Boss I Love to Hate: An Office Romance(68)

“What the hell is he doing here?”

The boom of my father’s voice had me jumping to my feet.

“Oh, crap.”

Marco chuckled. “I guess he’s back from work. You’d better save your non-boyfriend over there before Dad gets his shotgun.”

“Shit.” I was out of the kitchen and back in the living room, rushing toward my father in less than a second. “Daddy,” I cooed, wrapping my arms around him.

“You.” He pointed a stern finger toward Brad, like the barrel of a gun, steady and firm, knowing its target. “Who the hell invited you?”

I wrapped my arms tighter around my father, teeth clenched in a tight smile and blood pounding in my ears. “I did, Dad. I thought it would be nice for the family to know who I worked for.”

Brad teetered on his newly shined shoes, a timid smile forming. “Sir.” He stepped forward, steadying a hand to shake. “It’s great to finally meet the patriarch of the family. Sonia has told …”

My father narrowed his eyes and took a step toward him, glaring at his extended hand as though it had crap on it. “Yeah, I’ve heard a shit-ton about you. Slave driver, mean womanizer who makes my little girl cry.”

My face turned all shades of red. Why, oh why, did I have the best relationship with my parents and tell them everything?

Brad’s smile evaporated, and it looked like he’d been punched in the gut. And the aunties … well, they stared at Brad like he’d suddenly fallen off his pedestal.

I waved a hand at Brad. “It was one time. Nothing really. Plus, it was when Jeff dumped me. Any and every little thing set me off.”

How the hell did I get out of this one?

“Honey, I’m sure Brad has realized the error of his ways.” My mom reached for my father’s face, placing one large palm on his cheek. “And I’m sure he’s sorry.” She patted his cheek. “Because they’re dating now.” She beamed at him as if this was the best news she’d heard all year.

I groaned internally. Kill me, someone. Quick.

“Dating?” My dad flipped toward me so fast that I thought he would topple over. “Him?” The muscle by his neck twitched, and his vein pulsed in his neck.

And now was the moment of false truths. I could say I wasn’t dating him and have my father kick him out and beat him to a pulp, or I could say all was forgiven and lie because he wouldn’t kill his potential, possibly future son-in-law.

I gulped. “It’s true.” The pained smile surfaced again, the one that made my cheeks hurt from the strain. Then, I stretched a hand out and tilted my head for Brad to come toward me.

The aunts laughed with murmured confirmations of, “I knew it.”

Brad hesitated, but then I stretched my pained grin farther, and he walked toward me and intertwined our fingers. And, at that moment, I regretted ever lying and taking him to that stupid wedding and getting butt-ass drunk. Because one thing I never, ever, ever did was lie to my family. Our bond was real and strong and built on honesty. And, now, I’d have to lie about the breakup.





Brad

“… who makes my little girl cry.”

It took me a moment to realize what she was trying to do or even what she had said, that we were now pretending to be together because all that rang in my ears was, “… who makes my little girl cry.”

I tried to search my memory, trying to recall a time when I’d seen Sonia unhappy. My mind came up blank. Yeah, I’d been a dick to her, like I was a dick to everyone, but with Sonia, I knew she could take it, and she gave it right back.

She knew me, not only my likes—like the way I liked my sandwiches with little mayo and no lettuce—but also my dislikes, my pet peeves, but she had to know I wouldn’t treat her like shit and intentionally make her upset.

I searched her face, the way she was smiling to ease her parents, the smile she held for me when she was annoyed. And I knew deep in my gut that she was upset right now, right here.

I never cared what others thought. Maybe it was because I was the boss, and it didn’t matter. But, as I stared into the almost-six-foot-tall, stout man who held the same warm eyes as Sonia, I realized that I cared what this man thought about me.

I mustered my most apologetic, contrite tone. “Sir, I never meant to make your daughter cry. Trust me when I say that I appreciate everything Sonia does for me day to day at Brisken. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t run as efficiently as I do.”

I squeezed her hand and peered down at her to see her biting her bottom lip. It was an apology sincerely meant for her, as it was meant for her father. “I’m sorry. Sometimes, I think you’re made of steel, and I forget you’re not like those cutthroat CEOs I battle with.”

I exhaled, and before I knew it, my hand cupped her cheek. “I’m sorry, Sonia. Know that I do appreciate you. I promise to be more conscious of my mood and to never take things out on you.” Because it wasn’t fair, and one of these days, I’d push too far, and I’d hate to think of what would happen if I did.

We were locked in a stare, and even though her whole family was in the room and I could feel the hostility oozing out of her father in waves, all of me wanted to kiss her, without hesitation and in apology. Just as I had at the wedding and in her apartment.

The urge was so strong that I leaned into her and brought her close but kissed her forehead instead. She smelled of strawberries. The sweet, light scent of her shampoo had me leaning closer.