his pocket. “There’s no such thing as a night off for me.”
“I admire your dedication to the firm. If only my staff shared your work ethics,” she said, and glared at Luke and Jay.
As Mitch took his leave, he flipped Luke off and sent him a big grin.
What a dick . Luke grabbed his briefcase and nodded to Jay. “Ready?”
Gwen crossed her arms, which made her shoulder pads appear to double in size, and blocked the doorway. “Jay, don’t tell me you’re leaving. I expect your assessment on the Millson account first thing tomorrow morning. If you plan on any type of promotion in the next five years, you should be at the office until at least eight, and taking your work home with you.”
The woman had to be delusional. At that rate, Jay would never see his kids. Whatever happened to the work-life-balance the firm promoted?
“Gwen,” Jay began. “I don’t want to miss my kid’s baseball game. He’s pitching for the first time tonight and I —”
She waved a hand. “I have no desire to hear about your personal obligations. My only concern is the responsibilities you have to the firm.”
Jay paled. Disappointment and resentment flashed in his eyes before he glanced to the floor. “Right. I’ll head back to my office and make sure the report is on your desk before I leave.”
Luke seethed as he watched Jay lumber out of the office, his shoulders slumped, his briefcase dragging on the floor. How could she do this to Jay? The guy busted his ass more than Wendy, more than even he did, and to treat him this way?
Gripping the briefcase handle tight, Luke said, “Have a pleasant night, Gwen.”
She cocked a brow. “You’re leaving, too?”
“Yeah, and you can see I’m taking work home with me.”
“Ah, but do you really feel that’s prudent? The firm expects their employees to be dedicated — especially those who think their up for partner.”
Luke paused. “Trust me. I have everything in line for the Benson account.” He matched her glare then moved to the door. “So, if you don’t mind, I’m late for a personal appointment and I’d like to lock up.”
Gwen stalked to the hallway, her shoulder pads moving in sync. “Don’t be so cocky about this Benson account. Have you seen what Wendy’s been working on?”
Of course he had. Actually, he’d been giving her advice on the damned thing. “So?”
“So?” she repeated with exasperation, then narrowed her eyes. “So I suggest you watch your back.” With that, Gwen and her shoulder pads headed down the hall.
Luke locked the office door. Screw her and her empty threats. No way could he see the board promoting Wendy over him. Wendy’s account didn’t come close to matching his, or even Jay’s. Plus he and Jay both had more years of experience over her.
Stomping down the hall toward the elevator, Luke turned his focus to his meeting with the mortgage broker and the date he had later with Jenna. As he rounded the corner, he caught sight of Jay, glasses resting on the bridge of his nose, his eyes on the laptop in front of him. And missing his son’s pitching debut.
While trying to cool his anger, Luke stepped into the elevator. As the doors slid shut, he stared at the polished steel. His distorted reflection mirrored the muddled emotions aggravating his empty stomach. For once, though, he didn’t have to deal with the day’s burdens alone. Despite her wavering moods when it came to their relationship, he and Jenna were friends first. He could talk to her about the bullshit he dealt with day in and day out, without worrying about her passing judgment.
Since he’d known her, she’d always had this way of finding the right words, the right logical spin, to help redefine a situation. He needed that now, but also needed her to open up to him. Share her burdens, her uncertainties…about him, about them.
Shit. He really needed to stop leafing through his sister-in-law’s Cosmo’s .
Chapter 4
Jenna dropped the laundry basket to
“I admire your dedication to the firm. If only my staff shared your work ethics,” she said, and glared at Luke and Jay.
As Mitch took his leave, he flipped Luke off and sent him a big grin.
What a dick . Luke grabbed his briefcase and nodded to Jay. “Ready?”
Gwen crossed her arms, which made her shoulder pads appear to double in size, and blocked the doorway. “Jay, don’t tell me you’re leaving. I expect your assessment on the Millson account first thing tomorrow morning. If you plan on any type of promotion in the next five years, you should be at the office until at least eight, and taking your work home with you.”
The woman had to be delusional. At that rate, Jay would never see his kids. Whatever happened to the work-life-balance the firm promoted?
“Gwen,” Jay began. “I don’t want to miss my kid’s baseball game. He’s pitching for the first time tonight and I —”
She waved a hand. “I have no desire to hear about your personal obligations. My only concern is the responsibilities you have to the firm.”
Jay paled. Disappointment and resentment flashed in his eyes before he glanced to the floor. “Right. I’ll head back to my office and make sure the report is on your desk before I leave.”
Luke seethed as he watched Jay lumber out of the office, his shoulders slumped, his briefcase dragging on the floor. How could she do this to Jay? The guy busted his ass more than Wendy, more than even he did, and to treat him this way?
Gripping the briefcase handle tight, Luke said, “Have a pleasant night, Gwen.”
She cocked a brow. “You’re leaving, too?”
“Yeah, and you can see I’m taking work home with me.”
“Ah, but do you really feel that’s prudent? The firm expects their employees to be dedicated — especially those who think their up for partner.”
Luke paused. “Trust me. I have everything in line for the Benson account.” He matched her glare then moved to the door. “So, if you don’t mind, I’m late for a personal appointment and I’d like to lock up.”
Gwen stalked to the hallway, her shoulder pads moving in sync. “Don’t be so cocky about this Benson account. Have you seen what Wendy’s been working on?”
Of course he had. Actually, he’d been giving her advice on the damned thing. “So?”
“So?” she repeated with exasperation, then narrowed her eyes. “So I suggest you watch your back.” With that, Gwen and her shoulder pads headed down the hall.
Luke locked the office door. Screw her and her empty threats. No way could he see the board promoting Wendy over him. Wendy’s account didn’t come close to matching his, or even Jay’s. Plus he and Jay both had more years of experience over her.
Stomping down the hall toward the elevator, Luke turned his focus to his meeting with the mortgage broker and the date he had later with Jenna. As he rounded the corner, he caught sight of Jay, glasses resting on the bridge of his nose, his eyes on the laptop in front of him. And missing his son’s pitching debut.
While trying to cool his anger, Luke stepped into the elevator. As the doors slid shut, he stared at the polished steel. His distorted reflection mirrored the muddled emotions aggravating his empty stomach. For once, though, he didn’t have to deal with the day’s burdens alone. Despite her wavering moods when it came to their relationship, he and Jenna were friends first. He could talk to her about the bullshit he dealt with day in and day out, without worrying about her passing judgment.
Since he’d known her, she’d always had this way of finding the right words, the right logical spin, to help redefine a situation. He needed that now, but also needed her to open up to him. Share her burdens, her uncertainties…about him, about them.
Shit. He really needed to stop leafing through his sister-in-law’s Cosmo’s .
Chapter 4
Jenna dropped the laundry basket to
Similar Books
