Page 20 of Brassy Bigwig

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHLOE

One Month Later

The past month has been hell.

I was so excited to start this new job, but it’s kicking my ass. Well, my new boss is the one doing the kicking. I wasn’t even hired for this position. I was interviewed for the role of executive assistant to the director of human resources, so imagine my surprise when I get there, and I’m told they think I would be a better fit as the assistant to the CEO. I was ecstatic—it felt like I got a promotion on my first day—and so were my parents, but I honestly don’t know if I’m cut out for it.

Dimitrios Andino is very smart and extremely successful. He was a self-made millionaire by the time he was thirty, when he first started Okeanós. Now, fifteen years later, he’s worth over fifteen billion dollars.

Unfortunately, he’s also an arrogant, standoffish prick. So much so, I’m already on the hunt for a new job. I called the firms I turned down initially and asked if they would still consider me, but they’ve already filled their open positions. I managed to get an interview at two other companies, however, which take place next week.

“Oh, come on, Chloe!” Shelby screeches at me as I flop down on our sofa.

She is itching to go out and hell-bent on dragging me along with her.

“All you’ve done since we got home from Greece is sulk. Let’s go out and find you a new guy. Someone to get your mind off of Mr. Golden Dick.”

And then there’s that…

My shoulders slump farther at the mention of Trey. The worst thing I ever could have done besides having a one-night stand—a blazing hot, multiple orgasms from a drop-dead gorgeous, tall, dark, and handsome stranger one-night stand—was leave his bed in the morning without even a goodbye.

If I would have stayed, who knows what would have happened. Maybe we would have exchanged phone numbers so we could keep in contact with one another. But when I woke up that morning, I was too nervous to face him. If I’m being honest, I was scared he was going to wake up regretting what happened. That he would realize he made a mistake. So I left without taking in to consideration that no one else I meet in this lifetime will ever measure up to him.

They’ll never measure up to Trey Everett.

“I’m really tired, Shel. It’s been a long week.”

“I know! All the more reason to go out and blow off some steam.”

I can’t keep up with Shelby on a social level even on a good week. While I don’t want to go, maybe it would help if I got back out there and tried to find someone to get my mind off of him. It would keep me from another pointless Google search for Trey Everett from Hermosa Beach.

There isn’t a Trey Everett in Hermosa Beach, by the way.

I try to believe he didn’t lie to me about his name or where he lived, but even if he did, I have no business getting mad at him about it, right? Perhaps he was also trying to keep a low profile in Greece? As much as sense as it makes, and as much as I have no right to be upset with him, I am. I begin to stew in my anger as Shelby continues her plea.

“We can grab drinks at The Lounge and then head over to Lush after that. I told you Rocky just started working the door over there. We won’t have to wait in line, and we’ll have access to the VIP area.”

The more I think about being lied to, the angrier I get. At Trey. At myself. At that jackass Dimitrios Andino.

I take a deep, soothing breath, and something inside of me stirs. Whether it be reminiscent feelings from Greece I would die to feel again, or the desire to drink away the stress caused by my overbearing boss, I finally cave.

“Fine, I’ll go,” I tell Shelby.

She claps her hands together and jumps up onto the sofa in celebration.

“But no more drunken, slutty one-night stands for me. Ever. Okay?”

“Whatever you say,” Shelby answers with a mischievous smile.

* * *

The Lounge was fairly quiet for a Friday night. Something I was more than okay with because we were actually able to find seats, which is usually impossible. Shelby called some of our other friends to join us, including Cami, much to my dismay. She’s just like Shelby in the sense that she is a rich socialite with zero responsibilities and more money than she knows what to do with. Although unlike Shelby, she thinks she’s God’s gift to the world, and everyone should worship at her feet.

Cami and I have been frenemies for the better part of our entire lives. We each know how the other ticks, we invite each other to parties and other events, but we don’t exactly like one another. It’s stupid, really.

“Chloe, that guy over there can’t keep his eyes off of you.”

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