Fired by my Grumpy Dragon (Grumpy Monster Bosses #3)

SEVEN

Loren

I’m running later than I’d like, because I took an extra thirty minutes on my hair this morning going for a sexy yet professional look I’m not sure I achieved. The curls are nice, I guess, but I think it looks more like I’m going out for a fancy dinner than to my first day on a new job.

Too late to do anything different now. Not too late to stop by my favorite coffee shop, though. It’s never too late—or too early—for coffee.

As the barista heats the milk and the scream of the steam in cold liquid fills the café, I pull out my phone and open my email.

Dear Ms. Carandang,

We’d be delighted to offer you a trial at Windham’s Auctions for the rest of the month. Unfortunately we can’t offer you the salary and commission our in-house auctioneers earn, but while you’re on trial, we can offer you 2% commission on sales over $5000 and a sliding scale of rates on sales below that. You’ll find the details here .

I’ll meet you at our harborside warehouse at 9:00 a.m. sharp to brief you on the lots for that day’s sales. Please look over the listings on our website prior to our meeting.

Peter Windha m

It’s 8:45 a.m. now. I was planning to walk, but maybe I should rideshare just to be safe. The barista calls my name, and I snatch my extra-strong, no-foam latte, heading for the door with my eyes glued to my phone screen.

I should probably be looking where I’m going, but in my defense, there was no one else in the café a moment ago. I don’t even make it out the door before almost colliding with a firm muscular chest. I catch a glimpse of scaly green skin before a vice-like grip locks around my wrist and yanks my coffee out of the way so it doesn’t hit him squarely in the chest.

I stare up into Kivrayn’s blazing orange eyes and frosty expression as the lid flies off my coffee and hot, milky sanity-in-a-cup splashes all over the floor of the coffee shop.

“Hey!”

“I might say the same thing. Do you hate me so much you were trying to scald me with hot liquid? I should warn you, dragons don’t burn easily.” He doesn’t release me.

I struggle against his hold but, seriously, it’s like fighting gravity. “What the hell? No, I’m not trying to do anything other than get to work. Now would you let me go?”

“No.”

I’m about to really let him have it, when he reaches into his pocket with his spare hand and plucks out a handkerchief—who carries around a fucking handkerchief? He dabs softly at my hand where the cooling liquid isn’t doing enough to soothe the mild burn from the spill.

I suck in a breath.

Kivrayn finally releases me.

I look down at the mess beside us. “Shit. I love this place. Now I’m never going to be able to show my face here again.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Just tell them you can’t help being obnoxious. You clearly have some kind of condition and need treatment.”

I finally explode. I literally can’t hold it in a moment longer. “Would you get over yourself! Do you know how arrogant you sound? No, make that how arrogant you are ! You’re unbelievable. Did you follow me here? Is this some sick joke like the time you followed me out?”

He sputters. “I did not follow you.”

“Yeah. I bet you didn’t. I saw you looking through the window at me. What were you doing? Vetting who I date?” It’s ridiculous, but the puff of smoke that escapes his nostrils makes me smile.

He growls. “I thought you said you had somewhere to be.”

Shit. He’s right. I don’t have time to stand here arguing with him. I hate that he’s right.

“Oh, you think you’re so smart, don’t you? How about you move out of my way like you should have done in the first place?”

Kivrayn steps aside with a little ironic bow I choose to ignore. I don’t even have time to apologize to the staff about the mess. Instead, I scurry out of the coffee shop smelling like coffee and hoping I can shake off the unfortunate meeting with my ex-boss on my first day of what I hope is my new job.

I scan the room, pulse thrumming in my chest, focus razor sharp. The lady at the back of the room with the fancy purple scarf lifts her number just a fraction, then lowers it to her lap again.

“That’s three thousand, seven hundred and fifty, do I hear four thousand?”

Silence.

I know she wants it. She was about to bid. Maybe if I just... “Let’s lower the bids to one hundred, shall we? I can tell we’re not done. Do I hear three thousand, eight hundred and fifty?”

Scarf lady lifts her number. Then, quick as a flash, the monster in the front row with the large dark glasses and hood pulled up over his head raises his.

“Three nine fifty.”

Scarf lady bids again. Inside, I’m cheering. The lot is probably worth two thousand at most. I could tell they both wanted it, though.

In the end, scarf lady bids four thousand, two fifty and the basilisk hisses in disgust.

“Are we all done, then? All done at four two fifty?” After a pause, I lower the gavel to the lectern. “Sold!” I press the button, changing the slide to the next lot.

I pause to take a drink of water. I’ve only been going for twenty minutes, but I’m sweating and my throat is dry. I’m more nervous than I would ordinarily be. I need this.

I was surprised when Peter Windham agreed to let me trial without a proper reference on my resume. I couldn’t very well put Kivrayn down, and my previous references are a little old now. I sold him some story about taking some time off to take care of a sick grandparent and he bought it, thank goodness.

The next lot goes smoothly, and at the end of my set, Peter comes over with a smile on his face. “Very nice. I thought you were all done on lot 654 at three seven fifty. That was very well done.”

I take his outstretched hand to shake and return his smile. “Thank you. I’m very confident that I could be an asset for your business.”

“It sure seems like it. Why don’t you hang around, and when we’re done here, I’ll walk you through the office and introduce you to everyone.”

I thank him.

When we get there, the office at the back of the warehouse is worn and pokey. Three staff are crammed into a tiny back room so close together, if any of them moves their chair, they bump into the others. They all wave and smile, but internally, I’m cringing. This is why I wanted to work for Kivrayn. This is why I need to be the best. So I can have the best. My heart sinks at the thought of working here in these cramped conditions.

Peter shows me another room with only two desks. A guy at one of the desks is hunched over, reaching for something on the floor. When he straightens with a file in his hand and turns, I see why. His shoulders practically touch both walls, one on each side. His bulk takes up almost the entire space. The other desk is empty. I know why. The person who used to work there was smothered when the incredible hulk here stretched .

He gives me a grin which pokes his tusks out at a strange angle. “Hi there. I’m Erik. Sorry about the clutter.” As he lowers his arm, a pile of papers falls to the floor and he grimaces. “Sorry.”

Peter clears his throat. “Erik takes care of shipping and fulfillment. You can leave your things here, Loren. This will be your desk for now. Until the trial is over.”

I try to give him a bright smile. “Thanks.” I need this job. I can’t imagine he has something better for me if I’m permanently employed, though. We just walked around the whole place. This is it.

With a sigh, I drop into the chair and immediately have to duck when Erik stands. “Sorry. Let me get that.” He stretches one huge arm past me and retrieves a dirty coffee mug from my desk.

“Thanks,” I say, without much enthusiasm.

I’m fine. This is fine. It’s still better than working for that dickhead dragon anyway. He’ll see. I’m going to make this place the best auction house in Heartstone, and then he can take his precious hoard and shove it up his—

“Do you like board games?” Erik gives me a look that has puppy dog written all over it, which is kinda impressive for an orc his size. “A buddy of mine is really into them and he’s coming around to my place tonight and...” He breaks off, self-consciously scratching at the back of his head. “Ah, I’m coming on too strong, aren’t I? I’m gonna just give you a moment to settle in. It’s real nice to have company. I don’t like working alone.”

I pull out my phone with a sigh and snap a quick pic to send to Simon while Erik’s back is turned .

Loren: Guess I’ve got a new work husband now. Do you think I can make an OSHA safety claim about this office, though? This has got to be a code violation.

A few moments later, Simon responds with a sweat smile emoji.

Simon: oh dear. Nevermind OSHA. Looks like someone is about to get violated whether they like it or not. Look at the shoulders on him. Good luck

I growl at Simon’s teasing, hoping Erik hasn’t looked over my shoulder and seen that. I really wish I was back in my old office. Goddamn Kivrayn and his stupid rules. I’m going to find a way to get back at him if it’s the last thing I do.