32 - Stupid

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Zach feared he was putting too much pressure on Lilli and had moving too quickly. How could that be? For two years, he definitely wanted her, but he wanted so much more. No one had made him smile and laugh as much as quirky Lilli. He sat and listened as she left. Working with her should have been easier, but he was on edge all day. With her just outside his office, but not knowing her answer. He thought about kissing her, but not at work, not for their first real kiss. Maybe she did intimidate him too. At least she finally agreed to be his date.

When his desk phone rang, he sighed. It was an inside call and expected it to be Olivia. He didn't even say hello. "I hear you're bringing Lillian Caron to the wedding."

He sat up, ready to argue with his uncle. "Is that okay?"

"Lovely girl. Olivia came to see me. She was impressed with her negotiation skills. Olivia said she held her own during their conversation."

Zach smiled. "From what I heard, Livvy blackmailed her. But she'll be as ready as I was when you decide to expand."

"Who said anything about expanding?"

Zach laughed. "Do I really need to say a name?"

"You two are thick as thieves. I once thought you'd be a couple. This place in incestuous enough and you act like siblings. Your mother and I were always just like you two. You know I introduced her to your father."

He smiled. "I know the story." His parents loved each other. They were his role models. "Are you okay with me and Lilli dating and working together? It's taken me two years to get the guts to let her know I like her."

He laughed. "I'm not a pot and you're not a kettle, but if you screw this up, you'll be the one leaving Boston."

"Thanks." Thanks for letting me date, Lilli.

It wouldn't matter what office, he was sent to --- New York, LA, or London, Zach would be miserable without seeing Lilli's face each morning. He thought about when his ex, Jane, left Boston. He was hurt, but it wasn't a true hearbreak, even though he obviously cared about her more than she had him. With Lilli, it felt equal. Thanks to Oliver's interpretation lessons.

"Bye, Uncle Kurt. See you at the wedding."

Shit! That was one more thing Lilli didn't know about him. He had to tell Lilli the boss was his uncle.

To be less of a bachelor, he put on shorts to eat his dinner. Weighing on his mind was his last conversation with Ree. She had dropped the bomb that she wasn't Ree at all. He picked up his phone and read through their conversations. Whoever she was, she was good, because she played him. In no time, he shared his personal life and forgot the reason he contacted her. Sure he had Olivia, but he needed a friend, and she stepped up. Was she even a she? He didn't even know.

💬Z: What do you mean you're not Ree?

💬R: I'm not Ree.

💬Z: Who are you?

💬R: I can't answer that. I am going to delete this conversation and block you. You don't need the app anymore. You don't strike me as the Twilight or the porn type.

He laughed. If he couldn't communicate with Ree, he had no purpose for the app. He didn't want to think about Troy seeing it. He didn't want to think about Troy meeting Lilli.

💬Z: That's it. I just give up on Office Secrets?

💬R: Live your own with your beautiful assistant.

💬Z: I feel like you know more than you are telling me.

💬R: You have all the answers you just need to look for them.

💬Z: What do you mean?

He waited for a response, but nothing came up when he clicked on Ree's profile. She blocked him when he had so many questions and no answers. He switched to Novelpost. If he messaged Ree, would she respond? His gut told him not to bust whoever had impersonated Ree. He tapped on Office Secrets and began to read.

"Fuck me!" He didn't even have a goldfish to hear his outburst. "Jack has a scar on his wrist."

As he kept reading, he should have been mad, except every word confirmed her feelings for him. He groaned and put his hand over his face, like the emoji. Jack ... Jillian. His sweet, skittish Lilli pulled the wool over on him. He was lucky she didn't quit the minute he zeroed in on Rejectedwriter. He groaned, Chelsea could never know the truth.

It was almost ten when he picked up the phone. He should have texted, but he called. Lilli sounded surprised. "Zach!"

"I wanted to double check. You said yes, right?"

"But I might change my mind."

"No, you won't!" It was Ainsley in the background.

"Let me talk to Ainsley."

He heard voices and shuffling.

Ainsley sounded unsure. "Zach."

"I know. I feel so stupid."

"I'll make sure she is packed. If I bring her stuff, can you get her there after work on Friday?"

"I was planning to drive in. I'll have Olivia, too."

"Sounds like fun. Are you good, um, with the plan?"

"Yeah, but I have to tell her."

"More than one thing. I heard Dwyer's daughter gave her encouragement today."

She knew too much about him.

"Yeah, put Lill back on."

"Zach, what was that about?"

"Just making sure you don't bail on me."

Ainsley yelled. "You might need handcuffs."

Lilli said, "Ainse, shut up! You're not funny."

Zach formed some visuals that he shouldn't have involving Lilli and handcuffs.

He laughed. "Good night, Lill. See you tomorrow."

"You had better control your girlfriend."

Zach laughed. "Sweetheart, you'll never be controlled."

He hung up before she could respond. It was easy to provoke her and an angry Lilli was a sexy Lilli. Who was he kidding? All the moods of Lilli were sexy.

When Olivia arrived midmorning straight from the airport with an obscene amount of luggage for one weekend, Shania called his phone.

"Your girlfriend needs help getting off the elevator."

He jumped up and ran, exited their suite, and pulled on a large suitcase. The wheel was stuck in the gap between the elevator car and the floor.

Lilli stood next to Shania's desk, watching with a malicious smirk on her face. He glared. "Lilli, could you hold open the door? Please."

She stepped forward and Olivia walked through. "Hi, Lilli. I love your shoes."

Zach did too. Someday he wanted Lilli in just her heels. He put his hand in his pocket and he tugged on the suitcase. Did she pack books or bricks? Probably shoes, but her shoes were probably a lot more expensive than Lilli's.

Lilli said, "My office is too small for your girlfriend's bags."

Olivia giggled. Zach whispered. "Let her. It amuses her and the entire office thinks it."

"I'm the red herring." She giggled.

He set her suitcase in the corner. "Where are you staying tonight?"

"With my brother. Can I keep this here? I packed an overnight bag."

He nodded, as she took the second, smalled bag off her shoulder. "I hope my trunk is big enough or you'll be sharing the backseat with your shoe collection."

Olivia said, "Lillian, he doesn't like shoes."

He said, "I love shoes on!"

Lillian/Jillian. Hidden in plain sight.

She rubbed her hand together. "Lilli, we'll meet in reception at eleven."

Olivia left his suite of offices, and Zach looked at Lilli. Her face was expressionless, as she said, "I can still change my mind."

She was feeling brave, and Zach loved her for it. He knew her secret. She'd attend because Lillian was Jillian and he was Jack.

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