Page 9 of The Boss
“I’ll give you a raise.”
The warmth evaporated from Aaron’s expression.His eyes narrowed and he looked me dead in the face.“Fuck you!”
For a second I was speechless with shock.Then I got angry.“Watch your mouth.”
Aaron pulled away.He watched my eyes widen with fury, but he kept going.“No.You watch it.I may not have money, but I have morals.You’re out of your fucking mind if you think I’d agree to be your whore.”He stood and started a frantic pacing.
Trying to keep my calm, I stood, too.I gave him a warning look.“You can’t be serious?”
“I’m very serious.”
“Well, I wasn’t serious.It was a joke.”
“I think you’re confusing being funny with being an asshole.”
“Enough.I’m going to say this once.I’m not in this for money.”
Aaron seemed to relax a little.“Maybe I overreacted.”
“No ‘maybe’ about it.Let’s give it some time.We’ll talk again.”
Aaron opened his mouth to reply, but I put a hand up to stop him.We both needed some time and space to cool off.I wanted Aaron, but I needed a man who got me, someone who could take my kidding and give it back.That kind of playful teasing took a special kind of connection, one I hadn’t found yet.“Clean up and I’ll have my driver take you home.”
Chapter Five
Aaron
Maxwell sent me home with his driver and I cussed myself all the way.I’d fucked up.Made a complete fool of myself.Maybe ruined something good before it even started.
The ride home was torture.I wanted to tell the driver to turn around and go back so I could throw myself on Maxwell and ask him to forgive me.Why am I so stupid?I can’t recognize a joke when it bites me in the ass.
I took things too seriously.All the harassment I took as a kid made me super-sensitive.I never knew when someone was just teasing me, and I tended to take their comments as a personal attack.I should think before I open my mouth and stick my foot in it.
The driver stopped in front of my building and got out to open the door for me.When I tried to tip him, he shook his head.It seemed to emphasize my fixation on money.I’d always been independent and willing to work hard to get ahead.It was important for my self-esteem, and I wanted Maxwell to see that.
Now I felt like his money stood between us.Rich people could buy anything they wanted.Maybe he was different, but I couldn’t help stereotyping him.Oh, hell.This is all my problem, not his.How can I be mad at him for being successful or having a weird sense of humor?
I replayed our session in my head all weekend, poring over what he had said, specifically, and cringing at my reactions.I knew I had come off as touchy and rude.Maybe if I’d acted differently, we’d still be together.
The rest of my weekend felt strangely empty.Usually I looked forward to my alone time, but that weekend, I didn’t know what to do with myself.Sunday dragged on.One minute I was looking forward to work, the next I was dreading it.I’d told Maxwell that I trusted him, but my actions had said something different.I prayed that Maxwell would give me another chance.If he did, I wouldn’t be so defensive.I’d let things roll off my back instead of overanalyzing them.Not everyone was out to get me.
Monday morning finally came and all I wanted to do was crawl back under the covers.Terrified to face Maxwell, I picked up the phone to call in sick and then changed my mind.He’d know I was lying.I’d never taken a day off before.
As usual, the front office was empty when I arrived.I sat at my desk and went through the mail.Maxwell came out of his inner sanctum and I forgot to breathe.He looked stunning.There was something undeniably powerful about a well-dressed man and Maxwell looked commanding in a dark double-breasted suit.
“Good morning, Mr.Marshall.”
“Good morning, Sir.”
Maxwell stood by my desk and studied me.That’s the only word to describe how he looked at me.I was afraid he might fire me then and there.
“I want to see you in my office at the end of the day, Mr.Marshall.Five o’clock on the dot.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Without another word, Maxwell turned and walked back into his office.I felt flustered and extremely nervous, but hopeful, too.If he intended to fire me, he would have done it already.Right?I hoped this meant I would get another chance.This time I’d loosen up and not take things so seriously.
The morning went on forever.I threw myself into my work, but it was hard to ignore the boner growing inside my pants.I paid too much attention to the clock, which only made the minutes creep by slower.When noon arrived, I wasn’t hungry, but I walked over to the coffee shop and ordered a club sandwich and iced tea.The place was crowded and I had to wait.Lunch finally came and I forced down half of it.It was close to one when I got back to the office.Four hours to go.