Things Money Can't Buy

Chapter 26

~*~

Immediately, I called Maddie on FaceTime. 

"You what?" she screamed through the phone. "You just 'noped' on out of there? Really, Anna? Have I taught you nothing?"

I grimaced. "I knew you'd be angry with me," I pointed out. 

Never in my life had Maddie sounded so frustrated. "My best friend just made out with Jason Bennett and ran away. Of course I'm angry!"

Sighing, I responded, "I panicked, okay?"

Knowing Maddie, she definitely rolled her eyes at my response. "Clearly!" 

"What should I do?" 

"Go get your man," she demanded. 

"I don't know," I said hesitantly. "He's not my man... what if he just wants a little fling? I feel weird with him being my boss right now. I don't want people to think that I slept with him to become his assistant. Maybe we should wait until I'm back in HR."

"Do you want a fling or a relationship?"

"I..." Even though Maddie probably couldn't see it through the camera, I started to blush. "I don't know if I could do a fling. He's grown on me, Maddie. I think I do want a relationship."

"Well, regardless, you need to talk to him now. Get off the phone with me and go talk to him. Go." Without waiting for my response, Maddie ended the call. 

She was right. However, the idea of talking to him right now was terrifying. Across the street from the hotel was a convenience store, and buying some food from there for lunch and dinner was easier than confronting him about this whole situation. Immature? Yes. Easier? Also yes. 

Talking to him tomorrow on the drive over to the important meeting--the whole reason we were in Chicago!--would be much more convenient, so I'd just wait until then.

~*~

Like most things in life, that didn't go to plan. Jason had a separate chaffeur drive me to the meeting, which was probably intentional after our heated make-out session yesterday and my abrupt exit. I'd fucked up.

When I got to the conference room, the table was already almost full and there wasn't any way for me to pull Jason to the side and talk to him. There were way too many people, and when he and I had that fateful conversation, we had to make sure we wouldn't be overheard. 

Suddenly, Jason entered, and the room quieted down so quickly it was comical. The chair beside me was open; since I was his assistant, he was forced to take it, but he did not make eye contact with me as he pulled the chair back and took a seat. He kept his gaze towards the front of the room, so that all I saw was the back of his head. 

This meeting was probably going to last all day, and I would rather stab my eyes out than get the cold-shoulder from him all day. After all, I didn't know anyone else here, so if he wasn't talking to me, nobody else probably would be either. 

People resumed their conversations and started eating the refreshments set up at a table at the front of the room. There were still approximately ten minutes left until the meeting started.

The awkward silence went on for several minutes. 

"Jason," I whispered. 

His shoulders tensed, but he still didn't turn around. He just stared down at his cup of coffee as he sipped it. 

Okay, well, at least I knew he could hear me. 

"I need to talk to you. In private."

He finally responded, only turning his body three-quarters of the way towards me, so I still didn't meet his eyes. "I don't want to hear anything that's not work-related. If it's work-related, you can tell me right here."