“You think?” he repeated.
I simply nodded.
“You don’t look like an intern,” he pointed out.
“Yeah, I know. Crazy, right?” I said and walked up to the desk, feeling awkward standing in the middle of the entryway. I caughtsight of the rest of Richard’s desk. He had a framed, bedazzled Lady Gaga picture with a signature on it in one corner, a makeup bag, and a multitude of succulents in the other.
“Seriously, are you the new intern? Mr. Sinclair did say something about someone coming in, but I didn’t expect it to be someone so…”
“Please, don’t finish that sentence,” I begged and stuck my hand out to him. “I’m Selena. You’re Richard?”
He shook my hand with the tips of his fingers, like he wasn’t sure whether I was clean enough to touch.
“It’s just Rich,” he said and then waved his hand around. “I’m manifesting.”
“Okay, Rich. Can you, like, ask someone where I should go?”
“Out the door, three doors down, there’s a boutique with plenty of women’s work wear. Business casual, that sort of vibe.” Rich eyed me critically.
I snorted, just about to clap back, when a deep voice spoke from the left.
“You know, Rich, that’s not a bad idea at all.”
I knew that damn voice.
Slowly, I turned toward it, scowl already in place.
Brody leaned on the wall of the corridor leading to the rest of the office. He had his hands in his pockets, navy chinos, complemented by a black dress shirt rolled at the sleeves and pulled tight against his impressive chest. I’d never seen him in anything other than jeans, T-shirts, and workout wear. The sight broke my brain for a second.
“What are you doing here?” I burst out without thinking how rude it sounded.
“Working, and speaking of which,” he glanced at his watch, “you’re late.”
“Girl, apologize,” Rich hissed at me under his breath. He turned his chair away from Brody to flash me a warning look.
“Late and horrendously dressed,” Brody continued.
“I appreciate that this isn’t work-appropriate attire—” I started.
“I wasn’t talking about hideous for work. Just hideous in general,” Brody continued.
Rich winced. “Ouch, woman down.”
I glared at Brody as he sauntered toward me.
“Did you cool down from this morning?” he asked, deliberately making me squirm.
My cheeks grew hot, and I raised my chin. “Did you?” I challenged back. Not my best comeback, but I was on the spot.
He smirked and then cleared his throat. “Rich here had the best idea, I think. Come on. You’re coming with me.”
He turned on his heel and made for the front door.
“Where?” I called, unwilling to move until I knew where he was dragging me off to.
“Shopping,” he called back. He opened the door and held it. “Get your ass out here, or your mum is going to hear about how you came into work looking like that, and late to boot.”
Swallowing my frustration, I followed him to the door.
