“So you don’t need marketing,” I say with a nod. “I could do educational content, then. Warn people about the risks of heavy purses. It would be a public health service.”
His lips twitch. “I don’t have social media, Alexandra.”
“Okay. Well, I’m open to suggestions. I’ll do anything you want.”
He lifts his eyes to the ceiling and mutters something that sounds an awful lot likefuck me.
“That one’s above my pay grade,” I quip, before I can think better of it.
“Fuck!” His eyes widen when he realizes what he said, and how it could be interpreted. “Alexandra . . . I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”
“I know. You were cursing the situation, not suggesting that I . . . that we . . .”
“Right,” he interrupts quickly. “I wasnotsuggesting that. I would never . . .”
“I know,” I reassure him. I’m pretty sure I’m not his type. But all of a sudden the balance of power has shifted a little. There’s a pink flush over his cheekbones, and he looks shaken.
I’ve managed to shake Dr. Drew Malone.
“Look,” I say, because I’m not above pressing this advantage. “I’m just asking for a chance. I really need this job. And I have to go to my parents’ for dinner tonight, and I really don’t want to have tell them I lost my job on the first day. So if you’re going to fire me, I’d appreciate if you’d wait until tomorrow.”
There’s a beat of silence before he meets my eye. “All right. We’ll try it out.”
“Thank you.” Relief washes over me in a wave. “You won’t regret it, I promise.”
“I guess you’ll need a desk,” he mutters.
“At least a computer,” I agree. “But I don’t need a lot of space. If someone can find me a laptop, I can probably make do with a chair.”
“I think we can manage a desk.” He walks over and opens his door. In the outer office, Celine is staring at us with interest.
“Celine,” he says crisply. “I assume you’ve met Alexandra Parker. She’s going to help with some of the department adminwork, and she’ll share your office. Can you make some calls, find her a desk and a computer?”
There’s a flicker of surprise in her eyes. Clearly, she expected him to kick me out. “Of course, Dr. Malone,” she says smoothly.
“Thank you, Celine.”
Dr. Malone beckons me back into his office and sits behind his desk. A phone rings, and he pulls his cell out of his pocket. His expression softens a bit when he sees who’s calling.
“Hey, Breanna.” There’s a pause while Breanna talks. “No, I haven’t forgotten about the appointment. Yeah, I’ll be there.” Another pause. “I know I said that last time, but an emergency came up, so I . . . yeah, Breanna, I know you called in a favor. I said I’ll be there. Love you too.”
He sighs as he swipes his phone to end the call. He’s irritated, but it’s also clear he loves Breanna very much. Enough to let her push him to go to an appointment he has no interest in.
I wonder what the appointment’s for. He’s not wearing a ring, so maybe they’re planning their wedding. They might be going to look at a venue, or to taste wedding cakes, or . . .
“Alexandra?”
“Yes?” I look up to see Dr. Malone staring at me with an expression that’s becoming familiar. He’s impatient.
He’s also got his wallet open, and he’s holding out a wad of bills.
I stare at the money in confusion.
“It’s for groceries,” he says. “You offered to make lunches?”
“Oh, right.” I take the money; it’s a thick stack of bills, all twenties. “This is probably too much.” I split the stack in half and try to hand half of it back to him.
But he doesn’t take it. “You don’t think you’ll last the week?” he asks, and there’s a challenge in his expression.
