“What are you working on now?”
“The Adams wedding.”
“Any problems? Can you assign stuff to other people?”
“No, and yes I can.” He’d learn to be direct and precise with Addy when she fired her questions at him. It had taken him several weeks to get to that degree of directness, but he found since then, his professional life was rock solid. It was his personal life that was a mess, but the workplace wasn’t the location to air his dirty laundry.
“I’m about to tell you something that’s going to shock the pants off you, and you’re the only one here I’m going to tell. It’s not like I don’t trust the others, but you’ve been with me the longest, and for what I have in mind, you’ll need to know.”
“Okay.” He flipped his notebook open, but when she shook her head, he closed it.
“I’m getting a divorce.” She didn’t mince her words. “I caught him with another woman. He’s blaming me for meeting men at the hotel and sleeping with them.”
“What? Didn’t you tell them they’re our clients? That most of our parties are held at that hotel, and we’re meeting with the hotel personnel to go over the rooms as to what’s available?” Brian was shocked at what she’d just told him.
“Until I was blue in the face. I got the impression that this woman convinced him that every time I say I’m meeting with a client, she turned it around so that he was my John and I am a prostitute.” Addy had to stop and wait for Brian to get himself under control from his shock. “I just came from my lawyer’s office. He’s countering. But it’s weird.” She picked up her coffee, frowned at it, then got up and retrieved them both a bottle of water. “I was the one that filed, after I found him with her. I only asked for my business and SUV. I don’t want any part of his business, his house, or his vehicles.”
“So what did he counter with? Does he want this?” Brian asked as he waved his hand around the office.
“No, he wants to go to counseling to try to get back together.” She snorted. “As if.”
“God, Addy, I’m so sorry. But what do you want me to do?”
“As of right now, you are to accompany me to every meeting I have at the hotel. But I have to warn you right now. Franklin, my lawyer, suggested he hire a private investigator to follow Link around. I don’t know this for sure, but I am about ninety-five percent positive he and his lawyer might also.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Have me followed. I thought if I had an employee with me on these meetings, then he won’t or can’t accuse me of sleeping with the clients. And Link knows you. Besides, I’m working on something that I’m not ready to divulge yet, and if you working side by side with me works, then I’ll tell you about it.”
“Oh, Sweetie, you don’t drop a bombshell like that on a gay guy that’s the gossip queen for a ten-block radius.” Brian tried to scowl at her, but lost the look with his grin.
Addy laughed. She couldn’t help it. Ever since she’d hired Brian, he’d brought her tidbits of gossip that had actually helped her business in the last four years. “I’ll tell you, but it’ll take a few weeks, you’ll just have to keep your curiosity at bay.”
“As if. Now, if I understand what you want, when you meet the clients at the hotel, or at any other venue we use, I’m to accompany you? What do you want me to do? Sit and take notes?”
“No, I’ll introduce you as my business partner. If you have questions or ideas, give them. I’m not going to restrict you in any way. But no hitting on the clients.” She grinned. “Some of the upcoming grooms and best men are pretty hot. I myself only look because I’m married and like what I have at home.” She grinned and held up her wedding rings and felt her eyes fill with tears when she didn’t see them there. “I was. Sorry.”
“Don’t be. We’ll get through this together. Now, what’s on your schedule? If you’ll give me a few minutes, I’ll go get mine and we can move people and coordinate. If you think it’d work, we can call a meeting afterward or early tomorrow morning and let the others know.”
“Why don’t we call it for the morning? Are you available if we have to work late?”
“I am. I’ll be right back. Want a coffee?”
“No, this water’s fine,” Addy said, and began to gather her schedule in her planner and her laptop. By the time Brian came back in, she was set up in the sitting area. They spent the rest of the afternoon and well into the evening coordinating their upcoming events and schedules. Assigning different events with different people. It was great that they each knew of the other employees’ strengths and weaknesses and could pair them with the right people to get the job done. Before Brian left for the night, Addy told him one more thing she thought he ought to know.
“Because of the upcoming lawyers visits and possible counseling visits, I’m giving you a raise and you’re now promoted to second in command.”
“Oh my god. Addy!” Brian stared at her in shock and then lunged at her and hugged her tightly. “I never expected something like this. Thank you.”
“Not a problem. You’ve been like a godsend to me since your first day here. Figured it was time to reward you. Now go home, get a good night’s sleep and we’ll hit the floor running tomorrow.” She stood and walked him out of her office and waited until he gathered his things, then locked up after him. Back in her office, she cleaned up her own papers, sat at her desk, put her head down on her papers, and burst into tears.
It took her a long time to get herself together. She finally made her way into the bathroom attached to her office, she grabbed clothes from her suitcase and took a long hot shower. She stood under the spray until the water turned cold. Finally, she settled on the small couch, and after hooking up a heating pad, she was able to fall asleep. It seemed like she’d just closed her eyes when her alarm went off.
“Thank god,” she said as she used the facilities and found her period had started. She was dressed ready for the day and making coffee in the front office when Brian arrived.
“You look a little better this morning. Not much, but a little better.”
“Thanks a lot.” Addy smiled for the first time in what felt like weeks. “I got some good sleep last night. What are you doing here so early?”
