Hired To Love, 2

Prologue

His expression told me he considered that one of the worst possible things that could ever happen to him. "What? I'm just saying it's enjoyable to see you dressed so formally."

I paused, narrowing my eyes. "What's wrong with what I normally wear?"

He opened his mouth and then shut it. "...Nothing," he said carefully, watching for my reaction.

Satisfied, I nodded. "That's right."

"However, there is a saying that goes you can have whatever you want in life if you just dress for it—"

"Then I'll just walk around naked because I don't particularly want anything in life," I cut him off.

He considered this. "Well, I wouldn't argue with that."

I rubbed a hand over my face, sighing. He was impossible.

"What's that in your hand?"

Realizing the crumpled-up letter wasn't hiding behind my back anymore, I feigned innocence, shrugging once. "Oh, just some scrap paper." As if to prove my point, I tossed it in the recycling bin, making a mental note to pluck it out later when I was alone. "Nothing important."

I did not want Bennett to know about the letters. At least not yet. I didn't know for sure if these were for me, and even if they were, I felt they were just some dumb prank. Most people had been welcoming about Bennett hiring me as his assistant, but I knew some people had to be unhappy. I had no qualifications, no prior related job history, nothing to show that I deserved this job. Nothing but being Bennett's girlfriend. I'd cheated my way to a good position. I couldn't blame anyone for disliking me for that. But I didn't want Bennett to find out and think this was his fault. He already had enough on his plate.

Admittedly, part of me thought it his mother could have something to do with it, but was that even possible? We hadn't had contact with her in weeks. And as far as I was aware, she didn't even know I was working with Bennett. Unless Lee had mentioned it to her when he went to visit, but Lee knew better than to do that.

"Are you heading to class now?" Bennett asked while absent-mindedly organizing the folders on my desk into a pile.

"Yeah, Ariana is meeting me here and we'll go together. I just have to change first," I told him, hoisting my backpack from off the floor and holding it up to him.

He waited expectantly. "Pretend I'm not here."

"I'm not changing in here."

"Oh," he pouted.

I tried to give him an annoyed look but ended up smiling. He was pretty cute. "Are you going to tell me why and who you're hiding from or no?"

"I told you I'm not—"

A knock came on the door and Bennett flattened himself against a filing cabinet. I rolled my eyes at his antics and went to unlock the door. He grabbed my arm and pulled me to him, wrapping his arms around my waist. "Wait, don't."

"Bennett, I don't have time for this. I'm going to be late for class."

"Henley, I will let you take my Maserati to class if you open this door," Lee's called from the other side of the closed door. "It will get you there quicker and you won't be late."

Take the Maserati? I struggled to break myself free of Bennett, who let me go after I accidentally elbowed him in the gut. "He's in here," I said, unlocking the door, and swinging it open eagerly.

Lee grinned down at me. "I knew there was a reason as to why you're my third favorite person."

"Third?" I raised my eyebrows.