“Are you on your break?” I ask. “I wouldn’t want to interrupt the one moment of peace you’ll have today.”
“Moment of peace? Ha! Iamon my lunch break, and I’m on hold with the lumber yard.” Christine lifts a copper brow. “I’m multitasking.”
“Good for you.” I chuckle. “We won’t take long. I wanted to introduce my new assistant. This is Evie.”
“Hi!” Evie bounces on the balls of her feet. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Christine crosses the room to shake Evie’s hand. “It’s good to meet you, too. I’m so relieved we could find someone on such late notice.”
And she knows I’ll be relieved, too.
“Christine handles the day-to-day,” I say. “She’s more important to the business than me—or anyone.”
“Oh, stop it.” Christine rolls her eyes. “You’re a flatterer. Isn’t he a flatterer?”
“He is.” Evie giggles. “He’salwaysdoing that.”
I click my tongue. “I can’t believe you two are ganging up on me already.”
Static fills the air, and the elevator music that’s been playing stops. “Hello?” someone asks. “Are you still on the line?”
Christine’s eyes widen. “I’m so sorry,” she whispers. “I have to take this. You don’t know how long I’ve waited to hear those crunchy words.”
“No problem,” I say. “We have a tour to continue.”
“I’m here!” Christine calls loudly, scrambling to her desk. “Don’t hang up.”
Evie is already in higher spirits when we leave the office, which was my intention. She’s been around me all day, and the second person she met was a slime ball. I want to show her safe people, people I know I can trust—like Christine.
“She’s so cool!” Evie gushes once we’re outside.
“She is. We’ve been working together for about a decade now.”
“Wow…”
She would be a good mentor for Evie, but I keep the thought to myself and continue showing her around. She’ll meet everyone by the end of the day—and hopefully, with me introducing them, they’ll know to respect her.
They should give her respect automatically, but if they don’t, I’ll make damn sure that they will.
Chapter Seven
EVIE
My first day goes well—I think—but I’m determined to make my second day even better. Everett lets me drive his car to the office, and I stop by a little coffee truck on the way in.
There’s no better way to make sure I’m alert and productive.
Two lavender lattes. These are the perfect drinks for spring… unless they’re not. What if Theo doesn’t like lavender? He seems like the kind of man to drink black coffee. He probably drinks hot coffee all year, not iced coffee.Nevericed.
Too late. The iced drinks are already back in my hands. If I order something else, I’ll be tardy. That’s even worse than bringing lousy coffee.
No. This isgoodcoffee. Great coffee, even. If he doesn’t like it, I’ll drink them both.
I’m still questioning it when I enter the lobby. This time, I’m alone, and I go out of my way to greet the receptionist.
“Good morning!” I flash a bright smile his way.
“Hey there!” He leans in, and I can tell he wants to continue the conversation. “You’re Theo’s new assistant, right? Evie?”
