Eden

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and began again. “I’m not changing anything in this office. I like it the way it is…because it is, in fact, my office. Which begs the question: What are you doing here at ten o’clock at night?”

“What are you doing here?”

“Answer the question, Sasha,” I replied, exasperated.

“I was working,” she snapped. She pulled a file off the desk and held it against her chest as she approached me. “Trust me, your office was happy for the change.”

I started to cross my arms, but forced them to stay at my sides. “What exactly do you hope to accomplish here by insulting the CEO of the company? How far do you expect to get here, Sasha?” I hated how arrogant that sounded, but I was genuinely curious.

“Grant is the CEO as far as we are all concerned.”

“What you should be concerned about is the company you’ll be applying to after you graduate. Who do you think will sign your recommendation letter? Who do you think will have the final say on your reference report?”

“You wouldn’t.”

My eyebrows popped up. “You’ve made an enemy of me from day one. You can’t expect me to feel sorry for —”

“Grant has plenty of positive things to say about my time here.”

“Grant likes your short skirts and that you have coffee waiting for him every morning. Even if he did somehow notice the insignificant tasks you do complete, he would also see how many mistakes you make. You are not the asset to this company you believe you are, and you’re a bi—” I stopped, catching myself.

“I’m a what?” she goaded.

“A bit rough around the edges.”

She narrowed her eyes. “I know you’re the princess of Titan. That doesn’t mean you get everything.”

“What on earth are you talking about?” I said, wrinkling my nose.

Sasha stuck her hands on her hips. “Oh, enough already with the oblivious routine. You may have some people fooled, but I’m not one of them,” she said, poking her chest with the last few words.

Frustrated, I closed my eyes, shook my head and sighed. “If you don’t wish to resolve this, fine. But stay out of my office unless you have my verbal permission.” I opened the door, gesturing for her to leave.

Sasha’s arms crossed tighter, and she lifted her chin in defiance. “Truth hurts?”

“I honestly don’t have time for this.”

“You just threatened my career. Make time,” she said, pushing the door shut.

“What career?”

“Better than a fake one.”

“Are you serious? You’re bitter because I’m taking my father’s place in the company? As if you wouldn’t, had you the opportunity! What father doesn’t want their child to take over the family business?”

“You’re never even here!”

“What is it that you want, Sasha? My job?”

“No! It’s absolutely ridiculous that you have this huge office right beside Grant that you’re never in! What a waste of company resources! Grant keeps this company running while you’re off doing God knows what with your husband-slash-stalker…it’s disgusting,” she said, her face screwing so tight, the skin around the creases in her face turned white.

“Disgusting?”

“Yes! When you do decide to show up, you’re so busy flirting with Grant that you still don’t get anything done. What will happen to this company if Grant decides to leave? It’s doomed!”

Sasha’s words turned a light on inside my head, and I stood there in shock. “You’re in love with him,” I whispered.

“Oh, please,” Sasha said. “You must be losing sleep again.”

“You’re in love with Grant.”

Sasha’s mouth fell open. “Am not!”

I pointed at her. “You’re in love with him, and you’ve been pissed at me this entire time because he flirts with me!”

“You think I’m jealous of you? That’s just the most ridiculous…,” she trailed off, laughing to herself. Her face turned red, and the she took a step forward. “I don’t see what anyone sees in you. You’re not talented…at anything…you’re not that smart, definitely not that attractive, you have no fashion sense, and you have the personality of a rock.”

“Tell me how you really feel,” I said, incensed. “I don’t care what Grant sees. I’m married to the most perfect, amazing, handsome man in the universe.” Although it was the truth, I inwardly cringed at how sophomoric it sounded.

“You don’t care? Then why did you stick me in the bowels of the file room? I know you wanted me out of the way!”

I wanted to tell her that Grant was the one that cast her away, but that was more cruel than I was capable. “You can have Grant. I never wanted him,” I said. Even the thought of Grant, of me and Grant…ew.

“He’s not yours to give away!” Sasha howled. “You want to know what I can’t stand about you? That! That right there! That snooty, presumptuous, overconfident tone you have when you have zero redeeming qualities! Your father thought you hung the moon, Grant thinks you can do no wrong, your best-friend-slash-assistant treats you like a queen, and your husband should have never given you the time of day. Now, you’re pregnant and gloriously happy. I’m not jealous, Nina, I’m revolted! You don’t deserve anything you have!”

“Maybe you’re right.”

“What?” Sasha said softly, clearly caught off guard.

“I don’t have any redeeming qualities to speak of. I don’t know why Grant has that ridiculous crush on me — if that’s even what it is — and I am the first person to admit that I don’t deserve Jared. He probably just fell in love with me because it’s his job to be around me twenty-four-seven, and he didn’t have time to date. He disagrees, but I’ve always thought….”

“Well,” she cleared her throat, “you’re not…you’re not that bad. I mean, you’re not funny at all but sometimes you make Grant laugh. And I’ve seen you be sort-of kind to Beth. Once. No, you don’t have any redeeming qualities, but since when does anyone need to be extraordinary to be loved? Most people are average. Not me, of course, but it’s perfectly fine that you are.”

I took a deep breath. “I can see why you’re upset with me. I haven’t handled our situation in the best way. I should have talked to you. I didn’t realize…I mean, looking back, I knew about Grant. But I thought it was the position you wanted, not necessarily him. Now that I know, I get it. I don’t think he’s all that attractive, but I see why others do.”

“He’s very cute,” Sasha sulked. “He really does care about this company and the employees, and he’s so smart — and sweet. When he’s not trying to figure out how to keep Titan on top, he’s talking about you. It’s infuriating. You are never kind to him.”

I frowned. “I’m not. I will try to work on that.”

“No! Don’t do that!” she said, shaking her head. “I just meant that…don’t go out of your way on my account.”

“I’m sorry. I would like us to get along better,” I said. Now that I knew the source of her disdain, it was easier to understand the motives behind her hateful remarks. “You still can’t put your feet on my desk.”

“You’re right. Totally out of line. I apologize.”

I wasn’t sure what to say next. We had never been civil to each other, and now that we had come to an understanding, all that was left was an awkward silence.

“I was, er…I was just about to get some coffee. I’m going to be here all night reorganizing the file room. It’s atrocious. So…do you want some?”

“Coffee?”

“Yes,” Sasha said, trying a smile.

“Here,” I said, pulling a twenty dollar bill from my pocket. “I can’t drink coffee, especially not the sludge in