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I slid back into my office chair, fighting a groan, and stared absently into my computer screen.
Damn, Ella… you don’t know the half of it.
Work was uneventful. This was probably because Addison had worked offsite today. It was as if the entire office was happier, in better spirits, because she wasn’t there.
And although I felt the same as the others, it was kind of sad that one person had the power to make an entire office full of people cower in fear.
In short…Addison was a super bitch.
Mom had invited me over for dinner, not that I needed an invite. The invitation was more of an order. I was avoiding her, and she was onto me.
Harry was waiting for me when I walked out of the office with a grin. “Yo, turd!”
Not quite reaching to his level of name-calling, I discreetly scratched at my face with my middle finger. I could not let my work peers hear me call my brother a douche canoe…or could I? I didn’t think the workplace etiquette pamphlet I received covered sibling name-calling.
Just as I approached the car, a hand stopped me, lightly gripping my arm. “Mia?”
I looked up to see my outer-office boss. “Nicholas.” I smiled, genuinely surprised. “Hi.”
My brother’s expression turned into a scowl. “Can I help you?”
Nicholas peered over at my brother. “I’m Nicholas Dietrich, Mia’s boss.” He spoke confidently and held out a hand, which I knew my brother would take. They shook hands and my brother introduced himself as I rocked back on my heels. “So…”
Nicholas ran a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry to bother you. I need to get into the office. Can I borrow your pass?”
Confusion crossed my face. “Why can’t you use yours?”
He looked at me, but glanced over at my brother before clearing his throat and explaining cautiously through gritted teeth, “Someone seems to have deactivated my card.”
Understanding dawned in my mind.
Addison. What a bitch. She couldn’t do that. It was his business too.
Harry cleared his throat and I looked up with an apologetic expression. “Can you wait a few minutes?”
He sighed and rolled his eyes. “If I get a parking ticket for your stalling—he pointed at Nicholas— “then you’re paying.”
Nicholas held up a hand in agreement. “Of course. I only need a minute.”
Harry nodded, puffing out a breath and waving us off.
We walked to the elevator in silence. Only when the doors closed behind us, he spoke, “How are you liking Addison Ltd?”
A beaming smile appeared on my face. “I love it. I love the people. I love the work-pace. I lo— Well, I like the boss.”
He snorted. “You do? I find that hard to believe.” He looked forward, but side-eyed me. “Has she given you ‘the talk’ yet?”
I shrugged. “What talk?”
He gently shook his head. “The don’t-fuck-my-husband talk.”
My mouth gaped. I leaned forward and whisper-hissed, “She does that a lot?”
Nicholas chuckled. And it sounded like rolling thunder. I liked that. He confirmed, “She gave you ‘the talk.’”
“I don’t understand her. She still uses her married name, calls you her husband, and acts crazy when you’re in the vicinity. I don’t get it.”
He made a noise deep in his throat, a little like a growl. “She likes the benefits of still being considered a Dietrich.”
I watched him closely as his jaw worked. He was a very attractive man. I thought about what he said and his assumption. I had an assumption of my own.
Looking back to the doors, my brows rose. “Or she still loves you.”
The elevator doors opened before Nicholas could respond. I scanned my card and we both walked into the office. I followed him down to his deserted quarters and stood by the door. He went through his things, muttering, “Damn,” and, “It’s gotta be here.” Before long, he placed his hands on his hips and came up empty-handed, looking frustrated. “I know where it is. It’s in Addison’s office. But I can’t get in there without her key and she takes it everywhere with her.” He slammed the desk drawer, making me jump, and breathed, “Damn.”
I didn’t say a thing. I didn’t want to get involved in something that clearly wasn’t my business.
Nicholas blew out a long breath. “Sorry. I know your boyfriend is waiting for you.”
My face bunched in disgust. “Firstly, ew. Secondly, Harry is my brother.”
He stood tall while his head tilted to the side in thought. “There is a slight resemblance.” His eyes searched my face and I felt as though I was being dissected, taken apart. “Is there a boyfriend?”
I was finding it hard to swallow. Somehow I managed to let out a hushed, “Not at the moment.”
He absently scratched at his chin. “Interesting.”
“Not really.” My shoulders jerked weakly. “I should probably go. If you’re done, that is.”
He nodded. “Right. I apologize for wasting your time, Mia.”
As we walked side-by-side, I smiled. “That’s okay. All you kept me from was my mom’s meatloaf,”—my eyes widened dramatically—“and trust me, that’s more than okay with me.”
His lip twitched. “Mom not a great cook?”
“Oh no, she’s a great cook. But her portion sizes are astronomical, and if I don’t eat every morsel on my plate, she puts on a guilt trip of massive proportions and I spend the rest of the night feeling like crap. But Harry and I have a system. Every time Mom gets up, he snags pieces of my food.”
Nicholas’ eyes dropped down to my light smile. “Sounds like he’s a good brother.”
I nodded once. “The best.”
He held the door open for me and followed me out. “Thanks again, Mia.”
“Anytime, Nicholas.” I smiled at him and lifted my hand in goodbye then made my way back to the car just in time to sit and listen to Harry’s loud and tone-deaf a cappella version of “Living on a Prayer.” He started the car as soon as I got in, turned to me, tapping the steering wheel, and yelled a lively and animated, “Oh, we’re halfway there! Whoa…livin’ on a prayer!” He held his hand out. “Take my hand…” I slapped it away and he looked affronted, but kept singing, “We’ll make it, I swear!”
I shook my head and looked out the window, trying hard not to laugh. But when he wound down his window and shrieked, “Bon Jovi fo’ life, bitches!” I lost my fight, bursting into fits of laughter. We spent the rest of the car ride singing and dancing without the radio. And when we got to Mom’s, it wasn’t so bad.
She only tried to sneak me one extra serving of dinner and two of dessert.
Still in the afterglow of my big O, I arrived to work on Friday morning in a state of Zen.
Making my way past Ella, I touched her pretty hair and muttered, “Morning, El,” with a small smile.
Ella croaked out, “Mia, wait!” but I didn’t stop. Instead, I turned to look at her as I walked backwards to my desk. The look on her face told me something was wrong. I slowed my step, but kept walking. “What?”
A cough from behind me sounded. I paused mid-step and turned. Addison stood there perfectly coiffed, as usual, and she looked madder than a wet hen. Her lips thin, she uttered a deadly, “My office. Now.”
Oh, shit.
I was in trouble. I never got into trouble. I was trouble-free. A no war zone. I was fucking Switzerland, goddamn it!
I thought hard. What had I done?
It hit me as soon as I entered her office. I started to utter, “I can explain…” when she cut me off with, “I had one rule. One rule, Mia.” She poised herself on the edge of her desk. “I’m so disappointed.”
I was confused. “I’m sorry…but what?”
Her smile was as icy as fro-yo and her voice was warning. “I told you to stay away from him.”
My face paled as my heart raced in panic. I was about to lose my job. “But I didn’t do anything!” I stepped closer and explained in a rush, “Mr. Dietrich caught me as I was leaving and he asked me to let him in, because his pass had been deactivated. As far as I know, Mr. Dietrich is still the owner of this business…”
Addison hissed, “Part owner.”
“…and by not letting him in, I could have left myself open to cursory action on his part. As a new employee of this business, I had only followed orders given to me by my superior. Surely I can’t be punished for following the orders given to me by my boss.” She didn’t respond. A short burst of courage passed through me, surprising even myself, so I added for good measure, “If you attempt to punish me, I’ll take this matter to my lawyer.”
I wasn’t sure it was possible, but her eyes flashed and her expression turned even colder. Through gritted teeth, she muttered, “That will be all, Mia.”
Before she could change her mind, I walked back to my desk, hoping the flicker of respect I had seen in her eyes was not indeed a figment of my imagination.
Chapter Nineteen
Quinn
“What’s up with you?” Harry panted as we ran side-by-side. “Why are you so quiet? You’re freaking me out, man. Say something.”
I looked over at him as sweat dripped down his red face. I didn’t believe him when he said he was out of shape, but from the look of him at this very moment, he was right. He didn’t look unfit. I think that was where people got it wrong.
A larger person can be fit, and a slim person can most definitely be unfit. Harry was definitely the latter. People think being thin automatically puts you in better health. It’s all a misconception, really, and a sad one at that.
