The Boss (The Boss 1)

Neil had proposed the idea over the phone earlier in the week. He’d explained that he’d been spending so much time with me, he hadn’t had a chance to see Rudy outside of work. Then I felt kind of bad, because I hadn’t been spending much time with Holli, either.

Then again, she’d been spending a lot of time with Deja these days.

My cab pulled up outside the restaurant, and I got out, suddenly apprehensive about the way I was dressed. The place Neil had suggested was a tapas restaurant, hip casual, and I was definitely dressed for work. I smoothed down my gray peplum skirt and adjusted the shoulders of my capped-sleeve black lace blouse. I hoped I wouldn’t stick out like a sore thumb in a sea of miniskirts and sleeveless tops out to party.

Neil was waiting for me at the bar. He was still wearing the navy blue suit he’d worn to work, but he’d taken off his tie and unbuttoned the collar of his white shirt. I envied the way he always looked totally at ease no matter where he was. He stood up and came to my side, looping an arm around my waist and giving me a quick peck on the cheek.

He led me through the dining room, with a hand at the small of my back. “I’ve been dying to see you darling. I am so glad you’re here.”

Darling? We were doing endearments now? And he’d said it so easily, without a hint of sarcasm, or discomfort after the fact.

I wondered if he realized he’d said it.

Rudy stood up when we approached, and smiled politely. “Hello, Sophie.”

I noticed there were two waters already on the table, and Neil perked up at the sight of the pint glass of dark beer beside one. “Ah, they brought our drinks.”

“I told him to order for you, but he wouldn’t.” Rudy lifted an eyebrow. “I feel like you might be dragging our Mr. Elwood into the twenty-first century.”

“She’s civilizing me,” Neil said, chuckling.

“Better than the last one,” Rudy said offhand, then, with a glance to Neil, he said, “Sorry.”

Awkward.

“How was work?” Neil asked, motioning to a passing server.

“Oh... we don’t want to talk about work, do we?” I asked. Because I wanted to dodge the subject as much as possible. I didn’t want to have to pretend that I wasn’t silently criticizing every one of Neil’s business choices.

“No, we do not,” Rudy stated emphatically. “I want to hear more about you.”

“More about me?” I looked to Neil with a smirk.

“Yes,” Rudy answered for him. “He talks about you nonstop, but I’d liked to hear it from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. Not that I find you horsey.”

“I don’t talk about her nonstop.” Neil looked at me, humorously defensive. “I don’t.”

“Well, what do you want to know?” I asked Rudy, then, to the server who stopped beside the table, “Water and whichever sweet red your sommelier recommends.”

That was my trick to sounding sophisticated in front of people when really, I just couldn’t remember the names of most wines.

“I think it’s wonderful that you two found each other again,” Rudy said once the waitress had left the table. “What have you been doing with yourself this entire time?”

I filled Rudy in on my background; NYU, getting the job at Porteras, what it had been like to be Gabriella’s assistant. It turned out that Rudy knew Gabriella a little, because they moved in the same social circles. While I talked, Rudy displayed all the characteristics of acute and intense attention. I felt like I was on a job interview.

“Let’s not overwhelm her,” Neil said with an uncomfortable laugh at one point.

Rudy brushed him off as though he had a lot of practice ignoring what Neil said. I have to admit, that was a quality I found quite endearing; Neil could be pretty overwhelming himself, and it was nice to see how other people coped with it.

Luckily, the waitress returned and we had to pause in my interrogation to order a few assorted plates to share.

“I’m not trying to overwhelm her, I’m just trying to get a feel for what she’s like.” Rudy took a swallow from his own pint glass. “Since she’s such a big part of your life lately.”

Neil cleared his throat uncomfortably, and I jumped in to save him. “Okay, so I’m dying to know how a costume and fashion designer ends up being best friends with a billionaire who flies commercial to pick up chicks.”

Neil laughed, his relief at the subject switch palpable. Apparently, he was okay with talking his friend’s ears off about me, but not with me knowing about it. “That’s quite a funny story, actually.”

“We met through Valerie. Emma’s mother?” Rudy’s eyes narrowed just slightly. He was trying to gauge my reaction to the name.