“I see,” I said, not sure what to add to the discussion. I didn’t want to pry into his methods and operations, as it would probably set off alarm bells. I was already sure I’d made amistake in treating him like a frivolous airhead. He was clearly more level-headed and attentive than I had given him credit for.
I should have approached him with more caution, considering his title. My purpose was to see how they operated and assess whether they were worth the funding they were seeking, but that didn’t mean they had been operating in the red or running themselves into the ground. It would have been smarter to realize that, if the place was operating without incident, then that meant the people running the show were competent. Reggie might be odd, but he used his brain, and I didn’t want to risk drawing undue attention to myself.
“So, you had a tour for me?”
Reggie smiled. “I don’t think you’re quite ready to let this go.”
“My doubts? No,” I said, because I had already revealed them, so backpedaling would be stupid. “But as you said, my skepticism won’t be alleviated by pretty words and lofty promises. The only way to get the proof I need is to be a part of the program. I believe I’m here for two months, correct?”
“Indeed,” he said brightly, reaching for a small remote at the edge of the desk. “So, you’ll give us those two months?”
“Barring any serious breach of common sense, sure,” I said. The directors wanted a place to throw money at that would make them look good, which was why I was here. But I was beginning to wonder if this was Hannah’s way of helping me while disguising it as work.
“Let’s get started,” he said, tapping a button on the remote and bringing the TV to life.
Well, the joke would be on her because there was nothing for me to fix.
LUKA
Oh God,I wasnotready.
I took a deep breath and tried to make my hair behave. That was, of course, the height of arrogance because my hairneverbehaved. Scores of stubborn people had tried to fight a war I knew was long since lost, and at some point, I had accepted the truth. I was always going to look like I’d just rolled out of bed and dressed in a hurry to make an important appointment I was late for, and that’s how it would always be.
A sharp knock at the staff room door brought me up, and Reggie popped in, grinning. “Heyo, Pretty Boy, you done preening?”
I huffed, shaking my head. “I’m not pretty.”
“You’re adorable,” he said, pinching my cheek.
“Quit,” I said with a laugh, pushing him away, “or I’m going to HR.”
“And tell them what, that I called you cute? They’ll just say you’re adorable and tell you to accept it,” he said, cocking his head. “So, you ready?”
“Yes,” I said, and when he raised a brow, my facade crumbled and my shoulders slumped. “No.”
He laughed. “Figured as much. Everyone’s nervous their first time, and second...and every time.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” I asked nervously.
“Should I point out that you signed up to be a Guide?”
“I know. Probably shouldn’t have; I didn’t even have the qualifications for the job.” No, seriously, they had a list of preferred traits and qualifications for candidates, and I had no business sending in my resume, but hell, I’d been desperate, and the idea of getting paid good money to help people? It had been a shot in the dark that should never have landed, and yet here I was.
Reggie huffed indignantly. “Are you saying I’m bad at my job?”
“What? Where the fuck did you get that?” I asked in confusion, frowning. “I never said that.”
“But you did.”
“When?”
“When you said you shouldn’t have this job,” he said, poking my nose. Then, he proceeded to ignore my annoyed squawk as I swatted at him. “Because last I checked, I’m one of the people who look over the applicants, well, when I can. I always conduct the final interview. So if you’re saying you shouldn’t be here, you’re saying I’m bad at my job, and I’d love to hear you tell that to Marc.”
“Marc?”
He sighed. “Mr. Shepherd to you.”
“You’re on a first-name basis with him?”
