Page 44 of Off-Limits Bosses
Someone approached, clearly interested in Sierra’s pieces. She gave me an apologetic look, but I simply smiled.
“I’ll talk to you later,” I said, nodding at the man who was now closely peering at a painting. Sierra squeezed my arm, and I started walking away.
From the corner of my eye, Landon and Nolan caught my attention. They were standing somewhat away from other people, and looked like they were whispering to one another. They didn’t look angry, though. It seemed like they were colluding.
Curiously, I approached them. They didn’t notice me until I was right beside them and cleared my throat. Both turned toward me wearing sly grins on their faces, as if whatever they had been talking about involved me.
“What are you two whispering about?” I asked with both hands on my hips, but they only kept on smiling.
“You’ll find out soon,” Landon said, and Nolan winked at me.
21
Adriana
“The pool is closed,” I told Reggie, who was standing in front of me wearing board shorts and a ridiculous pair of sunglasses. “We have an event there this afternoon.”
“Then where am I supposed to swim?” he asked defiantly, looking a bit like a toddler throwing a tantrum. “I pay top dollar to stay here, you know? And I’d really like to dip my toes in some water.”
“Why don’t you go to the spa?” I asked politely, trying to think of other alternatives. “Or perhaps I can order a car for you down to the beach, if you’d like?”
“It better be a limo,” Reggie grumbled. “Otherwise there’s really no point, is there?”
He stomped off before I could answer him, and I shook my head. This was his third issue of the morning, and it was enough to drive me up the wall. I was still wondering what Nolan and Landon had been planning the previous night, but they were stoic, and now I had to deal with this, too.
“Difficult today, isn’t he?” Louisa remarked from behind the reception desk. “Do you know what’s gotten into him?”
“No idea,” I answered with a shrug, already checking the limousine schedules to see who was free. “But you’re right. He does seem like he’s in a real mood.”
I marched off to check on the event planning team and how they were getting along, while simultaneously organizing overtime with one of the drivers who was on a break. Luckily, he agreed to take Reggie down to the beach for a quick swim.
I finished my checks before I went to find Reggie, and he was standing in the hallway adjacent to the pool, staring out at it longingly. It was almost comical.
“Reggie,” I said to get his attention, and he looked at me with puppy eyes. “I have good news. I found a car for you, and you’re scheduled for a trip to the beach. They’ll be waiting for you outside when you’re ready.”
“Will I have lunch on the way back?” he asked, without a hint of a ‘thank you’. “Or do I have to plan that on my own?”
I winked at him and chuckled. “Of course not. I’ll have a reservation ready for you.”
“On my own?” Reggie sighed melodramatically. “Can’t you join me?”
I wasn’t surprised that he’d ask that. Reggie often had staff accompany him on his adventures. It was one of his eccentricities. I wondered why, but I figured he either liked being generous, or liked showing off his wealth to people who weren’t used to it.
I checked my own schedule. There was a space open around lunchtime, but I’d planned to have something to eat in my room where I could have some peace and quiet.
But that wasn’t the same as a gourmet meal paid for by someone else.
“Ah, I supposed I could,” I eventually said with a nod. “I have a little time. Not for the beach, but I’ll meet you at the restaurant. How’s that?”
“Damn,” Reggie shook his head. “I guess I’ll take the compromise.”
He trudged away, and I watched him go, frowning a little. He was definitely acting strange, even for him. I made a mental note to ask Landon if he knew what was going on later, during our nightly debriefing.
I went on with my business, until I got a notification. It was a message from the limo driver, explaining that Reggie wasn’t happy with his chosen air freshener and was demanding a different car. I pinched the bridge of my nose and counted to ten in my head before I went outside to deal with it.
“Reggie,” I said as I approached him. “I heard you have a minor problem with the car.”
“It smells like mint,” Reggie said, as if that was the most offensive aroma in the world. “It’s going to give me a headache.”
