My throat tightens. “I… I never have.”
“Hm. I like that.” He lets me go, walking to the other side of the office, and returns with a small box in his hand.
“I’m not sure if this is against the rules, but these are for you,” he murmurs. “Technically, they’re a gift, but more for me than you. If you ever want to use them and send me some photographs, I wouldn’t be opposed to it. Or, if you prefer…” His voice is like silk, “Just play with them on your own time, that’s fine too.”
Slowly, I open the box, seeing a series of shiny metal items lined up inside. There are five of them of varying sizes. I don’t even know what any of them do, really, but I’m sure he intends for me to find out.
I close the box again, my body throbbing with need.
He leans forward, his nose almost brushing mine before he pulls back again. For a moment, he seems a little confused, as if trying to work something out.
“You look good in my clothes,” he says, and then turns back to his desk and goes to sit down. It’s a dismissal I’ve come to expect from him. He never says much after our encounters, just goes back to work. I don’t mind; it certainly makes things less awkward for me.
I exit his office, holding the box like dynamite.
Tugging my jacket around me self-consciously, I shut down my computer and grab my bag, shoving the ‘toy box’ inside to examine later.
The rest of the office is silent as I make my way to the elevators, but as I pass the kitchen, I almost collide with Beatrice, who comes out holding a cup of coffee.
I step back. “Sorry, I didn’t realize anyone was still here.”
Her eyes linger on the collar of Crawford’s T-shirt, and I fight to keep my expression neutral.
“What are you doing here so late? Is Kaitlin palming off her work on you again?” Her tone isn’t teasing or amused; it has a cruel inflection to it that I don’t appreciate. I barely know Kaitlin, but I already feel some loyalty to her, and don’t like the look Beatrice gives me.
“No. I was organizing a few things for a meeting tomorrow.”
Beatrice glances at Crawford’s door. “He hasn’t left yet, has he?”
Was that a weighted question? Oh God, did she hear us?
“No.”
“Hmm. Well, you’d better run along then,” she says and walks back to her desk.
I scurry away, feeling her eyes on my back until I reach the elevators.
Chapter 16
Amelia
The next morning, I arrive to find Crawford and Beatrice outside his office having a heated conversation. The second he sees me, he mutters something curt and then goes back inside. Beatrice turns to me.
“Were you covering for Kaitlin last night? She’s not here, and Crawford ispissed. If I’d known she was having problems yesterday, I could have been better prepared today.”
I glance behind me at Kaitlin’s desk. Julia is watching us, glaring at Beatrice irritably.
“Not covering for her exactly, no,” I say carefully. “I was sending some emails because she had to go to an appointment.”
“Right, well, if you had told me that, it would have been helpful. She’s had to call in sick, her son’s in the ER.”
“Oh, God, is he okay?”
“He’ll be fine, they’re treating him, but she won’t be in until midday. I assume you're aware that the merger meeting is scheduled for this morning? Kaitlin has been managing the whole thing, and I can’t cover it because I have to go prep for the executive committee meeting.”
I remain motionless, waiting to see what she’s going to tell me to do. I despise being spoken down to, and Beatrice strikesme as someone who takes her mood out on whoever is in front of her.
“Are you asking me to help?” I ask. “I can cover it.”
