Carson sighed. “I hate public transportation. My sister is always harping on about how much cheaper it is, and I don’t have to deal with traffic, but I don’t know that I like people enough for subways.”
I chuckled. “Ask me why I prefer to walk the whole way.”
Carson nodded. “I’m with you.”
“People also don’t like you enough.” Ian joined the conversation, his blond hair pulled back. “You should do us all a favor and only keep to yourself.” He looked at me and my heart stopped. A gentle smile curled across his face. It was entirely innocent. “Good morning, Sascha.”
“Good morning,” I mumbled back.
“Well, we’ve both got plenty of work to do,” Ian tapped Carson on the shoulder. “Let’s leave Sascha to her business.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Carson replied. He locked eyes with me. “Has Ryland spoken with you this morning?”
“Yes,” I responded. “I’m going to send the reports to the investors right now.”
“Great. Please attach our contact information as well,” Carson said.
“Of course,” I replied. Ian and Carson each gave me a final grin and then walked off. Had I really gotten that lucky? They forgot? I turned my attention back towards my computer. “Really can’t hold their liquor,” I whispered to myself.
The day passed by uneventfully. Each of Ryland, Carson and Ian made a trip or two to my desk, but only to make professional requests and ask me to complete certain tasks, and otherwise left me alone. I kept my eyes and ears peeled for any signs that rumors had begun, but everyone was business as usual. I was beginning to think I’d imagined the entire thing. I triple checked each of their calendars for reminders that the meeting had, in fact, happened, and even took a peek at my bank account to verify that the charges from the bar and taxi afterwards were there. It had happened. How could something so huge happen and they did not even remember?
I almost felt insulted, but was more relieved. This was my dream employer, and though I was going to have to wait a little for the editor role that I wanted, I even enjoyed the assistant’s position. I was glad I didn’t have to quit.
The end of the day was marked by Noah’s quick scratch of my head as he walked past on his way out and I started to gather my things. I had my purse and jacket on and was making my way for the elevators when I heard my name called from behind me.
“Sascha.” I turned and Carson was leaning against the doorframe to his office. “Can you come here a moment please?”
Just like that, my hopes were shattered. It all made sense. Of course they didn’t want to bring it up throughout the day. They wanted to make sure everyone was gone to cover their own asses and then deal with me when the day was over. Everyone would come in tomorrow to a vacant executive assistant position, I was going to be unemployed, and that would be it. My glorious, three-week run at my ideal company; ended with a literal bang.
“Of course.” I started to make my way back towards the office, suddenly feeling very thirsty.
I turned the corner and saw that both Ryland and Ian were in the office as well. The door closed behind me as Carson motioned for me to sit in one of the high-end leather chairs facing his desk. “Please, sit.”
My heart was Dale Earnheart Jr. I was certain that, any moment, it was going to come flying out of my chest. I sunk down into the chair, trying my best to keep myself composed. “What’s this about?” I asked.
Ian took a step forward. “I owe you an apology.”
“O-oh?” I said. “For?”
Ian smirked. “For kissing you without your permission last night. That was totally inappropriate.”
I just wanted to go home. “That’s okay.”
“It’s not,” Ian said. “You deserved more respect than that, although it is worth mentioning that, while I regret not approaching you in a way that honored your wishes, I do not regret kissing you.”
I didn’t know how to respond to that. I didn’t regret kissing him either, but that didn’t make much difference. He was still my superior. It was still wrong. “Okay,” was all I could muster.
“We found ourselves with a bit of a problem,” Carson began, having made his way over to his desk chair and sat down, peering at me from the other side, his blue eyes filled with conflict. “We’ve known each other for a long time, us three, and we’re all so different that often our tastes are different as well. That’s somehow not the case with you. We had a conversation after you left the bar last night and discovered that we’re all very attracted to you.”
“Um.” My trains of thought were all colliding, creating a firey ball of what-the-fuck? “Okay.”