Mira plates out the spaghetti, then slides one across the breakfast counter. "Let’s eat."
"I’m not hungry."
"You need to maintain those curves—"
"That’s what he said."
She frowns. "What are you talking about?"
"Nothing." And no, I’m not insecure about my plus size figure. I like how I look. I’m a big girl, and although I’m not tall, my curves compensate for my lack of height. Certainly, Knight hasn’t complained once as he’s squeezed my ample butt. Also, I like to eat… Normally. So, why have I lost my appetite? I unfold myself from the sofa then walk over to take my place on the barstool. "Do you think I’m making a mistake?"
Mira waits until she’s swallowed the mouthful she’s eating. "A mistake?"
"Agreeing to work for Knight?"
I nod, then twirl some of the strands of spaghetti around my fork before sliding them inside my mouth. The tart flavors of tomato and the tanginess of the garlic seep into my tongue. "It’s delicious. Thanks for making dinner."
"Of course, sweetie." She eats some more of her food, then eyes me closely. "I’ve never seen you this disturbed. Not even when you thought you had less than twenty-four hours to find a solution for keeping your mother in the care home."
"I never lost faith that I’d find a solution. I just didn’t think the solution would be this one."
"So, you go to work for him. What’s the problem?"
"I feel beholden to him. He paid for my mother staying on in the care home and now, I feel I have no option but to work for him, you know? It’s not a feeling I like. I feel like I’m not in control anymore, like I have no option but to continue working for him, even if I don’t want to.” I place my fork back on my plate.
She pops a shoulder. “Maybe this will force you to stay focused and see this job through."
I blink. "Are you saying I can’t focus? I know I’m not good at seeing things through. I like anything new and shiny and can’t stop myself from chasing them.” I hunch my shoulders.
"Oh, honey, I didn’t say that to make you feel bad." She leans over and puts her arm around my shoulders. "All I’m saying is, since it cuts down on choices, you’ll have to double down and concentrate on the job, which might help ground you."
Only, he’ll be there. Seeing him, working with him, watching him, smelling him, trying not to stare at him all through the working day… It’s going to be torment—sweet torment, but torment, nevertheless. And how am I going to get through my time working for him, without sleeping with him, or worse, falling for him? Because I’m not so good at separating my emotions from the physical. And he doesn't seems capable of reciprocating any sentiments, either.
Something of my thoughts must show on my face, for she stares. “Did you sleep with him?"
"What? No!"
When she narrows her gaze, I lower my hand to my side.
She steps back then surveys my features closely. "You did sleep with him.”
"What? Of course, not." Not yet, that is. Not ever, if I have my way, which doesn’t mean anything. When it comes to Knight, my ability to say no is non-existent.
"Penny!" Mira warns.
"What? It’s the truth." I bring more spaghetti to my mouth, then begin to chew.
“You told me when you met him at the club, nothing happened.”
“Nothing happened then,” I insist.
"But something did happen, since?”
I widen my gaze. “I’m not lying, I didn’t sleep with him.”
“But you kissed him."
I choke, then cough. Mira slaps my back, and I reach for the water and swallow down the piece stuck in my throat.
"Not exactly… I might have, uh, crossed the boundary of what’s professional, but he's the one who initiated it."
"Hmm." She has a speculative look on her face.
I wipe the tears that have rolled down my cheeks due to my coughing fit. "No, seriously, the man’s an animal."
"I see." Her lips quirk slightly. "I mean, I’m all for you riding that grumpy, gloomy, wounded warrior of a stallion. The sex will, surely, be an experience."
"He’s my boss. That would make things very uncomfortable."
"It's not like you’re sleeping your way into a job or anything."
I blush harder.
"Oh, my god! Did he offer you a job because you and he—" She pinches the fingers of her hands then brings them together. "Is that why he paid for your ma to stay on in the care home?"
"First, when it comes to Knight, it’s not like I have a choice. He, uh, made a move on me, and I couldn’t resist him. And he paid my mother’s bills because he likes to have a hold on me. He likes to manipulate people. That’s what he does. Also, this conversation is now giving me a headache, so can we change it?"
A line forms between her eyebrows. "But, Penny, you—"
My phone rings, thank god. I scramble off the barstool and walk toward the coffee table where I left it. "It’s Abby."
I bring her up on FaceTime.
"I’m so happy you’re taking the job." Abby’s features are wreathed in a smile. "This is going to be great! I know it."
Not sure she’d feel that way if I told her about all that transpired between her brother and me. Not that I’m going to… yet.
"Uh, yeah, I’m excited." I flash her a smile.
"You’re going to be good for him, Penny, I just know it."
"Um—" I clear my throat. "It’s not like I’ve been an assistant before or anything."
"But you’ve held down so many jobs, you have the experience to roll with the punches, you know?"
I wince.
She purses her lips. "I know Knight’s not the easiest person to be with, which is why you’re going to be great at being the intermediary between him and the rest of the office."
Mira walks over to glance over my shoulder. "Hey, Abby!"
"Hey, Mira. Gosh, you girls are hanging out together, and I’m so envious. I wish I could be there."
"You’re with your hot husband. Please. I’m sure you’d rather be there than with us," Mira scoffs.
A man’s voice calls out to her from off screen. Abby blushes a little, then turns to us. "Sorry, guys, Cade can be a little possessive."
"A little?" I laugh.
"Okay, okay, a lot." She chuckles. "Before I go, I wanted to invite both of you to our place tomorrow evening. We’re having a small get-together to welcome Knight back. Nothing fancy. Just a way of showing our thanks to everyone for standing with us while he was away, and… Uh… Also, so he can meet his friends again, you know?" She bites down on her lower lip. "He’s been spending so much time on his own. All he does is go to work, then go running or hit the gym, and come back home. He doesn’t socialize. Not even with Cade or Declan, and these are the guys he’d hang out with almost every evening. He’s changed so much." She hunches her shoulders. "I’m worried about him."