28. Chapter 28
Chapter twenty-eight
Cooper
“ W hat the hell am I supposed to put on this?” I groan, lying my head against the back of the couch. The company sent out self-evaluations moments before it was time to go home, and they’re due by the end of the week.
“What’s the question?” Sutton asks, setting her knitting down on her lap.
“What areas of your performance do you think you could improve,” I read off the computer sitting in my lap.
I’ve already reached the maximum performance for my role, if you ask me. When Jorge retired, I took on over fifty percent of his clients, as the rest of my coworkers already had a full client load.
“Oh, I’ve got it. Hand me the computer.” She motions for me to pass it to her. With the computer in her lap, she types away while chuckling under her breath before she hands it back to me.
I frown as I read the words she chose.
Nothing. Because like my mother always says, I’m perfect just the way I am …
“Sutton, I can’t put that.”
“Yes, you can and you will.”
“Please be serious for a minute, baby. I need your HR experience, not your extensive bullshitting repertoire.”
Sutton’s chest heaves. “They are one and the same. I promise you, Coop, I’m being dead serious. These questions are a trick, and you need to answer them with complete confidence.”
“My mother would never say that,” I mutter under my breath.
“Well, mine would, and you deserve to be told that as well.”
“I don’t think they are going to find me putting that I am perfect too cute.”
She shrugs. “They might not. I am telling you, if you put that you have any area that needs to be improved upon, they will use it against you as a reason not to give you a higher raise.”
“That’s bullshit.”
“That’s corporate bullshit,” she supplies.
“So I lie and say I have nothing that needs to be improved upon.”
She gives a curt nod. “Fake it till you make it, baby.”
“Our new motto?”
“You bet your tight ass, it is. Want to play video games when you’re finished?”
God, how I love this woman.
I’m looking over my answers one last time when I get an email alert that [email protected] has sent me something.
I look up from my computer to find her knitting.
Suspicious, I open the file and am quickly directed to a survey form.
Cooper’s Boyfriend Evaluation
As a boyfriend to the absolute king/ruler of your heart that is Sutton Hale, how would you rate your overall performance on a scale of one to ten?
If you could buy Sutton one pair of shoes, which would you buy?
Red stilettos with gems covering them to look like they are from the Wizard of Oz .
Lavender stilettos with bows on the toes and heel.
Black stilettos with chrome spikes.
Trick question. You would buy all of the above.
3. Rate your performance in the bedroom.
Poor (Sutton is faking every orgasm).
Okay (I’ve only made Sutton come on accident).
Average (could be better, could be worse).
Above average (I only come if Sutton comes at least twice).
Excellent (I take that pussy to pound town and give it unlimited orgasms).
Bonus: Tell the truth, do you honestly need glasses?
I laugh as I fill it out, answering, 10, All of the above, Excellent, and Wouldn’t you like to know?
I make a mental note to make her one as I close my laptop and place it on the coffee table. Picking up one of the controllers, I turn and toss it into Sutton’s lap, then power on the other as I pull up Mario Kart on the PlayStation.
A few days later, my boss calls me into his office.
“Cooper, please have a seat.” He gestures toward the chairs, smiling at me from behind the desk. “Listen, I got your self-evaluation back and thought it was time we had a chat.”
Shit. Shit. Shit.
My palms immediately slick with sweat.
“Sir, I—”
“Ah, hold it right there, son. We loved it. You’ve been an exceptional member of our team since day one. And since gaining the majority of Jorge’s clients, you have stepped up.”
Holy shit. Sutton’s bullshitting worked. “Thank you, sir.”
“So here’s the thing, we have a senior position available, and based on your performance and go-getter attitude, it’s yours.”
I sit up straighter.
“That is if you’re interested.”
“I am. I’m very interested,” I tell him eagerly.
He laughs. “Hold your horses, son. The position won’t start for a few more weeks, but I will email you the details regarding duties and pay, and if you are still interested, let me know.”
I nod enthusiastically. “I most definitely will. Thank you, sir.” I shake his hand, on cloud nine. I can’t wait to tell Sutton about this. She’s going to be so excited to tell me I told you so.