Employed by the Boss (Managing the Bosses 7)

“Oh,” Emelie said, “I’m sure you can.”

Mark felt like he was missing something, but there wasn’t time to try to figure out what it was before Emelie was looking back at him.

“And what about you? Do you teach as well as play?”

“There’s no way I could teach, unless you’re just there for a laugh,” Mark chuckled. “I play, but not well enough to pass the knowledge onto someone else. Erica kicks my ass every time.” He grinned. “Although, she did teach me a few tips that helped me beat Alex fair and square last time he and I played together.”

Emelie laughed. It was a beautiful sound. “I’ll stick with Erica, then, if I’m looking for a teacher.”

“We’ll comp you a lesson, if you decide that you want to learn.” Mark leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. “One of the perks of being in Alex’s inner circle.”

“You keep giving away things for free,” Erica said, “and you’ll run us out of business.”

She didn’t sound like she was entirely teasing, and Mark turned his head enough to look at her again, eyebrows drawing together. What was she upset about?

“Oh, you don’t have to do anything like that. If I decide I want a lesson I can pay for it like everyone else,” Emelie said, obviously sensing the tension in the room. Her smile had grown a little less sure. It picked up again an instant later. “But it was very kind of you to offer.”

“Well, I’m not giving it to everyone in the building, but the people who help Alex directly every day deserve a little reward. He’s not an easy man to work with.”

Justin, still on the phone, looked like he was trying not to laugh at that. Emelie shook her head, though.

“He’s not such a bad guy,” she said. “A little intense maybe, but look where it’s gotten him. Obviously something in his strategy is working.”

“My strategy is working, too,” Mark said. “And I’m not all that intense about anything.”

“No?” Emelie asked, voice and smile teasing. “I think you look like the type who could be intense every now and then.”

“He doesn’t have to be intense to be good at what he does,” Erica said.

The smile Emelie turned on Erica was the same smile she had just given Mark, despite the slight edge to Erica’s tone. “You seem like the type to be kind of intense yourself,” she said, voice dropping a little lower on the word in a way that made Mark’s pants tighter.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Erica cross her arms over her chest, chin lifting.

“It’s not a bad thing,” Emelie said, “to have a commanding personality.”

All of the teasing had gone out of her voice, and she sounded earnest.

“I’m sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable. It wasn’t my intention.”

“No,” Erica said, her stance softening a little. “You didn’t really say anything wrong. Don’t mind me.”

“I should get back to work anyway.” Emelie smiled again at them both. “It was very nice to meet you, though.”

“Nice to meet you, too,” Mark said, reaching out a hand to shake hers again. “Good luck with the rest of your day.”

“And you,” Emelie said. She turned and walked away, disappearing into her office.

Erica hadn’t said anything, and Mark looked over at her. “You okay?” he asked quietly so Justin wouldn’t hear.

“Just peachy,” she said, baring her teeth in a smile that didn’t look quite okay to Mark, but he didn’t push the subject.

“She seems like she can handle Alex, at least. That’s a big step toward success here,” he said.

“Oh, I bet she can,” Erica said. “I bet she can handle just about anyone she wants to.”

The door to Alex’s office opened before Mark could say anything about that, and the lawyer came out, giving them both a nod as he passed them on the way to the elevator. Mark shouldered the bag of clubs and walked in through the still-open door, Erica on his heels.

Alex looked up from his desk and smiled at them. “Hey, there. To what do I owe the visit?”