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His head lolls, bright eyes filling with confusion. “Code word? Like…a safe word? What sorts of things do you expect of your significant others if you start your relationships with a safe word?”
I narrow my eyes. “If you want to call it a safe word, be my guest. It does, in fact, keep you safe. As in, if I say it, get as far away from me as is physically possible. Or else I cannot be held responsible for the consequences.”
With that, I turn on my heel and leave his office to find my soggy, sweating foam container of pasta for lunch on my desk.
In some ways, it feels like an omen.
Pity, I’ve never been one to believe in superstitions.
Chapter 4
This is why smart people don’t have fish tanks for floors.
– Marcella
“Thanks. I hate it.” I puff a breath out of my nose the second the contents of the jewelry box Mr. M…my temporary significant other is holding open for me register.
It is a necklace.
With a tiny gold pumpkin charm.
The delicate outline and the subtle glitter of the tiny diamonds embedded in the gold is thoroughly beautiful. I am appalled to say I do not actually hate it. I simply hate what it means, what it stands for, the entire emotional reasoning behind it…
Oh yeah.
And the person holding it.
I should have been more specific yesterday.
See, by gift I meant food, so I could drown my feelings in something more tolerable than this situation. Like a chocolate parfait.
Clearly, I’m not the only one who sucks at reading other people’s minds.
Fi…the guy’s eyes brighten. “You’re not faking a smile this morning. Should I warn my clients and any visitors to maintain a ten-foot clearance?”
“For their own safety, absolutely.” Setting a hand to my chest, I force a sardonic smirk. “Congratulations. I was thinking about it last night, and I decided that for the sake of this little experiment of yours, it’s only fair if I fully downgrade you from assistant to girlfriend.”
“Downgrade?” he echoes.
“Don’t worry. My work won’t suffer, but you might. On account of my attitude.” Throwing together my best grin, I chirp, “Please remember, upgrading is free.”
“No, no. This is the upgrade.” Snapping the box shut, and opening it again, and snapping it shut, and opening it again, he leans back against his desk. “Your voice is so much lower than I’m used to.”
“In order to survive in professional settings, many women adopt a persona that feeds into the feminine expectation. Pleasant smiles. Lilting tone.” I drop my attention to my tablet, wake it up, and open Ffff…my dearly beloved boyfriend’s schedule. “You have a seven o’clock breakfast at—”
“May I take you out this evening?” Snap. Snap. Snap. “If I have dinner plans, cancel them.”
“No, it’s a work night. Also, it’s Wednesday, which means you do have dinner plans. With your mother. I’m off the clock early.”
“That’s right. It is Wednesday, isn’t it?” Snap. Snap. Snap. “You could come with me. Meet my mother.”
“Respectfully, that is never a first date activity.”
Snap.
I grab his hand, crushing his fingers and the box. Meeting his eyes, I hiss, “I will kill you in your sleep if you don’t stop this.”
“You are such an affectionate girlfriend.” He drops his head an entire foot so his forehead bonks into mine. “It’s only been one day, yet you want to be with me while I’m asleep?”
