5. Maggie
5
Maggie
This day isn’t off to the best start. I wake up late thanks to an overnight power outage and because the power is still out, I skip blow drying my hair and leave it down and wavy. My usual bun is out of the question, so I finger comb the waves and hope I don’t run into Derek when I arrive at work.
We’ve both been doing an excellent job of steering clear of each other since the shower incident…but sometimes, I swear I can feel him watching me. It’s wishful thinking, I’m sure. At least I think. I have to get over this crush and this weekend is the perfect time. I’ll go out and meet someone and forget all about Derek Banks.
It’s the perfect plan.
The day gets worse with each passing minute and by the time I arrive at the estate—twenty minutes late—my mood is terrible.
“You’re late.” Derek’s voice booms loudly behind my back, startling me as I shake the water out of my hair. And shirt. Ugh.
“Bus ran into an SUV so I had to wait for a new one to arrive and bring me here. Traffic was a mess and now it’s raining. Sorry I’m late, Mr. Banks.” I’m snippy and today I don’t care at all. I just want to go back home, crawl into bed and start the whole damn day over.
He glares at me but I shake it off and rush past his side, refusing to engage with him right now. “Uber and Lyft are a thing, you know?” he spits out.
I scoff. “Do you have any idea how much it’d cost to come all the way out here?” I shake my head. “Of course you don’t know and why should you? It’s not your problem.” I’m so angry that I’m shaking. “If it makes you feel better, I’ll stay twenty-one minutes late today. Okay?” Without waiting for his response, I head to the kitchen and offer up a quick smile to Jonathan before going down the hall to the maid’s office where my list of Friday chores awaits.
I feel Derek’s presence behind me and yet I pretend as if I think I’m completely alone, hoping that’ll give him the hint to leave. “You don’t have to stay late.”
“Too bad. I’m staying to make up the time just in case you think I’m trying to take advantage of you.” Our gazes collide and even angry, I still find him insanely attractive. Today he’s wearing jeans and a t-shirt, all of it clinging to his hard body the way I want to, and I force my gaze to remain on his handsome face. “Anything else?”
“I’ll let you know.” He storms off.
I smile to myself, wondering if this is what it feels like to win a round against Derek Banks. It’s not a win perhaps but it feels like it since he’s the one who stormed off angrily this time.
Nope, it’s a win. I’m counting it as one. The thought gives me an extra bounce in my step as I get through the day, ticking items from my to-do list. I find myself busy enough to where I don’t have to think about the crappy way the day started, or the fact that I’ll be going home to a dark apartment.
A problem for another time. I sigh and fold the fluffiest bathroom towels to ever touch my skin. I don’t think about anything but the task ahead of me and before I know it, my phone buzzes to remind me that it’s almost six.
Twenty-one minutes to go .
I put the towels away in the linen closet for guests and double check the guest rooms to make sure the windows are closed and the fresh bedding is wrinkle free. The last item on my list is complete and I still have nine minutes left on the clock so I make my way downstairs to see if Jonathan needs any help even though he’ll say no because he always does.
Still, I plan to ask but the sensation of my phone buzzing in my pockets pulls me up short. I frown at the screen and answer it immediately. “Mom? What’s up?”
“Maggie, thank goodness you’re all right.”
“Why wouldn’t I be? I’m still at work.”
“Lisa from across the hall called to tell me the power was out and she hadn’t seen you all day, which had me concerned, dear.”
I smile at my mom’s neurotic worrying. “I’m fine, I promise. This day sucks and I’m just happy it’ll be over soon so I can go home and try again tomorrow.” Going out is not even a thought anymore.
“About that…the power is still out and now the plumbing is on the fritz too. Can you stay with Sara for the weekend?”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Sara is in Connecticut for the summer, Mom. I can sleep without electricity or plumbing. I’ll charge my phone over dinner at the pizza place.”
“Honey, you’re not listening. It’s out all weekend and they’re strongly encouraging residents to stay elsewhere.”
Yeah, a headache is definitely coming on right now. “Fine, alright. What’s your plan for when you get back tonight?”
Mom sighs and I drop down on the bottom stair because I know this horrible day is about to turn rotten. “I’m still in Cleveland, stuck here for the weekend and then I head to Chicago on Sunday.”
“So you’ll be gone for another week ?” She’s a pharmaceutical sales rep and makes damn good money, which is why she’s never needed my totally-out-of-the-picture sperm donor.
“Looks like it, yes. I’m sorry, Mags.”
“It’s not your fault, Mom. Thanks for letting me know. Love you.”
“I love you too. Try to have some fun this weekend, yeah?”
“Sure Mom.” I roll my eyes and end the call with a heavy sigh. It’s a good thing I didn’t waste money on an Uber, I think as I scroll cheap hotel rooms in the city.
A throat clears behind me and I go completely still, certain that Derek heard my entire conversation with my mother.
I jump up, scrambling not to drop my phone and straighten with my back to my boss. I’m off the clock officially and I don’t have to listen to him anymore. That’s what I tell myself as I quickly walk towards the front door and out into the night without a plan.
That’s not true . I do have a plan. Go home to pack a bag and empty the fridge, then I’ll grab dinner and find a place to stay for the weekend. That’s the plan.
“Maggie?”
I turn with a half-smile. “Yes, boss?”
His gaze narrows on me. “You can stay here. There’s plenty of room.”
He’s kidding, right? I’m already refusing the offer before I’ve had a chance to process it. “You don’t have to do that. It wouldn’t be appropriate.”
“Who gives a hell what’s appropriate? It won’t cost you a dime to stay and you’ll be safe compared to some shitty hotel.”
My budget is limited so I don’t bother getting mad at his snobby reply. “It’s not a good idea, Derek.”
“Sure it is.” He flashes his gorgeous smile that steals my breath and I wonder where he’s been hiding that beauty all along. “Pick a room and then we can have dinner together. Get to know each other better.”
That sounds suspiciously similar to the start of my last fantasy which is yet another reason why I shouldn’t be entertaining this offer. “I need to grab some clothes and clean out the fridge or else the apartment will smell like a dead body come Monday.” A satisfied grin grows on my face as I know he can’t ignore that.
“Fine,” he grunts. “Let’s take care of what you need to and by the time we make it back, dinner should be ready.” Without waiting for an actual acceptance of his offer, Derek grabs his keys from the bowl near the door and heads to the car.
I guess this is happening.
I’m staying with super sexy, super annoying boss for the weekend.
What could go wrong?