The Little Black Dress (Love in Las Vegas)

13. It’s a Trap

Sophie

What am I still doing here? I’ve been staring at the closed office door for several minutes, anxiety and anger battling for supremacy inside me. I need this job. I know I do.

But how did he end up being Jared Hart? I’ve had run-ins with the man, and neither of them were pleasant. He got me fired, for shit’s sake! Okay, so maybe his contribution to the act was inadvertent, but still. He’s an asshole.

This is so not The Day of Sophie.

I look down at myself, my face pinching. It wasn’t an anomaly. Jared Hart destroyed the power of my lucky little black dress. I really am going to burn it. Tonight. With lots of lighter fluid and at least six matches.

I start to turn, intent on leaving, but the door swings open, freezing me on the spot. Scotty ducks his head out, a look of relief smoothing his features when he sees I’m still where he left me. Lifting a hand, he waves me forward.

I shake my head, and he gives me a pointed stare while motioning me forward with more force. Fuck it. I have no intention of staying on, so I might as well get a few more free digs in at the asshole who trashed my life…twice. Yes, I’m including today because I was really excited about this damn job.

And Jared Hart has ruined it for me.

Taking a deep breath, I march forward, careful to keep my ankles stiff. No way am I going to roll over in my heels and fall in front of my newest ex-boss.

Closing the door behind me, Scotty hurries around to stand between me and Jared, who’s seated behind his desk, giving me a hard, unreadable stare.

“We’re going to start over. Clean slate.” He takes a quick breath, adding, “Jared Hart, meet your new assistant, Sophie Jameson.”

“We’ve met. It wasn’t pleasant. Either time.”

I narrow my eyes at those words and cross my arms over my chest. “Is that what you call a clean slate?”

“Is that the only dress you own?” he asks, ignoring my question.

Scotty’s head volleys back and forth between us, his exasperation clear on his face.

“I wanted to wear my lucky dress for my first day. Obviously, its luck has run out. Thanks to you.”

“I told you there’s no such thing as luck, Red. People who rely on the fantasy always lose in the end,” Jared says gruffly.

“Maybe lady luck has no patience for disbelieving dick—”

“Children, please,” Scotty says, clapping his hands for attention. Giving Jared a stern look, he adds, “I thought we were starting over.”

“This isn’t going to work,” Jared says, scrubbing a hand down his face.

“Perfect,” I say, my voice syrupy sweet. “I can sue you for wrongful termination.”

I know I’m being petty, and quite honestly, ridiculous, but I can’t help it. The man pushes all my buttons. And not the good ones.

He barks out an ugly laugh. “Go ahead and try, Red. You haven’t even started yet, and your employment is probationary for ninety days. I can fire you whenever I want, for whatever reason, during that period and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.”

“Can we please all act like the professionals we are?” Scotty asks, his voice bordering on pleading.

Jared snorts and aims a pointed look in my direction. I narrow my eyes.

“You’re calling me unprofessional?” I ask Jared as my blood pressure rises.

“If the shoe fits,” he says lightly. “Let’s face it, Red, this isn’t going to work, and we’re all just wasting our time here.”

“Stop calling me that,” I grit out between clenched teeth. “I have a name. Use it.”

His face falls as his cheeks fill with color, like he didn’t even realize he was using his uninventive nickname for me. His tongue darts out to wet his lips, and he swallows thickly.