Page 18 of Grumpy Boss of the Year

“Whatever. He’s literally having you fly over to Italy to have a ball, to meet a bunch of men who want to marry you, which, by the way, these men are from the right families. He literally said that to my mom. Like what is a right family?”

“I don’t know, but I don’t even want to go. I don’t want to marry one of these random men.”

“Since when?” He sounds surprised.

“Since I actually thought about it and since Skye fell in love with someone normal and real. I want to meet a regular man, not some rich dude at a ball.”

“You do not want a regular dude. I cannot see you dating Bob the Postman.”

“I didn’t say I want to date Bob the Postman, though I’ve never met a postman in real life and certainly not one named Bob.”

“Okay, would you rather date Jack the electrician?”

“I actually wouldn’t mind dating Jack the electrician if he was cute. That way, I know he could always change my light bulbs.”

“Sis, please, even I can change your light bulbs.”

“You scream and cry if you have to stand on one step of a stepladder,” I remind him. "You cannot change the recessed lights in my living room. The ceilings are fourteen feet high."

“Yeah, because I’m dainty and clumsy and could fall, but if I had to change a light bulb for $10,000, I would do it.”

“No one’s paying you $10,000 to change a light bulb.”

“Fine,” he says, laughing, “but seriously, you sure you want to take this job?”

“I’m sure.”

“Have you told your dad yet?”

“I emailed him this evening,” I say softly. “He hasn’t gotten back to me, so obviously, he doesn’t care.”

“Or maybe he hasn’t seen it yet, or maybe he’s flying over from Italy to tell you that there is no way you’re going to be working as an assistant to some nobody.”

“Would it make you feel better if I said I was working as assistant to the president of the United States of America?”

“Girl, if you had the job as the assistant to the president of the United States of America, I’d say we were in big trouble because you do not have the skills to do anything.”

I burst out laughing. “Thanks for nothing. I’m really glad to hear that you appreciate all the skills that I bring to this position.”

“Girl, you have no skills other than looking good.” He laughs and then stops. "I'm joking. You're perfect."

“Romeo.”

“Okay, I’m joking. You’re very educated. You know a lot about classical literature and reality TV, but oh, my gosh, you do not know much about typing, or PowerPoint, or Excel, or…”

“Enough. Liam is the one who hired me, so he can be the one to fire me. I don't need you trying to fire me before I even start.”

“You seriously did not take this job so he could fire you.”

“No, and I don’t think he hired me so he can fire me either.” I reveal more than I'd wanted to, but I am dying to tell Romeo about the chemistry that buzzes between Liam and me.

“Oh, so spill the tea. What’s actually going on here, sis?”

“I mean, if I’m real, there’s a little bit of flirtation and…”

“Wait, you have the hots for your new boss?”

“No, I wouldn’t say that.”

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