“It’s fine. Meet me outside here in two and a half hours. See? I’m nice. I’m giving you an extra half hour.”
“Oh, wow. You’re just the nicest boss ever.”
“Well, thank you very much, Miss Waldron. I’m so glad to hear that you think that.” Before she could answer me, I walked back over to Kent and gave him a broad smile. “I think I’m ready for that beer now,” I said. “Ready to go inside?”
“Umm, sure.”
Kent studied me, clearly wanting to know what had just gone on, but I wasn’t ready to tell him. I smiled at Abby’s friends. “Abby will be joining you in a few minutes. Well, in a few seconds.” I looked back to where she was still standing, steam practically coming out of her ears. “She’s not going to be able to spend the whole night out or get super drunk because she has some work to do later. But I hope you girls enjoy your night.”
“Uh, thank you?” Isabella said, glancing from me to Abby and back. “Have a good night too.”
“Oh, I’m sure that I will,” I said. And with that, I slapped Kent on the back and headed into the club.
All of a sudden, I was very, very happy that I’d come to this club after all.
Chapter 9
Abby
* * *
“Oh my gosh, I can’t stand him! He’s such an asshole,” I said as we watched my arrogant boss Dylan McAllister walk into the club with his very cute younger brother.
“I know I said that you should give him a chance,” Isabella said with a frown, “but he really does suck.”
“Yeah, he does,” I agreed. “I wasn’t exaggerating, guys.”
“You definitely weren’t,” Emma said. “He’s mighty hot.”
“Really? That’s what you took from this?”
“What?” She blinked at me. “He really is.”
“He’s okay,” I said. The truth was that he was looking very, very attractive tonight. He was wearing a black shirt with a black jacket and black jeans. His blue eyes dazzled even in the evening light. “It should be illegal for someone to look that handsome and be that much of an asshole.”
“We can’t be calling him an asshole, though, when we’re in the club,” Isabella said softly.
“What do you mean? Why not?”
“What if he hears?”
“True.” I sighed. “I don’t want to get fired right before I’ve had a chance to make some money and at least pay off most of my debt.
“Hmm, I know,” Chloe said, “let’s give him a nickname.”
“Like what?” I asked.
“Let’s think. What about …”
“I’ve got it!” Isabella jumped in.
“What is your idea?” I wasn’t sure I was going to like it.
“What about AB?”
“Like A, B, C?” I asked her, confused.
“Yeah. Arrogant boss.”
“No, no, no,” Emma said with a laugh. “Asshole boss.”
“Oh, my gosh, that’s perfect.” I laughed. “Yes, AB. His nickname is AB. So when we’re in the club, we can talk about him and—shit, I can even talk about him at work and he won’t even know.” I clapped my hands.
“Love it,” Isabella said. “But what was he saying about you having to work? You’re not really going to work tonight, are you?”
“This is what I mean. He just can’t stand the idea of me having fun.”
“Um, I think he was shocked to see how hot you looked,” Emma said. “He was looking you up and down like he could not believe how fine you were.”
“Well, I guess he’s used to seeing me at the office with my librarian look, and now he sees me with my club look.”
I couldn’t lie. I had enjoyed the way he’d looked at me. The appreciation and shock in his eyes once he realized that it was me had felt amazing. Absolutely amazing.
“I feel so bad that you have to work,” Isabella said. “Do you want to go to the club still?”
“No, we’re going to go and we’re going to have fun and then if I feel like it, I’ll come outside in two and a half hours, but if I’m having too much fun, fuck it. What’s he going to do? Fire me, because I don’t meet him outside a club on Saturday night? I don’t think so.”
“Are you sure about that?” Chloe said. “Hasn’t he fired pretty much all of his secretaries?”
“Well, you know what, if he wants to fire me as well for something like this, I’ll sue his ass.”
“But aren’t you on probation?” Isabella said.
“Whose side are you guys on?”
“We’re on your side, of course,” Emma said, “but …”
“But what?” I glared at her.
“But I’m just saying you’re making a lot of money—and he’s hot.”
“And what does him being hot have to do with anything?”
“I just mean that he’s a nice piece of eye candy to look at.”
“He’s okay,” I admitted. “Let’s go. I need a stiff drink, and I need to dance.”
“Yes, let’s dance the night away.” Isabella grabbed my hand. “Come on, let’s go in. First rounds on me.”
“Yay! I’m not going to say no to that.”
“Then how’s about the whole night’s on me?” She looked at the three of us with a wide hopeful grin.
“What?” I shook my head. “No way, Isabella, you can’t afford that.”
“I know I can’t afford it, but Jack can.”
“What do you mean?”
“He gave me a credit card.” She rolled her eyes. “I mean, obviously I didn’t ask for a credit card, and I didn’t want one.”
“Obviously,” I said.
“But I think tonight calls for it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, let’s bottle service and have some fun. Order whatever you want. It’s on me—or rather, on Jack.”
“Are you sure he’ll be okay with that?”
“He’ll love it.” She nodded. “He so badly wants me to spend his money, and I never do, but tonight I think it’s worth it.”
“Well, I’m not going to say no if you’re pushing it.” I laugh. “Let’s party, girls.”
I was already feeling better as we walked into the club. The latest Usher song was playing and bodies were swaying back and forth to the music. I couldn’t wait to get onto the dance floor and lose myself in the beat.
And forget all about Dylan McAllister.
“Okay, girls, do you want to find a table?”
“We don’t need a table.” I shook my head. “Let’s get our drinks and then let’s just go dance.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.” Chloe grabbed my hands and started moving back and forth. “I love this song,” she yelled.
“Me too!” I yelled back before noticing a guy standing to the right of us.