Page 47 of Falling Slowly
“But I would have to insist that we split the bill. You know how it is… and then there’s a good chance the guy won’t fight me on it. Not in this economy.”
“Then date me,” I blurted. “If nothing else, you’ll get a free meal and remember what it’s like to go out.”
“You mean, for practice?”
“Uh huh,” I said, trying to keep my tone light. Because I didn’t want her to practice. Not for anyone else.
Her eyes turned serious again. “You know this… Whatever this is…” her finger wiggled between us. “It can’t go on after this week. Not at the office.”
“Why not?”
Her eyes widened in horror. “I… couldn’t risk it.”
“You think you’ll get fired if you date the boss’s son?”
If only she knew.
Her mouth twisted in hesitation. I had a strange feeling. An inkling. This wasn’t just about her fear of losing her job. “You’re worried about what your team would think, right? Because we’re not the same…”
I’d picked up on the hints, but always brushed it aside. We were all in the same boat, working for the same company. But we weren’t the same. Bess’s reaction painted a picture I barely wanted to acknowledge, but part of me yearned for the truth.“Come on, Bess. You don’t have to coddle me. You guys talk about me behind my back, right?”
She gave a teeny, tiny nod, looking away. “It’s not that bad. Everybody likes you. But you’re in a different league. Like a celebrity.”
“Celebrity?”
“Yeah. So people are a little awestruck and more than a little jealous.”
I cringed at the needy jolt in my chest that made me lean closer, looking for eye contact. “What do they say? Give me the dirt.”
She buried her face in the pillow. “No.”
“Come on! You’re my only ally. No names, just tell me what they say.”
I had a reason, I insisted to myself. I needed to bridge the gap between my world and hers.
“What about Trevor and Lee? Don’t they keep you updated?”
“They don’t get the dirt, either. Do they?” I argued, suddenly sickened by the idea that my closest friends would keep things from me.
“No, I don’t think so. They’re like your henchmen.”
“But you… you’re on the production floor. You hear everything.”
The realization hit me. My dad was an awful boss. Everyone hated him. Was I awful by association? Did everyone else regard us as one and the same? If Bess heard people talk shit about me every day, no wonder she didn’t want to date me. “Please tell me! Tell me what they say or I’ll?—”
“Charlie’s Angels.” She held up her hand, alarmed. “That’s what they call Trevor and Lee.”
“Charlie’s Angels.” I chuckled. “That’s pretty good. But that’s not all, is it?”
“No,” she said in a small voice, but I saw the corner of her mouth lift.
“If you tell me… you can ask me anything. Anything at all, and I’ll give you an honest answer.” I could only hope that she didn’t ask about her job.
She turned her head a couple of degrees, eyes flashing with interest. So, there was something she wanted to know.
“They call your office Toys’R’Us. And you… I’ve heard Willy Wonka and… His Highness. Charlie and the Gadget Factory.” She winced. “I don’t say that, though.”
“What do you say?”
