Page 35 of Hating the Boss

“Then ask her,” said Anton. “If she’ll jump out of a plane, then being your pretend girlfriend is nothing. Piece of cake.”

“Have you met me?” I asked, running a hand through my hair, looking out at the city below. I wouldn’t be able to see Sarah from up here, everyone just specks moving below. I did look for a speck of blue anyway. I hated how much I wanted to see her. Maybe I shouldn’t have kept her out of the office all day. I had been the one left to suffer, knowing I could have had her sitting across from me in that lowcut dress all day.

“True. She should turn and run. You’re scarier than any extreme sport,” Anton chided.

He was probably right.

She probably should quit.

But I knew I didn’t really want her to. I liked looking at her. Liked talking to her. Liked the fact that on every errand she ran, she was doing it to please me. I liked the thought of her pleasing me, though just a fantasy that ran through my mind late at night.

“You think she’ll make it through the week?” asked Anton, tearing my thoughts away from her mouth and what I wished she would do with it.

“We’ll see,” I said, glancing at the clock on the wall. It was nearly 5 p.m. She had made it three whole days so far.

If she could keep it up, and could handle a bit of innocent teasing, then maybe she could handle a more complicated job.

Like being my pretend girlfriend.

No. If I really wanted my father to listen to me, then I needed to be serious about this. As serious as one could get with a fake relationship. A girlfriend wouldn’t cut it. I needed to go a step further, so I could pass whatever silly test he had for me. The test that kept me from really stepping into his shoes.

I needed a pretend fiancée.

Chapter 15 Sarah

For being close to five p.m., the line to Café Lola was out the wooden doors and around the white-washed brick building. The smell of freshly ground coffee beans wafted toward me as I followed the winding line to find the end. Finally reaching the last person in line, I stepped behind them and let out a frustrated sigh. I should have been going home now, not standing in line for a complicated coffee order.

Truly, the coffee order Brad had texted me was ridiculous. I didn’t know how I was going to walk up to the counter and order with a straight face.

I adjusted the bags strewn across my arm, which had made the long walk even longer. I could no longer feel my toes. I paid a fortune for the shoes. I thought they would at least be comfortable, but no one was buying the red soles for convenience. I shifted in my shoes, trying to find a position that didn’t have my toes cramped. Nothing helped.

I reached in my purse, rummaging for my phone until I plucked it out. I opened the text thread with Brad.

The line is really long. I won’t be back by 5.

I hoped he would see it and tell me to forget the coffee. I waited for any sign of the three dots to bounce across my screen, but there was nothing. I waited another minute before tossing it back in my purse with what felt like the hundredth sigh of the day.

Tiredly, I ran a hand through my hair that was now gnarled with tangles and damp with sweat. I looked down at the sapphire dress that was dangerously close to breaking free from the double-stick tape after all the running around I had done. I couldn’t help but laugh at how ridiculous I looked. I was a hot mess.

The line slowly moved forward. Clearly, the rest of Manhattan had the idea of an early evening pick-me-up. Just then, my phone buzzed in my purse.

Jessica: I have the Thai menu out and a chick flick ready to go.

I had almost forgotten we had a date with our second-hand couch and Pad Thai tonight.

Me: I’m running a little late.

Jessica: I’m starving!

Me: I’ll be there soon!

At least, I hoped. I would have to take the subway to avoid after-work traffic.

I tapped my foot impatiently, silently cursing Brad Ashcroft. This morning, I had been excited to get to the office to see him. Now, I felt ridiculous for dressing up to impress him. It didn’t matter that I had caught him looking me up and down today. Not when he had run me into the ground and was keeping me from getting home to my sister.

Maybe I should have been more clear with him when I interviewed. I needed to care for my sister, which meant getting home on time. Though my sister would argue that she was more than capable of taking care of herself, I still didn’t like leaving her for long periods of time. It was like I was afraid the cancer would suddenly come back one afternoon and claim her for good. The thought made me shudder.

I texted her again.