The CEO's Secret✔️

24: The Promotion

May 2011

C H A P T E R  T W E N T Y F O U R

T H E  P R O M O T I O N

Katie attended the Anderson's brunch again, this time she was not tagging along with Olivia and Colin. After their first night spent together, neither could contain their excitement from finally trying to be together. They had both agreed to take things slow, nothing was going to be official for a while as they were still testing the waters. They didn't want anyone to know at work or any of Colin's family to know either, it was only early days and both agreed to keep it to themselves and close friends for the time being.

"Katie! We missed you, glad to see you're back."

"We?" Colin asked with a scoff, his face void of emotion as he spoke to his older brother.

"You know, all of us." Andrew's smile didn't dull despite his brother's clear lack of enthusiasm. He waited for Colin to say something else but instead he only stared at him and took another gulp of his drink. Katie decided to speak to help the awkward encounter.

"Hey maybe we should go find our seats. See you in a bit Andrew." She spoke with a smile on her face but it only made Colin look at the pair of them in disgust, and then of course take another drink.

"When did you two become so close huh?" he asked as Katie practically dragged him away from his brother and towards the dining room.

"Colin, we've always talked a little when I come here. What's wrong with that?"

Katie knew exactly what he would find wrong with that, he wanted her to share the same hatred he had for his family but she couldn't do it. Sure, she wasn't Kevin's biggest fan, but she genuinely did believe Andrew had his brother's best interest at heart, just like his father although he was a bit more forceful with his feelings towards Colin's bad decisions.

"What's wrong with all my family kissing your ass this whole time we've been here? Hmm, I don't know..."

His snarky remark made her quieten down a bit, she didn't want to have an argument with him over something as ridiculous as this. Just then Colin stopped a waiter and placed his empty glass down on his tray before swiftly picking up another full mimosa.

"Hey maybe you should slow down a little."

"All that ass kissing's starting to make you sound like them."

Katie couldn't keep quiet about that comment and stopped completely in her tracks to stand there and look at him. She remained calm, because she knew he was probably hurting and going through a difficult enough time already, he'd been trying to stop completely with the drink and the drugs but it was extremely hard for him. This was the first time in two weeks that he'd taken a drink and she didn't want him to just throw all his progress down the drain because he was hurting. Instead, she wanted him to talk to her.

"Colin, please don't be mad because I like talking to Andrew."

"Next you and that bitch Veronica will be best friends." Katie noticed the burning anger in his voice as he mentioned his brother's wife.

"Don't you think you might be overreacting just a little here?"

"No. Of course not."

"Jeffrey's my boss, do you expect me to be horrible to him too? All he has been is nice to me-"

"But you're here for me, not to bootlick."

"You're being so childish right now Colin. When have I ever come here to bootlick?"