Page 10 of Dirty Boss

“Tough year,” I replied.

“Let me buy you a new one. What are you drinking?”

“You don’t have to do that?—”

“I want to,” she said, and smiled again. “I’ve had bad days where a tiny act of kindness would’ve made all the difference.”

“Do I look that bad?” I said, forcing a laugh.

“Honey,” she said, “you look awful.” Her smile was bright, and it was impossible not to huff a laugh in response.

I relented. “It was a latte with half a pump of sugar-free vanilla syrup.”

She smiled at me, got up, and came back a few minutes later with a drink for herself—and one for me. In the meantime, I dabbed my clothes and wiped my jacket off, and then I was able to sit semi-comfortably despite the stains.

At least I hadn’t worn any of my good clothes.

When she handed me the new drink, I almost started crying. “Thank you,” I said.

“I’m Deena.”

“Alba,” I replied, and we shook. She adorned her fingers with rings the way she did her ears—maximally. Three out of five fingers on each hand had at least one ring on it, a mix of gold and silver, some of them featuring semiprecious stones in bezel settings. Her clothes were easy and comfortable, and they looked like a mix of vintage and decently made basics.

She wouldn’t have fit in with my previous social circle—too few designer labels—but she oozed style. I wished I’d put more effort into my appearance, but Deena didn’t seem to mind.

“What are you working on?” I asked after taking a sip of my fresh latte.

She waved a hand. “Boring work stuff. I want to know why your year has been so terrible.”

I groaned—and she laughed. My own lips curled into a smile, and I realized it was the first time in over a year that it had felt easy to talk to someone.

“I had a falling out with my family,” I admitted, my throat tightening even with that vague mention of what had happened. “They kind of…disowned me.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “For real?”

I nodded.

“Ouch.”

“The guy I was dating then dumped me, because apparently he was only with me for money and connections. Of which I now have none.”

Deena leaned her elbow on the back of the couch and crossed her legs as she angled her body toward me. “I recently got dumped,” she told me. “It wasn’t anything serious, but it still hurt.”

I ran my finger along the handle of my mug and stared at the drink Deena had bought me. Then I looked at her. “Why do guys suck so much?”

She snorted. “One of life’s mysteries. Maybe one day I’ll learn.”

I grinned. “It’s like this guy who came into the restaurant where I work yesterday. He totally got off on tormenting me.”

Deena arched her brows, and I told her all about my interactions with Vaughn aka Cheap Suit. Then I found myself telling her about the crumpled ball of paper in the executive’s office and was gratified when she laughed so hard tears formed in her eyes.

“And you just left it there?”

I nodded. “I haven’t gotten any angry phone calls this morning, so I’m guessing he hasn’t called to have me fired.”

“I like you,” she declared. “What are you doing this weekend?”

“Working, mostly.”