Boss Lady’s assistant answered. “Landon-Michaels PR, Roxiee speaking.”
“Is Greer at work?” I blurted, then glared at Colton when he sniggered. I wasn’t one to get a tone of desperation, but that was borderline.
“Mr. Ortiz?” An edge of humor lit her voice.
“Yes. Is she there?”
“This isn’t your one phone call from lockdown, is it?”
Damn, her assistant was a ball-buster. “No-”
Colt’s snigger grew louder and he over-spoke my bitchy retort. “Nah, I just bailed his ass out. Colton, by the way.”
Roxiee’s voice immediately sweetened. “Oh hey, Colton.”
I rolled my eyes and ignored his smug-ass smirk. “So, back to my question; is Greer at work?”
Roxiee tittered and then put me out of my misery. “Yes, she’s at work, and yes, we’re both fine. But, I hope you were joking about needing bailed out; she’s stressing about the PR repercussions…”
An awkward silence stretched out, then broke with Colton’s poorly concealed laughter.
Fuck that. I had to sort this out before things blew up in my face. “I’ll come into the office today and discuss that directly with her. Is she free this afternoon?”
The click of fingernails on a keyboard came through the car speakers, followed by an appointment. “Two PM?”
“I’ll be there. And, Roxiee?”
“Mmm?” I imagined her arching a brow in wait.
Forcing a swallow, then clearing my throat, I straight-up traded another of my testicles.
“Give her a heads up before I get there.”
Her laughter echoed around me. “You’re scared of her, aren’t you?”
“Fuck no!” I blurted, much to Colt’s amusement. “Just,fuck.I’ll see you at two.” I reached over and jabbed the disconnect button on the steering wheel. “Don’t say a fucking word,” I snapped.
“You’re a pussy.”
“Fuck you.” I bit down to stop a growl escaping when he laughed harder.
It faded as we entered the lot that had been crammed with cars and partiers last night. Colton leaned forward in his seat as he coasted across the smooth seal.
“Bro, is that fuckingShady Sam!Shit, I haven’t seen him in years!”
He pulled to a stop alongside Shades’ car and rolled his window down. “Shady Sam! How you been, man?” Colt beamed.
“Heeeeeey, brother, look what the cat dragged in!”
Colt slid out of the car while I mumbled and unbuckled. They finished their bro-hug by the time I rounded the hood. I slapped my hand into Shades’ and bumped chests.
“You’re lucky you’re my best racer, otherwise I wouldn’t have bothered babysitting this piece of shit for you,” Shades grumbled.
“Untouched?” I asked, catching the keys he tossed at me, then checking the body work of my Supra to ensure she was still dent-free and pristine.
“Like a virgin. I gotta bounce, brother, but I’ll catch y’all next meet.”
Colt gave Shades a departing bro-hug, and then stepped back as Shades got behind the wheel of his Subaru WRX. He took off across the vacant lot as if the cops were closing in again.