Just the Worst

TINA

“Yesterday was just the worst!” Kelly wailed dramatically as she made her way around me and dropped her bag on the desk. As usual, the weekend had zipped by, and it was Monday already.

“What happened this time now?” I sighed as I took my eyes off my computer system and looked at her.

“Nothing,” she huffed and switched on her system.

“Then why is that a bad thing?” I raised an eyebrow at her.

“That’s the point,” she replied. “Nothing happened. Nothing exciting happened. I just stayed at home watching pointless TV programs and surfing the net. The whole internet is boring!”

“It beats getting arrested, you know.”

“You’re no fun.” She jabbed my waist.

I winced. This woman should have known by now how strong she was. Even her attempt at a light jab might leave a bruise on my soft skin.

“So,” she faced me, “how did your Sunday go?”

I cringed. At first, it was okay. Discussions centered around business. It was when I tried to get at least a little acquainted with Alejandro’s mother that things spiraled out of control.

His mother had talked to me as if I were just there for the family fortune. As offended as I was, I tried to be casual, but she kept on steering me back to the topic of the family’s wealth. Things were escalating, and Alejandro had to take me away from the dining room to the garden. I knew he didn’t want to enter another conflict with his father.

And I knew from the way his fists had been clenched during his mother’s interrogation of me that he was going to explode. I couldn’t help but feel that I had ruined dinner. I tried to probe him further about his mother, but he didn’t want to talk about it.

All he said was that his mother was Joan Taylor, formerly Gonzalez. She was a model who’d divorced his father fifteen years ago.

Kelly was hungry for information. I could see it in her face. I still hadn’t told her about my relationship—if I could even call it that! I didn’t know where we were heading—with our boss.

“My day was…well…pretty bland.” I shrugged.

Her full lips twitched a bit as her eyes regarded me. She could tell I was hiding something.

“That’s it?” she asked.

I pursed my lips. “Yeah.”

The elevator dinged, and Alejandro walked in. As usual, he had donned his stoic demeanor, which he wore like a mask. I suppressed a smile as he approached our table.

“Miss Campbell and McPherson.” He nodded curtly. “The both of you will be heading on an assignment in the next hour.”

He glanced at his gold watch. “Make that in fifty-five minutes.”

“Yes, sir,” Kelly said.

“Where to?” I turned to Alejandro, trying to keep my face as stoic as possible. Kind of hard to when those mesmerizing greens were making my stomach do flip-flops.

“Check your email,” he replied. “It’s about the meter requests.”

His brows creased as he stared at his watch. “That will be all. Carry on.”

He made his way toward his office.

“Sir,” Kelly called after him.

He turned around with his eyebrows raised. His face was still impassive, although I could see the mild impatience in his eyes.

“Thanks,” Kelly’s voice was surprisingly low.

“For what?” Alejandro looked confused.

“For the weekend. You know, bailing me out. I didn’t thank you properly. It’s rare for people to come through for me,” Kelly cleared her throat.

For a moment, I could see something in her eyes. Some kind of sadness.

Alejandro’s eyes softened, and for a split second, they landed on me. The side of his lips curled a bit, but for a split second, that only someone with enhanced sharpness would detect.

“It’s all right.” He turned around and walked toward the elevator. “Just be more careful.”

He stepped into the door and closed it.

“All right, spill.” Kelly turned to face me.

“What do you mean?” I turned to her, feigning innocence.

“Come on, Tina, I’m not dense.” She rolled her eyes. “Something is going on between you and our boss.”

Her statement took me off balance, and her eyes on me told me she wasn’t going to take a lie. He’d just given us an assignment, but it would be rude of me to not answer her question.

She nodded as if she’d caught my hand in a cookie jar. “Something is going on with the both of you.”

I looked around the office at the workers to make sure none of their eyes were on us. I wasn’t ready for any gossip. I turned back to Kelly’s waiting eyes. I sighed as I knew I had no choice.

“We…well…” I rubbed my forearms.

“Come on.” Kelly was practically bouncing in her seat like an excited toddler. “What happened?”

“We kissed,” I whispered. Goodness, I could feel my heartbeat triple. “That was it.” It was a little more than that, really. He’d come to my house late and we’d made out on the couch, but she didn’t need to know all of that.

A huge smile broke out on her face. “I knew it!”

“Keep your voice down!” I looked around frantically at some of our coworkers whose attention was on us due to her outburst.

She giggled nervously. “Sorry.”

She waited until everyone went about their business. “Ha! My gut was right. I knew something was going on. The way you both looked at each other discreetly every time, thinking I wouldn’t notice. I saw how he stared at you while I was trying to thank him.”

“You saw that?”

“Of course I did,” she replied, holding back a giggle. “Like I’ve said several times, I’m not dense. You’re such a bad girl. So, how were you able to snag him? I’m sure you did so with that big butt of yours. He must be an ass man.” Her eyes twitched with mischief. “Have you gone further?”

Of course, she just had to make the obligatory butt joke. My cheeks reddened a bit as my mind went back to that night. His lips on my skin. His fingers dangerously close to my private zone. I clamped my thighs together.

“No,” I said. “We just kissed. Twice.”

“Aww.” She pouted, then grinned again. “Well, there’s still hope.”

“But please let this stay between us.” I grabbed her hands. “I don’t want this getting to extra ears at the office.”

“I know what you mean, girl,” she replied. “You’re in safe hands.”

She made an imaginary X sign over her large chest with her index finger. “Cross my heart and hope to die.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. I hoped she would keep her word. It was early stages, and even though I’d met his parents, I didn’t know if I could say that Alejandro was officially my boyfriend.