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With a huff, she finally said, “Fine.”
I installed her pathetic wreath, the plastic branches bent and broken. The color wasn’t even right. It looked more neon rather than the lush green shades of a real evergreen.
Once all her decorations were up, she clapped her hands and admired my handiwork. “Thank you. It looks wonderful.”
No, it didn’t. It looked like crap. But the joy radiating from her made me wonder what else I could do to give her pleasure. “You’re welcome.”
I returned to my desk, still baffled that something so gaudy and cheap brought her so much happiness. Did she love Christmas that much? I called the florist. “I want two fresh wreaths, the best you have. And 6 poinsettias.”
Nothing wrong with a boss giving his internandhis assistant plants to decorate their offices for the holidays. Nothing suspicious about it as long as I gave them one wreath and three plants each. Equal split. No playing favorites.
Afew days later, I was engrossed with the Excel sheet I was building when a knock on my door broke my concentration. The sound came from the main door leading to the hall.
Not many people visited me anymore after what had happened with Nathan. He had spread rumors about me, telling people I had made a pass at him, then seduced him into giving me the flash drive with all his hard work on it. Other rumors said that I had tried to claim credit for his hard work, then stabbed him in the back by ratting him out to Mr. Cox with a bunch of lies. Well, I did give the drive to my boss, but I sure as shit didn’t try to claim anything. I didn’t even know what was on that stupid drive.
So now I heard whispers when I walked through the halls.
“Rat.”
“Slut.”
Whatever. I didn’t care. Ok, I did a little. But I was getting better at blocking it out. Besides, I was learning so much, and Mr. Cox knew the truth. That’s all that mattered.
Knock. Knock.
So, who was visiting me? “Come in.”
My best friend walked into my office, and my jaw fell to the ground. “Kenny? What are you doing here?”
“LAURA!” He threw a bouquet of wildflowers—my favorites—on my desk, bounded around, and scooped me up in his arms in a bear hug. “You made it. You’re on Wall Street. Well, this building isn’t technically on Wall Street, but you’re in the industry! Same thing!”
I hugged my friend—my bestie since we were in diapers. My only friend, to be honest. I had friends growing up, but when Mom and I had to downgrade from a mansion to a one-bedroom basement apartment because daddy dearest had stolen everything we had and bailed on us, my so-called friends had ditched me.
The summer of my fourteenth birthday, my former friends attended equestrian camp while I worked three jobs to pay the rent, the electrical bill, and to buy food. Not to mention my mom’s medical bills. I was beneath them. Not one of them ever spoke to me again.
Except for Kenny. My constant bestie. My biggest fan.
Still hugging me, he said, “I’m so proud of you. I can’t believe you’re here.”
I hugged him back. I was happy to see him. It was comforting, like returning home, but his last comment pained me a little.
He might have been my biggest fan, always cheering me on and encouraging me to follow my dreams, but I didn’t think he ever believed I’d make it. He never came right out and said it, but I felt he didn’t think I had it in me to overcome all the hardship and pain and make it in this business. Mom was the only one who ever fully believed in me.
Mr. Cox appeared, hovering in the hallway. “Is everything ok in here, Ms. Bloom?”
Kenny put me down, whirled around, and stuck out his hand. “Hi, I’m Kenny, Laura’s fiancé.”
“Fiancé?” Mr. Cox crossed his arms and looked at Kenny’s hand as if it was covered in zits.
I laughed and punched Kenny in the arm, hurting my knuckles on his muscles. “No. He isn’t. Kenny is my best friend. He’s like an annoying brother I can’t get rid of.”
Kenny pouted and looked at me with piercing blue eyes. “Too bad. I would have treated you like a queen. And you would never have wanted for anything.”
Was he still hurt that I had rejected him 6 years ago? “I would have made you a terrible wife.”
My boss was still in the hall, watching Kenny with a scowl.
Kenny didn’t seem to notice. Or if he did, he ignored it. “Shit, woman. You and your principles.” With a finger, he gently poked me in the arm. “You’re the only woman in this world who turns down a drop-dead gorgeous billionaire.” He leaned toward my boss as if they were best buds and he was letting him on a secret. “She said she wouldn’t marry me because I’m rich.”
