Page 15 of The Boss

“And if I decline the invitation?”

“Then we both eat alone.” I waited for her to tell me that she wouldn’t be eating alone, that she had a boyfriend or a girlfriend waiting for her. The quick conversations I’d had with Stu and Suzie hadn’t been about anything personal, but it wouldn’t surprise me to find out she was taken.

“Somehow, I doubt it’s difficult for you to find a dinner date,” she said dryly.

“Eat with me,” I said again. “After the way you and your friend were talking about me, it only seems fair.”

After a moment, Ashlee sighed. “All right.”

I smiled and was surprised to find that it was completely genuine. I walked over to the short couch that sat against the far wall and took my usual seat. I set the bag of food on the low table, and by the time I’d taken out all of the containers, Ashlee was perched on the other end of the couch, looking more like she was poised to run than ready to eat a meal. I wondered if she was scared of me. The size difference alone would be intimidating, I supposed.

“You can relax,” I said. “Help yourself to anything.”

“Do you always order so much?” she asked as she picked up one of the containers, examined it, and then swapped it out for pineapple curry.

I shrugged. “I don’t mind leftovers.”

She gave me a puzzled look. “Don’t you have a personal chef or something like that?”

I opened one of the containers and took a bite of lemongrass garlic chicken. I chewed slowly, savoring my favorite Thai dish as I thought about how I wanted to answer her question. If I offered too much personal information, she might think that gave her carte blanche to ask all sorts of prying questions. However, it could also get her to open up more.

“I like good food as much as the next person,” I said, “but I’ve never seen the point of hiring someone to cook just for me.”

“Makes sense.”

I watched her as we both ate in silence. Her focus seemed to be on her food, but the color in her cheeks told me that she was aware of my attention. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen a woman blush with anything but arousal or anger. Sometimes both.

Ashlee, I gathered, wasn’t accustomed to having people look at her. For someone in the A&R department, that was a good thing. It told me she wasn’t here to rub elbows with the rich and famous, and that she wouldn’t try to steal the limelight from our artists.

“I didn’t read your file,” I said. The surprise on her face made me smile. “You thought I would.”

She shrugged. “It would make sense. You talked to Mr. Hancock and Ms. Lamas to find out what sort of employee I am.”

“True, I did. Your file’s only going to tell me your education and employment history. I’d much rather talk to you to find out what you’re like.” It sounded like a line, and it was one I probably would’ve used at some point in time, but with her, I actually meant it.

“Does that line usually work when you hit on your employees?”

I scowled at her, but then I saw a hint of humor in her eyes, and it blunted the annoyance. “I don’t hit on my employees.”

She raised her eyebrows but didn’t say anything as she took another bite.

I changed the subject. “Did you grow up in New York?”

“Staten Island,” she said. “I already know you grew up in the Bronx.”

“I did.” I leaned back. “Does this mean you read my biography?”

“I may have done some research before coming to work here,” she admitted.

“I think it’s only fair that I know as much about you as you do about me,” I countered. “Only child or one of many?”

“Only child,” she said. “And I have a communications degree from NYU. Now you know as much about me as I do about you.”

“Somehow, I doubt that.” I picked up another container and took a bite. “What made you choose Manhattan Records?”

She blinked, but I wasn’t sure why that question surprised her. It should’ve been expected. It was a safe thing to talk about, even between employee and employer.

“I was still in college when I saw an advertisement for an internship here. I figured it’d give me an idea of what I wanted to do with my degree.”

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