“I’m getting there.”
“I was told you were efficient,” she scolds.
“Respectfully, I have already gone through thousands of emails, and have already sent over urgent piles to your personal account for you to address.That isn’t including the ones I have already replied to on your behalf and am awaiting responses for.”
“Well, you can consider this your first verbal warning, and if you don’t change your hair by Monday, that will be going down as a written warning.We need you to move quicker or your entire job will be put in review,” she remarks, before letting out an exasperated sigh.“Have everything you find out about the land sent to me straight away.We have plans to develop a new housing estate and we cannot waste any more time.It’s the perfect location.”
My eyes bug out.“But what about the wildlife in that area?The surrounding farms still have livestock on them.”
She arches a brow.“Then I guess they should sell up before the work starts,” she states sharply.“I want as much as you can compile together by the morning, and I’ll expect those emails done by Monday.Oh, and you will stay until seven to wait until my meeting is done so I can send you the notes to type up.”
She leaves the room, and my heartrate skyrockets as I drop my phone and bag on my desk.I lean back, wondering what on earth I am going to do.
One, there is no way I am searching for information on the land my cousins own.I wouldn’t betray them for anyone or anything.
Two, there’s more than likely a chance I’ll be fired on Monday because there is no way I’m getting through all of those emails.Unless I slack at my job and just erase a bunch at first glance.
This shit is something you give to someone you don’t like.
I grab my phone and call Malia.She answers on the first ring.“Yo!Are you on your way home yet?Dinner is done and then the girls are getting ready to go to the spa opening.”
“Yeah, you’re going to have to go ahead without me on both accounts.Cruella is making me stay late.”
“Again?But it’s Friday.Can she even ask you to work overtime?”
“I think she believes she can walk into a court and ask the judge to change their verdict,” I sigh.“I have to go.I’m going to get as much done as I can before she comes back with her notes from her meeting.Notes she could type just as quickly in the meeting instead of writing them.Or even have me sit in on the meeting to do it instead of making me do it after the fact.”
“Slow down.It will be fine.”
I close my eyes.“No, it won’t.But I can’t talk about it here in the office.I wouldn’t be surprised if the office is bugged.”
“Well if it is, she’ll know you know now,” she surmises.“We will meet you at the party and you can tell me all about what’s happened then.”
I want to say more, to explain the seriousness of the situation, but I wasn’t joking about the possibility of the office being bugged.It’s the only thing stopping me from blurting it all out.
“Okay, see you soon.”
“See you soo—” she stops with a breath.“Milly, put that cookie down.They’re for the party.”
“Like you will share them,” Milly yells back.
“I might,” Malia snaps.
I chuckle down the phone.“I’ll let you go sort that out.You know she’s already eaten at least two with that response.”
“Yeah,” she breathes.“I’ll see you later.”
She ends the call, but before it shuts off, I hear her yelling Milly’s full name, using her mum voice.I surprise myself by laughing.
*** *** ***
Igaze up at the beautifulbed and breakfast, admiring everything from the plotted plants, to the old farm sign hanging at the side of the door, to the stone step leading up to the door.Everything is detailed, even the barrel they are using as a flower pot.
This place is giving off Hallmark movie feels.The warm kind.Although, I cannot wait to see this place when it snows.I bet it looks beautiful with the ground untouched, the snow covering all of the bits and bobs she has around.
My stomach flutters as I give myself a moment.I’m nervous to be here, and not just because I have to share the bad news with Malia.
But because I know there is a high possibility I may run into Reid Hayes whilst I’m here, since he’s one of Paisley’s brothers.
