AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Just walking in here calmed my nerves. I love the smell in the air; that ambiguous mix of liquor. The decor also has a calming effect on me. The yellow lighting shines down on the leather booths, wooden chairs, tables and barstools, all different shades of brown.
I’m nursing mythird old-fashioned, after having practically downed my first two. Oliver is still swishing his first whiskey on the rocks around in his glass.
“So are you going to tell me what’s bothering you?”
“No,” is all I offer.
He chuckles. “And why not?”
“Because if I get into it I just might hurl my glass across the room in anger.”
Oliver laughs this time. “I doubt you’ll do that.”
He looks at me imploringly. Moments later I break down. “I can’t stand Emma.”
Oliver’s brow furrows. “Emma Stanley? The new HR girl?”
“The very same.”
“That’s what’s got you so bothered?”
“Yeah, she just pushes all my buttons. It’s almost as if she does it on purpose too. She goes out of her way to disagree with me and all of her proposals to make the company better are insane. I mean, a certified lunatic couldn’t even come up with half the stuff she does.”
“But that’s her job, isn’t it? That’s why she was brought in. You have to admit, we need to shake things up if we want to hold our own with our competition.”
I wonder whether he would be defending her if he knew she recommended he be fired. I consider telling him but I decided against it because I don’t want him to panic. Also because I’ll let him get fired over my dead body.
“I understand that, but she’s being so extreme about it. She refuses to compromise on anything. It’s like she’s a child. She wants what she wants, how she wants it. It’s driving me crazy. Whenever I think about it, I want to punch a wall.”
Oliver offers a belly laugh. “I can’t believe it.”
“What? What can’t you believe?”
“You like her.” His face splits in half with a smile.
“What? Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t like her,” I say, making every effort to keep my voice neutral.
“Oh my God, you really do like her.”
“Would you stop saying that? I don’t have feelings for her.”
“Glen, you can’t lie to me. We’ve known each other for 50 years. I mean, do I have to remind you that we met on the playground when we were both seven? I know how you act when you have feelings for someone.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Oh, yeah? And how do I act when I have feelings for someone?”
“First, you can’t stand them. They get under your skin, and you start acting exactly like you’re acting right now. Then very shortly after that you’re in a relationship.”
I laugh. “You’re an idiot.”
He chuckles. “You must really like her, because the last time I saw you like this was with Serena.”
“Whoa there. I actually married Serena. Let’s not take it too far. I will admit that I feel a little something for her, but it’s not that intense.”
“Ha ha! You see? I was right. I knew you have feelings for her.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, yeah, you were right. It was bound to happen sometime.”
He shoves my shoulder then says, “So what are you going to do about it?
