The feeling that someone wasn’t treating her with the respect she deserved.
Which was ridiculous, because Ina wasn’t my responsibility beyond her role as my assistant. What she got from her Secret Cupid was none of my business. The exchange was supposed to be fun and lighthearted.
Ina had gotten a stapler.
From Keith.
Because I’d given Keith her name.
Fuck.
I sat back in my chair, rubbing a hand over my face. This was my fault. I’d traded with Keith specifically to avoid having to buy gifts for Ina, and Keith had responded by putting in the absolute minimum effort. Of course he had. Keith didn’t actually care about the gift exchange. He had clearly just wrapped up a stapler from the office and called it a day. Lazy prick.
Ina deserved better than this crap.
I was still stewing about it when Norma appeared in my doorway, knocking lightly on the frame even though the door was wide open. “Got a minute?”
I gestured for her to come in. “For you, absolutely.”
“Quick question about tomorrow’s commercial shoot. Do you want me to have someone cover Ina’s desk while you’re bothgone? It’s going to be an all-day thing according to Heidi’s production schedule.”
I frowned. “All day? It’s a thirty-second commercial.”
Norma gave me a look that was equal parts patient and pitying. “Dane, you know how this works. It’s a professional production with a full crew. There’s going to be multiple takes, costume changes, lighting adjustments, makeup touch-ups. You’re going to be there from at least six in the morning until probably six at night. Maybe longer.”
The thought of spending twelve hours with Ina, pretending to be in love with her for the cameras, made my collar feel too tight. And my pants.
“Fine,” I said. “Have someone cover her desk. As long as whoever it is takes that ridiculous stapler she got and throws it in the dumpster behind the building.”
Norma blinked. “I’m sorry, what?”
I hadn’t meant to say that out loud. Definitely hadn’t meant to say it with quite that much bitterness.
“Nothing,” I muttered. “Never mind.”
Norma looked at me for a long moment, but before she could question me, Lucas’s voice cut through the awkward moment.
“My baby!” Lucas exclaimed.
We both looked out the door to see Lucas spinning in a circle, his wings flashing as he held up a pair of cufflinks. It was difficult to tell from a distance but they looked like they were shaped like little dogs.
“My secret Cupid got me bulldog cufflinks!” he shouted to half of Manhattan. “Custom bulldog cufflinks! Look at the little faces! They have little grumpy faces just like Bruce!”
Several people clapped. Someone whistled. Lucas looked like he might actually cry with joy. Nowthatwas a thoughtful gift.
Norma smiled and shook her head. “I sometimes wonder if that boy ever has a sad day.”
She left me alone in my office.
I had three more weeks of this exchange. I looked at the stapler on Ina’s desk again.
One more week. I’d give Keith one more week to prove he was capable of putting in even a modicum of effort. And if next week’s gift was another disaster?
Then I would step in.
It wasn’t about Ina specifically. It was about fairness. I wanted to make sure the exchange was actually fun for everyone involved.
I slipped the joke book into my briefcase to read later.
