3. Maeve #2
I would literally rather face a firing squad than admit it out loud, but I kind of like that Ford calls me that.
Spitfire. It makes me feel like maybe I actually do have some fire in me.
I’m not just some poor girl who can’t get ahead in life and who couldn’t even hold onto the one long-term relationship she’d landed.
As much as he drives me insane, Ford took a chance on me when he hired me. I always want to prove him right, to show that I’m worthy of the trust he put in me. Still, that doesn’t mean I’ll let him get away with bullshit.
“You want to talk about legalities?” I reply, putting a hand on my hip. “Fine. Let’s discuss workplace harassment. Would you treat any other assistant this way, or is it because I’m your brother’s ex-girlfriend? Hmm? I don’t know if HR would like that. A clever lawyer could build a case.”
Ford leans back, a flicker of amusement in his icy blue eyes. “Oh, come on now, you and I both know what a double-edged sword that case would be. And I do believe there is a fun little phrase known as… what is it… persecution complex?”
“And yet, whether I was right or wrong, could you really afford the scandal?”
“Ah, but could you afford being known in the tabloids as the Passionfruit Princess who sued her boss over what’s basically a donut?”
“You know, Princess does have a nice ring to it, now that you mention it…”
“I think I prefer Spitfire.”
“And I think I prefer when my food is untouched.” I shake the box at him. “Last chance. If you just promise to stop stealing my food, we can settle out of court.”
Ford shakes his head and reaches into his breast pocket, pulling out his wallet. He grabs a couple of twenties and hands them over. “As compensation for the pastry.”
“You think you can buy my honor?”
“I would never dream of doing such a thing. But I never leave a debt outstanding.” He wiggles the bills at me.
I roll my eyes, but I take them. Ford won’t give up until I do.
Besides, it’ll be really nice to afford some more treats this week.
Buying a nice pastry is something I really shouldn’t do too often, no matter how much I love them or how much it brightens my day.
But with this gift, I can definitely afford a few more.
It’ll make the work days more bearable for a few weeks.
“And you being Liam’s ex doesn’t make me biased against you,” Ford says seriously. “For the record. In fact, it’s why I let you get away with having such a smart mouth.”
Ford never fully defrosts, but sometimes, a little bit of the glacier melts. Just a little. It drives me bonkers that it only seems to happen when he’s poking fun at me.
“Careful,” I warn him. “If you don’t watch out, this mouth will get smarter than you one day.”
“I’m quaking in my Ferragamo shoes,” he drawls.
I huff and leave him to it.
The rest of the day goes without incident, thank goodness, and I’m actually able to slip out at a reasonable hour. I set everything up for tomorrow so it’s all good to go, then grab my purse and hurry to the elevator before one of the men can call me back and give me more work to do.
This is why I try not to say goodnight. These men are all workaholics, so at least one of them will always have something more to give me. I need to make my escape when I can.
By the time I get to the bar where I’m meeting my best friend, Allison, Hayden still hasn’t texted me. I think I might’ve gotten away with it. Ford and Gabriel won’t usually bother me once I’ve left work, but, well… Hayden is another type of beast altogether.
Allison is sitting at one of the high tops in the middle of the room when I get there.
She grins and waves me over enthusiastically.
I love my bestie to death, but there are times when I feel a bit envious of her.
She’s tall and willowy, with honey colored eyes, sandy blonde hair, and an almost elfin face with just a hint of freckles.
She never has any trouble getting a date, and she walks and dresses so confidently. Sometimes I wish I could know what it feels like to move through the world with that kind of ease—to be the kind of woman a man looks at twice, instead of the one they settle for.
That’s stupid, I know. A guy who wants to cheat is going to cheat, no matter how beautiful you might be. And Allison has had her own romantic woes. She’s my best friend, and I love her and I want good things for her.
I just wish, sometimes, that I could be the one that handsome men stare at when I walk into a room.
“How’d it go last night?” She hugs me hello and then waves the bartender over for a drink.
I quickly scan the menu. It’s still happy hour, thank goodness.
I often get off work late enough that all the happy hours are over by the time I get to the bar, and then I have to just order a soda.
I order a cocktail, but I’m going to stick to just one.
Five dollars is fine, but I can’t push it. My budget is still tight.
“Ugh. It didn’t go at all.” I fill Allison in on what happened.
“Wow, that’s insane. Your boss is a psychopath.”
I laugh. “I want to hear you say that to Hayden’s face. Not that it would get to him. I swear he always finds a way to have the last word.”
Allison nods sagely. “Like a psychopath.”
I laugh again. “Aren’t you the one who told me you thought he was hot when I showed you a photo?”
“He is hot! Doesn’t mean he’s not crazy! You were on a date! You could’ve been meeting the love of your life!”
I groan. “I wouldn’t go that far. I’ll be honest… I wasn’t really feeling it.”
“Oh, no, I’m sorry.”
I shrug. “It’s fine. It just felt like he was trying too hard. I want a man who’s confident.”
“And you deserve one.”
“Confident men don’t go for women like me.”
“Are you kidding me? Maeve, you’re a catch.” Allison frowns at me as I sip my cocktail. “Don’t tell me you’re still hung up on Liam.”
“I’m not. I mean—not like that. I’m not in love with him anymore.
” Far from it. I kind of want to set his Lamborghini on fire.
“It’s just… he said all the right things.
He seemed so great. He made me question my own judgment.
How do I know the next man won’t do the same?
How can I trust that I’m not just being led on by someone playing a part? ”
Allison puts her hand comfortingly over mine. “Maeve, I know he messed you up. But he’s a spoiled dick, and it’s been two years. You need to get back out there.”
“Or maybe I need to just swear off men.”
“Maybe the problem isn’t the men, babe. Maybe the problem is you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I mean, that you are gorgeous, and wonderful, and anyone would be lucky to have you, you ridiculous woman.” Allison sips her cocktail.
“You need to realize your worth. Once you do, people around you will notice. You’ll dump shitty men before they have a chance to hurt you because you’ll realize that they’re not good enough for you. ”
“Or, I should stay home and cook.”
“Oh, god, not the stress cooking.”
“You say that like you don’t get a ton of great food out of it!”
“I’d rather get great food because you’re happy cooking, not because you’re miserable.” Allison finishes her drink and squares her shoulders. “Look, I have an idea. And don’t say no until I finish, okay?”
“Okay…”
“You need to do a boudoir photo shoot.”
I choke on my drink. “ What? ”
“Not to show around, just for yourself. I think you need a way to see yourself through a different lens. To own your body, your curves, your power. You should do some tasteful, sensual photos in lingerie. Really show off what you’ve got.
And then any time you worry that you’re not good enough, you can look at those and remember that you’re a catch, and that any man would be lucky to have you. ”
I can feel heat crawling up my neck to my face. “I don’t know.”
“Just think about it.”
“You’re not going to give up until I say I will, are you?”
“You know me.” She winks. “Here, next round’s on me.”
That’s why Allison is my best friend—she looks after me, and I don’t even have to bring up the things that embarrass me. She just knows.
I honestly don’t know if it’s an idea that I can pull off.
I’m a heavier girl. People call me ‘curvy’ or ‘well-endowed’ when they’re trying to be kind.
I’m not the kind of girl that men choose.
They only pick me when they think they can’t get anyone else.
I don’t think a sexy photo shoot is going to change that.
I shake the thought out of my head and accept my next cocktail as it’s handed to me. At least I have a loyal friend and a night off, and that’s more than some people get.