Page 5

Now that I’ve been here a couple of years, I know that this desk is necessary. I need all the space otherwise I’d have no chance of being organized. Originally the founders each had his own assistant, but their schedules are so intertwined, and when Ford hired me I did it all so well, they just… let me handle all three of them.

It’s flattering, honestly. Even if Hayden drives me nuts, I know it’s because his schedule would fall apart without me. Even if everything else in my life is a mess, I know that in this job, I’m doing great.

The lights are all still on, unlike the rest of the building where it’s all dark and still. Everyone else has gone home.

“Hayden,” Gabriel calls from his office, his rich baritone flooding the space. “That’d better be you, and you’d better have coffee.”

“Even better,” Hayden calls back. “I have Keller.”

Gabriel pokes his head out. “Maeve? What are you doing back here?”

My second boss is French, charming, flirtatious, and stylish, with chestnut brown hair that he keeps just long enough to be rakish and striking amber eyes. He’s the boss that all the women fall all over themselves trying to date. Honestly, if you ask me, that’s a mistake. It means they’ve underestimated him. I’ve seen Gabriel in the boardroom, and he’s just as cutthroat as his two co-founders and best friends. He’s just the type to hide it behind a smile.

It is a breathtakingly gorgeous smile, though, I’ll give him that. And his slight French accent has him saying my name in a way that makes it sound just a little obscene.

“I was summoned, my liege,” I inform him.

Gabriel gives Hayden a playful look. “People are going to start saying that our assistant is the one running the show.”

“I wish. If she were, I could get a decent night’s sleep.”

“You’re a real bunch of comedians around here,” I say as I go back to my desk. “Gabriel, is there anything I can get you before Hayden chains me to this hunk of rock again?”

“If I could get another copy of the Pearson-Hardman contract, actually, that would be helpful. I was going to do it myself…”

“See?” I look at Hayden. “Gabriel can do things himself. Like use the copier. I think I should start giving him gold star stickers.”

“Try it.” Hayden heads for his office. “See what it gets you.”

I roll my eyes. Those kinds of threats work on lawyers, other billionaires, even royalty, but they sure don’t work on me. Sometimes I wonder if I’m the only person in the world who’s impressed by Hayden but not intimidated by him. Perks of being the person who knows when his dentist appointments are, I suppose.

There’s a light on in Ford’s office, but he doesn’t emerge. I’m not surprised. Ford’s very self-contained. I actually have him in my phone as Mr. Freeze. Like the Batman villain.

I’ll die before I admit it, but between Ford and his brother, Ford is the more attractive one. That’s probably terrible of me to say since I was literally engaged to Liam, but it’s the truth. Ford is taller, with dark brown hair and light blue eyes that make me think of the sky on a cold winter day. Liam has blue eyes too, and a similar sharp jawline, but somehow on Ford it looks better. Maybe because he inhabits his body with much more confidence.

Or maybe it’s just because I like Ford more.

I don’t bother knocking on his door. I just make the copies for Gabriel quickly and then focus on the things Hayden wants from me.

From inside all three offices, I can hear the sounds of work. Gabriel is speaking on the phone, I think. I hear a few phrases in Japanese, which makes sense with the time difference. Ford’s door is closed, but I can hear him moving about now and then. Hayden is typing almost nonstop on his computer and phone, like he’s on a timer.

There’s something soothing about it all.

Once I wrap everything up, it’s nine p.m. And I still haven’t had dinner.

The elevator opens as I compose an email to Hayden sending him the attachments, and a delivery driver walks up to me. “Hi, for… Maeve Keller?”

“That’s me.” I stand to take the food. One of the men must’ve ordered a late meal for them.

But when I open it up, it’s not enough for three people. Instead, it’s a chicken tikka masala burrito from the Indian-Mexican fusion place around the corner that I adore. I get lunch from there when I can. It’s expensive, so that’s not often. I usually make my lunch at home to bring.

I glance around, then take the chance and walk over to Gabriel’s office. “You didn’t have to do that.”

Gabriel looks up from his desk, cocking his head to one side. In the soft lighting from the lamp on his desk, I can just barely make out the flecks of amber in his eyes. “Do what?”

“Get me dinner.”

“Maybe it was Hayden, apologizing.”