Anytime she’d thought about Jordan and what it’d be like when they finally bumped into each other, it wasn’t ever him wanting to talk about Marvin. She’d moved passed it all, but somehow it always came back to that damn day. If Jordan had asked her for coffee for any other reason, maybe she’d have accepted. But unfortunately that wasn’t the case. Just like he didn’t come to my rescue years ago because he wanted to. Marvin had sent him. For all she knew, Marvin was having Jordan step in again. “What makes you think I want to hear anything about Marvin?”
“Because he was here asking about you,” Jordan said in a flat tone.
And I don’t care. She looked at her watch and she was cutting it too close. Jordan obviously wasn’t going to take no for answer. “Fine. Coffee. Not now. Not today. I was serious. I have a very important meeting and right now, you’re preventing me from attending it. I’ll call you when I have time.”
“Do you want my number?” he asked.
Just like that damn clothes she’d hung on to for years, she also kept Jordan’s number. There had been several occasions when she was tempted to call. Thankfully she’d always resisted. He would only be another complication in an already complicated situation. “I have it,” she replied.
Jordan cocked a brow then nodded. “Then I won’t keep you any longer. Good luck with your meeting.”
He moved slightly to let her pass, but not so much that she didn’t need to brush up against him as she did so. A shiver ran through her. She cursed her body for defying her wishes. It’s not like it was the first time this had happened. Even years ago when she was supposed to be dating Marvin, she’d been attracted to Jordan. But that’s all it was, a physical attraction, nothing more. Besides that, Jordan was all business. At nineteen, that was…boring, but right now she wasn’t much different. Even as she walked away, Gianna couldn’t help but wonder if he had changed any.
My reaction to his touch sure as hell hasn’t.
She snickered to herself as she entered the elevator and pressed the top floor. Gianna might not have wanted to bump into Jordan, but he did accomplish one thing, made her think of something other than her meeting.
The elevator doors opened, and instantly Liz greeted Gianna. “Good afternoon Gianna. You just missed Bobbi.”
“She left?” Gianna had bit back the word that had been on the tip of her tongue. Quit.
Liz chuckled. “No. Reluctantly, she went down for her lunch break. I actually had to force her.”
It was hard to read Liz, because she was always smiling and laughing. She wasn’t sure Liz would be able to deliver bad news with a straight face. “How is she working out? Any issues?” Gianna asked, internally crossing her fingers.
“Are you kidding me? She was so eager to get started and she was like a sponge soaking it all in. I’m sure that’s no surprised to you.”
Actually, it’s a relief hearing it.
Gianna smiled and said, “You have my number if anything changes.”
“Don’t think I’ll need it. Oh, Rosslyn is just finishing up with a meeting. Hope you don’t mind waiting a few minutes.”
“Not at all. I have a few emails I wanted to get out.” She walked over to the couch, sat down and pulled out her laptop. She always came prepared when meeting with Rosslyn. She was smart but it was going to take more than just a few years to learn everything there was to running a multi-billion dollar business. Gianna wasn’t the one to give her any advice. She was still getting used to the idea that she was running her own company. Today & Tomorrow wasn’t anywhere near the same level as Rosslyn’s, but she needed to be just as diligent on driving it.
She reviewed a few more resumes and it was one out of ten that showed potential. How could she expand her business and take on more clients, if she couldn’t find reliable staffing. It would ruin her reputation if she got a client and then couldn’t deliver.
The news that Bobbi was holding up to her promise last night felt like a huge weight being lifted. Yet Gianna remembered what it was like to be that age. It didn’t take much to be derailed. All it would take was the wrong person to distract her.
Not everyone is as gullible as I was.
Bobbi, although sweet, also seemed to be street smart. Invaluable combination. That didn’t mean, as an employer, she wouldn’t keep her eyes open. Yes she was protecting her investment, but she also liked Bobbi. There was nothing wrong with people watching out for one another.
She chuckled softly and Liz said, “Work isn’t that fun for me. What are you doing over there?”
“Just reviewing some resumes,” she replied. She wasn’t going to mention Bobbi’s name. Liz might be the most easy going personal assistant she’d ever come across, but she knew her stuff and was very loyal to Rosslyn. She didn’t want to give the impression that Bobbi couldn’t be taken seriously.
“Are you short staffed?” Liz asked.
This was proof how attuned Liz was. “Not at all. But it’s always good to scan for potential employees. I’m sure you do that constantly at Grayson Corp.”
Liz shrugged. “I leave that to human resources. I’d be horrible at it.”
“Why do you think that?” If Liz wasn’t skilled, Rosslyn never would have her in such a position.
“Have you ever heard the term ‘use your HR words’? Liz asked.
“I have and need to remind myself of that often.”
Liz laughed. “I am so horrible at that. Sometimes I think my filter is broken. I don’t spill confidential information or anything like that, and you can tell me a secret and I’ll take it to my grave. But let someone come at me with a bad attitude and bam! The switch is flipped and watch out. I have even been told I have a…potty mouth,” she winked.
Gianna smiled. “I have a dear friend Mary-Lou that exact same way. Of course in her line of work, she comes across a lot of…difficult people.”
“Really? What does she do?”
“Bartender. And on some nights, I swear she is also the bouncer. I’ve seen her in action. She goes from the sweetest person you’d ever meet, to grabbing a guy twice her size and tossing his butt out of the bar.”
Liz’s eyes widened. “Oh my God, she sounds amazing. Maybe the three of us should all get together some night.”
Bobbie had just returned and asked, “Is someone having a party? Count me in.”
Before Gianna could tell Bobbi they were just joking around, Liz added, “Yes Gianna is. And the more the merrier. This is going to be so much fun. Should we make this a girls only party or invite the guys too?”
“I don’t have a boyfriend,” Bobbi replied.
Good. Less distraction. But lack of boyfriends wasn’t her concern. She could see Liz’s mind was going a mile a minute. She needed to put the brakes on this quickly. “Let’s not get carried away.”
Rosslyn’s door opened up and she said, “Carried away with what?”
“Gianna is having a party. Want to come?” Liz asked.
Rosslyn look at her and said, “I’d love to. Unless it’s tonight, because my little Penelope still isn’t feeling well.”
“No, it’s not tonight,” she replied. Not sure when I’m going to fit it in. Grateful for the opportunity to change the subject she said, “Sorry to hear your daughter is still sick.”