Before I can respond, Lior’s voice cuts through the murmurs of interest with the authority of someone who’s already fought this battle and come out the winner.
“Under Pierce’s experienced accounting, Van Stern Enterprises has made more profit this quarter than in the entire previous year. I fail to see why we’d need to entertain merger discussions when our current strategy is clearly working.”
Thornton pushes forward anyway. “But Dellcourt Holdings offers market expansion opportunities that?—”
“What Dellcourt Holdings is offering,” Lior interrupts firmly, his expression hardening with unmistakable finality, “isn’t something VSE needs right now or is looking for. End of discussion.”
The meeting ends with grudging acceptance, if not quite victory. Back in my office, I keep my head buried in work for the rest of the day to stop the spiraling thoughts about James and his newfound influence with the VSE board from affecting my productivity.
It’s already dark out, and the open-plan office outside mine is empty when I check my calendar one final time before turning my computer off. Tomorrow, Thatcher Edward Charles III will walk through that door.
His résumé practically promises he’ll be bringing chaos into my carefully ordered world. But perhaps that’s exactly what I need—a reminder that sometimes the best things in life come from unexpected directions. Just like that night months ago.
3
THATCHER
“Hey,good luck on your first day with the new boss. Don’t murder anyone with your good intentions,” Alli says into my phone. All week, she’s been checking in on me as if she could stop any disasters I might cause by sheer willpower.
“It’s been almost a week with no…incidents so?—”
“Why would you say that? Wait— Where are you? Why can I hear the noise of coffee makers?”
“I’m bringing coffee for everyone on the executive floors!” The words burst out of me. “It’s perfect, Alli! What better way to make a good first impression and show them I can be responsible and thoughtful?”
“Meatball.” She only uses my nickname when she’s trying to be gentle with my enthusiasm. “Have you forgotten the last coffee incident?”
“That was different,” I protest. “That was me trying to improve their coffee maker. This is just me buying coffee. Totally safe!”
“And the explosion?”
“That was a pressure valve issue! This is foolproof. I’mjust ordering some nice, normal coffee for my new colleagues.”
Alli’s sigh carries years of friendship and witnessed disasters. “At least tell me you’re going to keep it simple.”
“Of course! Just some basic coffee orders. Nothing complicated.”
I step forward when the barista calls, “Order for…Meatball?” He acknowledges me with a smile and looks around as if he’s looking for someone else before his eyes land on the coffee cups and then back to me. “Twelve coffees. Is that correct?”
“Sure is.”
The guy raises a brow while Alli’s voice drops to a whisper of dread. “Please tell me you at least got one of those drink carrier trays.”
Oh ye of little faith.
I look at the mountain of cups taking shape on the counter, my confidence wavering for the first time. “Um, they have those little four-cup carriers? I can probably stack them…”
“Oh god.”
“It’s fine! I’ll just…” I attempt to gather the first set of drinks, my hands already full with just four cups. “I can totally manage this. I’ll call you back!”
“Meatball, wait?—”
I end the call, tucking my phone away as I attempt to balance the first drink carrier as the barista slides another carrier toward me with what might be pity in their eyes.
“You can do this,” I whisper to myself, carefully lifting the second set of drinks. “You are a professional. You are capable.”
I walk across the road toward the Van Stern building. My tongue pokes out slightly as I concentrate on each step, threedrink carriers balanced between my hands like a corporate juggling act. The revolving door looms ahead, my first major challenge in this caffeine-fueled obstacle course.
