There’s a collective sigh.
“More diamonds?” one says, looking at the notes. “He’s the one who said to be restrained!”
“And look, we’re back to the drawing board on the earrings again.”
“I thought he liked the Deco elements.”
“Well, not anymore.”
Mara catches my eye and gives a wry smile. “Don’t think we’re slackers,” she says. “The bitch-session is part of our process. First we vent, then we brainstorm.”
“It sounds like Mr. Sterling is… Demanding,” I fish for info.
Mara laughs. “That’s a polite way of putting it. But he’s not so bad. They’re just complaining because it’s easier than admitting they’re wrong.”
“Mr. Sterling’s always right.” One of the other designers says gloomily. “His taste is exquisite.”
I trail Mara back down the corridor, to one of the design studios. Right away, I notice a photo of the most gorgeous necklace pinned to the wall. It’s simple, with an intricate, sparkling daisy, resting right in the hollow of the model’s throat. Simple, and yet… Diamonds. I get the feeling that’s more than a year’s salary, for someone like me.
“Wow,” I murmur in admiration.
Mara grins. “Thank you. I designed it.”
“You did?” I ask, impressed.
She nods. The girl can’t be much older than me. She’s wearing a sleeveless ribbed turtleneck and fingerless gloves, and has chunky boots on her feet with paint splatters. Not exactly professional, but with talent like hers, I guess it doesn’t matter.
“It’s going to be part of our new line. Sorry if we’re all a little crazy right now,” she adds. “We’re planning the big launch and the graphics team can’t seem to get a handle on the advertising. Caleb Sterling’s a bit…” She pauses, searching for the word. “Exacting.”
Oh, she didn’t have to tell me that.
I’m relishing the memory of him, ordering me to take off my clothes, when my phone buzzes with a text. It’s Victoria.
WHERE R U?
“That’s my cue,” I say with a sigh.
“Great to meet you,” Mara smiles. “Come down and say ‘hi’ any time you like. We have great snacks down here,” she adds with a mischievous wink. “They’re vital to our creative process.”
I laugh. “I’ll remember that!”
I head back upstairs, glad that someone in this building has warm blood in their veins, and not ice water, but when I reach the office, it’s my own blood that runs cold.
A familiar face is standing by my desk. My throat tightens. It’s Olivia.
Victoria looks up as I approach. “Finally. Olivia Cross, this is Juliet. Juliet, this is Olivia Cross, the co-founder of Sterling Cross.”
Olivia bridges the distance and shakes my hand. “Oh, wonderful, Juliet. So nice to meet you.”
I try my hardest to keep cool, as if I’ve never seen this woman before in my life. “Likewise.”
Victoria stands up and heads to Caleb’s office. I notice she doesn’t use a key to open the door. “I’m sure he left those papers you wanted in here, Olivia. I’ll just be a moment.”
“Sure, take your time,” she says, sitting on the edge of my desk. She watches until Victoria disappears and turns to me, her voice low. “Anything?”
“I did get access to his schedule.”
“And?”
“Well…” What does she want me to do? I’ve officially been employed by Sterling Cross for three hours. “Victoria isn’t letting me do anything where Caleb’s concerned. But—”
“Then try harder,” she urges, leaning in to touch my sweater as Victoria appears in the doorway, holding a stack of legal papers. Olivia’s voice is suddenly loud. “Oh this is so smart! So soft. I love it.”
“Thanks,” I mumble.
Olivia takes the papers from Victoria and says, “Well, I’m off. It was great meeting you, Juliet.”
She sashays off with a smile, leaving her instructions ringing in my ears.
Try harder.
Alright. Fine. Time to push this plan into overdrive. “What time is lunch?”
Victoria stares with an expression that says, I knew I was right about you. “When I say things are quiet enough. I’m going now, so you need to cover me.”
Perfect. “Oh. I’ll probably just eat at my desk, if that’s okay?”
“Whatever.” She grabs her purse and heads out, leaving me alone.
Showtime.
I wait five minutes, just to make sure she’s really gone, then quickly, I make my way to the imposing double doors to Caleb’s office and slip inside. It’s a truly impressive space. Light pours through the floor-to-ceiling windows that take up the entire back wall of the office, behind a massive chrome-and-glass desk. There is a full sofa, a coffee table. He even has his own sitting area and a wardrobe with a mirrored door. It’s all modern, in subdued grays and blues.
I creep into the room, closing the door behind me, focused on his desk, first. As I come around it, I peer into another open door in the corner. It’s a bathroom, complete with shower.
Fighting away thoughts of him stripping down and rinsing off, I settle onto his desk chair. Jiggling the mouse on his computer, I come to a login screen.
Password protected. Obviously.
I make a mental note that I’ll need to find his password, somehow.
Next, I go for the desk drawers, tugging on each one, in turn. A couple just have basic office supplies, but the top one is locked.
Well, if he’s going to leave his office open, he has to have some security. Especially if he has something to hide.
Sighing, I look around. What next? On the surface, it’s like a hotel room—there are no photos, no framed diplomas or personal effects. It doesn’t tell me much about Caleb Sterling at all.
But just when I’m about to give up, I notice something beside his computer. A tiny silver globe, etched with a map of the world, about the size of a golf ball. I figured it for a paperweight, but then I see the ring attached to it.
It’s a keychain. No keys, though.
Setting it down, I go to the wardrobe and slide the glass door open. Sure enough, there are at least a dozen white shirts hanging there, along with a couple of suits, and a black-tie tuxedo. For the CEO who has to change on the go.
Closing the door, I’m just about to head for the exit when I hear it. Footsteps. Coming closer.
Coming towards me!
Frantic, I spin around, looking for a place to hide. If Caleb finds me snooping in here on my first day, my whole cover will be blown! But where can I hide? The bathroom? What if he comes inside. The wardrobe? There’s barely room to breathe in there.
The sounds get closer, and I hear Caleb’s voice, murmuring on a phone call.
My heart kicks wildly. My mind goes blank. I’m totally busted.
And then he opens the door.
5
JULIET
I am so screwed.
My first day on the job, and I am about to be fired. There’s no doubt. Sneaking into the boss’s office and snooping around when I clearly have no business being here? No, there’s no way to explain this away.