Jada made a face. “Maybe you’re right, and I don’t like that.” This is why she’d called Olivia. Her friend always had her back and could be counted on to set her straight.
Olivia rose from the sofa and swung an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “But you’re going to listen, right?”
Jada sighed. “I guess.”
Which is why she entered Sugar Blitz at 8:58 A.M. on the dot like the boss she hoped to be one day. Not that she had any idea what she would be the boss of, but you know, fake it till you make it. Or break it. Or burn it, in her case. Whatever, she was here to face the music, in whatever form it came in. She’d synchronized her watch to global standard time, which seemed like something Donovan would appreciate.
To her surprise, he wasn’t standing in the store tapping his foot and the face of his watch simultaneously. Ella, however, rushed up to her. “Jada! You came back!” The teenager threw her arms around Jada and squeezed hard. “I was soooo worried.”
Ella’s unabashed enthusiasm and genuineness seeped into Jada. She greatly appreciated it even though she had no clue what she’d done to engender Ella’s loyalty so quickly. She stepped back and studied the other woman. Her confusion must have shown on her face because Ella laughed.
“I’ve known Donovan my whole life. No one gets to him. I mean no one. He’s Mr. I-Have-a-Plan-and-I-Stick-to-It. You shake him up.”
A surprised snort of laughter bubbled out of Jada. “And that’s a good thing?”
Ella’s nodded enthusiastically, sending her braids swinging. “Absolutely.”
“I’m not sure he would agree.” And speaking of … “Crap. I’m supposed to be meeting him right now.”
She hurried toward his office, quickening her strides as she got closer. After a short, brisk knock, he bade her enter in that professorial voice. Oh, yeah, she was definitely the misbehaving kid sent to the principal’s office. No matter. She wasn’t a kid. She would say her piece and ask, not beg, him not to fire her.
When she entered the office, he sat imperiously behind his desk like the ruler of his kingdom, waiting to see his loyal subjects. Great. He’d upgraded from principaldom. Worse, he was tapping the face of his watch, so she hadn’t been completely wrong. Yay for small victories.
“You’re late,” he intoned.
Her teeth immediately went on edge. “It’s 9:01.”
“That’s late.” The gleam in his eye gave him away. He was trying to get at her. Give her a taste of her own medicine.
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re a diabolical bully.”
Crap. That’s not what she meant to say. He leaned back in his chair. The only sign he was surprised by her outburst was a raised eyebrow. She focused on it like a talisman while biting her lip. She wasn’t going to say anything else. She’d promised Olivia she would be good.
He gestured for her to take a seat. Since her knees were threatening to collapse, she didn’t hesitate to take him up on the offer.
“Running out of your job on the first day was quite the move. So was not answering the calls and texts from your boss.”
“Don’t you think my actions were justified? Need I remind you of what you said to me before I left and after? Be here at 9 A.M. or else. Who says that?” Wait. Oops. Those weren’t the words she was supposed to be saying. She was supposed to be conciliatory. More mature. But his supercilious raised eyebrow egged her on. Besides, she always spoke her mind. She couldn’t help herself, so it really wasn’t her fault. She was a work in progress.
“I say that.” He straightened in his chair, his spine going straight and stiff, and studied her intently for a few seconds. She lifted her chin. She wouldn’t squirm and give him more ammunition. His lips curved into another diabolical grin. “Wanna know why?”
“Sure.” She went for nonchalant, even throwing in a one-shouldered shrug for good measure, even though she wasn’t sure she pulled it off. He could be getting ready to toss her out on her ass and demand that she never step foot in this shop again. And she would have to take it. Unless she decided to beg, which would be horrible and humiliating and heave-inducing.
“Because that was the only way to ensure you would show up today. I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist putting me in my place.”
“Oh.” He knew her that well already? Looked like Olivia had been onto something. She wasn’t sure that was a good thing. Maybe that meant she was boring and predictable. Gross.