5

“Just keeping it real, Goldilocks.”

“You could just lie, you know. God knows you’re a star at it.”

“There is no fun in that when it comes to Kathleen Jensen, Rae.”

“There is no fun with Kathleen Jensen in general,” she adds.

That sounds about right. Jensen’s mother is the most vile person I’ve ever met, and I’ll be a thankful man if I don’t ever have to see her again.

“Anyway,” she drawls with an innocent voice.

“Ah, shit,” I huff with a smile on my face. “What do you want?”

The truth is, I’d do anything for the girl within a heartbeat. She’s my best friend’s girl, but over the last few months, she’s become a good friend. And to be honest, Jensen is way more fun now that he’s got Rae by his side. They are a match made in heaven, and if I can help her out, I’d do anything.

“I need you to give Kayla a job at KPI.”

Anything, except that.

“What?” I blurt, a stern frown forming on my forehead. “No. Not a chance in hell.”

“Come on, Bodi. Pleaseeeeeeeeeeee. She’s driving me nuts.”

I shake my head, pinching the bridge of my nose while I think about what she’s asking.

“I thought Kayla was at Stanford?”

“She got kicked out.”

My feet fall from my desk, and I sit up, leaning my arms on the cold surface.

“How the hell do you get kicked out of Stanford?”

“She failed her classes,” Rae says as if it’s the most normal thing in the world.

“She failed her classes?” I parrot.

“Yeah, says she went to a few too many parties.”

My brows lift, still staring out of the window while I let her words sink in.

The few times I’ve seen Kayla were explosive, in a very naked and satisfying kind of way, but she didn’t strike me as the kind of girl that fails her classes. She told me she got a scholarship to Stanford. Why would you let that slip out of your hands for a few parties?

“She doesn’t seem like the girl who fails classes.”

Rae lets out a deep sigh. “I know. Something is off. I don’t know what it is. Maybe she’s having second thoughts about her major or something. But she’s been staying with us for the last two weeks. She’s talking about getting a job at Walmart until she figures her life out.

“Well, that sounds promising,” I mumble, my tone filled with judgment.

“It’s not! That’s why you need to do me a favor and hire her,” she screeches.

“I’m sorry, Goldilocks. Did you forget the part where I slept with her? I like to keep my private life separated. I can’t have her prancing around my office.”

“Yes, slept. Last year. As in, you’re not sleeping with her now. Or, are you?”

“What? No!”

“Right! So, both of you can pretend that never happened. You are a successful businessman. CEO of the biggest publishing company on the east coast. It shouldn’t be hard to keep your dick in your pants and give the girl a break. Maybe she’ll realize she wants to go back to school. All I know is she’ll mentally die working at Walmart and I will go mad if she stays with me and Jensen for much longer.” My jaw clenches as she keeps pushing me in a direction I don’t want to go in.

“Look, Rae, I know you want to help her, but what good is a Stanford dropout going to be for me? I don’t have any jobs she qualifies for because she doesn’t have a degree.”

“I don’t know. Work the mail?”

“Covered.”

“Coffee girl?”

“Filled.”

“Office Manager?”

“Underqualified.”

”Assistant Office Manager.”

“Don’t need one,” I growl.

“Junior Editor?” Her voice is high-pitched and unsure.

“Don’t push it.”

“Oh, I don’t know, Bodi!” The frustration is clear when she yelps the words into my ear. She stays quiet for a brief moment, clearly thinking of anything else she can throw at me, hoping it might stick.

“How about a Personal Assistant? You always say how busy you are? I’m sure you can use a hand or two with some personal stuff? Maybe help you out with the foundation? She’s really good at keeping things organized.”

I keep my mouth shut, taking in her words. Leaning back in my chair, my eyes close, my head tilted to the ceiling. There is a voice screaming in my head, telling me this is the worst mistake I’ll ever make if I say yes, and then there is another voice telling me I could use help with the foundation, especially with the charity ball coming up. I would never stop doing it, but lately it’s becoming too much to handle next to managing KPI.

Now, you know you’re fucked when someone asks you to do something you don’t want to do, but then they actually start to make sense.

“Rae,” I grunt in a futile attempt to make her hang up the phone without me agreeing.

“Ah, see. That’s a good idea, right? I can hear it in your voice. She can be your PA! Please, Bodi? Please? I’ll cook whatever you want next time you’re here.”

“Do you think she can keep business and private life separate? Like, me and her are not going to happen again,” I state with a firm tone, though my dick is scowling.

“Of course she can,” Rae reassures without hesitation. “She did it over Thanksgiving, didn’t she? She was really good at ignoring you. I’m sure she’s not even interested anymore.” The amusement in her voice is undeniable, and I roll my eyes. She has a good point, though. A point I’m not going to admit out loud, because it pissed me off for most of the night.

“Well, what do you say?” She keeps pushing. “If you’re not doing it for her, do it for me.”

The begging tone of her voice tugs at my heart as I weigh out the options in my head like a tennis match.

“I’m going to fire her if it doesn’t work,” I warn her.

“Perfectly understandable.”

We stay silent for a brief moment, the anticipation of my answer lingering between us like a thick curtain.

“Fine,” I finally grumble.