Bedmates Soulmates
CHAPTER 244

The President And The Intern

'Yes, please!' Vanessa blurted. 'Mr McCarthy, you should join us more often! I have a lot of feedback to give. I bet the other- 'Ahem.' Lexi kicked Vanessa's leg under the table.

'Um, not feedback.' Vanessa quickly backtracked. What I meant is we have a lot of constructive suggestions to offer."

'Noted.' Austyn nodded, then he looked at Kira again. 'What do you think, miss?"

'I think you're doing this on purpose!' Kira thought. 'Stop making me the centre of attention!"

Out loud, she said, 'I think there's more than one way to gather feedback. It doesn't have to be done face-to-face. We have the company intranet, for example. Or we can talk to HR. I don't think it's something that should take up the president's time.' 'Don't you have better things to do?' she wanted to add, but didn't.

Vanessa elbowed her in the stomach. 'Kira, how could you say that? Face-to-face feedback is

the best. Besides, Mr McCarthy owns the company. He can come to the cafeteria as he pleases. Why are you trying to chase him away?"

Dan nodded and said timidly, 'I agree with Vanessa.'

The more face time they had with the boss, the more promotional opportunities could land in their lap.

Even Lexi glanced at Kira disapprovingly.

It was one against three, so Kira just shut up and returned to staring at her food.

'Mr McCarthy, what would you like?' Vanessa asked solicitously. 'There are ten stalls open today. We have chicken fried rice, turkey burgers, ham and Swiss quesadilla, pepperoni pizza, mac and-' "That looks good.' Austyn stopped Vanessa before she could rattle off the entire list of lunch

items.

He pointed to Kira's plate. 'I'll have whatever she's having."

"The linguine! An excellent choice!' Vanessa shot to her feet. 'I'll get it for you!'

"Thank you.

Kira sighed inwardly.

'Silly girl,' she thought. 'Don't be fooled by the president's courteous public persona. Underneath that bespoke suit is a grudge-bearing man who uses his position to settle private The Lydent And The intern

scores.'

She shoved forkfuls of the pasta into her mouth without tasting anything.

Then she smiled.

There was garlic and parsley in the linguine.

Austyn hated garlic.

Kira looked forward to seeing the man's face when he got a taste of the spicy, almost pungent condiment.

Austyn engaged in small talk with her colleagues.

But he had a way of always diverting the topic back to her, asking her about this and that.

Kira tried to dodge the conversation by pointing to her full mouth and shrugging apologetically.

But Austyn just stopped talking, steepled his fingers and waited patiently for her to finish. chewing.

Then everyone else at the table would follow suit, forcing Kira to come up with a reply.

She wolfed down the rest of her food in record time, stood up, pushed back her chair with a loud scrape, and said simply, 'I'm done. I think I'll head back to the office first. See you guys later. Then she fled the cafeteria.

'What's wrong with Kira today?' Lexi mumbled. She didn't even wait for the lemon meringue pie to come out."

Austyn set down his fork, wiped the corners of his mouth with a serviette and stood up. 'I need. to make a move first. Take your time."

'Oh, okay, Mr McCarthy.'

Vanessa ogled the president's backside and long legs as he walked

away.

She was all googly-eyed. "The president's so nice! So polite! And so handsome!'

Lexi tapped a finger on the table, looking pensive. 'Do the president and Kira know each other?

Mr McCarthy had paid an unusual amount of attention to the intern during lunch.

Was Kira the reason for him to join their table?

Rumours abounded about the president's secret marriage, but none of the paparazzi had been able to capture a photo of the elusive and maybe fictitious Mrs McCarthy.

The Desident And The hisar

Vanessa guffawed. 'As if!'

She cupped her flushed face in both hands. 'If Kira is friends with the president, then I'm the wife of George Clooney!'