Lesley
A few days later, and I’m already getting used to working for TJ and his little doggy. Well, my little doggy, I suppose. She’s quite cute if you push the possibility of a Jaws scenario out of your mind. The way she walks is too funny as if she’s some kind of stretched-out, waggling duck.
And not just that; we’ve really made some progress in the toy department too. I’ve figured out Pepper’s fond of squeakers. The more, the better. I think I can work that into a design. I also discovered she does this weird sneeze every time something exciting is about to come her way, like some biscuits or a toy, and we could definitely use that in a commercial or something.
While working on the products, I keep eyeing TJ whenever I can. He often passes by where I sit, talking with colleagues and drawing attention from all the female employees. I don’t think he even notices how much they all swoon for him. I see it all the time, and for some reason, it makes me feel stabby. Of course, I ignore the feelings. There’s no room for that when he’s my boss …
Besides, he must have girls lined up for him. No way I wanna be anywhere near a man who attracts that much pussy. It’s bad for my health.
No, I’m better off focusing on my job, which is creating a new toy and developing a marketing strategy for it.
However, right now, I can’t be too busy designing and coming up with marketing concepts because TJ asked me to serve coffee to the board members while he gives them an update on what’s going on with Toys4Dogs right now. He’s been on edge all day, shuffling back and forth between the mirror and constantly adjusting his tie and suit while clearing his throat and practicing his speech. I never realized what a stressful job this must be, to constantly be responsible for everything that happens and still having to answer to a bunch of pricks in suits.
No wonder I often catch him talking to himself … or dancing with coffee in his hand.
It’s his way to reduce his nerves. That, and he’s just a really, really weird guy. But in a good way, of course.
I grab all the coffee cups I have lined up and put them on the tray along with some sugar and cream, and then I walk up to the biggest room in the building. Through the glass, I can see them sitting at the long table, staring at TJ who’s practically sweating out of his suit. I can tell from the beads rolling down his forehead. He’s got it rough, so I hope this little break eases them.
After taking a deep breath, I knock on the door and wait until he calls me in.
I open the door and try to look as professional as I can while I walk inside. As silent as I can, I place a cup in front of each of the men, trying not to disturb them. I don’t want to pull the attention away from TJ’s important meeting. So I place every cup down with care and offer some sugar and cream along with it, just as a good intern would do.
Except there’s one small, teeny-tiny problem I didn’t account for.
A bump in the rug.
And my heels struggling with it to the point of making me fall … face first … to the floor.
The coffee splatters all over the rug, the noise impossibly loud like a drum.
I close my eyes for a second, mentally punishing myself for not being more aware of my surroundings and worrying that I might have burned something.
But then his voice makes me lift my head. “Shit. Are you okay?”
I look up to stare right into his beautiful dark eyes. He’s actually worried about me. More than about the mess I made. Or the men who I pissed off.
“Shit …” I mumble. “Sorry.”
He holds out his hand. “Let me help you.”
“Oh, my god, look at the carpet,” one of the men growls as I grab TJ’s hand, and he helps me up from the floor. “It’s ruined,” the guy adds.
Another one sighs. “I’ll call Darla. Have her clean it up.”
“No, it’s okay. I can do it,” I say, turning to the men, who all look extremely annoyed.
“No thanks,” the bald one in the front hisses. “You’ve done enough.”
Ouch. That kinda hurt.
“We were in the middle of an important meeting, girl,” another one says.
“I know, and I’m so sorry for the mess I made,” I say, quickly picking up some of the cups I dropped. It’s no use, though, because all the coffee’s spilled. “I’ll get you some new coffee right away.”
“No, that won’t be needed,” an older man in the back says. “TJ, who is this?”
“My new intern,” he says, clearing his throat. “She’s still learning.”
The old man chuckles. “Learning? Morrows is not the place for that.”
“She applied for a job; I accepted,” TJ says.
“Your father would have hired a useful assistant. Not this bumbling idiot,” the bald one says, laughing a little as if I’m just a dumb blonde to him.
Fuck these men.
I’m about to storm out the room, but TJ’s firm grip on my shoulder keeps me from moving my feet.
“Now, hold on. She just made a mistake, and it happens to the best of us. No need to be so angry.”
“She ruined the carpet and our meeting!” a bearded younger man says.
“Who cares? I can start over.” TJ shrugs. “It’s no big deal.”
I’m impressed he’s handling this so well. I would’ve been pissed too if someone did this to me at an important meeting. But he’s so calm and collected. Like he really doesn’t think it’s that bad. And it surprises me.
“I care,” the older man in the back says. “If your father was still here, he would’ve known how to deal with it. And you know exactly what I’m talking about.” He throws TJ a dangerous look, one that I can tell means business. We all know what he’s talking about. They want me fired.
“But my father isn’t here. I am. So you’ll have to deal with me, and I’m not going to just throw away her opportunity over one mistake,” he growls, tapping his own chest. “She’s my responsibility, and I can vouch for her. She’ll be an asset to this company. Trust me on this.”
The men sit back in their chairs, watching him with hawk-like eyes. Some play with their pens as if they’re judging him without saying a word.
Awful.
“You’re responsible for her,” the older man at the end of the table says, narrowing his eyes.
TJ nods, and for some reason, it feels like they just made some kind of compromise.
“Give me a second to solve this, and I’ll be right with you,” TJ tells them, and then he pushes me and escorts me out the room.
Right before he closes the door, I turn back to the men. “I’m so sorry about my mishap. It won’t happen again, I promise.”
TJ quickly shuts the door and flips me around so he can talk face to face. “Don’t come back here. Just let me do my thing. I’ll have Darla bring new coffee and cookies to shut them up.”
I snort from the idea of them choking on cookies. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” He places a hand on my shoulder. “It happens.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” I say.
“What?” he asks.
I smile tentatively. “Stick up for me.”
“No,” he replies, smiling softly. “But I did it because I like you.”
He likes me?
He’s actually admitting he likes me? Well, that’s something I didn’t expect to hear from his mouth.
“Uh …” I swallow away the lump in my throat, thinking of what I should say. “I like you too.”
The door suddenly opens, and we’re interrupted by the older man who growls, “Can we get back to business now?”
TJ clears his throat, distracted as he glances over his shoulder at the man. “Yeah, of course.” His hand disappears from my shoulder, but I can still feel the imprint as he turns and goes back inside. Before the door closes, he whispers, “Good luck with Pepper. Let me know when you’ve got something good.” One final wink and he’s got my heart soaring.
Fuck me. This is so not going how I thought it would.