“Because you think I’m awesome. I thought Nora was supposed to be the bomb over there, and you’re complaining about having a really good worker.”
“I know, I know. I’m losing my fucking mind, and it’s not good. Look, I’ve got to go.”
“This has been a really messed up chat, Rex. You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” He had blue balls, and right now he didn’t have a fucking clue what he was doing and it pissed him off. “Drinks later?”
“Not later. I’ve got a date with Bella.”
“You’re still going to go through with that?”
“You’ve got it. I told you, I know what I’m doing.”
“And I don’t?” Rex asked. His best friend was making a big mistake. He was going to make Bella Reed, the daughter of his enemy, fall in love with him, and then he was going to break her heart. It was a hard-assed plan, and he didn’t know how his friend could go through with it.
How are you any better?
You’re mean to the woman that was forced to work with you.
“I’ve got to go,” he said, cutting of Alaric’s speech as to why he should continue to do what he did.
Pulling up Nora’s contact details, he dialed her number, and waited.
“Hello,” she said, and he could tell that she was out walking the streets.
“You left,” he said.
“I know, and don’t worry, when Frank called me I just told him I was ill so no worries. Did he leave you alone?” she asked.
“No, he didn’t. Will you come back in?” he asked.
There was a pause. “I can’t right now, I’ve got an … appointment. Everything you needed me to do is in that file I handed you. I’ve got to go, sorry, Rex, bye.”
For the first time in his life, he was hung up on. He stared at the phone, and gritted his teeth.
Fuck!
Today was not his fucking day. Flicking through the file, he noticed certain points were highlighted with a yellow pen. There were a few notes, and he frowned, recalling the same kind of file in the past. He’d always found it a really good attention to detail, and he didn’t have a clue as to why it had started to annoy him.
He didn’t like being treated like a child, and being forced to take on a woman he didn’t ask for, had pissed him off.
Getting to his feet, he made his way toward the reference section where he saw Carl, one of the lawyers who had a bit of bad luck losing several cases that dealt with business law.
“Hey, Carl,” he said, slapping him on the back.
“Hey.” Carl pushed his glasses up his nose.
“How have you been?” He was trying to make conversation.
“Good. You?”
“Nora has been driving me crazy,” Rex said, being honest.
“If you want to pass her off to someone else, I’d take her in a heartbeat. I could use the good luck. It’s what we think of her, you know?”
“What?” Rex asked, completely confused.
“She’s our good luck charm. Every person who has her as a PA, they’re guaranteed to win.” The envious look on Carl’s face was not hard to miss.
“Well, I won’t be getting rid of her any time soon.” He slapped his back, and left the room.
Chapter Two
Calling in sick wasn’t normal for her, and Nora hated it. She hated the lies, and pretending that she had a cough when she really didn’t was draining on her. After four interviews, she was more than exhausted, but what was even more crazy, each company had phoned her back within an hour of her interview, and they wanted her to work for them.
The temptation was so strong, and she didn’t know why she wasn’t jumping up and down with joy at the prospect of moving on, and moving away from the likes of Rex.
She was tired, and wanted a change of pace. Never had she envisioned her life being inside a law office, highlighting important texts, typing up letters, faxing, and dealing with clients. The job was wonderful, and she did enjoy it. The problem was her. She didn’t want to do it anymore.
“Stupid. A first grader could do this.”
“Did you shop in a thrift store? We have an image to project.”
“There’s no chance of you having a date, right? I can count on you.”