Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Except he would no doubt throw me through the window, along with the phone he was gripping.
I set down his cell, uncurling his fingers. He seemed to realize he’d been clasping my hand, yanking it away. Calmly, I took it, pressing his thumb to the screen, ignoring his frosty glare and the angry words he was shooting at the woman on the other end of the line.
His phone screen brightened, indicating I now had access. I placed his now-relaxed hand on the desk and, without thinking, patted the top of it. I walked out, pulling the door behind me, daring to glance over my shoulder. I met his gaze, the piercing blue not as angry. Instead, he almost looked grateful.
Then he began to argue with his mother again, and the fury was back.
I shut the door behind me and went to work.
I knocked, waiting for the master to bid me to enter. I walked in and was met with a steely glare. “Where have you been? I called you twice.”
“I was getting things done.”
He looked at the tray in my hand. “What is that?”
I set it on the desk. “Your lunch.”
He watched as I slid the tray containing a turkey sandwich with a side of pickles and a fresh, steaming cup of coffee onto the side of the desk. “How did you know?”
“I told you I’m good.”
He indicated the coffee. “You figured out my lunch, yet again, you brought me the foamy coffee.”
“Which you drank this morning and enjoyed. You can have black next time.” I reached into the bag I was carrying and brought out a small device, looking around for a plug.
“Ah, there’s one,” I said, dropping to my knees and crawling under the front of the desk.
He pushed his chair back, crouching by my side. “What the hell are you doing down there on your knees?” he hissed.
I tried not to laugh. “Plugging this in. If you’d turn on your flashlight, it would make it faster.”
He mumbled something under his breath but pulled his phone from his pocket and did as I requested. I fumbled, not happy when I realized the plug was partially covered, but I saw another one farther in. “Aim it that way,” I instructed, tugging on his arm. He leaned closer, pushing me into the wood, and I had to wiggle to get my arm over to the right spot. It was a tight fit, but I got the plug in and was about to back out when a voice spoke.
“Alexander, I was…”
There was a pause.
“Am I interrupting something?”
Mr. Bane jumped, hitting his head and cursing. He stood, sputtering. “No. Myers was messing around. I mean—”
I pulled myself out from under the desk and stood. “We were trying to find the right hole. It was tight.”
The woman in the doorway didn’t know where to look. I recognized her from HR this morning, but I didn’t remember her name.
“For the plug,” I added, holding up my purchase. “For the coffee warmer I bought.” I headed her way, my hand out. “I’m Magnolia Myers.”
“Jessica Aldridge.” She bit her lip, trying not to grin. “I was bringing Alexander some papers.”
I looked over my shoulder. Mr. Bane was standing, not speaking. I had a feeling he was in shock. “I can take them. He needs to sign them?”
“Yes. Review and sign.”
“I’ll drop them off as soon as he’s had his lunch.”
“Good.” She looked between Mr. Bane and me, then started to chuckle. “Good luck.”
“Oh, I’m fine.”
“I wasn’t talking to you.”
I could hear her laughing all the way down the hall.
I turned back to Mr. Bane. “You should eat.”
He blinked at me. “I can’t believe HR…you…me…under the desk.”
“It’s all good,” I assured him. “Now, I noticed your coffee got cold twice this morning. I got you this,” I explained as I connected the small device, turned it on, and set his coffee mug on it. “You put your cup on it like that, and it will keep it warm.”
He sat down, glancing at it. “Fine.”
I picked up my notebook. “Your calendar is synced. Check it out, see if there is anything you want changed.”
He took a bite of his sandwich, chewing. He looked at his phone, scrolling through the screens. He nodded, then swallowed. “Fine.”
“I’m going to work on the files now. They’re a disaster.”
I got another nod.
“And you don’t have to worry about your mother getting through to you anymore.”
That made him pause. “Why?”
“I had your direct line transferred to my desk. All calls will come to me, except your partners and HR. Rylee helped me when she was here, so I knew who to ask. You have an internal extension now that I will transfer everyone else to. When your mother calls, I’ll tell her you are unavailable and send her directly to voice mail.”
He stared at me. Looked down. Blinked. “Fine.”