Her Billionaire Boss by Gena Snow
Chapter 5
Harper
It’s the Fourth of July weekend and the mall is bustling with energy. I’ve never seen it so busy before. I’ve advertised the event on social media for two weeks, but the result still amazes me. The parking lot is full, and the concourse is filled with people.
Needless to say, it’s loud. Tristan is shouting on the stage. I’m thrilled. Nick let us finish work in the office early because of the event. Avery and I are sitting on the second-floor balcony of the mall, right outside the mall office. We have a pretty good view of the stage although we aren’t paying attention to the concert most of the time.
“This is awesome, Harper,” Avery says. “I see you’re really good at event planning.”
I smile. “Thanks, but I’m also lucky to have a rock-star brother-in-law. To make my life easier, I should just ask Nick to sign a contract with his brother, so Triple Shot will perform here once in a while.”
Avery laughs. “That’s not a bad idea. But then, you’ll be out of work.”
I shrug. “Maybe. Or maybe my boss will assign me something else to do.”
“So Nick hasn’t given you a specific job title yet?”
I roll my eyes. “He says I’m the property manager’s assistant, but since he doesn’t have a property manager yet, I’m doing whatever he tells me to do now.”
Avery blinks to process the information. “That’s weird. Wait, maybe he’s giving you the chance to fill the position eventually. He just doesn’t say it.”
“I don’t know. I don’t care.”
“Do you not like working for him?”
I pause, and then I tell her my interaction with Nick at her wedding.
Avery chuckles after I’m done speaking. “Geez, Harper. He was hitting on you! Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“I thought he was drunk,” I say. “I didn’t think he was serious.”
Avery stops laughing. “I don’t really know what to advise you. Tristan keeps saying Nick is a playboy. He does seem to bring home a different woman every time I see him at family gatherings, though.”
I know Avery is trying to warn me in the most subtle way, so I nod. “No worries, Sis. I don’t plan to fall for him if that’s what you have in mind.”
She squeezes my hand. “I know you can take care of yourself, Harper, but let me know if you need to talk about girl problems.”
I giggle. The last time we talked about girl problems was when I was in high school. I had a hopeless crush on the quarterback on the school football team. Silly. I went as far as letting the guy copy my answers on an exam and got scolded by the teacher. But luckily, the teacher didn’t punish me.
“I’m not about to fall for any guy,” I say to her. “There’s so much I need to do first.”
“I know,” Avery says, putting a hand on my arm. “I’m proud of you, Sis. Have you decided which school to go to?”
I’ve been accepted to Berkeley and Stanford, and both are willing to defer my admission until next spring because I need a break from school.
“Not yet,” I say. Stanford ranks higher, but I’m intimidated because it’s a private school. Although they’re offering me a scholarship for the first year, I have to earn the rest with good grades.
“Don’t worry,” Avery says. “You’ll do fine whichever you choose. I believe in you.”
“Thanks, Sis.”
As we’re speaking, Nick suddenly materializes in front of us.
He’s wearing a t-shirt and jeans today instead of his usual dress shirt and trousers. This is the first time I have seen him in casual clothes but he looks so damn good! Those powerful, bronze arms make me remember how good it felt to be held by him, and the unwanted but unforgettable kiss he planted on my lips and in my head.
Pull yourself together. I warn myself when he says hi to Avery. When his attention turns to me, I blush.
“Good job, Harper,” he says, his eyes boldly sweeping me up and down.
“Thanks.” My voice sounds like a whisper and I feel like a grade school student being complimented by her teacher.
“Are you going to stay for the party?” he asks.
I’m reminded of the employee appreciation party at the office. Nick has made arrangements with the caterers I recommended.
“Yes,” I say.
“I’m afraid I won’t stay,” Avery says. “Tristan is going to take me to dinner at the new steak restaurant in town.”
