Page 12 of The Don's Prisoner

That last part was a lie, but you did catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Also, he was the only other person on my staff with a clue as to what to look for. I only prayed that he didn’t change the fabric too drastically.

Or cover it in glitter.

Me: And I’m fine, I just got some interesting news.

Guy: Oh, do tell!

Me: I’d rather not. Unfortunately, you’ll be finding out soon enough.

Guy: Oh, come on! You can’t gossip tease me like that.

Guy: I’ll get blue lips.

Guy: I’ll go through drama withdrawals.

Guy: I’ll lose my reputation as the sales floor drama sleuth.

I let out a groan, though it was not without a little bit of amusement. Guy could really lay the drama on thick when he wanted to. He was a good kid though.

Me: Fine. The short version is that my brother is an ass.

Me: The long version you’ll have to wait to hear because I am not getting into it right now.

Guy: I’m sorry he’s an ass.

Guy: I’ll take care of everything for you, don’t you worry.

I read his text and smiled. And he would too. No one worked harder than Guy. He was the perfect intern, and I supposed he had been my intern long enough.

Coming to a decision about a question I had been asking myself for nearly the past two months, I called Guy directly. He picked up on the first ring.

“Hey boss, I was just—” he started, but I interrupted him.

“Guy, go to HR. Right now. And put me on speakerphone when you get there,” I directed. I heard him rustling something briefly and then his quick, squeaky footsteps.

“Yes, ma’am. Is something wrong? Did something else happen?” he asked.

“No,” I said curtly and waited until I heard the phone click over to speaker.

“Okay, Victoria. I’m here in HR with Veronica. Say ‘hi’ Veronica!” Guy said, and in the background, I heard Veronica’s shy voice respond.

“Veronica,” I began, “you know that thing we were talking about doing two months ago? The thing I needed to think about but completed all the paperwork for?” I asked and waited for a response.

“Yes,” her small voice replied.

“We need to do it now.” I paused. “Guy? You—as of the moment you sign the contract Veronica will give you—are the new manager of the home store of the Happily Ever After Boutique. Well, only if this is something that interests you,” I said and listened to the silence on the other end. It stretched on for a good minute, and I thought maybe the call had dropped.

“Hello?” I finally said.

“Are you serious?” Guy whispered into the phone. “Like… this isn’t a joke?”

“No joke, Guy. I know this whole intern thing started because I was doing your sister a favor since she and I had been such good friends in high school, but you have far exceeded my expectations. You’ve earned the role of manager.”

“But I thought Caroline Gibbins would get it.” I could hear the tears in his voice. “I could have sworn…”

“Caroline is moving to Seattle to manage the store out there. You’ll be my man here. That way I can travel more and spend more time designing, knowing all the stores are running as they should be. Unless, of course, you don’t want the job…”

“NO!” he yelled abruptly, and I pulled the phone away from my ear. “No, I mean thank you… I… seriously, Vicky, you are… the best. I can’t even…”

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