Boss I Love To Hate Page 15

  * * *

  I rushed into the car and slumped against the seat of Brad’s fancy Porsche. I gripped the warm leather beneath my fingertips, wishing, hoping, wanting to melt into the seat. Maybe I could forget that all of this was happening.

  “So, that’s Jeff,” Brad said, his tone indicating he wasn’t impressed.

  “The one and only.” My only, I had thought at one point. Where did I go wrong? Where did I fail him in our relationship? When did I stop being good enough?

  My pulse slowed, and the hollowness in my chest widened.

  “Interesting,” he merely commented.

  “Interesting?” I gave him a pointed look. “What’s so interesting about our interaction? Was it the fact that I probably looked like I wasn’t over him? Was it the fact that I’d never heard about Jean until today, yet she’d heard everything about me? Was it the fact that he was probably cheating on me the whole time we were together?” I slammed a fist against the dashboard and clenched my jaw to prevent the tears from falling.

  “Who cares?”

  I blinked, my mouth slipping slightly ajar. “Who cares?”

  His face was devoid of emotion, even compassion, which a heartbroken girl could’ve used a little of by now. “I mean, why should you care? It’s over.”

  “Because it still hurts!” I burst into a ball of emotional fury. “Have you ever been in love? So deeply in love that you want to be with them all the time and the sun rises and sets on their face and they’re the last person you want to see at the end of your day?” I tore my gaze from his and stared vacantly out the window, watching happy couples hold hands and head to their vehicles.

  “I gave my everything to that relationship. He was my it guy. The one for me, the one I was going to have children with. We shared our hopes and dreams for the future, our future. We talked about it. He talked about it, and then, one day … it was like those conversations never existed.” Tears warmed behind my lids.

  “You wouldn’t know anything about this because you’ve never, ever been in love before or had an it person.” My trembling hands flew to my chest, and I visibly shook. “It does matter because everything I thought was real was fake if he was with her, and I refuse to believe our relationship was a lie.” I dropped my head into my hands, not wanting to relive this nightmare of a day that had barely started.

  I took deep breaths through my nose and exhaled through my mouth to calm the ache in the center of my chest.

  I will not cry.

  I will not cry.

  I will not cry in front of my boss.

  He drove, and I wallowed in the silence, in my thoughts of the life I had once lived with Jeff.

  Brad didn’t say a word. Good, because I needed the quiet, the tiny bit of rest that I knew would disappear once we were at the reception.

  When we parked, I lifted my head from my hands and pulled down the overhead mirror to check my eyeliner. I swiped at my bottom lid with my index finger. You’d think I’d be embarrassed that I’d poured out all my insides on Brad’s dashboard, but we’d crossed that line days ago.

  Internally, I told myself that everything would be fine, and if not, I’d pretend for everyone else.

  “You’re right.” His voice was quiet, resigned, without its usual bite.

  I tilted my head to look at him.

  “Sonia, I’ve never had an it person. I’ve also never had my heart broken before, so I can’t relate.”

  My jaw tightened. Must be nice to be the breaker of hearts and never have had your heart broken. I swiped at my nose.

  “But, when I said who cares …” His eyes filled with uncensored compassion. “I meant that you shouldn’t care. If he broke your heart, then your heart wasn’t all that important to him. And, if he promised things, things of the future, and broke those promises, that only means he was a liar who wasn’t worth your time. Just forget about him.”

  Our eyes locked for a second too long until I ripped my gaze from his. His words were meant to comfort me, but they did the opposite. They gave me unrest.

  “Easier said than done,” I whispered.

  If I could forget him, I would’ve by now.

  And, if Brad had ever in his entire life fallen in love, then he would’ve known that.

  He sighed. “All I know is, in business and in all things, promises mean something. Integrity and honesty hold the utmost importance.” He unlocked his door and opened it. “And, when I find my it person and someone by chance gives me their heart, I know I won’t take that lightly, and I won’t break it. Because some things cannot be undone.”

  Chapter 12

  Sonia

  When we walked in, I took in the reception hall, round tables covered by black tablecloths and chairs decked out in black-and-white satin in an old Hollywood vibe. Each table was adorned with tall arrangements of white hydrangeas, and streams of black-and-pink satin ribbons adorned each pilsner vase.

  My nerves were shot, and I never, ever drank, but I swore tonight that I would. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d gotten drunk—maybe tipsy, but never drunk. Tonight, as soon as I had food in my belly, I would make it to the bar and join the brokenhearted to drink my sorrows away.

  A piano played softly in the background, and waiters in tuxes and white gloves greeted us at every corner of the room.

  “Food.” I grabbed a napkin from the blond waiter and also a bacon-wrapped date. I was on my way to getting my belly full. Soon, I’d be at the bar.

  I grabbed two more appetizers and then turned to Brad. “One for you. Two for me.” I smirked.

  “Are you one of those people who eats when you’re nervous or gets moody when you’re not fed?”

  Another waiter passed with shrimp cocktail, and I turned from Brad and grabbed four. “No, I just like to eat.” Then, I leaned into him, cheeks puffed out and mouth full. “You have to promise me something.”

  The devilish smile was on display, the one that seemed to be permanently fixed on his face. “Shoot.”

  “Promise me that, when I get a little tipsy, you’ll take me home.”

  His smile deepened.

  “To my house, idiot.” I smacked his shoulder and popped another shrimp in my mouth. “I trust you not to do anything inappropriate.” Because, although Brad was a little manwhore, I knew he would never force himself on any woman. He didn’t have to. “And please promise you’ll keep me in check and prevent me from embarrassing myself or my friends.”

  “And why would I do that?” He laughed.

  I rolled my eyes, and just like I’d seen him pinkie promise with his niece, I stuck out my left pinkie. “Promise.”

  He curiously eyed me. “Fine. Promise.” Then, he wrapped his pinkie finger around mine and pulled me into a kiss.

  A real one. Mouths closed, lips to lips, and his one hand on my hip. My shrimp was still in my mouth, for heaven’s sake! My eyes widened, and my whole body stiffened into a wooden pole.

  He held me there for a second before he moved his free hand up the length of my body to cup my face. “Breathe.”

  Breathe? Shit! What I need to do is swallow the shrimp in my mouth.

  “Don’t turn around,” he said discreetly, his breath hot on my cheek. “We have an audience.”

  So, what did I do? Yes, I turned around to see Jeff and Jean staring directly at us.

  I gulped down my shrimp, and my pulse increased in tempo.

  Brad linked our fingers together. “Do you live to do the opposite of what I tell you?” he asked.

  I wanted to slap his amusement away. “Whatever. I do practically everything you tell me to do.”

  He frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “I do everything you say.”

  “You do not,” he argued lightly but looking just a little slighted.

  “I do, too,” I said, raising my voice a little.

  “If you do it, it’s not without complaint.” He shook his head. “You don’t think I hear you whisper stuff under your breath, but I do.�
�� He ducked his face close to mine. “You think I don’t know what you say to your friends about me, but I know that, too.”

  I popped the last shrimp in my mouth, chewed slowly, and pretended not to react.

  Well, shit, that couldn’t be good.

  “And don’t pretend you don’t make stuff up at work,” he continued, making his point. “Like they didn’t have my sandwich at Bello’s or that restaurant was fully booked when I requested reservations when it was clearly not.”

  Busted. I looked away. “Sometimes, you’re a pain in my ass.” Honesty leaked out of me. And I wasn’t even drunk yet. Was there any hope for me tonight?

  “I know,” he sighed. “I’m trying to be better.”

  I blinked up at him. “Since when?” I asked, noticing the seriousness in his features.

  He scratched the back of his neck and shook his head. “Since Sarah said I should try being nicer to you.”

  “Oh.” Recently then.

  “I’m just wired the way I am, and sometimes, I don’t realize I’m being an asshole, okay?” A waiter with a display of ham croquettes passed us. Brad grabbed one off the tray and handed me the little wrapped appetizer in a napkin. “But I’m trying at least.”

  “Okay.” I took a bite of the croquette, noticing the grease staining the napkin. “I’ll be nicer, too.”

  “You? Nice?” A louder laugh escaped him. “To me? That’ll be a first.”

  I barely contained a growl. Maybe this was too much honesty for one day. “I think I’ve filled my belly enough.” I reached for his hand, dragging him toward the bar area. “Let me buy you a drink.” I winked.

  “It’s an open bar.”

  “Exactly! I’m being nice already.”

  We stopped by Krystal and Helen and Brandy on our way to the bar. They were a few girls that I knew, acquaintances from college. I didn’t miss the way their eyes scanned Brad from his head down to his shiny designer shoes.

  “So, you’re in business?” Krystal said with a little lilt in her tone. She flashed Brad her pearly whites even though her date stood right beside her. “I was a business major in college, minored in international finance.”

  She began to tick off her résumé while Brad smiled but looked not a bit impressed.

  Brad being polite? This was new. He stayed silent, but I could read his thoughts.

  I was surprised, given Brad’s ego, that he didn’t just shut her down and tell her he owned one of the biggest printing companies in North America.

  When she placed her hand on his forearm, I stiffened. She was blatantly flirting, but I didn’t know what to do because it was clearly in front of me, and we were playing a part. Any other normal girlfriend would be livid.

  When I stepped back, Brad’s arm circled my waist. “It was nice meeting you, Krystal. I should get my bae a drink now.”

  I choked on my own saliva and coughed. “Bae?” I whispered when we approached the bar.

  “Before Anyone Else. Like babe.” He reached for my hand and intertwined our fingers. “I learned the lingo from my niece.”

  I laughed. “Who are you right now?”

  “Your bae.” He chuckled darkly before lifting his arm up to get the bartender’s attention. “Long Island?” he asked, his eyes never leaving mine.

  I scrunched my face, wondering how he knew my drink of choice.

  “I pay attention,” he said, answering my silent question.

  “When have I ever drank in front of you?”

  “Christmas party. Last year.” He placed a five-dollar bill on the counter and handed me my drink.

  Wait. What? He remembered that?

  I didn’t have time to ponder that further because, as I turned around, I once again heard my name being called out.

  It was Jeff.

  * * *

  Brad

  Sonia’s whole body stiffened. I’d never in the two years that I had known her caught her speechless and so off-kilter, and it uneased me.

  “Hey, Jeff.” After she placed the tall glass of liquor between her lips and took a big gulp, she grabbed a handful of her dress, crumpling it within her fingertips.

  I hated how this man had this kind of effect on her.

  For a brief moment, I took him in. The light-blondish-brown in his hair, the emerald green in his eyes, hidden behind square-framed glasses. The way his suit hugged his tall, lanky frame. He looked like a hipster, and although I didn’t want to admit it, I could see them together. Sonia and him.

  If there were a lineup of eligible bachelors and I had to take a guess on who she’d pick as her match, this guy would be it.

  Jean smiled my way. Her short red tube dress hugged her figure and stopped right below her ass. If she wanted to make a statement, she was making it loud and clear. She was here with Jeff.

  With her red dress, his plain suit and white shirt, they both looked regular. Nothing spectacular. But they certainly were an oddly paired couple, opposites in every sense of the word.

  “What table are you guys sitting at?” Jean asked, but when she did, she was looking at me the way women looked at me, as though if given a chance, I’d be their choice of date. What bothered me was that it was like Sonia wasn’t here.

  I pulled Sonia close, the movement so quick that her Long Island swished, and some of the liquid slipped over the lip of the glass.

  “Where are we sitting, babe?” I asked, leaning in so close to smell some of Sonia’s shampoo.

  She blinked up at me and pulled a small white paper from her purse. The paper that we had picked up at the center table before we walked into the reception area.

  “Table ten.” Her voice quivered, and it took all my energy not to sweep her away from this mess, go back to my house, and spend the rest of the night playing board games with Mary and Sarah.

  “Oh poo, we’re at a different table,” Jean uttered.

  The slight tightness in Sonia’s shoulders relaxed.

  She was always so put together, so organized, so focused. Being around Jeff undid her, and I didn’t like it.

  “So, how did you guys meet?” Jeff asked, studying me. He’d been doing that since I met him.

  I recognized the scrutiny in his eyes. It was the same scrutiny that I had met with many business associates, right before I was going to take over their company.

  “At work, just like you guys.”

  He shuffled back a step. “So, you work at Brisken. You’re admin?” he assumed.

  My smirk tightened. “No. I own Brisken.”

  Jeff’s eyes went wide for just a second. “You own Brisken Printing Corporation?” he asked as though he didn’t understand English. He scratched at his temple. “Sonia’s your secretary? Aren’t there rules about dating your subordinate?” Jeff asked, his face unreadable.

  “I wouldn’t call her my subordinate because it’s Sonia who runs my office.”

  Then, his face transformed, first with contempt and slowly with recognition. He let out a peal of laughter. “You’re the boss? Oh my God. Sonia …” He pointed to Sonia, “… you hated this guy. You drew doodles of him and had stakes going through his heart.”

  His laughter heightened, and it took every ounce of my energy not to clock him out cold.

  Of all the people she complained to about me, this had to be the worst. I hated that she’d, at one time, complained to him about me.

  “It’s different now.” Sonia’s voice was low, without the usual strength and sass. Her face was beet red.

  Jeff coughed to stop his laughter when he realized no one else was laughing with him. “Sorry. I didn’t know your real name, just a bunch of names Sonia used to call you.” Then, his eyes passed over both of us, and the fit of cackles started up again. “So, she’s your subordinate? She still works for you.”

  My jaw tightened. I didn’t know where this guy was going. Did he by chance think that I had forced Sonia into our pretend relationship all because she worked for me?

  I kept my voice even. “No. She’s most d
efinitely not my subordinate—unless you count when we’re in the bedroom, and she likes me to boss her around.”

  Sonia coughed up her Long Island, and the humor on Jeff’s face dissipated instantly.

  I handed her a napkin, my devious smirk heavy on my face. If we were playing the game of whose balls were bigger, there was no competition.

  Jeff blurted, “Well, there are clear rules at the office I work at that, once a couple gets involved, one has to quit.”

  “Is that why Jean quit?” Sonia snapped, her tall glass now empty. “Because you were screwing her when you worked together? Possibly when we were together? Late-night meetings, my ass.”

  Well, that had come from nowhere.

  Jeff sputtered, “No. That’s not …”

  But, by the look on Jean’s guilty, reddened face, I could only assume that was indeed what had happened.

  “Asshole,” Sonia whispered before turning and storming off. And the Sonia I knew and adored was back and in full force.

  I didn’t excuse myself from their presence. I simply went after her, down the hall and outside.

  A row of green shrubs led us to a massive fountain outlined with concrete benches. Sonia dropped on a bench and faced away from the reception area, away from me.

  “He’s such a fucker.” A deep sob escaped her, and it gutted me.

  It was the first time I’d ever heard her drop the F-bomb. But I preferred a pissed off Sonia over a sad Sonia or a fidgety Sonia or a no-backbone Sonia.

  “I won’t disagree with you.”

  Then, she stood and faced me, and I clenched my jaw as though I’d been knocked in the face with a barbell. Her eyes were red-rimmed with tears. And, at that moment, I wanted to kick Jeff’s ass, shove my foot so far up it that he’d taste the rubber in my sole.

  “Everything makes sense now. Those late-night meetings that surprisingly increased right before he dumped me.” She swiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. “How could he? After all I put into our relationship. After I introduced him to my parents and after I swore to my dad, who has guy radar, that Jeff was a good one.” Her hands were clenched at her sides. “How could I have been so stupid?” She pointed back at the reception hall. “That new girl, my replacement, isn’t even his type. Fine, if you’re going to upgrade, but to someone totally not his type? Who does that?” She swiped at her tears streaming down her face. “I wonder what they have in common. Bunny sex? We had great bunny sex.”