Page 26 of A Bossy Roommate
“Stop being creepy. She’s only here for six months, not to mention she’s getting married this Thursday.”
“Fuck, that sucks. Lucky son of a gun.” Bradley stares at me for a second, eyes suddenly narrowing in playful distrust. “You said that fast. Did you ask her out already and get turned down? I’ve never known you to learnanythingabout your assistants’ personal lives, not even after months of working together.”
I sigh heavily and rub my temples. “It’s complicated.”
“Booo. Shitty fiancé?”
“I’m her fiancé.”
Bradley’s eyes go wide as his mouth falls open. “I’m sorry, Carr, I think I misheard you. Did you just say that you’re the lucky SOB she’s going to marry this Thursday?”
“It’s a long story but yes.”
“She’s pregnant.”
“No.”
“But you slept with her?”
I give himthatlook.
“Okay, now you’rereallygoing to have to tell me what’s going on.”
I give him a quick version of what had gone down. How she and I had had a one-night stand two nights ago and how she needed a place to stay. When I get to the part with my aunt and me needing a fake wife, Bradley shakes his head.
“Rookie move, bro.” He chuckles. “You should’ve invented a wife who travels. That way you wouldn’t be in this mess.”
“It’ll be fine. It’s just for the weekend.”
“The marriage will be. But she’s still staying with you for two weeks. You gonna show heryourBig Apple?”
“We agreed to no sex. Not when she’s working for me.” While Bradley enjoys his popularity among our female staff—not as much as he enjoys getting a rise out of me by asking stupid questions or making absurd remarks—he and I both live by the “no sex with employees” rule.
“Yeah, sure, employees are taboo. But, the curves on her, sheeesh. She’s only here for a brief time. Dude, she’ll be wearing your ring—that’s your free pass. You can bang your fake wifey, can’t you? Why not have some fun while you can?”
“Shut the fuck up. I’m done talking about Eden. Are you going to stop stalling and tell me why you’re here in person?”
“All right.” Bradley leans back in his seat. “You’re not gonna like it.”
“Shoot.”
“I caught the tail end of my boss chatting with Huxley. He’s planning to veto any changes you suggest at the sales meeting today.”
“I know.” I huff in annoyance. “Any time I make changes to sales policy and procedure, Huxley tries to go behind my back and attempts to undermine me. You’d think so long as it improves numbers it wouldn’t matter.”
“You know it’s not about numbers with him.”
Saul Huxley is a giant pain in my ass. He’s been with the company since its inception, and because of that, he thinks he knows best. It also means he has a lot of connections and is well respected. At one point I let myself be misled by all the hoopla as well. But the longer we work together, the more I’m starting to see him for who he really is—a shrewd, self-centered businessman who will deny change unless he’s the one presenting it. Ever since I started trying to expand Legacy, he’s made it his life’s mission to turn down every single proposal I present. Even if it has nothing to do with expansion.
It only makes me more determined. I’ve never failed at anything in my life, and I don’t intend to start now.
“You could’ve just called,” I say. “You didn’t need to come in person and tell me what I already suspected. Huxley can fight all he wants. We’re moving forward with the change that was implemented at the Connecticut office.”
“First off, I figured it wouldn’t hurt for you to have backup from someone who has firsthand knowledge that your ideas work, including the newest policy you set up. Secondly, I’ve got a meeting lined up for later. But those aren’t the sole motives behind my presence.” Bradley’s eyes sparkle and he sits up, a clear indication he has an ace up his sleeve. “There’s been talk that a few of our clients are going to be leaving us for Ecclestone Construction.”
“That kind of talk happens all the time,” I say, waving my hand dismissively. “Every few months people get it in their heads that Legacy and Ecclestone are fighting for clients. We don’t have to fight them—our reputation speaks for itself. There’s never been any evidence behind the rumors.”
“Except this time, it’s different.”