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“No worries.” My brother pauses as he looks into the room and sees me standing there. “Ella!” He frowns slightly and steps inside. He looks at me, then he looks at Colton, and then he looks at me again. “What’s going on?” he asks. He doesn’t sound like he’s happy, and I know that he will kill me, and then he’ll tell my parents and they’ll kill me as well. And then, for the fun of it, I’ll just kill myself because I am the idiot who slept with Colton Hart.
“So there’s something I have to tell you,” Colton says to Sam, and I step forward.
“Yeah,” Sam says. He’s growling now, and looks pissed. “What is going on?” I am wondering what he knows about last night.
“I am Colton’s new assistant,” I say quickly. “He said he would give me another chance because he felt bad about firing me so quickly last time.” I’m not sure where the words are coming from, but they are coming. Colton looks amused, and my brother looks like he doesn’t really believe what I’m saying. “And I got here really early because I wanted to prove to him that I’m gonna be really responsible this time, so I’m even doing his laundry.” I hold up Colton’s boxers in my hand. I want to sink into the ground. I feel stupid. I feel—
“Wow! Colton, man, I really appreciate that.” Sam puts his arms around Colton's shoulders. “I know she messed up last time. I know she just got fired again, and she really needs it.” My jaw drops.
My brother doesn’t actually believe this, does he? And now he’s thanking Colton for giving me a job after firing me and saying I am the reason why I keep getting fired when it totally was not my fault. “My boss was having an affair, and he thought I was a private detective working for his wife,” I remind Sam, glaring at him. “That’s why.”
“Sure, Ella,” he says, looking at me. “You’re still wearing last night’s clothes because why? You forgot to change before coming over this morning? Or were you just out partying all night and then realized you had to be at work early this morning, so you just showed up like that? So unprofessional. If Mom and Dad knew—”
I stare at him, my jaw slack.
This is not happening. I almost don’t know whether or not I should correct him. I can tell him that the reason I am wearing last night’s clothes is because I spent the night here and didn’t have a change of clothes, but I have a feeling that his reaction will be a whole lot worse. “Yep, you got me,” I say. “So Colton, or should I call you Mr. Hart?”
“You can call me sir if you want,” he says in response, and I just shake my head.
“Colton, is there any other laundry that you want me to do for you?”
“Well, I was just about to get it together for you, so can you give me a couple of minutes?”
“Of course, sir,” I say in my most cheery voice. I know I sound like a bitch, but I just can’t believe I am having to make up this story.
Sam is beaming now. “This is so cool. Mom and Dad were so worried about you. They had even asked me to see if I could get you a job at the firm and lend you some money, but now you don’t need it because you got a job with Colton, and I know you’re not gonna screw this one up, right?”
“What?” I blink at him.
“We’re all flying to Florida in a few weeks, and I know Mom and Dad will want to hear all about the job. It’s gonna look really bad if Colton has to fire you again right before Christmas.”
“Well, maybe I’ll get another job that pays a little bit better,” I say. “Colton knows that this is just temporary until—”
“Hey, Ella,” he says, “I decided that I’m gonna meet your salary requirements because I know you’re gonna do a much better job than you did last time. I mean, you already got here so early and decided that you wanted to help clean up.”
“Clean up?” I stare at him.
“My apartment, right?”
“You said you were gonna do laundry and clean up the apartment because my housekeeper quit last week and I haven’t been able to find anyone yet. I have a date tonight, so it has to look good.”
“You have a date tonight?” I blink at him. Was he really this much of a pig?
“Yeah,” he says, “so I’m going to need this place real clean. You get what I’m saying?” I stare at him, and he stares at me, and all I want to do is scream.
4
Istand there feeling quite dumbfounded at what just happened. Before I can even say anything else, Colton pulls on a pair of basketball shorts and a T-shirt.
“So I’m off now. Do you think you’ll be able to take care of everything while I’m playing basketball with Sam?” Colton looks at me in the way that he does. That annoys me the most. He thinks just because he’s six years older than me and a successful businessman that he’s the boss of me. And just because I’m pretending he is the boss of me doesn’t mean that I like it.
“Yes, sir. Of course,” I say in my sweetest, most courteous voice.
He grins. “I like that. You’ve really matured, Ella,” he says, giving me a slap on the shoulder as if we’re buddies.
“Well, I would love to say the same thing about you, but…” My voice trails off as I see Sam giving me a sly look. I know he’s wondering why I’m talking to Colton that way. Sometimes, Sam acts like he’s my dad instead of my older brother. I suppose it is because of the age gap and the fact that he always had to look out for me when we were younger. But he has to realize that I am no longer a kid. I am twenty-four years old now and granted, though I don’t have a job and it doesn’t look like I am getting another one anytime soon, I can still take care of myself. I really can.
“So I’ll leave you here to get everything ready and to do my laundry.” Colton smiles, and I watch as he and Sam walk out the door.
