Chapter 34 #2
“Thank you,” I say, looking at my watch. It's 6:00 p.m. on Friday evening. Technically, I should have left at 5:00 p.m. I don't know if he's being facetious or if he actually thinks he's being charming and kind, but I'm not going to say anything.
I watch as he enters his office and closes the door, and I pick up the phone. “Hey, Dad, what's going on?"
"There you are. I was wondering if you'd like to come to dinner this evening."
"Oh, I’m going to go for drinks with my friend Lila, but..."
"Oh," he says in a disappointed tone. "I was hoping that you'd come home and try my lasagna."
"Dad, I've had your lasagna many times," I say, trying not to be mean. My father has raised me himself since I was six, after my mother passed away in a car accident. He'd been the best father a girl could have ever asked for, but unfortunately, he knew nothing about the ways of women. He knew nothing about clothing, fashion, makeup, or hair, and he’d never dated another woman since my mother’s death. At least not that I knew of. So I’d never had a mother figure in my life.
“Dad, what about I come over tomorrow?” I suggest, wanting to make him happy.
“That sounds like a plan. Do you want to play Scrabble and then go for a walk in the park?” he asks, and I smile into the phone.
My dad loves to play Scrabble, and almost every time we hang out, this is our regular routine.
You would think I'd get bored of it, but I still enjoy spending time with my father.
Maybe it's because I don't actually have a boyfriend to do anything else with. I do hang out with my girlfriends, but most of them are now in relationships and don’t have as much time.
"I'll come over tomorrow around noon," I say.
"Sounds good. I can't wait to see you, Juniper."
"I can't wait to see you, too, Dad. Love you."
"Love you more."
We hang up the phone, and I sit back and peek back into Remy's office.
He's typing something, looking serious, and I try not to stare at him too long.
The fact of the matter is I have a little crush on Remington Parker.
I shouldn't because he doesn't know I exist, other than as his assistant, but I do.
There's just something about the way that he carries himself and the way that he laughs that always makes my heart pitter-patter.
I close down my laptop, grab my handbag, and stand up.
I walk over to the door and give it a light tap and open it when Remy nods.
"I’m off now," I say. "Nothing else you want me to do before I go? "
"I don't suppose you..." He pauses. “No, I’m good. Thank you for all that you do, Juniper.” He grins, and I frown at him in surprise. This was the first time he'd ever thanked me for anything.
"Are you okay?" I ask, and he looks at me in surprise now.
"Yeah. Why are you asking?"
"Because you've never thanked me for the work that I do, and..."
"Oh, I know, but I was just thinking to myself that I'm very lucky to have been blessed with an assistant like you.
Someone that comes in, does her work, doesn't chitchat, doesn't waste time, and doesn't flirt or try and get me into bed.
You don't make the job awkward. I wanted you to know that I appreciate that, Juniper.
It's not often that one finds an assistant as capable as you are. "
"Well, thank you, sir," I say. Though, I can't say that I'm actually happy about his comments.
Who wants to be referred to as capable? I'd much rather be referred to as sexy or beautiful, but obviously, Remington does not feel that way about me.
"Okay, well, I'm off now," I say. "Have a great evening. "
"You, too." He grins, but the smile drops immediately as he looks back down at his laptop. I watch his face pale as I walk out the door, but I don’t say anything. I head to the elevator and ignore my worry for Remy. I need to concentrate on my own feelings of inadequacy working for the man.
I hate being invisible. I hate being the woman no one notices. I hate that I have no love. I pick up my phone and call Lila. She answers on the second ring.
"Hey, what's up? You're not there already, are you? I'm so sorry. I'm running a little bit late. Max got me..." She pauses. "Sorry. Are you there yet?"
"No, I'm just leaving the office now."
"Oh, perfect. It will take you, what? Fifteen minutes to get there?"
"Yeah. It's a fifteen-minute walk for me to get to the bar."
"Cool. I should be there in twenty minutes. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be late."
"It's okay. I'll get us a table. Text me what you want to drink and if you want any appetizers, and I’ll order those, as well."
"You're the best, Juniper.”
"You think so?" I say, laughing slightly, ready for a night of fun.
"Yeah. Everything okay?"
"So, you know how you and Skye keep offering to give me a makeover, but it hasn't really happened yet?"
"Yeah, of course.”
"Can we make it happen soon?"
"You want to do it tonight?" she asks excitedly. "We don't have to go to the bar. I can have you come over and..."
"Maybe not tonight," I say quickly. "I'm not prepared for tonight, but maybe next week."
"Okay, we can do it tomorrow if you want."
"I would, but I already promised my dad that I would go over to play Scrabble, and we'll probably eat leftover lasagna," I say, and she laughs.
"That sounds like a fun Saturday."
"Yeah, it's okay." I lower my voice as I exit the building. "If I'm honest, Lila, I want a boyfriend. I want love. I want more in my life, and I don't know that I'm going to get it looking like Mrs. Doubtfire's older sister."
She bursts out laughing then. "Juniper, you are a beautiful woman. You do not look like Mrs. Doubtfire."
"Thank you, Lila. I love you, and you are a great friend, but you're the only one who sees my beauty, other than my dad."
"Skye does, as well,” she says.
“You, Skye, and my dad," I say. "I just want a guy to notice me. I just want to go on a date. Shit, I'm fed up with being a virgin. I want a love story. I want an orgasm,” I say loudly, glad I’m in the elevator alone.
"Every guy's not going to give you an orgasm, trust me. But I'm confident that we can get you looking so beautiful that you can have any guy you want."
"I mean, I love you for saying that, but I sincerely doubt that I'll be able to get any guy I want even after the makeover, but a hot and sweet guy would be nice."
"I feel that. Let's talk about it more when I get to the bar. Okay?"
"Sounds good," I say. "See you soon, Lila."
"See you soon, Juniper."
We hang up, and I smile as I make my way down the street.
I pass two Wall Street-looking guys who are talking loudly about trying to get some tonight.
I try to make eye contact with the one closer to me so I can show him my disapproval, but he doesn't even glance my way.
"Invisible," I mutter under my breath and take a deep breath.
Sometimes, it really sucks, but other times, it feels like a blessing.