Page 24 of Grumpy Boss in Love
My jaw tightened, and I nodded. Never had anyone rendered me speechless or steamrolled over me the way Ruby Bennet had a habit of doing.Iusually did the steamrolling. I gazed at her with grudging respect.
“Awesome.” She gulped down bourbon and winced. “I don’t think I can do this, Elliot.”
Mentally slapping myself back to the land where unflappable Elliot resided, I inhaled. “Do what, exactly?”
“Life.” She threw her hands up. “Nothing is going the way I planned. I’ve never dropped to this pitiful level of doubt in myself. Maybe everyone is right. Maybe I dodream too big.” Her shoulders drooped. “I should get my head out of the clouds.”
“Who’s everyone?”
She shrugged. “Just about anyone I’ve shared my plans with, except my sisters. They’re always supportive even if they think I’m aiming too high. I’ve been told that I’m a dreamer and that I should set realistic goals.” She laughed. “I had this idea that I’d graduate college, dominate my internship, impress the hell out of the bigwigs at Westwood Collective, and immediately reach the top in the marketing department. Then I’d start my own business.”
I studied her with growing curiosity. “You want to start your own business?”
After a timid glance my way, she confessed, “I thought I’d do well with my own marketing firm one day. I’ve been building brand awareness since I was in freaking kindergarten. By the time I was done promoting Hello Kitty lunch boxes and Barbie backpacks, everyone was sporting them.”
I grinned at her, and it surprisingly came easy, as if my facial muscles were warming up and remembering how to perform the action. “I can believe that.”
Her cheeks flushed, and she snorted. “Starting my own marketing firm. What was I thinking?”
“Perhaps you were thinking that you’re damn brilliant and that you’re capable of anything, Ruby Bennet.” The words tumbled out before I could run them through my brain. Sure, I meant every word, but I hadn’t intended to say them out loud.
Eyes like molten gold glistening with unshed tears flickered to my face, and I stifled a sigh. My goal had been to get her home and far away from me before I slipped up and revealed that I had the slightest extra interest in her. I failed.
9
RUBY
Igawked at Elliot for a while because I wasn’t sure how to respond. My brain wasn’t wired to accept compliments from him. Hedidjust give me acompliment… right? It sounded as if he saw potential in me…?
Maybe I was reading too much into it. The man had done nothing but point out my failures since I met him.
“Was that a joke?” I squinted my eyes in suspicion.
His eyebrows bunched together to form the scowl that I knew well. No verbal answer. I was accustomed to that too. I’d learned that Elliot shut down verbal responses when he was annoyed, as if he needed time to gather his patience. It disturbed me a little that I was getting to knowhim better. I never thought that would happen since he was usually so guarded.
“I mean, you think I’m an idiot,” I continued.
Finally, he spoke. “What? Why would you…” He blew out a breath and pinned me with his no-nonsense stare. “I just said you’re brilliant. You’re an intern at Westwood Collective. I’m not personally in charge of hiring at your level, but I know that getting chosen even as a trainee is pretty damn impressive.”
So he was serious about me being brilliant. Interesting. “Since the day I entered your classroom, you never failed to point out my ‘shortcomings,’ as you put it.”
“I challenged you because I thought you were smart, Ruby. Isawthat you were. I was hard on you because I knew you could do better, yet you didn’t. Instead, you took my class as your nap time. I was disappointed in my most promising student.” Even as he stared at me with that haughty air that grated on my nerves, I wasn’t angry.
His most promising student? Elliot Sinclair… I mean Westwood thought I was smart. I let that sink in and then I reveled in. The CEO of a gazillion-dollar empire saw my potential. My confidence, which had been wallowing in the mud, got up, brushed itself off, and squared its shoulders.I’m back in the game, baby!
“That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me,” I whispered, clutching my chest.
He rolled his eyes with obvious distaste and muttered, “Don’t get overly sentimental about it.”
Still, I grinned. “Be as disgusted by my melodrama as you wish, Elliot. You just pulled me out of my funk. Thank you.”
He tipped his glass in my direction as ayou’re welcome, I supposed, and then he drank. I never thought he'd be the one to boost my confidence. Public enemy number one. I gave him a side glance. Or maybe he wasn’t anymore.
“I’m sorry,” I said after a moment of silence.
His eyes flickered to me, and the penetrating blue orbs almost snatched my soul. Goodness, he had an intense stare.
“For disappointing you,” I clarified. “It’s no excuse, but working multiple jobs while going to school full-time was really challenging. I don’t think I even remember what sleep is.”