Page 10 of Dear Billionaire Boss
I knew from the beginning this couldn’t work between us, but I didn’t know that it would hurt so much when it ended.
7
MAREN
I didn’t get any sleep last night. I kept thinking about the look on Grayson’s face when he handed me back the letter. At first, I wanted to tear it up and toss it in the trash, but something told me not to do it. It was a stupid plan to begin with and I still don’t know who sent them out, but I guess it’s like they say, “It’s better to have loved and lost then never to have loved at all.” Although I’m not sure what jackass said that, but they clearly weren’t feeling the fresh sting of heartbreak at the time.
The party begins and I’m so busy running around trying to make sure everything I barely have time to notice Grayson. But when I do, he’s careful to keep his distance. And I have to keep myself from charging across the courtyard when I see some women flirting with him. He doesn’t look at all like he did last night. I guess returning the letter is all he needed to move on.
I reach into the pocket of my dress and feel the soft envelope. Despite my urge to tear it up last night, I couldn’t leave the house without it this morning.
“Are you Maren?” A female voice asks.
I turn and see a woman in her early sixties smiling at me. “Yes, that’s me.”
“I’m Abigail Hayes.” She holds out her hand to me. “I ownHayes Events and Catering.”
I know that name. I’m so sleep deprived that it takes me a moment to connect the dots. Gina’s face pops into my head and I realize that this must be her boss.
I take her hand and shake it. “I’m Maren.”
“I have to say, what you did here in just a week is nothing short of incredible,” she says looking around. “I stopped by to speak with Grayson about what happened with Gina. But when I saw all this, I also needed to talk to him about who put this together. You should know that he raved about your work and that’s no easy feet from Christopher Grayson.”
I smile, but I don’t feel it reach my eyes. It’s amazing to get this attention, but there is still a damp towel hanging over this situation.
“Thank you, that’s very kind of you to tell me.”
She reaches into her clutch and holds out a card to me. “I’m going to give my business card. I’d like to discuss your interest in joining my team as an event planner.”
Is she serious?
“Are you serious?”
“Very much so, darling. When I see talent, I don’t let it slip through my fingers.” She holds up her hands and gestures to everything going on around us. “And you have talent in abundance. Why don’t you call and make an appointment to come in and speak with me next week? I think you’ll like what I have to offer.”
“Okay, thank you. Thank you so much.”
I can barely believe that just happened. I watch Abigail Hayes walk across courtyard, and my first thought is to run and tell Grayson. But the memory of how things ended between us, pops the excitement bubble I’m floating in.
“I see Abigail found you.”
I turn and see Grayson standing behind me. “Did you call her here today?”
“She called me a few days ago, and I asked her to come today to see if she saw in your talents what I did.”
I hold up the business card. “She wants to talk to me next week. I think she might be offering me a job.”
I wonder if he’ll get mad, but a ghost of a smile crosses his face. “I figured she might after seeing all this.”
Realization hits me like a blow to the head and I feel sick.
“If you set this up, does that mean you’re firing me?”
Now it’s Grayson’s turn to look like he was struck by something.
“What? No.” He shakes his head. “Even if things didn’t go down between us the way that they did, I’d still have tried to help you further your career. You’re too talented to be my Executive Assistant. You always have been, but I was too greedy to want to let you go. But I also have to admit that I have ulterior motives for leading you to work for Abigail.”
“Like what?”
