“You’re not going to be needed for anything else today. Don’t worry, you’ll still receive a full day’s pay.” She didn’t miss the snide tone.
Oh how she wished she could tell him she didn’t need his money. However, the fact was, she did. “Thank you. Please call me if anything changes and I’ll return.”
“Trust me, you’re not needed.”
And trust me, I feel it. Hanging up the phone, she let out a heavy sigh.She’d worked late yesterday without additional pay, so he really wasn’t granting her anything she hadn’t earned. But Max had to make sure he belittled her any way he could, from her looks to her intelligence. Eventually, he was going to run out of things to complain about.
What will we talk about then? Maybe he’ll have to start complimenting me instead.Hell was going to freeze over before something nice came out of that man’s mouth.
She went into his office and put the large envelope in the drawer as directed. Once she triple checked his office was locked, she grabbed her purse and headed to the elevator. She had no idea what came over her, but she could only imagine Uncle Max’s face if he knew she wasn’t going home to twiddle her thumbs. She had a date with one hot and sexy Charles Lawson, and Uncle Max was paying her to get ready for it. Thanks, Uncle Max.
Charles was surprised Rosslyn had texted him saying she was out of work early. That wasn’t like Maxwell. What the hell was the guy up to? The tabloids posted a photo seemingly showing Maxwell and Laura off celebrating their fortieth wedding anniversary. That was definitely set up as a distraction, and it was making him nervous.
On the way to pick up Rosslyn, he called Gareth. “Got a job for you.”
“Rosslyn has a girlfriend and you want to set me up on a blind date?” Gareth joked.
“You’ll be lucky to meet her, never mind any of her friends. But no, this has to do with Maxwell.”
“Not as much fun, but interesting. What do you need?”
“I want to know what he’s really up to.”
“Don’t buy all that lovey dovey shit on the news today?”
“Not for a second. Oddly, he sent Rosslyn home early, with pay.”
“Damn. That’s more surprising than the photos with Laura. What do you think he’s up to?” Gareth asked.
Charles growled. “That’s what I just asked you to find out.”
Gareth laughed. “And what will you be doing while I’m working?”
Wishing I had only four brothers instead of five.It was evident that Gareth could never work for Charles because if he wasn’t challenging everything Charles said, he was joking around about what Charles was doing. There was no winning with him.
Charles didn’t bother pretending. “I’ll be having dinner with Rosslyn. So don’t call unless it’s important.”
“Where are you going?”
“Why?” Charles asked.
“In case I get hungry doing my research. Can’t a guy snag a free dinner?”
“Of course you can. Just not with us,” Charles said. “I’m sure Seth would enjoy chatting with you again. You two seem to enjoy discussing my love life.”
“Love? Did the great Charles Lawson just use the word love?”
“Gareth, it was a figure of speech. Or in this instance a back-the-fuck-up-and-stay-out-of-my-personal-life warning.”
Gareth laughed. “Just to be clear, that’s still a no on dinner, right?” He ended the call before Charles could cuss him out.
Although he and Gareth were very different, he could appreciate the fact Gareth could laugh through just about anything yet stay focused on the shit that needed to be done. Charles already knew he was the serious one. Then again, he had to be. It wasn’t easy keeping all those brothers in check. And right now, he was grateful he had them to keep in line. Otherwise he may have acted unwisely regarding Maxwell. Now who is going to keep me from fucking up with Rosslyn?
When she opened the car door and slipped into the passenger seat all thoughts about anything but her vanished. “You smell like flowers.”
She smiled. “I was worried I’d smell like the cat.”
He had to ask. “First of all, you don’t. But why would you smell like the cat?”