Chapter 12
Beth heaves a huge sigh as she drops into her seat in front of Iris. Iris had suggested that they try a new place for lunch that was an equal distance from both their offices. The place is packed to the walls, but they managed to snag a table on the patio before it filled up.
“OMG, you look spent,” Iris says with concern in her voice.
“You have no idea. I guess I underestimated my new role. I thought it would be a walk in the park after working for the magazine for five years.”
The truth is that she loves her new job. Everything is so fast-paced which is exactly her style. True, she hadn’t expected to be so overwhelmed but that’s as far as her complaints go.
“So what do you do at Triad Tech?” Iris asks, saying the name of the company with a deep, reverent bass.
She tells Iris about her interactions at work which mostly consisted of cursory emails and business meetings to get her up to speed on the current game plan for the company’s promotions strategy.
“Well, I’m sure you’ll be settled in in no time.”
“Yeah, I don’t doubt it. Everyone is so nice and willing to help.”
“Does ‘everyone’ happen to include your hot boss Adrian?” Iris asks, wiggling her brows.
“First of all, it’s Mr. Dane. And secondly, I’ve hardly even seen him today.” Beth reaches for the basket of complimentary crackers. Their order is yet to arrive and she is beyond starving.
“Hmm.” Iris gives her a dubious glance.
“What’s with the look?”
“My sixth sense is telling me you’re lying to me.”
“I'm not. I said I’ve hardly seen him. That doesn’t mean I haven’t seen him at all. I mean he’s my Boss.” She stops, hoping that will be the end of it. But when Iris doesn’t stop giving her the look, she adds, “We met in the elevator this morning.”
“And?”
“And nothing.” She lifts her glass to her lips to keep from saying more.
The truth is that her thoughts keep returning to their time in the elevator and later in his office. It had taken everything in her to carry on as usual after, despite the fact that her face was burning hot and her panties were soaking wet. She can’t stop imagining what would have happened if they hadn’t been interrupted. She’s actually created several fantasies of how he would have grabbed her, then kissed her and how she would have touched his firm biceps through his shirt…. God, she’s doing it again.
Thankfully, the waiter arrives, distracting her from her not-so-appropriate thoughts about her boss. He places their food on the table “I don’t believe you,” Iris says, wagging her spoon in front of Beth’s eyes.
“Okay, fine.” Beth rolls her eyes. There’s no point hiding anything from Iris. She’s annoyingly persistent and would find out one way or another. “We sort of had a moment in his office. He was looking down at me like he was about to kiss me, but his assistant interrupted and he just suddenly reverted to this emotionless professional robot. I felt I might have imagined the whole chemistry thing.”
“Wowww.” Iris’s eyes widen like an excited toddler. She pops a curly fry in her mouth. “Honestly, I don’t think you’re imagining it. I mean he obviously really likes you.”
Beth raises a brow. “And you know this how?
“Duhh. From what you’ve told me, he acted weird when you interviewed him– looking at you with googly eyes and being all suggestive, he had you followed, saved you from that prick at the bar then offered you a job” she says. “Hellooo? Don’t you see it? He definitely likes you.”
Beth almost chokes on her food with laughter. “Adrian doesn’t make googly eyes,” she says when she can finally speak.
“So we are calling him by his first name?” Iris raises a brow at her.
“It doesn’t matter what I call him or how good-looking he is. He’s my boss,” Beth says, unsure which of them she’s trying to convince. She’s only a woman, after all, and any woman would appreciate Adrian’s confidence, power, and physical attributes. But noticing him at work had led to thoughts of him outside the office…thoughts that were best kept to herself if she wanted to continue to stay employed at Triad Tech.
“If he were my boss, I’d saunter into his office, perch on the edge of his desk, and ask if he needs anything.” Iris snorts. “I don’t think you’re bringing it hard enough.”
“Well, I’m not you.”
“Which is good since the world can only take so much greatness.” She grins. “But that’s not the point.”
“What is the point?”
Iris’s gaze lowers a bit. “Beth, you know I love you. And I’ll always be on your side, no matter what…”
Beth can tell from her tone where she’s going. She groans. “I know. I know. And there’s no need to go on, I know what you’re going to say.”
“Alright.” Iris raises her hands in surrender. “I just want you to have fun with this experience. No over analysing things. Just enjoy the now. And live a little.”
“Give it a rest,” she says but she smiles inwardly. Beth is not the type to make spontaneous life decisions. She’s a planner with every step of her life structured. She would have never guessed that she’ll find herself in a situation like this. But here she is, on the brink of living a new and exciting experience.
Maybe Iris is right. Maybe Adrian wants her.
Whatever the case, it’s time to lose her damn chastity belt.