Chapter 2 Rowan
ROWAN
Grabbing the stupid vibrator out of Claire’s hand, I shoved it into the bag and fled.
My face burned with shame as I stormed through the crowds, vaguely aware of Claire hollering at me to stop.
She caught up to me at the east entrance, but instead of looking remotely apologetic, her face stretched into a shit-eating grin that did nothing to calm the rage warring with sheer humiliation coursing through me.
“This is all your fault,” I snapped. “If you hadn’t made me come here and buy this stupid thing, then I wouldn’t have to find another job.”
Claire’s eyebrows kissed her hairline. “Another job? Don’t be silly. You love that job.”
“Didn’t you hear me back there? That was Grayson Brent, my boss. You know, the guy I’ve spent the last six months swooning over. The same guy who barely notices me other than how well I manage his calendar, how fast I bring him his lunch, and how efficiently I guard him from unwanted visitors.”
“Look on the positive side.” Claire’s beaming smile almost split her face in two. “He’s noticed you now.”
“Not helping, Claire.” I yanked on the door and spilled out into the underground parking garage with my soon-to-be ex friend hot on my heels.
“Row, stop.” She grabbed my elbow and hauled me to a stop. “Where’s your sense of humor? You own a vibrator. So what? You honestly think he isn’t whacking off on a regular basis?”
“I don’t have a clue what he gets up to in his spare time.” I ground the words out through clenched teeth.
Claire gave me a playful nudge. “Your most embarrassing moment didn’t spend long at number one.
Buying a vibrator isn’t embarrassing, anyway.
Having it spill out of a bag and land at the feet of Mr. Gorgeous, who you’ve dreamt about banging for six months…
now that’s a feat worthy of the number one spot.
I can see why you drool over him, though.
Talk about boss vibes. I’d do him.” She burst into laughter, pointing at the bag containing the offending item. “Boss vibes. Haha. I crack myself up.”
I fisted my hands on my hips. “We are no longer friends.”
Claire chuckled. “Liar. You’d miss me if I wasn’t around. I perk up your life, and you provide some balance in mine. You’re stuck with me forever, and you know it.”
“Bitch,” I muttered.
“Uptight arse.”
My lips twitched in the barest hint of a smile that I tried to stop. Too late.
“Aha!” Claire pronounced. “See, you love me.” She set off toward the car, throwing a casual. “Dinner’s on me,” over her shoulder.
“After that disaster, caused by you and your grabby hands, all the dinners for the rest of eternity should be on you.”
She threw her arms in the air. “Steady on.”
Claire spent the next hour trying to steer the conversation toward Grayson, and coming up with ridiculous schemes of how I might use ‘vibrator-gate’ as she’d termed it, to my advantage. I tried to head her off, but when diverting her attention proved hopeless, I tuned her out.
Death was suddenly looking an attractive proposition.
How would I face Grayson in the office tomorrow?