Page 6 of Dear Billionaire Boss
“But I do know the employees in this company, and the last thing they want to do is dress up for some fancy event that half of them probably haven’t even made it on the guest list.”
Gina doesn’t contradict her, so she continues.
“This party is celebrating the hard work of everyone in this company to help launch new software. Many of these employees have spent a lot of time away from their families to get this project done. Why not make the party something that they can bring their whole family to so everyone will enjoy it?”
“What are you thinking?” I ask. I love that idea, but with the party only a week away, I wonder if something like that could be put together in time.
“Well we don’t have a lot of time to find another venue, but I don’t think we’d have to. The company’s campus courtyard would be a perfect place to have games, food, maybe even a few rides for the kids.”
“I don’t plan events like that,” Gina finally says to me.
“Okay, then I will send you a check for your services up until today, but we will take over the rest of the planning.” I tell her.
Gina storms out of my office without another word. I know that my motives for this move is to provide the best party as a thank you to my employees for their hard work, but I suddenly find myself with a hole other reason to fire Gina. I want to spend time with Maren, and this is the perfect excuse.
4
MAREN
Did that really just happen?I should have kept my mouth shut but listening to her talk about throwing a black-tie event downtown isn’t at all what the people around here want.
I turn back to Grayson. His gaze on me is intense, and I feel like he’s seeing more of me than ever before.
“I know it’s a lot to ask, but would you be willing to help me plan this thing?” He rubs his hand over the back of his neck. “I’ll make sure that you’re compensated for the extra time.”
Even if I didn’t already need the money, I couldn’t say no. He’d just fired the event planner he hired to put this party together. Who else does he have to ask?
“Of course.”
“Great.” He nods. “You can put aside any work that you have on your desk and focus your attention on this. Start making calls to vendors to see what we can put together. You have the company credit card to use. We can go over what you have planned tonight after everyone has gone home.”
I fill my afternoon with calls to try to find what is available last minute. It helps that money isn’t really a concern when vendors start listing off last minute fees and charges.
I take up residence in the private conference room that is usually reserved for company board meetings. It’s the only one of the conference rooms that doesn’t have glass walls. I want what I’m planning to be a surprise.
“There you are,” Grayson says, standing in the door way. He’s pulling at his tie and undoing the top button of his dress shirt.
I can see a smattering of chest hair beneath and I wonder to myself how far down that chest hair goes. Heat pools in my lower belly and I press my thigh together to try and ease some of the ache between my legs. I have to stop looking at my boss this way.
“What time is it?” I ask.
“Just after six.” He holds up a brown paper bag. “I figured you’d be hungry.”
I skipped lunch today because of the short time frame I have to make the plans needed for the party. So my stomach decides to answer him for me by growling loudly.
He chuckles to himself and sits down in the seat next to me. “I’m going to take that as a yes to the Chinese food.”
“I didn’t know you knew how to order take out,” I tease.
“Hey,” he chuckles again. “I wasn’t always the successful man I am today. I had to learn to fend for myself in college and take-out food was critical to my development.”
“You’re starting to sound like a normal guy,” I say, surprised by this more relaxed version of Grayson.
He shrugs. “I am a normal guy, but sometimes my life can seem extravagant to those that don’t know me.”
Grayson starts to remove the food from the bag. I pull apart a pair of chopsticks and start in on some beef and broccoli, while Grayson bites into an egg roll.
“Thank you for taking this project on,” he says between bites.
