The Personal Shopper

Laura and Shana laugh at him. More like giggle at him. Traitors.

I turn around to face him and cross my arms over my chest. “Oh really? Because I heard we only hired you because you were desperate after you found your girlfriend fucking your boss in your own bed.” The second the words are out of my mouth, I regret them. I took it too far.

I open my mouth to apologize, but Parker starts talking before I can. “Who told you that?”

He doesn’t sound angry, surprisingly. In fact, he almost sounds like he is proud of me for giving just as good as I get. “Becca. Even though you wouldn’t know since you never once stopped by to visit, I still see them every week. We are still family.”

This time Parker does look upset. Not at me though, but at himself. Like he regrets avoiding me all these years. He reaches his hand out to my arm. “Can we talk a second?”

My heart speeds up a little at his tone. It’s so serious. I’m about to agree when my receptionist interrupts. “Miss Ava, I have Jeff on line 1. He said he just needs to confirm a few things for tomorrow.”

I nod my head at her. “I’ll be right there.”

I look back to Parker to tell him we can talk later, but he starts talking before I can. “Why does he call the office and not your cell?”

I bite my lip not wanting to answer that question. “Uhm...he doesn’t have my number.”

For some reason, that brings the biggest smile to Parker’s face, so I quickly add. “I mean he did, but I had to get a new phone last month, and we haven’t seen each other recently to update it.”

It’s not a complete lie. I just left the part out where I texted all my friends my new number from my old contact list. I just never sent anything to Jeff.

It’s like Parker knows the real story and just raises his eyebrows and says, “Uh-huh.”

I quickly try to change the subject. “Did you get my message?”

He just rolls his eyes. “Yes honey. I will run all your errands for you.”

I just throw up my hands. “Hey, you can just turn my credit card back on, and I’ll be on my way”

He just smirks at me. “I’ll take care of it during lunch tomorrow. Text me the address.” He emphasized the word text like he is mocking me that he has my number when Jeff doesn’t. Then he just turns and walks away back toward his office.

Both Laura and Shana check him out as he walks away. And okay sure, I do too. I mean look at that man’s ass. Who wouldn’t?

Shana giggles again. “Damn girl, if you’re not hitting that, can I?”

We all laugh, and then I give them both a death stare. “Don’t even think about it. You are already traitors enough.”

Shana laughs. “Sorry. You’re right. Us girls have to stick together.” She pauses then looks at me again. “But don't go hiring any more of these sexy men, or I am going to have to ditch you guys.”

I laugh again. “Trust me I know. I tried to get my dad to just let me work with Ralph in accounting.”

Laura laughs. “Hey, Ralph is a stud for a 70 year old. Plus you’d never have to worry about money since he won’t ever retire.”

I laugh back at Laura. “Well, with the way my dating life has been going lately, I might have to add him back into consideration.”

Well, I am hoping my dating situation might change very soon. Hopefully, Cassie’s plan doesn’t backfire on me.

Chapter 6

Parker

I pop my head into Ava’s office the next day. I don’t really have an excuse to see her, but I stop by anyway. “I’m heading out. Any other unnecessary items you are going to cry to daddy about buying for you tonight?”

Ava just laughs. “Don’t worry. I’ll be sure to make sure you get home first before I send you out for anything else.” She teases.

I’m not sure when it happened, but our bickering turned from straight up fighting to a more playful fighting. More like flirting. I don’t want to like it, but I do. I get to see her smile a lot more now, and it always just brightens my mood.

I just roll my eyes. “You have my number.” Then I walk out. I smile thinking about how Ava didn’t give her new number to Jeff. She tried to play it off, but they couldn’t really be dating or anything if she hasn’t given him her number for a whole month.