Page 5 of Dear Billionaire Boss
“Because it was your idea.”
“It may have been my idea, but I have just as much to lose if that letter is sent out.” I spin in my chair, looking for the pile of mail that got dropped off this morning. I suddenly remember Grayson saying that he wanted to go through it himself. Of course, the one day a letter I’ve written declaring my love to him that gets sent out, he decides to take it upon himself to go through his own mail.
“How could this have happened?”
“I don’t know. But I’ve got to get back to work. We’ll talk about this later tonight.”
I glance over my shoulder into Grayson’s office, hoping to see the mail I handed over to him this morning, sitting on his desk still untouched, but instead my gaze meets Grayson’s. He’s not giving anything away in his expression about whether or not he got the letter from me, but there is definitely something different about the look in his eyes that I just can’t read.
My heartrate picks up, as it always does when I’m near him. I try to distance what I feel and how I act around him but sometimes the physical reactions are overpowering. Would it be the worst thing if he finally knew how I felt? I thought that writing that letter would be enough to move on. But now that I’ve officially admitted to myself how I feel, I realize I’m not ready to move on—at least until I know that there is no chance for a future between us.
GRAYSON
“Are you even listening to me?” Gina asks.
I tear my gaze away from Maren and l look at Gina. Her lips are pressed into a thin line and I can tell she’s annoyed. She’s not used to not having the full attention of the person she’s talking to, but I’m not one of those people.
“No, I’m not,” I admit.
My attention was focused on Maren. Whoever just called her, had her fluttering around at her desk looking for something. I glance down at the leather binder sitting in front of me and I see a corner of the teal envelope sticking out.Was she looking for the letter? Do I tell her that I have it?
“If there’s something more important than this party—”
“I have at least five more pressing things that need my attention, other than this party,” I say cutting her off. “But you insisted on coming in today to discuss it.”
Gina’s mouth opens and closes like a fish without water, but she doesn’t say anything. I know she’s not used to being spoken to this way. But I’ve been listening to the plans that she’s laid out for party and it sounds more like a black-tie event rather than a company party like I’d asked her to put together.
I reach over and hit the call button that’s connected to Maren’s desk.
“Yes, sir?”
“Can you come in here for a moment?”
The door opens and Maren steps inside with her notepad in hand, ready to take notes. Gina glances over her shoulder at Maren and then turns back to me. I don’t like the look on her face, like she’s just smelled something rotten. Even without realizing the chance that I have feelings for her, I’ve always thought very highly of Maren. She’s ten times the woman Gina will ever be. I value so many things about her—she’s smart, hardworking, efficient, not to mention beautiful.
I’ve called her in here because I need an objective perspective. I need to know that my instincts about this party are not being influenced by my irritation with Gina. I know that Maren will tell it to me straight.
“Gina, can you summarize for Maren what you have planned for the company launch party.”
Gina stares at me like it’s below her to speak to Maren. The tension in my shoulders increase and I feel suddenly protective of Maren. But in truth, I know that she doesn’t need me to stick up for herself. I’ve seen her handle some of the entitled members of my board try to push her around to get one on one time with me, but she’s always able to stand her ground.
Gina reluctantly gives her the rundown of the plans, and I watch Maren’s face as she listens. I want to see if she’s thinking what I’m thinking. That this company party has morphed into some misguided social event. When Gina finishes, Maren glances at me with one eyebrow raised.
“What do you think?” I ask her.
She clicks her pen a few times. I can see the wheels turning in her mind as she formulates a diplomatic response.
“Do you want my honest opinion?” she asks.
“I wouldn’t have asked you if I didn’t.”
She shakes her head. “I don’t think that what you have planned meets the party’s objective.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Gina snaps.
Maren shrugs. “Maybe so, but he asked my opinion and so I gave it.”
“I don’t know why you called her in here.” She turns back to me. “She’s only an assistant. She knows nothing about planning an event.”
