Chapter 2
Tea in hand,I sat down at my desk the next morning. The bookmark that Max had given me was out of the box, staring up at me. I tried to move it out of the way, but it caught the sunlight that flooded in. Even if I wasn’t prone to accepting gifts, this one made my heart flutter. Not because of who gave it to me, but because Max seemed to know me better than hethought.
I pulled out one of the books I had in my bag and placed the bookmark in it. I smiled to myself; I never used quitter strips, but for once, it was nice to have one. Just incase.
I opened my personal email first and saw something from Adam. It was a listing for a house, down in the outskirts of Atlanta. Two bedrooms, two baths. Just what we needed to start our lives here. Something permanent. I scrolled through the email, looking for pricing, but only the basics were listed. Adam had a new job, but I just didn’t know if we had enough to be able to afford a house likethis.
“Mornin’.” I looked up to see Greg. He was leaning against my desk but refused to make eyecontact.
“Morning.” I drew out the word, trying to figure out what he needed. Adam had used this same tactic when he wanted something fromme.
“So…” Greg was fidgeting now, and for some reason it amused me. “I have a favor toask.”
Now I was intrigued. This was only my second day, and my boss was asking for a favor. It made me think that Lilly had told him about my reputation as a teacher’s pet. I could see her through the glass separating our desks, and the smirk on her face. Yup, she had ratted meout.
“Since you started out so well yesterday, I thought you could help me with a project.” I had positioned myself to look directly at Greg now, forcing him to make eye contact with me. He seemed tense, almost unsure if I would help him, but he also lookeddesperate.
“Absolutely!” He slumped forward, looking immediately relieved. “What would I be helpingwith?”
“Max set me up with a book a month ago.” And there was the ball dropping. Max. I knew he owned the company, but it felt like he was at every turn. “The proposal is due tomorrow, and I haven’t even started it yet. Max is a little ticked, so I need yourhelp.”
I released a breath I didn’t know I was holding, realizing that Greg really did need the help, and it wasn’t just some ploy. Right then I knew I needed to say yes, and it wasn’t because I needed to impress anyone. I couldn’t avoid Max, that much I knew, but if I made it known that I was here strictly for the job, it might make a difference to the attention I wasreceiving.
“No problem. I can help you get through it all today.” There was shock on his face, and I realized that no one here knew I was a speedreader.
“That’s exactly what I need! I can order lunch for us if you want to finish up with what you’re working on.” He pulled out his phone and I could see he was checking what was in the area. “How about I order Chinese, and then you can meet me in myoffice.”
“Orange chicken with no veggies and extra orange sauce and you have mesold.”
“Done.” He walked away without another word. I turned back to my computer, sending the last email I needed to confirm the offer for the last client on my list. I picked the opportune time to look up. I was going to move over to Lilly’s desk when I saw Max across the room. He lifted his hand for a small wave. I didn’t know what else to do but wave back. He ducked into Greg’s office with a bounce in hisstep.
I didn’t normally have anxiety, but it struck me fast that I was stepping into a role that I only barelyknew.
“I have no idea what I am doing.” I slumped the words out, and moved to sit on Lilly’s desk. She maneuvered towards me, resting her arms and head on mythighs.
“You know you’ve got this,” Lilly reassured me. I took three breaths, trying to slow my heart rate. “Just think of the opportunity, because don’t think I don’t know you want to go into editing andpublishing.”
A knowing smile spread across her face, as she looked up at me. I had been working on editing romance novels, but Adam hadn’t seen it as a practical job, constantly saying that it wasn’t something I needed to be doing. I was so excited when Lilly was able to get me an interview with the financing department at The Ink Well. I would still be able to work in the world I had fallen in lovewith.
“Thank you,” I whispered. Lilly knew me all too well. A hand landed on my shoulder, and Erica sat next to me. She didn’t have to say a word for me to know that she was there for me just like Lilly was. It had only been two days, but I knew there was no separating usnow.
“Girls.” Max walked by the moment our heads lifted. He didn’t look at anyone but me, didn’t stop either, as he headed towards the elevator. The edge in his demeanor from yesterday was gone. Maybe everything that happened yesterday was all in my head. Maybe Max being so intimidating was just my imagination. Maybe it was me wanting that initial spark again in mylife.
Regret filled myheart.
I immediately pulled out my phone, sending off a text toAdam.
I loveyou.
I took another deep breath and removed myself from Lilly’sdesk.
“Make sure you don’t do all the work!” Lilly yelled to me as I walked to Greg’s office. I chuckled to myself because we both knew that wasn’t going to be the case, and not because I had any idea how Greg worked, but because we both knew I was a workaholic who took charge. Sometimes I couldn’t trust people to do the work I knew I could get done in such a short period oftime.
I knocked on his door before openingit.
“Shit. I wasn’t expecting you so soon.” Greg’s question surprised me. So soon? Hadn’t he just asked me to help him? He shuffled papers around on his desk, trying to make some order out of thechaos.
“Sorry. I’d finished all the clients on my list from yesterday.” His eyebrows shot up. I seemed to just kept surprising him. “Where do you need me tostart?”
