Page 21 of Shape Of My Heart
“If that is what you want to be, then by all means you be that. Just be up and readyforme.”
“Well look who grew a pair.” He glaredather.
“Yes. About damntimetoo.”
He sighed with frustration andstormedout.
Good, itworked.
This was the way to deal with him. A bubble of hope lifted within her, accompanied by relief. She really might just be able to pullthisoff.
Amy grabbed her phone and dialed Hilda’s number straightaway, hoping she was still looking forajob.
* * *
“Is he usually this grumpy?”Hilda asked as she came into the office. She giggled and her ponytail bounced as she hopped on the edge ofthedesk.
“Grumpy for him is a good day,” Amy replied. It was time to take a little break. She’d been going through emails all morning and her eyes were starting to hurt. They’d have lunch soon and she planned to walk along the beach torelax.
“I don’t know how you manage to keep such a straight face, the man is gorgeous. Like super gorgeous, and his eyes arelikewow.”
“To be honest, he could look like a badger’s ass for allIcare.”
Hilda started tolaugh.
“What? It’s true.” Amy laughed too. She supposed it did sound funny. “When you get to know him you’ll see what I mean.” Gorgeous though he may be, Joshua Mancini was the vilest man Amy had ever met inherlife.
“Thank you so much for getting me this job.” She nodded herappreciation.
“You’re welcome.” Amysmiled.
“Things were starting to get a little rough at home. As in I almost didn’thaveone.”
That was sad to hear. Amy knew the worry of that alltoowell.
“I’m happy I was able to help.” Amy smiled. “I hope you asked for whatever salary you wanted.” She’d put her in touch with Zelda, who was ecstatic to hear that Amy wanted her to beJosh’smaid.
“I did, and then she gave me ten percent more than what I asked for. She said I’d have to put up with a lot and gave me this whole list of expectations.” Her eyes widened with a glint ofwonder.
That was nice of Zelda. “It hasn’t been easy working here.” And she knew it was going to get harder still. How was she going to wake him up early and have him ready for this show? This week had just flown by. It was Friday tomorrow and she hadn’t exactly moved offsquareone.
“Is he really that bad?” Hilda lowered hervoice.
“Yes.” Shenodded.
“It’s sad about his family, though, huhchica?”
Amy looked at her and instantly felt bad. When she’d first gotten here, Amy thought of being sensitive and understanding because of what had happened to Josh’s family. After meeting him that all went out the window. She supposed the craziness was the effects of how it all affected him. The drinking and the attitude. She couldn’t comment on the women, but maybe that too. She wouldn’t kid herself into thinking that he was a nice guy, because he wasn’t. But, perhaps she needed to be moremindful.
Didn’t mean she was going to go soft. She had a mission to fulfill and she needed that tough-loveapproach.
“It’s sad, but you just have to be carefularoundhim.”
“Okay. Should we do lunch? I did a quick scan of the place and it looks like I have my work cut out for me. Have you seenupstairs?”
Amy shook her head. Upstairs scared her, and the thought of going up to where he slept and did whatever the hell he did with those women turned herstomach.
“What’s it like?” Amy gritted her teeth, scared to hear theanswer.
