4

After my blazing hot shower, I dried then straightened my hair. I did my usual minimal makeup but instead of lipstick, I put on some gloss. I decided to wear a beige oversized sweater, which had lantern sleeves with blue and white stripes on the sleeves. I put on my favorite pair of blue jeans and accessorized a bit with a necklace and gold earrings. It was 10:40, I just put my uggs on when my phone started ringing.

I pick it up and see it's Nayel, "Hello?" I answer.

"I'm downstairs, please tell me you're awake" insincerity ringing in Nayel's voice.

"Yes, I'm ready, I'll be there in a minute," I say and hang up. I pick up my purse and check myself out once in the mirror. He said causual so I shrug to myself.

He was right outside my building in his white Benz. A douchebag car for a douchebag, I smile at my own joke. I walked over to him and knock on the window, he looks up at me and unlocks the car.

The car smelt like it was drenched in the David Beckham cologne he wears and I know he wears that cologne because I got it a few times for my ex-boyfriend and he was obsessed with it as well.

Nayel was wearing a grey Nike pullover jacket, the collars of his blue shirt were stringing out, with plain black tracksuit pants and white sneakers and he was wearing a hat.

I couldn't help myself, I laugh, "Are you going golfing after this?"

Nayel shakes his head, his lips pursed in a knowing smile, "Shut up" He mumbles starting the car.

"So where is the meeting?" I ask looking over to him, as always his jaw was clenched as he was staring straight ahead. Why is he always so pissed off and why does he have such a perfect side profile, now I'm getting annoyed.

"Long Island" Nayel states casually.

My eyes go wide, "Long Island? Are you kidding me? This is why you didn't tell me the location last night huh?" I raise my voice.

"Calm down will you Jesus." Nayel says stiffly, "They invited us to lunch at their house. I told you it was informal" He shrugs, he hasn't taken his eyes off the road since he started driving.

I roll my eyes, guess an hour-long car ride with the most obnoxious man I know. Yay.

Fortunately, I never leave my house without my headphones. It's too early for me to be up even, it's a fucking Sunday. I scroll through some playlists on Spotify and just let the music distract me from reality. I could see Nayel glancing at me from time to time but I don't look at him. If I was in the car with a normal person, I would've made small talk or literally talk about anything but I will not make that mistake again with him. I tried to be friendly with him and get to know him our first work trip 6 months into working here, we were sitting together on a 15-hour flight to London and he was such a dick. He gave me a shut-up call and told me to stop talking and honestly that really hurt so I'm never making an effort with him ever.

I lost track of time, I was leaning against the window the music blaring in my ears. For a second I even forgot I was in a car with someone. I felt a hand tap my shoulder, I turn my head to see Nayel glancing at me so I take off my headphone.

"Jesus how loud is is your volume, I've been calling out your name for 5 minutes" He scowls darkly, "Anyways, we're almost here and I just wanted to put a few things out there. Just be your usual friendly self but make sure they think we get along"

"What?"

Nayel rolls his eyes, "Why do I have to repeat everything with you?" His tone was sharp and laced with annoyance, as always, "Remember I told you they want to work with a firm who is like a family hence you and I need to act like best friends or at least close colleagues"

"Not going to lie that is going to be hard" I pause, "pretending to like you," I say tilting my head.

Nayel just shakes his head disapprovingly.

....

Nayel parks the car in the driveway of this beautiful house. It was an old vintage house and it was enormous, not mansion huge but pretty big. Wow, these people are loaded.

Nayel and I step out of the car and walk to the front door, I turn to look that Nayel was frowning as he rang the doorbell, "Smile for god's sake" I snap at him.

"What?" he raises a brow.

"Smile, you're the CEO you need to be polite and kind today" I put on a fake smile and point to my face like I'm teaching him how to smile.

The door was opened by a man who looked to be in his early 60's, brown hair, heavy beard, 5'11 ish, and a fairly good built. He smiles, his green eyes shinning, "Nayel Jefferson glad you could make it" the man embraced Nayel in a hug and I tried to fight back a laugh.

"Mr. Stanely, thank you for having us" Nayel smiles. This might be the first time I've seen him smile. His mouth is an easy curve, perfect teeth and a faint dimple bracketing each corner. He has never looked so handsome, I've always found him attractive and hot but at this moment he looked jaw-dropping.

"Please, it's just Eric" Eric smiles.

"This is my assistant Maria Reynolds" I smile at Eric extending my hand but he pulls me into a hug.

"Lovely to meet you darling" Eric smiles at me, "Please come on in"

"Julie, they are here" Eric yells as we enter the house.

"I'm coming hun" I hear a woman as Eric leads us outside to the patio where a table was set for us.

Soon walked in a woman who looked like she just got out of a 60's sitcom, she was blonde, shorter than me. Green eyes and wearing a very colorful red and yellow dress with her hair short hair curled into a cut bob.

"This is my beautiful wife Julie" Eric smiles at her. I smile to myself, oh to be in love with your partner after years and years of marriage.

"Oh you both are gorgeous" her thick southern accent seeping through. She moves to me and gives me a warm hug that actually made me smile. Like I was in a mother's embrace. She gave Nayel a hug and we all sat down.

I remember what Nayel told me so I immediately started making conversation with Eric and Julie about random things, their house, their kids, living in New York, reality tv anything that wasn't work-related. I did slyly mention some friends at work that I did exaggerate a little about how close I really am to them but I think they bought it?

"So what's it like working for Nayel?" Eric asks taking a bite of his burger. Nayel was sitting opposite me, our eyes meet. The expression on his face was completely unreadable.

"Honestly, I couldn't have asked for a better boss. You know how some bosses are entitled, rude and snobby for no reason?" I ask looking at Nayel and Eric nods, "Yeah Nayel is the complete opposite. He is so understanding and caring to all of his employees. Honestly, I don't mean to sound cheesy but we're like a little family at the office" I smile looking over to Nayel who had an amused look on his face. At least he was self aware.

"Well ain't that sweet." Julie smiles at us, she bought it.

....

Julie and Eric were so adamant about us staying, they were just not letting us leave. It was 8:30 when they finally agreed to let us go. Julie packed us some leftovers.

We wave to them as we pull out of their driveway. I don't know why I was exhausted because all we did was eat and talk.

Suddenly Nayel started laughing, I look over at him confused, "I can't believe you told them I was like your older brother" he shakes his head in disbelief.

I started laughing as well remembering, "I froze okay? I clearly gave you too many compliments and Julie was suspecting we have an office romance or something so the brother thing was the first thing that popped into my mind, I had to improvise"

Nayel smiles not looking at me, his dimples visible by the street light, "Fair enough" he pauses, "Eric said he wants to sign with us by the end of this week"

I smile, "Oh thank God" I sigh in relief.

"I deserve an oscar for that acting though, I made them think you were a saint"

"Am I not the world's best boss?" Nayel smirks at me raising an eyebrow.

"Maybe in your dreams", I said causing him to chuckle lowly. When did he become somewhat tolerable? Was he putting on an act today or is he actually Mr nice guy in real life? Men, too complicated for me honestly.