Page 31 of The Billionaire & the Virgin Chef
Dylan
My mother’ssecond visit to my place of business confirms that if I want to have a fighting chance with Emily, I’ll need to draw a line in thesand.
For a second time, she neglects to announce herself to my secretary before striding into my office without shutting the door. She’s in her red power suit. Red means war and domination in Diane’s legal bubble. I take it to mean that if she intended to see me today, I’ll need to keep my guard up. Wayup.
“Hello, darling,” she chimes. “I missed you at the party lastnight.”
“Things cameup.”
“And how aboutafterward?”
“Last night? How late are you looking for me to account for my time, Diane? Or is one of your clients looking for analibi?”
Her relaxed disposition changes. Tension and a hint of anger flash across her face. “Did I not make myself clear a few weeksago?”
“About whatexactly?”
“I saw her van still parked in my underground guest spot when I left my apartment thismorning.”
“You know her name. It’s Emily. Beyond that, what she does for you in her day job or business is no concern of mine. And I’m sure you can deduce that the converse also applies. Let me put it this way.” I lift my palms to chest height and spread my arms apart. I wave one arm and add, “Your business dealings with her is over here.” Then I wave the other arm. “My association with her is all the way over here.” It’s the closest I can come to politely telling my mother not to stick her nose where it doesn’tbelong.
“We’ve had a similar chat years ago, son. Never sleep with thehelp.”
“That time was different. Emily is not your employee. She’s a college educated professional and a serviceprovider.”
“You know what I mean,dear.”
“I do. And honestly, I wish I didn’t have to bear witness to your gender bias. You wouldn’t show up and scold Vanessa for dating achef.”
“That’s beside thepoint.”
“By the way, if I hear you’ve approached her about this at any time, you and I are gonna have a problem.” I get up from behind my desk and level my eyes with hers. “Is business over at the firm so slow that you feel the need to occupy your time with my personal life, Diane? Because I’ll tell you right now, you’re about twelve years toolate.”
“Don’t you dare—” she starts, but there’s a knock on my open door. She shuts her mouth realfast.
Jackson and Caleb are standing there. “Hi, Mrs. Worthington,” Caleb says toher.
“How are you both doing?” she replies sweetly, as though she wasn’t just bent out of shape a few seconds ago. I’m sure they saw a lot and know she was prettyupset.
“Great. Uh, sorry to interrupt, Mrs. W., but we need to borrow Dylan for about an hour. One of our clients will be heresoon.”
They’re not wrong about a client coming by, but in my schedule, the meeting doesn’t start for at least half anhour.
She turns to me. “I see. We’ll finish this conversation soon,son.”
Not if I can helpit.
“Nice seeing you both,” she adds for Jackson and Caleb’s benefit as she leaves, headhigh.
As the clicking sound of her designer pumps diminishes down the hall, they walk in and make themselves comfortable on thesofa.
“What the fuck’s got Diane’s panties in a bunch?” Calebasks.
“No fucking clue.” I’m not ready to raise the topic of Emily so early in the game. Especially not after last night went sowell.
“Yeah? Because I’m sure I heard her mention something about sleeping with, what was that, you heard, Jackson? Sleeping with a chef, or with themaid?”
“I didn’t hear shit,” Jackson tells him, backing me up. He’s had his share of office gossip about him and the pet sitter, so he’s not about to engage in shit about anyoneelse.
