“Good. Now let’s get to work.”
For the next few hours as she introduces me to all the work my new job entails, I do my best to focus, but Cole simmers on the back burner of my mind, his angry eyes haunting me like ghosts.
Cole
I spend the rest of the day locked in my office strategizing the Shay Avoidance Plan.
It works like this: move to Alaska.
Because no matter how I might try to convince myself that I’ll only communicate with her via email, won’t attend meetings where she’ll be present, and turn the other way if we happen to cross paths in the building, the fact remains that I’ll know she’s nearby every day, and I’ll want to go see her.
I can still smell her perfume.
Kill me.
We’ve established that she’s not going to quit, nor will I fire her. So now, I’ve only got one path forward.
Pretend she doesn’t exist.
Which will prove extremely fucking difficult considering she’s my goddamn assistant.
Frustrated, I pull up her resume on my computer and glare at it until my vision blurs. Then, at a loss, I pick up the phone and call my sister-in-law.
“Lit Happens, how may I help you?”
“What do you know about Shay Sanders?”
Emery laughs. “Oh hi, Cole. It’s nice to hear from you. Yes, I’m fine, thank you for asking. How are you?”
“I’m sorry, I can’t do pleasantries right now.”
“Shocking.”
She laughs again, but it’s affectionate. She’s used to me by now. And if she can tolerate my psychopath brother, Callum, she can certainly handle my quirks. Compared to him, I’m almost sane.
“Shay Sanders. Tell me everything.”
Her tone changes from light to worried. “Oh God. Please don’t tell me there’s a problem already.”
Yes, the problem is that I fucked her before she started working for me, and I very much want to do it again and again and again, but we have an ironclad policy against it.
Also, inconveniently, she thinks I’m a dick.
But I can’t say any of that. I also don’t want to lie, so I sidestep. “She said that you told her I was your customer.”
“When Callum mentioned he’d contacted a recruiter to fill your assistant position, he asked me if I might know anyone. I said I’d keep an eye out, but he stressed that I should be careful. I knew what that meant. Did she seem upset about it?”
No, but she did seem upset that I suggested she’s a scheming, manipulative liar.
I feel the beginnings of a headache forming a band of tightness around my skull. Then I remember I didn’t have lunch because I was too busy obsessing over Shay. Closing my eyes, I grasp my temples and squeeze.
“No. Why didn’t I know you referred her?”
“I don’t know. When she sent me flowers to thank me for recommending her for the position, I mentioned it to Callum. I assumed he would’ve told you.”
He probably would have, but as I avoid him as much as I avoid everyone else, he didn’t have much chance.
It’s not as if we’re close, anyway. I might be the chief financial officer, but he’s the chief executive officer, and that means he thinks I’m beneath him.
Callum’s the oldest, the golden child who can do no wrong in my parents’ eyes. His ego is a steamroller, flattening everything in its path.
Carter’s the baby. He’s most like our mother, popular and outgoing, always the center of attention. He’s a genius with people and charms them with ease, an incredibly annoying characteristic for those of us who don’t share it.
I’m in the middle. Competitive. Risk-taking. Misunderstood.
“How long have you known her?”
A moment of silence follows as Emery thinks. “Three years maybe?”
“And what’s your opinion of her?”
“She’s great.”
When I sigh, Emery says drily, “God, you sound so much like Callum when you do that.”
I resolve to never sigh again. “I meant what can you tell me about her that might help me understand her better?”
There’s another moment of silence, but this one’s different. It’s long and cavernous, as if she’s stunned.
“Understand her better?”
“Don’t bust my balls, please. Just answer the question.”
“I will, but you’ll have to give me a sec to recover.”
Scowling, I demand, “Am I really so bad?”
“You’re not bad at all.”
“And you’re a terrible liar.”