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I nodded, trying to get my head back in the game. I was okay—safe here. Rudy, May—I wasn’t alone in this room with a psychotic narcissist, gaslighting, two-timing, pile of cow turds.
Taking in a deep breath, I let it out slowly. This would be okay. It had to be.
Chapter Three
Gisella
Present Day
“We have a meeting in the boardroom in twenty.”
I made a face at my phone. “Thanks.”
I knew there was a meeting, and I couldn’t get out of it this time. I’d been lucky enough to not be noticed the first few times these jokers had come in. Having to avoid the last two meetings altogether had been hard. I may be Rudy’s girlfriend, but I still had a job to do. I was his assistant first, after all.
If I could only be woman enough to tell him Byron was my ex-husband…
“Jesus, Loki, Hecate, anyone, give me strength.”
I grabbed the folders and made my way down the hall to the conference room. No one was inside, so I took a moment to grab a tray and pull water bottles from the mini fridge behind the desk where I sat. I was pushing it onto the table when I heard voices coming into the room. I hurried to stand and move back toward the desk. If I were out of their line of sight, maybe I could avoid them.
“Now that’s a view I could get used to.”
“Her ass is a little big for my liking.”
I rolled my eyes. Byron and his friends were dense on a good day, but this… They were those men who whistled and cat-called pretty women as they walked by on the street. They’d heckle anyone they thought was beneath them as well. Equal opportunity jerks. In the flesh, ladies and gents. They needed to have a brick smack them in the face every time they did it.
They were here today to try and convince Rudy that their newest business venture was a good idea. I wondered how this meeting would turn out. The last two ‘great ideas’ had been dropped like hot potatoes; I was sure this one would be too.
“Ella,” Rudy’s voice calmed my racing heart. “Could you check with May and see if she is on her way down?”
“Yes, sir, no problem.”
I lifted the desk phone and pressed her extension. “Hey, May, it’s Ella. Are you and Mr. Ferguson on the way down? The conference room is ready.”
“We will be there in five, maybe ten minutes; he’s still on a long distance call.”
“Thank you, I’ll let Rudy know.” I ended the call and looked up to find him in the room.
“Gisabell?” My stomach dropped at the sound of his voice. He pronounced my name as ‘Jizabell.’ It hadn’t been funny or appreciated the first million times he’d done it, and it wasn’t now.
I had to take a second to hold onto my composure. If he saw how upset he made me, it would set him off. I couldn’t. Not here. Not now.
Ignoring Byron, I met Rudy’s gaze and said, “May said Mr. Ferguson’s on a long distance call. It may be about ten minutes.”
“Gisabell, don’t ignore me.”
I’d much rather not have to deal with you at all, you pompous idiot!
I’d never hated someone in my life until Byron. I was pretty sure I’d love to hug a cactus more. One of those extra thorny ones with the fruit on them.
“My assistant’s name is Gisella, but you may call her Ms. Edwards.”
Good God, not that either!
“Oh, I called her that for two years. The worst years of my life. She’s as useless as chaps on a giraffe.”
“Excuse me?”
