Chapter 47 #2
“Sorry, it’s not long. Anyway, we were sort of bantering back and forth, and he left the table.
And Skye said to me, 'I think he has a crush on you.’ Well, not a crush, but she said she thinks he's going to ask me out.
And I was like, 'No, he's not going to ask me out.’ Well, anyway, he did ask me out, and I think we're going to go out on Friday night, which is kind of exciting because—”
“I’m going to need you to work late on Friday night. That’s actually why I was calling,” I say, lying through my teeth.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“I'm sure you heard that Liam Gallagher is going to be based in the New York office, right?"
“Yeah, but what's that got to do with me?” She sounds annoyed now. “Don't tell me you want me to babysit your daughter because you want to go have drinks with Liam.”
“No, that's not what I want. We need to work on some contracts that Liam needs by Monday morning, and it's actually going to be an all-weekend affair.”
“So, if we are working the weekend, why do I have to work on Friday evening, as well?” Her voice is loud, and she's not giggling anymore. I've pissed her off.
“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interfere with your plans.
If I had known beforehand that you were not going to be available, I would have told Liam that he would have to find someone else, but he doesn't have an assistant yet, and so I said I didn't think you wouldn't mind helping him out because you are a really great assistant.”
“Why is it that I’m such a great assistant, yet I’m constantly working, doing things off the clock?”
“You are not doing it off the clock, Juniper. You do get paid, and you get paid very handsomely. And I mean, I am giving you ample notice. How was I to know that in all the months of you working for me, this would be the one Friday that you would actually have a date?” There is silence on the other line, and I wonder if I've crossed the line.
It was quite rude of me to bring up the fact that she didn't go on dates.
“Look, I'm sorry. That came out poorly.”
“No, it's fine. I mean, you think I'm a loser.
So, of course, you would think I could work on Friday night because I'm always free on Friday nights to do whatever you want me to do.
So, why should this Friday be any different, right?
Why should a gorgeous waiter like Marco have any interest in taking me out just because it's his one day off this week?”
“Well, I'm sure he has a day off next week,” I say.
There's more silence on the other line. “Look, I’m sorry, Juniper.
If this date means so much to you, and it's going to ruin your week and your possibilities with this guy, then of course, let me contact Liam and see if we can find someone at an agency to do this very confidential work for him, even though he wanted you because he trusts you so much.”
“It’s fine. I’ll do it.” She sighs. “Well, thanks for ruining my nice buzz.”
“I didn't mean to do that.” Now I feel guilty, really, really guilty.
Maybe I should tell her it was an April Fool's joke, even though it's not April, or maybe I'll tell her that I made it up. No, that’s not a good idea.
There's no way I can tell her that I made up an excuse for her to work on Friday because I didn't want her going out with some random waiter.
Especially because I truly didn't even care.
I think I'm just being paternal now that I'm a dad, and I want to ensure that she doesn't go out with losers.
And this Marco sounds like a loser. I mean, I don't know anything about him, but the fact of the matter is, she said he couldn't even get a drink order right.
What sort of waiter can't get a drink order right?
I know I'm making no sense, but I'm trying to rationalize it to myself.
“So, was that it, Mr. Parker?” she says in a stilted tone. “Or did you want me to come over so that I could babysit Canyon so you could go and get laid tonight or something? Because I'm sure it's been a couple of days since your...” She pauses.
"Since what?"
"Since it was wet."
"Since what was wet?"
"Nothing."
I press my lips together to stop from laughing. “It’s actually been months, thank you very much.”
“Sorry, what has been months?”
“It’s been months since I have gotten laid. Or as you would say, since my dick has been wet.”
She gasps in shock and chortles.
“Don’t act all shy and innocent with me, Juniper. We both know what you were insinuating.”
“So, do you want me to come over and babysit?” She hisses. "Is that why you're calling? Other than to ruin my hot date on Friday?"
“No. I don't want you to come over and babysit.” I don't want to tell her that I just wanted to hear her voice.
I just wanted to share with her how I was feeling about the whole situation with Canyon and Karen.
I'm not even sure why the thought crossed my mind to confide in her like that.
I realize that's not a conversation I should be having with her.
She's my assistant, not my friend, not my girlfriend, not anything like that.
And I need to stop crossing those lines.
I need to keep up the boundary between us because the lines are becoming too blurred.
“Okay, well, I'll be there working for you on Friday, and you can tell Liam he can count on me. I will be discreet in whatever we're doing. I guess you also want me to work on the weekend?”
“I mean, I was hoping that—”
“I have stuff going on this weekend, so I really can’t. You’re going to have to try and figure something out. I’ll work on Friday night, but Saturday and Sunday, I just can’t. I have to see my dad. And well, Skye and Lila and I, we’ve got something important planned.”
“Oh?” I sit up. “What do you have planned?”
“That’s kind of private, and I don't really want to share it with you.”
“You going out to look for more guys or something?”
“Well, they're both in relationships, so no, I don't think they're going to look for guys.”
"Are they helping you look for guys?"
"None of your business."
“I mean, if you are that desperate for a man, I do have some friends that I can introduce you to.” My voice sounds surly, but for some reason, I'm feeling pissed off.
“No, thank you, Mr. Parker.”
“Stop with the Mr. Parker. I’m Remington. You know that.”
“Yes, Remington. Was there anything else?”