Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 104471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
The bonus is that I don’t think my boss realizes I won’t be at his beck and call tomorrow or Monday.
He hasn’t brought up my planned days off, so Baden must not have mentioned it. In some small way, I wish I were a fly on the wall so I could witness firsthand Mr. Hunt’s reaction when he realizes I took two days off without so much as a word to him.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Reid
Before I walk into the private washroom attached to my office, I know something isn’t right.
There wasn’t a cup of coffee waiting for me, and Miss Starling’s desk looks like it hasn’t been touched since she raced out of the office after work yesterday.
I inhale deeply, but I only smell a hint of lemon, courtesy of the cleaning crew that made their regular rounds after I left last night.
Miss Starling doesn’t wander into this washroom every morning, but it happens often enough that I’ve started looking forward to being bathed in the lingering scent of her perfume.
“Reid!” Vance calls my name from somewhere close, so I step into view since one glance in the mirror in the washroom told me what I already knew.
My tie is perfectly knotted. Every hair on my head is in place, and my jaw is as smooth as can be.
“I’m here,” I say when I spot him in the doorway of my office.
I can barely see the person standing behind him, but I catch a quick flash of blonde hair and a black skirt. It’s his executive assistant. Natasha Heary has been Vance’s right hand woman since we launched this venture.
In that time, she married a senior analyst she met here at work and they welcomed a son.
She’s as committed to the business as Vance is, and I know he’s been encouraging her to take the leap to becoming an analyst, too.
She certainly has the skill and insight for it.
“Hi, Reid.” She waves a hand over Vance’s shoulder. “I’m here to help.”
“With what?” My gaze volleys from Vance’s face to Natasha’s when she brushes past his arm to stand in front of him.
“To fill in for Evie.”
The nickname has never suited Evangeline, but everyone in this building seems fond of it.
Before I ask where the fuck Miss Starling is, Vance is handing out details about the logistics of how we’re going to handle sharing an executive assistant.
“Natasha will work from her desk, but your calls will ring through to her cell.”
To accentuate that point, his assistant shakes the phone in her hand. “I’ll answer them and transfer any important ones to you. I’m also available to sit in on any of your meetings, and I’ll be sure to be at Evie’s desk when the clients arrive who already have appointments booked for today and Monday.”
“Monday?” I question. “Evangeline is away today and Monday?”
“Evangeline,” Natasha whispers. “I’ve never heard anyone use her full name.”
Vance studies me. “Baden didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?” I snap, irritation lacing every word. “Where the hell is Miss Starling?”
“Out of town,” Natasha answers as she steps forward. “She went on a weekend getaway.”
“By herself?” I ask before I realize the question has left my lips.
Vance and his assistant exchange a look before she takes the reins and tells me what I don’t want to hear. “It was a last minute trip. She didn’t share all of the details with Baden when she asked for the time off. All she did say was that she was going away with someone she recently met.”
Fuck this Friday.
Natasha glances up at Vance. “I hope this guy will be good to her. Cleo told me Evie’s last boyfriend was a dud.”
That is both too much information and yet, not nearly enough.
How could a woman like Evangeline attract a dud? She’s perfection.
“So, you’re good with sharing Natasha?” Vance asks.
I nod. “Do you know if Baden is in yet?”
“Not yet.” Natasha shakes her head. “Scott told me he won’t be in until after lunch.”
Scott, Baden’s assistant, will likely have the information I want about where the hell my executive assistant is, so I need to pay him a visit.
Natasha glances at Miss Starling’s desk. “Evie sent me your schedule for today and Monday. I’ll keep on top of things, but I’m not her, so don’t expect me to run around town for you.”
Vance laughs. “You won’t even do that for me.”
“Or my husband,” she adds. “There’s a pot of freshly brewed coffee in the staff break room, Reid, or if you prefer less caffeine, you’ll find a box of chamomile tea next to the mugs.”
It looks like I need to head out for a decent cup of coffee before I visit Scott. “Noted, Natasha.”
She tosses me a grin. “I’ll be at my desk if you need me.”
I won’t need her. She’s not Miss Starling, so I’ll make this work on my own. Besides, I don’t know how much work I’ll get done now that I know my assistant has left town with a man who more than likely doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as her.