“Yes.”
“Have you got my number in your phone?”
She glanced at Stephanie before looking back at me. “Ah, no. Do I need it?”
I smiled. “Yes. Sometimes I need to contact my PA after hours, and I don’t want you letting my number go to voicemail. When I call, it’s usually because it’s urgent. I also sometimes have overseas meetings in the middle of the night, and you’ll have to sit in online and take notes.” Her eyebrows rose a fraction. “Didn’t my aunt tell you?”
She frowned. “Um….”
This time I set my smile free, which was only fair since it hadn’t been out much lately. “My PA is on call 24/7. But that should be fine since it’s only for a short while. Right?” Oh, the shit I was going to need at 1:00 a.m.
Faith’s mouth opened, then closed. Whatever she wanted to say was obviously better left unsaid. Aunt Steph was staring at her, probably willing her to acquiesce. My aunt had obviously forgotten to mention that tidbit on her spy recruiting drive. Iwould wager that Faith was rethinking her recent bad choices and the amount of her bonus.
I was going to enjoy this. As soon as they left, I was going to make a list of all the “fun” things Faith would be doing instead of sleeping. Unfortunately, notthatkind of fun. My dick would be sitting this one out.Sorry, buddy.
Fuck around with me, would they?
Well, they were about to find out what happened when you messed with Curtis Knight.
CHAPTER 11
FAITH
It was official. Me taking this position was the worst decision I’d ever made, and that was saying something.
The man hated me.
First, I was back in a pair of Amy’s ridiculous heels, although I’d managed to find a black pair that were half an inch shorter than the disaster pair I’d worn the other day. But I still looked like a one-eyed bear trying to balance on stilts as I tottered around the place. Secondly, and I didn’t want to belabor the point, but Curtis hated me. Everything I did was met with silence or a mild rebuke. His coffee was too hot, I hadn’t opened his mail but had handed it to him unopened (sorry about giving you privacy), I didn’t answer his intercom call by the second ring, and finally—but likely not finally for the whole day—my demeanor wasn’t sufficiently happy and enthusiastic.
That bonus wasn’t nearly enough.
It had taken an hour and a half, but I’d just finished typing theaccounting report Bosshole wanted. I’d read through it twice, and I was pretty sure there were no typos, but the subject matter was so dry and full of numbers that I might have zoned out halfway through proofing. Numbers fried my brain. Thankfully, I’d remembered to pay attention while I was typing for the most part, only because I was looking for clues. But I’d found nothing except boredom and regret in that report.
I was nothing if not stubborn, and I wasn’t giving up on my first day. It wasn’t just the money, or even my mother. Okay, it was, but it was also that if Bosshole hated me, then I needed to stay so I could piss him off to the max. Hmm, when I looked at it that way, that I was getting paid by the hour to annoy him, it was wholly satisfactory.
I emailed the report to him, and as per Margie’s instructions, I also had to notify him by intercom if he was in the office but not in a meeting so he didn’t miss something he was waiting for. I buzzed him.
“Yes?”
“I’ve just emailed that report.”
“Which report?”
You had got to be kidding. He’d only asked for one report today. “The one you asked for earlier, on the six-monthly revenue figures with statistical breakdowns.” Whatever they were.
His voice was too smooth and deep. He was like a Venus flytrap—putting out all the come-hither vibes only to murder the unsuspecting dunderhead with stinky digestive juices. “Ah, yes, that one. Also, Faith….”
“Yes, Mr. Knight?”
“What did we speak about earlier?”
Fucked if I knew. There were many things. “I’m not sure. Would you like a list?”
“You don’t sound bubbly enough. Work on it.” Before I could respond, he hung up.
My mouth worked, wanting to scream all the things.Argh!
I stood and grabbed my mug. If I didn’t have a timeout and coffee in the next five minutes, I wouldn’t be responsible for the ensuing carnage. I was one step from my phone when it buzzed. I pressed my lips together and took a deep breath.Buzz… buzz. My hand hovered over the receiver.Buzz… buzz. I answered on the fifth ring. “Yes, Mr. Knight.”
