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A strange moment passed between them before Ivy said, “I imagine he sees you as a bit of a threat to the status quo.”

Scowling, I snatched the paper up again. “The status quo is the enemy of progress.”

Ivy smiled. “Dangerous words, if you’re a Shepherd.”

Was that why she’d wanted me? To mess with Shep? The thought of being used as a piece in a chess game didn’t sit well with me. With a frown, I met her gaze. “Am I only here to get under his skin?”

“No. You’re here because you’re the future. He just can’t see it yet. Don’t you worry. He’ll come onboard eventually.”

At that moment, Cam’s office door opened, and he exited in a huff, his father still visible, scowling, in the chair before Cam’s desk. Cam paused only a moment to evaluate the scene at my workstation, puzzled, then headed toward the exit.

“Get off her desk,” he said as he passed, not even looking at Bennett.

Wide smile in place, Bennett slid to standing. “Things are about to get interesting,” he whispered to me.

Ivy clacked off after Camden. “Wait for me, Cam.”

He did not wait for her, but she caught up regardless, hooking her arm through his. I stared after them until they were out of sight on the elevator, and when I turned back around, Bennett was eyeing me closely.

Heat flared up my face. “What?”

“I said nothing.”

“You had a look.”

His brow rose. “So did you.”

I pulled my chair so close to my desk that the edge dug into my abdomen. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I think you do,” he murmured near my ear, then strolled away, whistling.

Ten

My weekend filled quickly. Between gathering research and perfecting the idea I planned to present at the Monday meeting, my mind had no chance to rest. As it came together, excitement manifested in excess energy that had me scrubbing Ravi and Mari’s house from top to bottom.

“You realize I just cleaned that, right?” he slurred late Saturday night while I polished his electric cooktop to a diamond shine. A tad drunk from the experimental cocktails I’d made with a bottle of Henley Honey, Ravi sprawled out at the kitchen table.

I turned to take him in, black hair disheveled, cheeks rosy above his beard. “I spilled honey on it.”

He hiccupped. “You spilled honey everywhere.”

“Yes, but I found the recipe, didn’t I?”

“You did!” Maribel bounded into the room, freshly showered and clad in a matching PJ set with a pattern of unicorns battling narwhals. She was far less drunk than Ravi, mostly because Ravi lacked the ability to sip. “One of those, a tight dress, and some red lipstick, and that man will be yours.”

I shot her a glare. “I’m not trying to lure him in.”

“Of course you are. Why else would you even take a job at his company?”

“For money.” I rubbed hard at a stubborn spot of gunk. “And it’s not his company.”

“Grasping at straws, girlie.”

Ravi grunted his agreement. I ignored them. Satisfied with my cleaning job, I removed my rubber gloves and turned to my friends. “I think I’m ready for Monday.”

“Of course you’re ready,” Ravi mumbled, making a wide, clumsy hand gesture toward me. “You’re always ready.”

Maribel and I exchanged glances, and she poked Ravi in the shoulder. “Hon? You okay?”