CHAPTER17
Did hookers get benefits? Andi found herself wondering as she adjusted the large stack of files that she’d helped herself to from the accounting department in her arms as she considered the woman that was clearly here to put a smile on someone’s face. Maybe it depended on the pimp, Andi thought only to release a heartfelt sigh because she would have made an amazing pimp. She was organized, would make sure that her prices were competitive, and would offer benefits to ensure that her girls were happy. Did hookers offer coupons? she wondered, only to decide that she’d have to look into it if she couldn’t manage to pull this off.
She-
Should have put her phone on Do Not Disturb, Andi realized when her phone went off again. Really hoping that it was someone trying to scam her, Andi shifted the files into one arm, reached into her back pocket and pulled her phone out only to feel her shoulders drop in defeat when she saw the text message waiting for her.
Where the hell are you, woman?
Grumbling because she’d actually been hoping that he would forget to check on her, Andi texted, In bed, fast asleep, only to follow that up with another grumble when he texted, Really? Because I’m looking at your empty bed right now, brat!
God, he was a pain in the ass, Andi thought, biting back a wince when her back accidentally brushed against the elevator wall only to realize that the woman that she was considering asking what kind of benefits package she was looking for was watching her with a knowing look.
“Just ignore him,” she said with a conspiratorial wink and smile.
“That’s the plan,” Andi said, nodding in agreement as they finally reached her floor with a small chime.
Chuckling softly, the beautiful blonde bombshell shifted her assets one last time with an absently murmured, “This is me,” making Andi frown in confusion as she stepped off the elevator and headed straight for Ben, who slapped a welcoming smile on his face as soon as he saw her, the hooker, not Andi because he really seemed to hate her.
Struggling not to drop the files in her arms, Andi swallowed hard as she watched the woman that she really hoped was on the wrong floor give Ben her name and watched while she made her way to Devyn’s office, not bothering to knock as she let herself in, leaving Andi standing there, feeling sick to her stomach.
“I thought you were taking the week off,” came the smug announcement accompanied by a sigh of annoyance that had her swallowing hard because apparently, Devyn thought so too.
Clearing her throat, Andi said, “I needed to grab some files,” as she stared helplessly at Devyn’s closed office door before she forced herself to look away.
“I believe he’s busy at the moment,” Ben drawled, already returning to whatever he was doing as Andi turned around, feeling numb as she headed back towards the elevators only to remember the folders in Devyn’s office that she needed and kept going, absolutely refusing to knock on Devyn’s office door right now.
Besides, she had other things to do right now, like spending the rest of the day pretending that she didn’t see this. It was none of her business what was happening behind that closed door because Devyn was a grown man and could do whatever he wanted. She didn’t care what he did. Not even a little bit, because she had plenty to keep her busy, and honestly, she didn’t have time for anything else.
She just…
Really wished that it didn’t hurt this much.
Slowly exhaling, Andi pushed the elevator call button and when the elevator doors didn’t open fast enough, she hit it again and again only to decide that she’d rather take the stairs. Anything was better than standing there, pretending that everything was okay. Decision made, she turned around and-
“You can tell whoever sent you that I’m not interested,” Devyn told the woman quickly making her way to the elevator as though the hounds of hell were on her heels as his gaze locked on Andi.
“You’re supposed to be home resting, Miss Dawson,” he drawled, sighing heavily.
Swallowing hard, Andi weakly gestured to the stairwell door and mumbled, “I-I was actually going back home now,” only to grumble when Devyn reached over and took her hand in his and headed back to his office, giving her no other choice but to follow him.
“The next time you decide to let a hooker walk into my office, you’re fired,” Devyn said, pausing only long enough to grab the small stack of files out of her arms and level a murderous glare on Ben before continuing to lead her back into his office with a muttered, “Fucking unbelievable.”
“Ummm, I should probably go,” Andi mumbled, gesturing towards the elevator only to catch the look on Ben’s face and decided that she’d take her chances with Devyn, moving her ass faster and made her way to the couch that she’d considered her office while Devyn closed the door behind him.
“What are you doing here, Andi?” he asked, dropping down on the couch next to her, looking exhausted.
“Sleepwalking?” Andi said, unable to help but frown as she pointed at the door. “Are we going to talk about what just happened?”
“You mean, you coming here after you promised to take the week off after you almost drowned?” Devyn asked, throwing her a questioning look that she chose to ignore.
“There is that, but we could also discuss the hooker that was practically in tears as she fled from your office,” Andi said, blinking at him.
“We have more important things to discuss,” Devyn said with a pointed look at the files in his hands as he placed them on the coffee table.
“Is it because she didn’t offer coupons?” Andi asked, only to follow that up with, “Were her prices not competitive?” which for some reason earned her a glare.
“I’m not interested in hookers,” Devyn said, sighing heavily as he leaned back against the couch as she did the same only to decide that was a bad idea when the move sent sharp pain through her back and sat back up.
“Because she didn’t offer a loyalty program?” Andi asked, picking up the stack of files that she’d helped herself to and began looking through them, wondering why it was so difficult to find the files that she needed.
They should have been downstairs. Granted, they also should have been online, but for whatever reason, she couldn’t find them and that was going to be a problem. Thankfully, she’d helped herself to several of Roman Palms’ files before she left, so she should be able to fill in the blanks. It would just take a little longer than she’d planned.
Speaking of plans…