Holly’s head peeked around the corner of the doorframe, her beautiful face the only thing visible. “Hey, Mr. Ivy.”
I didn’t even correct her like I normally would. I had no energy for it. “Hey.”
Her brows furrowed as she studied me. She stepped fully inside my office. Her teal purse hung off her shoulder. She’d removed her chef’s jacket and wore a light pink coat over her white shirt.
“Are you okay?” she asked with genuine concern.
I did my best to paste my usual charming smile on my lips, but they wouldn’t cooperate. “Yeah. You?” I had no reason to ask if Holly was okay, but it kept the focus off me.
Something in my expression or tone must have worried her because she continued to study me with an intense stare. Could she tell I was falling apart? Did she see the struggles swirling through my mind?
She slid her purse off her shoulder and sat in the chair across from my desk. “You did an amazing job with Jessica tonight.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “I did what any manager would have done.”
She offered me a sad smile. “No, Rhett. You did more.”
The way my name rolled off her tongue made my heart warm like the rolls we baked fresh every day. “Thanks for helping her too.”
“I didn’t do anything except escort her to my office. It was all you.”
I shrugged, at a loss for words. I appreciated Holly’s compliments, but I didn’t think I’d done anything outstanding.
She fiddled with the zipper on her coat. “I…” She met my gaze head-on. “I know I haven’t been easy to work with and we don’t always agree, but you really are good at what you do.”
Unburdened me wouldn’t have let this opportunity pass by to tease her.Hollyhad praisedme? There must be ice freezing in the underworld. Overwhelmed me simply nodded. “Thank you.”
She eyed me like I was a crossword puzzle and the word she needed was just at the edges of her mind. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
I cleared my throat. “Yeah. You should head home. It’s late.”
“Are you leaving soon?”
I pointed to my computer screen. “I need to finish up a few things here first, then I will.”
She stood, grabbing her purse from the next chair where she’d placed it. “If you ever need help with anything, like the employee party, I’m here.”
My brows shot up to my hairline. I’m sorry. Who was this Holly and what had she done with the woman I’d first met? “I thought you had commitments outside of work that made it so you couldn’t help more?”
“I do.” She nodded, her black hair swaying around her face. “But I’m getting the sense that you need someone in your corner right now. Am I wrong?”
The underworld was most definitely freezing over. How else could I explain Holly’s words? And how did she know I was drowning at the moment and needed someone to lean on? She saw right through me. A weird sensation, like a tens unit plastered to my chest, zinged. The feeling wasn’t painful, but it also wasn’t comfortable. I opened my mouth to respond that I had everything covered. Instead, I spouted, “Actually, yes, I could use help until the new assistant manager starts. Do you mind coming up with a get-to-know-you game for the party?”
Her nose wrinkled. “Are you sure that’s what you wantmeto do?”
Yes. It would be good for her to get out of her comfort zone, and it would take one more item off my to-do list. “It is.”
A flash of regret crossed her face. “All right, Mr. Ivy. If that’s what you need, consider it done. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Already back to Mr. Ivy? I sighed. “Thank you, Chef. Have a good night.”
She left my office. The slam of the back metal door as it closed echoed down the hall. Emptiness resided inside of me. I was alone. All alone with no one to lean on. No one who cared. No one who appreciated me. Why was I working myself to the bone?
Stop.
Focus on the positives.
One step at a time.
