Page 4 of Coming for Her Grumpy Boss (Coming For Christmas #3)

chapter

four

Ford

“If you just came in here to give me shit, you can fuck off and go to your own office,” I say.

Thorne, my best friend, stretches his legs out in front of him, locking his hands together across his stomach. “Do you want advice or not?”

“I don’t recall asking you for any.”

“No, but I can see the solution clearly while you have your head up your own ass.”

“Charming,” I say.

“Suit yourself,” Thorne says in that annoying posh British accent of his.

“Why don’t you tell me what you think my problem is before you offer me a solution?”

“Ah, so you are curious. Splendid.” He leans forward, bracing his elbows on his knees.

“The problem,” I prod. I’m losing patience with his antics. Thorne has never taken anything—aside from beer—seriously.

“You want Mia.”

I release an annoyed breath. “Which we’ve discussed ad nauseam, and you know why I cannot pursue that.”

“I know why you say you can’t. Not the same thing. But let me finish, you impatient knob.”

I wave him to continue.

“My sister is returning in time for the holiday festivities.”

“I was not aware,” I say.

“She rang yesterday to tell our mother.” He pinches the bridge of his nose. “And you know how loudly they both talk. I couldn’t help but hear their entire conversation.”

“I’m sure you were doing everything you could to ignore them,” I say.

“I wouldn’t complain too much if I were you. My excellent spying skills benefit you in this situation.”

“Do tell.”

“It would seem that Natasha has changed her mind about the two of you.”

I go still at his words. “What exactly does that mean?”

“She wants you back. Claims she’s missed you dreadfully over the last year and thinks the break is exactly what the two of you needed to move forward with your future.”

My jaw tenses. “We have no future. It is why we broke up.”

“My sister disagrees.”

I roll my eyes. “Your sister is bored. We have very little in common and there is no spark.”

“That is a relief. I would hate for you to actually be in love with my sister and feel the need to tell me of your sexual prowess,” Thorne says.

“I never slept with your sister,” I admit. Not for her lack of trying, but there’s no need to torment her brother with that information.

“Even if you’re lying, I appreciate it.”

“What does your sister’s coming home earlier than planned have to do with my assistant?” I ask.

“It’s simple,” Thorne says with a shrug. “Bring her to Christmas.”

I stare at my friend.

“As your girlfriend,” he adds.

“She’s not my girlfriend,” I say.

“You are so thick-headed.” He blows out a breath as if I am truly trying his patience. “Your fake girlfriend. Fake fiancé. Whichever.”

“What?”

“Haven’t you ever watched any of those romantic holiday movies?” he asks.

“No.”

He rolls his eyes. “That explains it. You need to broaden your horizons. It’s a plot device. The fake relationship. Intended to throw off unwanted attention from other parties.”

“Where are you even getting this stuff?”

“I know things. My point is, it’s a perfect solution to all of your problems.”

“How do you figure?”

“It gets my sister off your back and gives you an opportunity to legitimately pursue things with Mia.”

I open my mouth, but he holds up a hand to stop me.

“Before you tell me all of the dumbass reasons why you can’t be with her, I’ve heard them before. And they’re all still idiotic.”

“You’re so supportive.”

He gives me a cheeky grin. “I try.”

“She’s my assistant.”

“I’m fully aware, you ass hat. And I still maintain that the moment you realized you wanted her, you should have changed her position in the company infrastructure so that she did not report directly to you. She could be my assistant.”

“Fuck off.”

“You know I’m right. But she does report to you, so now you just have to make some modifications. We do not have a no fraternization policy here.”

“We do not. Made no sense to have one of those in a small town. Where else are people supposed to find potential partners?”

“Exactly,” Thorne says. “So make use of that.”

I shake my head. “It’s too late for that. I’ve been too much of an ass to her.”

“True. But you’re an ass to everyone. Also, you have something she wants. Give it to her.”

I glance down at the contract Mia tossed on my desk before walking out.

“Precisely. Make that the carrot for her to agree to be your fake whatever for the Christmas weekend at the lake house. Then undo the mess you’ve made the last year by pretending to hate her.”

“She’ll never agree to any of that.”

“She will agree to all of it. Especially because she wants the contract for her sister, not herself. She’ll do it because it’s for someone else. Trust me.”

I shake my head. “I’ll just talk to Natasha. She’s not unreasonable.”

Thorne laughs. “It’s obviously been a while since you’ve spoken to my sister. I knew you would be difficult about this.”

“I’m not being difficult. You are being overly dramatic,” I say.

“As I was saying, I knew you would be difficult about this, so I told my mother and Natasha that you would be bringing your girlfriend to meet everyone.”

I stare at my oldest friend and debate whether or not kicking his ass would change anything. “For fuck’s sake. You are a pain in my ass.”

“You’re welcome,” Thorne says.

Just then my phone pings with an incoming message.

NATASHA: I hear I’ll be meeting your girlfriend.

NATASHA: I have to ask: is it serious?

Mia beeps through on my phone. “Your mother is waiting on line two.”

“I’m in a meeting,” I snap.

“With Thorne?” she quips. “I’ve already put her off three times this week. Either talk to her or I’ll tell her you’re sick.”

“You wouldn’t dare. Last time you told her that, she showed up with an aging Russian woman hell bent on making me enough Borscht to turn my skin pink.”

“I said what I said,” Mia says.

“Fuck me,” Thorne says through his laughter.

I growl and pick up the phone, pressing the button to connect the line.

“Mom, how nice of you to call. I’m quite?—”

“Don’t you tell me you’re too busy to talk to your only mother. I don’t care how fancy you are as a CEO of your own company, you still make time for your mother.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Now, what’s this I hear about your bringing a girlfriend to Christmas at the lake?” she asks.

I shoot Thorne the finger, which just makes him laugh even harder.