Mr. Handsome A Billionaire Romance(55)

After I got ready for work, I went to get into Betty and do our usual ride to work. Of course, after a long, near fifteen years of service, Betty died that morning. She simply wouldn’t start. I sighed, long suffering, and wondered if I should just hail a cab rather than call Jeffrey to borrow his driver. I decided to hail a cab; thank goodness I made it to work on time.

“Hey, Christina, you won’t guess what the debate is at our table.” Austin greeted me in the break room as I made a beeline for the coffee pot.

“It’s not pizza rolls versus hot pockets is it?” I asked with a pained expression.

Austin cracked up at the mention of yesterday’s heated debate.

“No, no, a much better one this time,” Austin paused for dramatic affect before he told me, “ketchup versus mustard.”

I cracked up when he told me, of all the possible things to debate about, they were going to debate whether mustard or ketchup was the better condiment?

“Austin, that’s worse than yesterday’s debate. Who is picking these topics?” I asked incredulously. One would think a table full of university graduates would be able to debate about something a bit more relevant. Like at least Selena Gomez versus Demi Lovato or something.

“Tristan always picks the topics, but his mind is always on food, so therein lies the problem,” Austin said as we poured ourselves a cup of coffee and went over to the collaboration table where the rest of the guys were in heated debate.

“I’m sorry, but just why would you put mustard on hash browns?” Bryce sounded very offended as he asked Caiden the question, Caiden was just about to reply when Austin called everyone’s attention forward.

“Alright, as we normally do at the end of each week, it’s time for reports.” Austin sat down and then went on to ask everyone where they were at on given tasks or projects. I was nearly done with the digital stuff that Trent and I had been working on together.

After we reported to Austin, he told us to get back to work and deemed that ketchup won the debate hands down. We were on schedule for the Tru Rum project and after work, Austin said he’d treat us to drinks at a bar down the street.

“So how was your first week? Well, it was kind of like a half week for you, but we really needed you and you came through amazingly well.” Austin smiled at me like a proud father or something. I laughed at his expression. “What? I’m really psyched that we have you on our team, you’re super talented, Christina.” Austin was sincere and I smiled at him fondly.

“I really love working with you guys, I know it’ll be great working at Six Fountain,” I said truthfully.

Austin smiled in satisfaction.

“Great, people like you are rare and my bosses would have kicked my ass if I didn’t hire you. I would have kicked my ass if I didn’t hire you.” I laughed and Austin draped his arm around my shoulders.

We realized that we had walked well ahead of the other guys and we waited outside of the pub for them to catch up. We found seats at the bar and Trent grabbed a stool next to mine.

“So how did things go with you and Bates?” Trent asked curiously. His gaze was concerned and I smiled at him, feeling grateful that he cared about me enough to keep me company and make sure I was okay last night, even if I was crying over another guy that I loved.

“Well, it was late, so we didn’t do much talking…but he told me that he loved me,” I said.

Trent nodded, as if he expected that.

“I could see it all over his face when I passed him in the hall. I was just hoping that he’d man up and say it.”

I smirked. Trent was sounding more like a big brother than a co-worker.

“So did you tell him how you felt?” he asked. I shook my head and Trent gave me a look. “We talked about that all night, practically, and you didn’t tell him how you were feeling?” I felt like I was in trouble. “Call him. Call him right now.” Trent made me get up and he handed me my purse.

“Okay…but order me a Yuengling please.” Trent nodded and he shooed me towards the door. I pulled out my phone as I walked outside and sighed before I tapped the call icon on Jeffrey’s contact. The phone rang once and then he answered.

“Hey, are you off work yet?” Jeffrey asked, he seemed a little excited about something.

“Yeah…I’m getting a drink with the guys from work and then I should be home in like an hour or so, depending how long it takes me to get a cab,” I said, I was stalling because I didn’t really know how to open up and say what I wanted to him.

“Why do you have to catch a cab?” Jeffrey asked, concern touching his upbeat tone.

“Oh, um…Ol’ Betty, she died this morning,” I said.

There was a long pause and then Jeffrey started laughing.

“You named your car Ol’ Betty?” Jeffrey said before cracking up all over again.

I smiled reluctantly at his finding this hilarious.

“She was a serious part of my life for a long time Jeffrey, I am mourning her loss,” I said, faking devastation.

It only made Jeffrey laugh harder and I couldn’t help but start to giggle.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry your car died. But it was really old, you had to know it was coming,” Jeffrey said, a smile clearly in his voice.

“Yeah, I guess so…” I said on an exaggerated sigh.