Chapter 6
Chapter
Six
CHLOE
I’m flipping through my phone looking at places where I could live as I eat my oatmeal, contemplating selling my body for more money. The housing market has really gone to shit.
I’m realizing I had it made at my last apartment. I think the landlord and I were balancing precariously among one another. He was a slumlord who never fixed anything, and I was a tenant who never complained. He never raised my rent, and I never reported him to the health department.
It worked for us. I had an affordable place to live, and he didn’t have to spend money fixing the many things that were wrong with my apartment.
I would have been happy to find another place like that. Unfortunately, the only things on the market are bougie apartments going for three times my budget or the bottom-of-the-barrel slumlords who want more than twice my budget.
There’s no winning.
“What are you frowning at?” Brantley says as he walks into the kitchen. He’s wearing a dress shirt as he rolls the sleeves up to show his forearms.
I am a fucking whore for arms like his. I might not like Brantley, but his body is everything I would pick for my perfect man. Usually that type of physique is attached to a dickhead who thinks he’s God’s gift to women.
“You have a little drool,” Brantley jokes, making my point for me.
“I never said you weren’t attractive. You have the looks, Playboy. The personality is where you are lacking.” I look back to my laptop, frowning at the next listing.
“You love my personality. It’s okay to admit it. Now what has you sighing over there?”
He comes around and looks at my laptop.
“Yeah you aren’t living there,” he tells me.
“Wow. You sure have a lot to say for someone who doesn’t feed, finance, or fuck me.” I wince as soon as the words come out of my mouth.
It’s a normal comeback for me. Unfortunately, it isn’t true in this situation. I know Brantley won’t let me get away with it either.
When I look up at him, his smirk tells me I’m right.
“Well, I have been feeding you, and you live here for free, so I would count that as financing. I could fuck you too if you want to make it a hat trick.”
Goddamn, I wish I could accept that offer. I know without a doubt that Brantley has to be well endowed. He wears gray sweats around the house, and well, let’s just say I’ve seen the monster tapping the fabric a time or two.
The problem is that I can’t go there. I can use that in my spank bank, though. Along with those arms.
I groan. “I opened myself up for that one. I know I did.”
Shaking my head, I look at my watch. Then I curse.
“Fuck. I’m going to be late.”
I jump up, leaving my bowl at the counter. I watch as Brantley glares at the bowl, making me feel bad.
“Sorry. I’ll get that.” I go to grab it, but he waves me off.
“I’ll take care of it. Can’t have you being late to that job you love so much.”
I roll my eyes, rushing out the door. I wish I never told him about my job. He’s latched onto the fact that I hate it and brings it up every chance he can get.
The drive to the office is one filled with road rage and curse words.
By the time I pull into the parking lot, I’m practically on two wheels looking for the first spot I can find.
It’s in the back, but I get my car in it, then take off at a run.
I manage to clock in five minutes early, making me glad I looked at the time when I did.
“Chloe, you’re late. Get in here,” Mr. Federa yells out to me.
I pick up my notebook and pen, rushing into his office.
“I should fire you,” he tells me.
I only nod, knowing I have nothing to say to defend myself. He has wanted to fire me for a while, but I never give him a reason to. Even now, I wasn’t actually late, so he can’t fire me for it, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t threaten it.
“The Jackson account file is missing the most recent media campaign they did with Aderholdt Media. I need you to research and find it. Before they walk in, I want them to know we have been monitoring their ads for a long time. We want them to feel valued.”
“Yes, sir. About that, I have an idea for their campaign,” I tell him.
He shakes his head. “Secretaries don’t get ideas. You know this. Keep them in your head.”
I sigh. “Yes, sir.”
“You’re a pretty girl, but sometimes I wonder about what goes on in that head of yours. You need to tone it down. People don’t like all that loudness.” He waves his hand over me.
I look down at my dress and frown. It’s one of my favorites. It reminds me of the Aztecs with the design. It’s also bright yellow and neon orange, so I guess that might be what he is talking about.
I leave his office without saying a word. I’m barely in my chair when Rebecca, one of the marketing coordinators, rushes up to my desk.
“Is he in?”
I’m supposed to be his gatekeeper, but I don’t even care anymore.
“Yep. Go on in.”
I stand, leaving my desk as I go to the supply closet. I shut the door behind me as I lean against a shelf.
Maybe Brantley is right. Maybe I need to take the plunge and quit. Find another job that I hate less than this one.
I give myself three minutes to process my emotions before I head back to my desk.
I need this job. I can do this.
I open a tab to do the research Mr. Federa asked for when he calls out again.
“Chloe!”
I take a deep breath knowing that today is going to be one of those days.
I can persevere, though.
I am strong.
What’s the worst that can happen after all?
brANTLEY
I always thought that living with another person would be difficult. Especially a woman.
It feels natural with Chloe.
Sure, she is messy and chaotic, but I find it weirdly endearing. Even when she leaves her dishes on the counter, I don’t mind it.
Okay. I mind, but I clean it up without a complaint.
I’m rinsing out her bowl when my phone rings.
“Mase, what’s up, man?” I answer.
“Max is in town. Want to get lunch with us?” he asks.
“Fuck yeah. I have to be at the arena at three, but I can chill until then.”
“Great. Meet us at the hotel at eleven.”
I go through my morning routine of working out then showering. By the time I am dressed, it’s time to go. Getting across town during lunchtime traffic is a rough task, but I manage it, only showing up a few minutes late.
“Oh, look who decided to join us,” Max jokes, standing to give me a bro hug.
“The man has a team to run. I’m surprised he was able to make time for us,” Eli teases.
“Go fuck your secretary. Oh wait, you already did. How’s that going?” I throw at him.
He glares at me. “She’s actually my boss now, fucker.”
The fact that he loathed his secretary when he started at the Williamson Foundation sounds so odd, but he really did.
Where I fake my hatred for Chloe as a facade, he actually tried to find reasons to fire his girl.
Instead, he ended up falling in love with her.
She’s now the CEO of the foundation, while he took a CFO job. The things a man will do for love.
“Of course. You dicked her down and somehow you ended up getting a demotion. She must have a golden pussy.”
Eli stands as if he’s ready to fight me.
“Shut the fuck up, Brantley. Why do you have to work him up? You know he doesn’t joke like that.” Mason pushes us both into our seats.
I only smile wider. “I like being able to get to him. Reminds him that he’s alive and not a robot.”
“You’re just jealous that I actually got the girl while yours hates you,” Eli quips.
It’s a low blow, but I don’t let him know it hit. I chuckle instead. “I don’t have a girl, but nice try.”
“So Chloe isn’t still living in your house?” Max asks.
I glare at him. “She is.”
“For someone who was so hesitant to let her move in, you sure aren’t in a rush to kick her out,” Mason adds.
“You’re the one who gave this whole speech about her being part of the group, so I should help her. I’m helping. Do you want me to kick her out? I can. Then she could be at your hotel instead,” I spit out.
“Oooh, he is testy. I think he’s starting to like her.” Max laughs.
“Fuck you.” I turn to him. “Let’s talk about Iris. You still harboring a secret boner for her?”
“Shut up,” he mumbles.
“Yeah. That’s what I thought. Maybe don’t be trying to stir shit up for me when your own shit is messy.”
“Okay, I think this has gotten out of hand. We only wanted to know how Chloe is. Is she still looking for a place?” Mason asks. “Livvy has talked to her a little bit, but she’s been busy and hasn’t gotten to be there for Chloe as much as she wants.”
I sigh. “There aren’t any good places out there. I don’t want her to get into a shitty place because she is in a rush to leave mine. I’m not there half the time, so it’s not too difficult sharing a space with her. Even if she leaves her shit lying around.”
“Well, don’t let her take a bath. Don’t need those issues,” Eli adds on a snicker.
“It’s not her fault that pipe burst.”
All three guys burst out laughing, making me wonder what I’m missing. Before I can ask, the server comes over to take our order.
After she leaves, Mason changes the subject.
“Arianna has a recital next month. I know your schedules are all crazy, but if you could make it, she would appreciate it,” he tells us.
“Give me the date. I’ll be there,” I promise him.
I don’t care what is happening with the team. I won’t miss a single moment of that little girl’s life. Mason might be her father, but we as her uncles also lost all that time with her.
“Same,” Max tells him.
Eli shrugs. “I live here. You know I’ll be there.”
“Good. Thanks.”
“Of course. We love little Ari,” I tell him. “Speaking of, since we are all in town, you should get the missus to watch the little one and we should go out tonight.”
“I wish I could, but I have to fly out in about three hours. I have a meeting in Denver tomorrow,” Max tells me.
“Adri and I are having a date night tonight,” Eli adds.
I look at Mason, who is frowning. “That’s not really my scene anymore. I’d rather be home with my kid. You’re welcome to come over, though.”
I shake my head. “It’s okay. I just thought we would go out for old times’ sake.”
As they start to joke about some of those old times, I look around the table.
Life has changed so much in the last several years.
Mason found his daughter and the love of his life.
Elijah fell in love and now devotes his life to the woman.
Max went from a hotel manager to the CEO of the Williamson Group. He’s now the one traveling the world.
When did we grow up?
I miss the days when we would all hit the bar and grab some beers. It wasn’t even about the women. It was about the kinship I felt when we were all together. The same one I feel now.
I guess I’m missing that.
An alert on my phone notifies me that there’s someone at my home. I open the camera and see Chloe entering the house, dropping her bag next to the door.
I might not be hanging out with the guys tonight, but maybe I can hang out with Chloe. That wouldn’t be a bad alternative.