The Big Boss - Penny Wylder Page 0,3

You’re Ms. Unshakeable.”

I stick out my tongue at her. It’s one of her older nicknames for me. Because she always tells me that nothing rattles me. I wish that were true. She doesn’t realize that she’s the rock that keeps me stable. Which is why I would do anything for her. Including delivering flowers to way-too-sexy suit-wearing businessmen.

“How’s normal work?” Lila asks.

“Pretty good. Normal. No new clients lately.”

She smiles. “And your favorite?”

“She’s great. I get to see her tomorrow.” Rose is my favorite person in the world except for Lila. She’s in her eighties and still has more energy than I do. But she has trouble walking, and that’s why we help her. Rose has an uncanny ability to see through every situation and give advice that you didn’t even know that you needed. I joke with her all the time and tell her that she’s a seer.

And I’ve noticed that she doesn’t disagree. I don’t believe in all that, but Rose would be the person to change my mind if anyone could. I think it’s more that she’s been around the block and nothing can phase her now. She’s the true Ms. Unshakable.

The soup starts to simmer, so I clean up the kitchen a little bit.

“How many clients do you have tomorrow?”

“Two. Why?”

She grimaces. “I was wondering if you wanted to earn a bit more on top of that tip. I’ll definitely be in tomorrow, but I could use the help.”

“Sure. Both of my clients are early in the day so I can be there by mid-morning.”

“Thank you. I really appreciate it.”

I laugh. “It’s not a problem. But really Lila, you need to hire someone to help you. I don’t mind doing it—you know I don’t—but sick days happen, and you’ve got enough business that you could use an assistant.” It was lucky that she got sick when she did. She was able to have the weekend off and take off today. One day lost instead of three. Small favors. She brings in someone a couple days a week for a few hours to lessen the load, but it’s just not enough.

“Yeah,” she sighs. We’ve had this conversation before. “I know. I want to look into it in a few months when I have more cover. If Silverman stays my client, then I will definitely be able to bring someone on. The amount of money he pays is that good.”

“So he’s pretty important to your future?”

“Yup.”

I shake my head. “I’m really glad that you didn’t tell me that before I went today. It probably would have been worse. I might have vomited on his floor.”

Lila waves a hand. “It’s fine, you’re fine. He can be an exacting client, but he’s still human. And every human makes mistakes.”

Keenan Silverman doesn’t seem like the kind of man that makes mistakes to me. Or tolerates them. The only reason I think we’re in the clear is because of the note. He wouldn’t have said that her business was a good investment if he was going to fire her tomorrow. That’s good news at the very least.

Wandering around, I start to tidy. It’s a habit when I’m anxious or my brain won’t slow down. And with Lila’s sickness, there’s plenty to clean. She laughs softly as I attack the pile of magazines she’s been working through. They’re spilled off the coffee table and onto the floor. There’s more than a few that have ads on the back—cologne ads featuring ripped men staring out of the pages trying to entice people.

Normally, it would work. But right now all I can think about is the fact that none to them hold a candle to Keenan Silverman, and I haven’t even seen his body. I don’t need to. He’s hotter than them, hands down.

A blush rises up my chest onto my cheeks, and I shove him out of my mind. He shouldn’t be in there at all. He was entitled and snobbish and just…ugh.

I set the magazines down in a stack a little too hard. Lila’s eyes go wide. “You okay?”

“Fine,” I say, smiling. Just plagued by the memories of the most confusing encounter I’ve ever had. Thankfully when I look at the stove, I see steam rising from the pot. “Soup is boiling.”

“It smells amazing,” Lila admits.

“It will be!”

Moving to check the soup, I shove Keenan out of my mind. He’s just a hot guy. Nothing more. He’s entitled, rich, and selfish. Just because Lila needs him doesn’t mean I do, and I don’t ever