Page 15 of The Damaged Billionaire's Obsession
“I would, girl, you’re amazing. And I’ve always said women make the sexiest bosses. Imagine you in those fuck-me heels, snapping—“
“Hold up.” Once Stella starts, it’s hard to stop her. “I’m not sure I’ll go for the interview, though.”
“What? Why not?” Her face scrunching up in confusion, Stella eyes me like I’ve grown a second head.
“I’m worried about Ethan. You know he’s managing partner, CEO, whatever they call it. He’s there. He owns it just as much as Jordan does.”
I had to tell Stella about Ethan last month at Brooke’s wedding when she kept asking about the bespectacled hunk who wasscowling at us as though my date had stolen his prey. I’d assured her that it was disgust and not desire coming through those glasses.
“You don’t think you’d get along with him?” Stella asks.
“That’s my worry. If I can’t stand him as a person, I don’t think I’d be able to tolerate him as a boss. And the feeling is quite mutual.”
Probably stronger on his side,I think glumly.
“Is he really that bad? I mean, he can’t be on Ryan’s level, for example.”
“Oh, no, Ryan’s unhinged, I know, but Ethan… he’s just…he’s too…” I struggle for words.
“Too what?”
“Too contained. And disapproving. And judgy. And scathing.”
And it doesn’t matter one bit that somehow, in less than twenty seconds, he got me wetter than I’ve ever been in my entire life.
Brooke finally walks in, looking way too hot for a pregnant lady, her ash blonde hair in a sleek ponytail. “Darlings, I’m so sorry, I lost track of time—“
“Yeah, lucky bitch, Xavier finally let you out of bed,” Stella quips. “How was the honeymoon?”
“Oh,” she sighs, dropping gingerly into the plush chair. “It. Was. Breathtaking. I’ll tell you girls all about it in a sec. But first, Bonnie, you said you had some news?” She grabs the bottle of water I ordered for her and takes a sip.
“Yes, she got a job,” Stella replies for me.
“Not a job, it’s just an interview—“ I try to explain, only to be interrupted by Stella again.
“Yeah, same thing. But it’s at Acercraft, Brooke! And from the looks of things, Bonnie could hold a top position soon.” At Brooke’s confused look, she explains, “It seems Jordan might be step—“
I throw my hands in the air. “Hey, I just told you this five seconds ago, Stella, and now, you’re acting like you wrote the entire script!” I haven’t met anyone who loves a good gossip session as much as Stella does.
She only blows me a kiss. “You know I can’t resist telling a good story. Besides, you won’t say it with the same flair as me.”
Brooke takes another swig of her sparkling water. “That’s true, Bonnie. Stella missed her calling as a news reporter.”
I shake my head. “Nah, they’d kick her out for being way too smug and having a ridiculous amount of fun dissipating gossip so she’d end up starting her ownAsk Aunt Stellatalk show.”
“Where jilted, naked men would be at each other’s throats while their women sip tea and watch as their muscles ripple,” Brooke adds.
“Okay, okay! Guys, I get it. Bonnie, have your say.” Stella makes a zipping motion across her mouth.
We all laugh. “Anyway, so Jordan called me out of the blue yesterday, asking me to attend an interview at Acercraft. And yes,” I say as I lower my voice, “Jordan might be taking a step back—you didn’t hear it from me, though.”
“Bonnie, that’s fantastic! Is the thing with Ethan squashed then?” Brooke questions.
“Not really. But maybe it is? We didn’t speak at your wedding. So, I’d say it’s more like cold indifference rather than the raging animosity of Cancun.”
“I see. So, would it be like an office job? You wouldn’t be working from home, would you?”
“Um, no, it sounds like I’ll have to go on a daily, or at least an almost daily, basis,” I clarify.