steven suggests while he smiles and walks out.
Fuck. I walk back in and grab a Coke can out of the fridge. Looking for a glass, I finally find a red solo cup in one of the cupboards.
I open my purse, scan the package, and see that the dose is five ml. I have no idea how much five ml is, so I use the cap to measure, hoping for the best. What’s the worst that can happen? I can’t control the snicker that bursts from my mouth.
Pouring the Coke into the cup, I grab a spoon and stir it. There you go, Asshat. Take that!
I walk back to my desk, depositing my purse on it.
His door is open and so are the shades. When I peek my head inside, he is sitting alone on the couch, his jacket still on. Jesus, he had sex and still looks the same.
I dump the bag on top of the table in front of him, placing the cup of laxative-laced Coke next to it.
“What took you so long?” he growls, grabbing the bag and opening it to take out his sandwich.
“How was I supposed to know it would take you ten minutes to seal the deal?” I cross my arms under my boobs while I lean on one leg.
He takes two bites of his sandwich and then drinks a long gulp of Coke. “You going to watch me eat?” He looks at me from the corner of his eye.
I don’t reply to him. Instead, I turn on my heel and walk out, taking a seat at my desk as I watch him eat his lunch and drink the Coke. When he’s finished, he throws everything out, including the cup.
He doesn’t buzz me or talk to me until five minutes to three, when he gets up and walks out of his office.
“Let’s go, Denis is here.”
I grab everything I need and follow him to the conference room. Right before he opens the door, I hear his stomach start gurgling.
He looks up to see if I heard it, but I keep my head down, pretending I didn’t. It’s all I can do not to laugh out loud.
I’m introduced to Denis, who is a short, older man with that bald-on-top-hair-wrapped-around-the-sides thing going on.
I don’t say anything else to him as I put my things down and start to set up the PowerPoint presentation.
Denis and Austin start talking, but his stomach gurgles again, this time louder.
I look over at him and notice that his forehead is starting to get shiny and beads of sweat are forming on his temples.
He takes off his jacket, unbuttons his cuffs, and rolls up his sleeves. He walks to the end of the table where water bottles are set up.
Opening one, he drinks half of it, then sits down at the head of the table.
I start the presentation and Denis starts speaking. “We have a great setup with the tables for the day crowd and the dinner rush. The good news is that once they’re cleared away after the dinner service, the space has a good-sized dance floor.” I look at the display, seeing what he is saying.
Austin’s stomach grumbles very loudly. So loudly that Denis stops talking and we both look over at him. I see sweat is now pouring down the sides of his face, which is flushed and looks pained.
Denis looks over at him, his eyebrows raised in question. “Are you okay, Austin?”
He doesn’t answer, but his stomach lets out another loud grumble before he shoots out of his chair, running for the door.
Denis looks over at me, unsure of what to do. I shrug my shoulders and feign bewilderment. “I guess he has some indigestion.”
Denis nods his head in agreement. We wait about twenty minutes before I tell him that I’m going to go check on Austin.
He’s been emailing and texting since Austin left. Walking into Austin’s office, I hear moaning coming from the corner where the bathroom door is closed.
I walk over and knock on the door. “Are you okay?” I ask. He doesn’t say anything, but I hear him groaning.
“I think I’m dying,” he moans in between pants. “Call 9-1-1.”
I giggle to myself. “I don’t think you’re dying. Maybe it’s food poisoning.” I try to keep my voice even so I don’t give anything away.
I hear him moan one more time, followed by his pained reply. “No, I’m pretty sure I’m dying.”
“I’ll reschedule Denis,” I say, turning and walking out while I hear him cursing God and everyone else.
Score one for me.
Chapter Eight
AUSTIN
I walk out of my private bathroom and see that night has fallen outside. The moon shining its light into my office. The outside office is empty and the lights are off out there, with just the lights in my office on and dimmed.
I walk slightly hunched over to the couch, where I throw myself down and put a hand on my forehead. I have nothing on but my pants, and they’re not even buttoned. I ripped my shirt off when I thought I was dying on that toilet. Dying .
The minute my stomach started gurgling, I knew something was wrong. Then the cramps started, followed by the sweats. The longer I sat at that conference table, the more certain I was that I might actually shit myself.
Literally.
I am not exaggerating when I tell you I was dying. I thought for sure it was God’s way of punishing me for calling in Danielle.
The minute she sat in my lap, I knew I made the mistake for two reasons. First, the look on Lauren’s face made my stomach clench, and second, at the sight of the woman in my lap, my dick shriveled up. Even when I closed the blinds and she took off her coat, revealing her semi-naked form to me —encased in garters and all—my dick just lay there, not rising to the bait.
I tried to think of something to get him up, but he was just not interested.
I got up from my desk and closed her coat, telling her that it really wasn’t the best time, I had a surprise meeting I had to get to.
She pouted and even stomped her foot. I made a mental note to block her number. She tried to claw at my chest, thinking it was sexy. Newsflash, pretending you’re a cat is not sexy. At least not to me.
She walked out five minutes after she got here, and I sat there on the couch as I stared out at Lauren’s desk. After about half an hour passed and I realized that she wasn’t back, I texted her. Okay, so I was a dick, but seriously, where was she? Was she having lunch with Steven? With someone else?
But then she came in and dumped my lunch on the coffee table in front of me and put my Coke down next to it.
I sat up straight at that recollection. She fucking drugged me!
I text Noah right away.
My assistant put a laxative in my Coke.
I don’t have to wait long before he sends me back a text filled with nothing but laughing and crying emoticons.
I send him back the middle finger.
She drugged me. I thought I was dying. I almost called 9-1-1.
You almost called 9-1-1 because you had the shits?
Which he follows with a text of shit emojis.
Tempt The Boss Page 5