Page 316 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 7
“Well I’d hope so,” said Tanner. “Anyway, glad to hear he’s a stand-up guy. Have fun at lunch.” He tapped the top of our cubicle and returned to his office.
“Well that went great,” I said.
“No it didn’t,” said Chastity. “It was a train wreck. He didn’t seem jealous at all.”
Oh, brain fart.I got really distracted when Tanner was talking. “Well…that’s because you made it a lunch date. Why’d you pick the lamest of meals?”
“I don’t know! I panicked. I thought you were gonna do the jealous-ing.”
“Well now we have to go to lunch for hours.”
Chastity nodded. “And you have to come back with your skirt inside-out to make it look like you had a double helping of afternoon delight.”
“I’m not doing that.”
“Suit yourself. But don’t come crying to me when you’re old and single and penniless.” Chastity spun around in her chair and started working again.
“Wait, why is this my only chance to avoid being broke and single for the rest of my life?”It’s not, is it?
***
Just before noon Chastity and I got up to go to my fake lunch date, but it was hard to get out of the office due to the three tables of food semi-blocking the entrance. No, not just any food. Gochujang Palace. My favorite.
“Going to lunch?” asked Tanner, popping some spicy Korean nuggets in his mouth.
“What’s all this?” I asked.
“Oh, you know. Various people like to send us food. Today it looks like they sent…” He picked up a bag and made a show of looking at the label. “Gochujang Palace. Ever had it?”
“Yeah,” I said. “It’s my freaking favorite!”
“Grab a plate. These nuggets are amazing.” He ate another one.
“We’ll have to take a raincheck,” said Chastity.
But…Korean nuggets!
“Ash has a lunch date,” continued Chastity. “Remember?” She elbowed me in the ribs.
Tanner made a clicking noise. “Ah, damn. Forgot about that. You’re welcome to invite him here if you want? We have plenty.”
“Maybe some other time,” said Chastity, pulling me towards the elevator.
I watched the Korean food longingly as the elevator doors slid shut. “Damn it! We just failed so hard. He totally called our bluff.”
“Did he?” asked Chastity. “Because I’m pretty sure he just bought $500 worth of your favorite food in a lame attempt to prevent you from going on a date with Dr. Lyons. #JealousAF.”
“No he didn’t…” My voice trailed off. “Wait. Did he?”
Chastity nodded. “It’s too much of a coincidence. You must have told him you love Gochujang Palace at some point.”
Had I?I thought back to our first date.Yup. I’d ranted about it for like twenty minutes just before we fell asleep. “I may have mentioned it at some point.”
“Then there you have it. Phase one accomplished.”
“Phase one? What’s phase two?”
Chastity pulled a copy ofTwilightout of her bottomless purse. “We have to figure out his secret.”
