You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 223

Patricia couldn’t stop thinking about how she’d managed to piss off Oliver last night, enough for him to drag her out at the crack of dawn for a run. What had she done to deserve this?

It took her a while, but the memory finally clicked. Last night, by the third round, she was ready to call it quits. She tried to push him off, begging for a break, but Oliver just ignored her protests.

Seriously, who said having good stamina was a good thing? The first half was fine, sure, but the second half felt like some cruel joke—too tired to move, but not tired enough to pass out and escape.

Half out of it, she’d muttered, “How are you still this energetic at your age?”

Looking back now, Patricia figured that must’ve hit a nerve. Why else was he acting like he’d lost his mind?

So here she was, on maybe four hours of sleep, being forced to jog around the park at sunrise. Theo hadn’t managed to kill her, but at this rate, Oliver just might. If she actually died on this man’s watch, her reputation would be toast.

Patricia found a tree, leaned against it, and yawned with her eyes shut. She felt like she could sleep for a week. This was just too much.

“He’s like a bull that’s lost it,” she muttered.

“Do rich people just not need sleep?” she complained under her breath.

“He’s a boss—couldn’t he go bully the people who actually get paid by him? Why is he torturing me? It’s not like I’m on his payroll.”

Jackson let out a dramatic groan and sat down on the grass, refusing to get up.

Patricia didn’t even bother opening her eyes. “You are on his payroll.”

Jackson looked over, totally confused. “Wait, what?”

“Your pay these last few months? I’ve been transferring it from his account.”

Jackson’s jaw dropped. He started to say something, then hesitated. “Next time, maybe don’t use his card, okay?”

Patricia yawned again. “Nope.”

“If I don’t spend his money, he gets all moody.”

Oliver was seriously obsessed with this stuff. He’d given her two cards—one savings account loaded with millions, and a credit card with no limit.

At the end of every month, he’d go through the statements.

Aurora glanced around and lowered her voice as she walked away from the others. “Emerson.”

She’d be in trouble if anyone overheard her calling the boss by his first name.

“What’s up?” Patricia asked.

“The Miller hotel smart home deal? They just backed out. Mr. Martin went ballistic—chewed out sales and marketing. If you show up, you’re definitely getting yelled at too.”

“How is that our fault?” Patricia rolled her eyes. Emerson was being ridiculous.

Aurora groaned. “Exactly! And of course the one day I actually get to work early, I get yelled at the moment I walk in. That’s what I get for trying to be a model employee. Karma is never late.”

Patricia laughed. “Congrats.”

“You totally owe me for this,” Aurora whined.

Patricia just shrugged. “Complain to the person who yelled at you. Who told you to show up an hour and a half early?”