Page 51 of The Work Wife

“Very well.”

Ben winced. The show was over. He would be cornered in the town car for the ride. Traffic would make the trip even longer, but at least he’d have the opportunity to throw himself from the car if things got too bad.

“Who is he meeting? Maybe I know them,” his mother asked.

“Um. It’s David Price from Empire Health Insurance.”

He could hear the frown in his mother’s voice when she said, “I’ve never heard of him.” Probably because she’d never watched a Red Sox game.

Through the phone he heard the sounds of his mother’s irritation and fingers tapping on keys. No doubt, Anna was ordering the car to propel this charade into lunacy. What the hell, he would go along for the ride.

A new email came in from his assistant.

Your car will be ready at five. You might want to wrap up your meeting.

At 4:53, he stepped out of his office, pulling on his coat. Anna was in her coat and slipping her laptop into her bag.

“You’re going with him to the meeting?” his mother asked.

“Yes. I’m compiling all the benefits data for comparative analysis. Ben is an excellent negotiator, but it’s sometimes easy to forget what was decided after the dust settles.”

She was going with them? No doubt, she thought her presence would keep his mother from railing at him. He appreciated her sacrifice, but doubted it would work.

He assisted both women into the town car waiting for them at the curb, and then took the seat by the door. Ready to jump if necessary.

As soon as everyone was settled, Anna pulled out a folder and began prepping him for the imaginary meeting.

“So then, Mr. Price isn’t married, but he does have a longtime girlfriend,” she began, and he hoped she wasn’t going to break into his pitching stats. “He’s been with Empire Health for two years.”

“He’s left-handed, I believe,” Ben added, watching her lips pull up on the side. She had very nice lips.

“Yes. That’s correct.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” his mother complained. “You’re left-handed as well.”

“Which is why it’s handy to know which side to sit on,” Anna informed her.

Before his mother was done rolling her eyes, the car pulled over in front of a historic pub. The brass fixtures on McGregor’s were well polished.

“Here we are. Thank you for joining us on the trip, Mother. I’ll see you another time.”

“You’re meeting the man here?”

“Yes. Take care.” He reached over and patted her knee before getting out. He helped Anna with her bag and followed her up the stairs to the pub as the car drove off.

Anna’s shoulders dropped and she shook her head.

“I’m so sorry about that. She wouldn’t give up.”

Ben laughed. “Thank you for going to so much trouble to protect me from my own mother.” It sounded ridiculous. He was a grown man, but his mother . . . She had the ability to point out every one of his shortcomings in record time.

It took days for him to repair the shreds of his confidence after a visit with her. How many ways could the woman point out he was nothing compared to Weston?

“I don’t like the way she talks to you. She makes it sound like you’re lucky to have a job at your family’s company, when in fact they are lucky to have you. Do any of them have any idea of all the things you do to keep Archer Worldwide running so smoothly?” Her indignant rant on his behalf made him smile. “I apologize for running you out here. I can call a car to come pick you up.”

He covered her hand with his to stop her text. “We’re already here. Why don’t we have dinner?”

“Together?” Her eyes were wide in shock.