Overtime Read Online Free PDF Page B

seductive walk, and put the sheets of paper on the desk. “The formatting looks a little off...” she said, leaning over the desk and arching her back, looking up at him through her eyelashes.
    He glanced at her and back down at the paper.
    “This is what the client asked for,” he said. “They were very specific. The formatting is fine.”
    Valerie wiggled a little. “Are you sure?”
    Jasper locked eyes with her and held her gaze for a long moment.
    “Valerie, please don’t come in here with questions like this. I hired you because of your ability to use your judgement to work independently and not bother me with nonsense every five minutes. You know very well that there isn’t anything wrong with the formatting. Now, please leave. I’m very busy.”
    Valerie felt ridiculous. She was bent over her boss’s desk like a dog in heat, wiggling her ass around for a man who couldn’t have been less interested—who just wanted to talk about work, and for her to go do her job. Tears began to prick at her eyeballs. She stood up straight.
    “Sorry, Mr. Declan,” she said, and hurried out of his office, trying her best not to cry. She left the office fifteen minutes later, exactly at 5pm, without saying goodbye.

Chapter Eight

    Valerie finally cried when she was on the subway, still wearing the stupid skirt that he’d bought her but apparently didn’t like, or something. Thankfully, on the subway, no one gave a second glance to the young woman sniffling in the corner. She knew it was dumb to hope for some big sweeping romance with her boss—who was, first and foremost her boss , she reminded herself—but after Ethan had dumped her unceremoniously she’d wanted something to get her mind off of that, and the whole thing with Jasper had seemed like such an exciting fantasy.
    She ordered in Indian food she hadn’t budgeted for and watched stupid crime procedurals on her computer until she fell asleep. The next morning she felt a little better, but started wondering again if she should go to work Monday.
    As she puttered around her kitchen, slowly making coffee and wondering if she really needed to do the dishes yet, there was a knock on the door. Valerie’s heart felt like it skipped a beat, because lately knocks had been bringing good things—bracelets, stockings—but she knew this knock could be anything.
    What if I’m fired? She thought. I could totally sue , she thought, as she walked to the door, even as she knew she’d never win a suit against the company, especially since they could actually afford to hire lawyers.
    It was a bike messenger, again. He held out a paper-wrapped package to her and was gone practically before she could say, “Thanks.”
    Well, she probably wasn’t fired, Valerie thought as she closed her apartment door, or if she was, she’d at least gotten a gift for it. She put it on the kitchen counter and unsafely used a knife to cut the paper open.
    Inside was a matte black box, about 5x7. The top slid off easily, the way expensive box tops do, and inside was a card on top of tissue paper. The card was thick, embossed with JD in gold lettering on the front. It read:

    Valerie,

    I apologize for yesterday. We need to talk some things over. Can we meet for dinner at the Plaza tonight at 8pm? I’ll send the car around 7:30.

    Jasper Declan

    PS: Sophie is available all day and waiting for your call.

    Valerie read and re-read the note with a combination of relief and annoyance. On one hand, she wasn’t fired and Jasper wasn’t finished with her, all of which was good, but couldn’t he ask twenty-four hours in advance what her weekend plans were? She didn’t have plans tonight, but she’d actually been looking forward to doing nothing, and now she had to call somebody and get gussied up for a fancy dinner. He hadn’t even given her a way to say no—just, the car will be there at 7:30 . Valerie briefly considered saying no, or better, just staying in her apartment and not going down