Page 56 of The Boss and the Wedding Mess
“I’m not a fan of France,” I say, then give London a brief nod of greeting. She glances at me a little embarrassed, brushing her hair back.
“You look fantastic,” my mother says, immediately pulling her over, while my father settles in next to us with some snacks.
“Thank you,” London answers, then looks shyly at me again.
I just nod in silence. What else can I say? She looks fantastic. Her figure is shown off perfectly, and with her hair down she looks so much more feminine. Did she change her makeup? Her lips look like a different color. My gaze lingers there for a moment before I force myself to look away.
Not good. I should definitely not be thinking about her—whether it’s in a summer dress or workout clothes.
Absolutely not.
The afternoon slips by quickly—at least for me. Employees keep coming up to welcome me back, asking the same questions over and over, and I give them the same polite answers. I remain friendly, respectful, professional—even though by the hundredth time I really don’t want to hear another “So how was New York?” Maybe I should’ve just sent a company-wide email beforehand.
I keep catching glimpses of London, animatedly chatting with the department heads. A few female employees are watching her with daggers in their eyes, while my mother keeps throwing me knowing glances.
“Don’t think I haven’t noticed how you keep watching her,” she murmurs as she passes by. Determined to put an end to this, I follow her.
“I observe everyone. Especially her. I want to know how well London gets along with the others. Seems like she’s not too popular with the women here?”
We stop at the buffet, filling our plates. I go heavy on the protein-rich foods, though I allow myself some fruit too today.
“Women in high positions are always targets for envy. And she’s attractive—and didn’t sleep her way to the top. But of course, there are always rumors. Those women are itching to gossip, hoping for a juicy scandal.” My mother smiles knowingly. “And now that my handsome son is in charge, they’re probably waiting to see when her belly starts to grow.”
I sigh quietly and just walk away, which seems to amuse her. At least she’s enjoying herself. For me, this whole thing is edging toward boring.
So, I slip away. Just for a moment. The comedian has taken the stage, and I can finally breathe. Everyone’s already seen me and shaken my hand, so who’s going to notice if I disappear for a bit?
With a plate piled high and a glass of apple juice, I head inside. The building is nearly empty, except for a few employees restocking the buffet. At reception, I grab one of the keys and climb the stairs. No one around. The quiet feels like heaven compared to the noise outside. If I lie down for a while, I’ll have more energy later.
Upstairs, I unlock room 100. But behind me, I hear a sound. I turn—and there she is. London. She’s just coming out of room 99, directly across from mine.
“Most people take the lower numbers, so they don’t have to walk up the stairs. There’s no elevator here,” she says awkwardly, cheeks flushed.
“That’s why I came up here. Just wanted to rest a bit and escape the noise,” I answer. Damn, she looks really good when she’s shy like that. She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.
No, don’t—it looked better before.
One hand rests on her stomach. Is she okay?
“Are you alright?”
“I think I just had a little too much to drink,” she admits.
Ah. So, the flushed cheeks aren’t because of me, but the alcohol.
“There was hardly any alcohol in the champagne I had earlier,” I probe.
“I might just be on good terms with the supplier. I’ve been in touch with them for three years…” She grins. “The good stuff is somewhere else.”
“I see.” I raise my brows, surprised.
“I don’t usually drink much. Just once in a while. I was just telling my best friend today she should stop—but here I am.” She sighs, fumbling with her key ring while trying to close the door.
“Yeah, you’ve definitely had a bit too much,” I comment.
“It’s fine. I’ll just grab a coffee or two and sit somewhere.”
“Or you could lie down, and I’ll drive you home,” I offer.
