"Follow me," I said, turning and marching out the door.
Penny trotted behind me as I walked to my office. "Do you need help on the big super-duper secret project?"
"No."
I needed her to stop talking. Even when she was silent, her presence was overwhelming. Or maybe it was the smell of pumpkin spice. Was she wearing a perfume? Did they even make pumpkin-scented perfume?
Focus.
I had to think. I had a to-do list. Get my license back. Get Hunter and Meg back together so I could talk on the phone in peace. Convince Sebastian to sell me his biotech company.
"Mr. Svensson," Penny said, interrupting my thoughts. "I'm actually pretty good at—"
"Penny," I told her firmly, "we don't need your help. The only reason you're still here is because Hunter is a fucking idiot!" I raised my voice. Hunter walked over to the glass wall of Mace's office and slammed his palm on it.
"Read a book," I told Penny. "I will call you when I need you to drive."
Mace's suite had an attached office for an assistant. Mine did not because I did not need an assistant. Except now I had an assistant. She sat on the couch against the wall while I went through emails.
As I made notes, I watched her out of the corner of my eye. Penny started off sitting back straight, legs pressed together. As the hours wore on, Penny shifted on the couch. She rested her head against her hand, curling her feet under her. Geez, she was distracting. I looked at the clock. I’d had the same spreadsheet up for the last twenty minutes, and I couldn't really remember what I had been looking at. Also my whole office smelled weird. Not bad but sweet and a little spicy, like cinnamon and pumpkin.
We had an upcoming meeting with Sebastian, the Thalian Biotech CEO. I needed to concentrate on the acquisition. It was important that Sebastian sell to us and not to the Holbrooks. At least Bronwyn was working on it. Unlike Penny, Bronwyn was qualified.
Bronwyn came into my office and looked down at Penny. "Do you want me to find another office for her?"
"We are at capacity here," I reminded her. "That’s another issue we have not yet addressed: Where will we put all the employees if we purchase Thalian Biotech? Sebastian will have questions about it. The Holbrooks have plenty of space, of course."
"I'll look into some land options," Bronwyn said.
"I can do it!" Penny offered eagerly.
"We need someone qualified," Bronwyn said. The rest of whatever she was going to say was cut off by a horrible screaming. Mace and Hunter stuck their heads out of his office. Donna was walking down the hall with Davy, who was writhing and flailing in her arms.
Mace winced at Davy's screams. "Is he hurt?"
"He's just upset," Donna said. "He hasn't calmed down in the last several hours. He's screamed nonstop since Garrett dropped him off this morning. He's upsetting the other children. He's not that well socialized."
"You're expelling him?"
"No," Donna said diplomatically. "But he's very upset, and since you all are here, it might help him to calm down." Davy's face was almost purple.
I smelled that same sweet pumpkin-spice scent behind me, and Davy immediately stopped crying and smiled.
"Hi, Davy!" Penny cooed. He reached out to her, and she picked him up.
"I like your pin," Davy said. He hiccupped then patted the sparkly brooch.
"I’m busy," I told Mace. "Davy can't stay here."
"He really should be socialized," Mace said.
"He can stay with Remington," Hunter said. "We have an important acquisition to try to win. I can't have him running around."
"I'll drive you back home, and you can pick up your car," Mace said, grabbing his jacket. "Or I guess it's Penny's car now."
7
Penny
