Page 86 of Game Change

“You’re fucking your boss?” Oliver asks. He looks from me to Colin and shakes his head. “Go figure. So much for you walking around thinking you’re better than everybody all the time. And here you are throwing pussy to your boss.”

“You shut your filthy mouth.” To my shock, those words come from Heath, who is now towering over Oliver. I’m too stunned by his crass words to speak, but Colin pushes Heath away, grabs Oliver by the lapels of his coat, and physically pushes him out of the conference room. Oliver loses his balance and falls on his ass.

Two security guards come down the hall, followed by Clover, who is looking around wild-eyed. Oliver stands and walks away without another word.

A few employees are standing in the hallway watching. For once, Heath is quiet. Colin takes my hand and leads me to his office, and I drop myself on the couch when the door closes.

“Whatever credibility or respect I had here has left the building,” I mutter. I throw my head back and close my eyes.

It’s a good thing I already have an exit plan.

He sits next to me and puts a hand on my lap. “Did he hurt you?”

“Only with words,” I admit. I tell Colin why Oliver came and the things he said about the house. “I’m not giving him a dime.”

“I’m going to tell security and Clover that he’s not allowed back in the building."

I rest my head on his shoulder and reluctantly admit that having someone take care of things for me is nice. I was going to do the same thing, but now I don’t have to.

“Thank you,” I say. “How about we get out of here? Let me treat you to lunch.” I stand and wince when my ankle starts to throb. He stands, too, and I lean into him for support. “And yes, I can walk. I just want to get out of the office for a bit. Maybe by the time we get back, everyone will forget.” I know that’s not likely. It’s more probable that word will spread and everyone will learn about what happened.

“Yes, to lunch, but I buy your meals, not the other way around.” I roll my eyes, but I know that it was a long shot when I offered to buy him lunch. “We can go to my place too.”

“If we do that, we’ll get in bed. I want to eat and talk. In case you missed it, it’s the twenty-first century, and I can buy you lunch occasionally.” I’d love a strong drink, but that’s not something you say to your boss. He nods and gets my coat and purse. He returns moments later with Heath behind him. I don’t bother to look at him. He’s the biggest gossip in the office. He’s probably told everyone what happened by now.

“Can I go to lunch with you guys, Uncle Paddy?” he asks.

“No,” is all Colin says.

“Well, bring me back something. You know what I like,” he yells behind us.

Chapter 45

Colin

I check the time, and it’s a quarter past five on a Friday. Most of the office is gone, including Brynne, who left two hours ago for a final walkthrough of her house. I’m taking her to dinner to celebrate, and I’ll either end up at her place or she’ll end up at mine. She promises to give me a tour sometime this weekend if the house is finished. I would have been gone if my uncle wasn’t still here. I can hear him in the hallway now chatting with Heath, who is usually gone by this time on a Friday. They come barreling into my office, and I stand and grab my coat, hoping they will take the hint that it’s time to go home.

“Oh, look at him. He gets a woman and is ready to bail on a Friday night.” I ignore my uncle and put on my coat. It’s a wet afternoon; despite spring, it’s just a little above freezing. “And you need to talk to her. She was cold as ice earlier today when I saw her.”

“That’s because she’s an ice princess,” Heath says.

I reach around and whack him gently upside his head. “Don’t,” I warn, and he steps back, raises both hands and mutters an apology.

“Well, I’m happy for you, Colin,” Uncle Milton says. “Brynne is a good, kind person.” Heath pretends to choke. “And bring her to your brother’s house on Sunday for dinner. I’m the one who requested the dinner.”

“I’m not going to that,” I say.

“It’s my dinner party,” Uncle Milton insists. “You and your brother need to talk and put all this behind you. I blame your father—”

“My father was never father of the year, but my brother was an adult by the time I was born. Stop blaming others.”

“He was an adult, but still young and stupid.” He puts a hand on my shoulder. “Please, come. I’m the head of the family now, and I want us together this Sunday. It’s one dinner, Paddy. Who knows how much longer I’ll be around.” The old manipulative jerk. He knows how to get to everyone, including me.

“You’re not going anywhere,” Heath says to our uncle.

“I’ll think about it,” I concede.

“Bring Brynne,” he says.

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