Page 44 of Hating the Boss

“I need to think about this.” I walked toward my desk, feeling Brad’s eyes on me as I grabbed my purse and left his office. I wondered if I would ever come back, or this was all too much.

As I practically ran for the elevator, I texted Brittany.

Me: SOS. Meet me at our coffee spot.

Brittany: On my way.

I found a small, round table at the back of the coffee shop. I had made it to Brooklyn in record time by luckily catching the next subway out of Manhattan. While sitting, I scanned the place for any sign for Brittany, but she hadn’t arrived yet. I ordered two dirty chai lattes from the waitress and settled in my chair, clutching my glass. The ice bit into the palms of my hands, as I thought about what Brad had proposed.

I couldn’t possibly accept his offer. I wondered if he had already told his father, based on how he had smiled at me on the sidewalk. It all made sense now. I started to feel angry again, but then I was reminded of the money.

“What is going on?” asked Brittany frantically as she sat in front of me, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath.

“Did you run here?” I asked.

“Practically. I had to beg my boss for an early lunch.”

“I’m sorry.” I winced.

“It’s fine.” She waved me off. “The boutique was slow anyway. Now, what is going on?”

Everything fell out of me like word vomit, leaving Brittany sitting stunned across from me.

“A million dollars?” she repeated.

“Mhmm.” I nodded.

“Holy shit, Sarah. This is crazy.”

“I know.” I groaned.

“I knew he had the hots for you, but this is…”

“Crazy,” I finished her sentence.

“I don’t know,” she said warily. “You need to be cautious.”

“Are you suggesting I do it?” I asked in surprise.

“I don’t know what I’m saying,” she said with a shake of her head, her brown ponytail swaying. “I know you’ve been through a lot. With your sister and leaving your last job. You do so much…”

I looked down at my drink, thinking about how hard it had been that year. All the overdue bills. Our rent increasing. My student debt.

Brittany reached for my hand across the table and gave it a squeeze.

“Just trust your instincts. If that means telling him to fuck off then do it. If it means posing as his love interest, then do it. I’m here for you either way.”

“Thanks,” I said.

I wished my best friend’s words swayed me on what I should do. I wished she had told me “hell no” or “you have to do it.” But instead she was the supportive friend I loved her for. Except, now I felt more confused than ever.

Chapter 18 Brad

I paced my office, heart thudding in my chest. I swore I could see my navy suit moving with each beat. Up and down. Up and down. My ears deafened by each thud.

Had I just screwed everything up?

I hadn’t expected Sarah to be jumping at the opportunity to pose as my fiancée, but I hadn’t expected her to leave so abruptly either. I was used to getting what I wanted with women, but this had been too far. I wondered where she had gone to. Worse, who she was talking to. The last thing I needed was it to leak that I had asked my personal assistant to pretend to be my love interest.