The Rule Book (Rule Breakers #1)(18)
“Would you believe I bribed HR with cookies?”
Must. Stop. Talking.
Joking around with him was the last thing I needed to be doing. He was my boss. And yet, my smart mouth refused to shut for one damn second. It was like the elevator ventilation system was laced with some sort of nerve gas that lifted inhibitions.
I stood there, unsure of what to do, or if I’d gone past the point of no return, and my comedy routine had landed me with a pink slip.
After a moment of painfully awkward silence, his lips cracked into a smile, and he chuckled. “Lainey Taylor, you are quite an interesting addition to my staff.”
“Interesting” was not exactly a ringing endorsement, but given the current situation, I wouldn’t complain about his choice in adjectives. Color me impressed, because nothing seemed to faze this guy. Calling him the devil? No big deal, rolled off his shoulders. Having a conversation about stalking in the elevator? Brushed it off like a pro. Why would I have assumed any different? I was sure if I’d told him I wanted to dress him up as Thor and lick Nutella off his bare chest (not a half-bad idea…), he’d nod and smile and pretend like I’d just asked him about the weather. This guy was the poster boy for even-keeled.
I nodded and decided it’d be smart not to speak anymore.
“It’s comforting to know I have such a dedicated employee who knows where I am,” he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Heat licked my cheeks, and I held back a groan. This was the part where the oversize anvil fell on my head, right? If only I could just pluck the words out of the air and stuff them back into my mouth and pretend that I did not schedule-stalk my boss, that’d be much appreciated.
The elevator stopped at our floor, and we both exited. He kept walking toward his office as I plopped my purse down on my chair.
Before closing his door, he turned and said, “Have a nice day, Lainey. And if you need me, you know where I’ll be.” He winked.
I went to my desk and laid my head down for a couple minutes, deciding that I should surgically sew my mouth shut.
By the time lunch rolled around, I’d managed to keep a low profile and avoid any contact with Brogan. As soon as Jackson returned from his lunch break, I grabbed my PB and J and beelined it toward the staff room. Zelda was already there, along with a few other people that I recognized, but couldn’t remember their names.
“How’s it going, newbie?” With her, it came out as a term of endearment, unlike Jackson’s words laced with malice.
“Better today. Just trying to not put my foot in my mouth.”
“You get any more clients?” Zelda was the only other person at the company who seemed interested in my role with the firm. Apparently, it wasn’t common that a second assistant received clients (or so she’d told me), but with my thesis focusing on social media, and endorsement from HR, Brogan had decided to take a chance and give me an opportunity to prove myself.
I frowned. “No.” Not that I’d complain, because one client was a heck of a lot better than none, but my multi-task-loving self was itching to take on more.
“Don’t worry. Brogan will see you’re doing a good job and give you more in no time.”
That was the plan. Keep my head down. Stop making stupid comments. I could at least manage one of those things. “Do you know much about him?” If anyone did, it would be Zelda. She was friends with everyone in the office and knew all the gossip. Like how the previous second assistant was canned due to the fact that she slurped her tea too loud for Jackson’s liking (on the DL, of course).
“Like what? He’s here a lot and likes the Seahawks. He sometimes wears a jersey on Friday’s during this time of year.” Both were things I knew and completely unhelpful in my quest for achieving total Brogan stalker-dom.
“What does he like to do outside the office?”
She looked at me, studying my face. I made sure to keep my expression impassive. “Why? You looking to ask him out?” She quirked a brow.
“No,” I stuttered, and heat plumed across my cheeks. Was it bad that ever since I’d first seen him, I’d had a reoccurring dream of our clothes pooled on the floor and our bodies pressed together on the couch in his office? Yes, very bad. But this question was for research purposes only. Like any business associate, the more I knew about him, the more I’d be able to play to my strengths, win him over, and earn more clients.
“I was just kidding. You saw the tattoos, though, huh?”
I nodded. Those were just one of many reasons why I was drawn to him. But it was more than Brogan’s looks that interested me. His mere presence in the same room captivated my attention, a magnetic pull that I couldn’t ignore. Kind of like how I felt when I listened to John Legend hit those falsetto notes. Mind-numbing would be the only way to describe it. Brogan turned my mind into a bumbling mass of mush.
“Honestly, I’d climb him like a f*cking mountaineer if given the chance, employee manual or not.”
“Zelda!” I tore off a piece of my sandwich, not willing to admit that, yes, I wholeheartedly agreed with that sentiment.
“What? He’s totally hot.”
I nodded. “Okay, yeah.”
“To answer your question—other than he’s a Seahawks fan and likes cinnamon in his coffee, that’s about it. He always loves hearing about everyone else, but keeps his personal life to himself.”