Dad is barely containing himself to my right, his wheezing laughter beginning to pour out. Jerry’s face contorts, thewrinkles all gathering in the center of his forehead as he stands up from his chair.
He speaks in a loud voice that carries across the room. “Now, you listen here,Miss Katie. I whoop your daddy’s ass at bingoeveryFriday night! I whoop everybody’s ass in this joint on Bingo Fridays and Pictionary Mondays, matter of fact.” His voice lowers as he reclaims his seat, and a new demeanor overtakes him. “So, honey, you ready to meet Owen and settle down with some pretty babies?”
The switch is flipped, and we argue back and forth about whether or not I should start having kids yet. Dad forgets that Jerry is referring to his grandson while Jerry forgets that I’m technically supposed to have a boyfriend.
“I really have to get going, Dad.” I almost add on that I need to continue the job search, but I bite my tongue just in time.
He rises to walk me to the cafeteria door, where he’s not allowed to go past until breakfast is over.
“Tell your mom we need ground beef from the store. I want to start doing Taco Tuesdays again.” He smiles, the familiar sight bringing warmth to my belly.
“Okay, will do. I love you so much.”
“Love you too, Kate.”
He crushes me into another hug, and tears unexpectedly build in my eyes.
I wish he weren’t here. Leaving feels like losing a little bit of him every time because I never know what will be there when I return.
CHAPTER 5
KATE
“This is fantastic.Late on the very first day,” I mumble to myself as I dart into the elevator of the high-rise building downtown.
I couldn’t believe my luck on Saturday when I got the request for a phone interview and was hired on the spot as a personal assistant. Apparently, my résumé had everything they were looking for.
It’s warm out, and after taking forever to find a space to park, I’m finally headed up to the fifty-sixth floor. I never did collect my belongings from my previous residence, so I’m wearing one of Mel’s only dresses suitable for an office.
It’s solid black and form-fitting. She bought it for her great-aunt’s funeral three years ago but hasn’t touched it since. The length is questionable for my long legs, so I’m hoping they aren’t too strict on the dress code at Bradshaw Enterprises. My fingertips go right past the hem. I’m having high school flashbacks of being forced to measure the length by standing up straight and reaching down.
“Which floor?” a woman with red cat-eye frames and a short, round figure asks me.
“Fifty-six,” I reply.
Several others crowd into the space, and I move toward the woman to make room.
“Oh! Me too. Are you new at BE?”
“Umm, Bradshaw Enterprises? Yes, I start today.”
I form a weak smile as she inspects my attire. I shift on the low heel of Mel’s black pumps, which thankfully fit better than the dress.
“Well, that’s nice. BE is a wonderful place to work.” She extends a hand with talon-shaped red acrylic nails. “I’m Becky. I’m not even surprised Georginne failed to inform me we have a new hire.”
“Kate.”
We shake hands. She smiles at me silently for the rest of the trip up, and I shift on my feet under her gaze.
The doors finally open to the fifty-sixth floor.
“Let me show you to the woman who will train you. I’m the head of human resources, so we’ll get plenty of time to chat later when we do your paperwork.”
I follow her head of short, curly brown hair to a shiny black desk outside of a door with a plaque that saysMr. Bradshaw. We pass his secretary’s desk, but I’m not introduced to her. She’s already busy, fielding phone calls. I’m curious about why a CEO would need a personal assistant and a secretary.
The entire office is polished and luxurious. I know nothing about the company. I hadn’t even heard of it until Saturday. We continue down past the secretary’s desk until we arrive at a small desk beside a black door. People were chatting and walking through the halls, but this section seems to be reserved for the boss man and his PA.
“Georginne is always late. She’ll be training you. Between you and me, honey, I truly don’t know why he hasn’t let her go yet.” Becky smiles at me, a tiny smudge of red lipstick stuck to her teeth.
