“Yeah … yeah … it has—over two years.” Ella’s voice wasn’t unfriendly.
“How are you doing?”
“I’m … Listen, okay, I know you’re busy, and I don’t want to keep you from your work, but I’m in the neighborhood, and I was wondering … if you’d meet me for lunch. Today.”
“Why, Ms. Rawson, are you asking me out?” I teased.
She gave a snort of laughter. “Hardly. It’s just lunch.”
“Well, when you put it that way, how can I refuse?” I said sarcastically.
“So … you’ll do it?”
I raised my eyebrow at her insistent tone. She was clearly anxious to see me. “Bold of you to assume I have the time.”
“I know you do.” I could hear the smile in Ella’s voice. “Your assistant told me you’re free for lunch.”
I pursed my lips, making a mental note to have a chat with Lucy about simple confidentiality rules she should know. Why didn’t she know this? I couldn’t handle another disaster like the last assistant. “Well, then, bold of you to assume I want to see you.”
“If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have called me back.”
Ella was smart. I was intrigued. She would be one of the people I’d met who could hold her own in a conversation.
“One o’clock.” I sat up in my chair. “The hotel dining room. Do you remember where—”
“I do.”
“We’ll have one hour.”
“That’s all I’ll need.”
The call ended, and I hung up my desk phone, unable to prevent curiosity from taking hold. What could she possibly have to talk to me about? We hadn’t known each other before that night, and we hadn’t spoken since.
The image of her shoved against the mattress had me smirking to myself, and I remembered how tight her thighs had been clamped around me, holding me in place.
“I want you, Marcus.”
Those words had never sounded so beautiful. Yes, I’d had plenty of lovers, and yes, I’d reduced them each to a shuddering, begging mess. But, there was something about Ella saying those words that shook me to the core and made me hard in an instant. I had wanted her like I’d never wanted anyone else before.
The noises she’d made had driven me crazy, and the way she’d said my name, so beautiful, so breathless, and eager…
There was a knock on the door before it opened and Lucy appeared, carrying my coffee in one hand and a brown paper bag in the other.
“Just in time. What’s in the bag?”
Lucy’s cheeks turned pink as she handed me my coffee. “I wanted to apologize for being late, so I got you an everything bagel, just the way you like it. Lightly toasted with veggie cream cheese.”
Oh, no. This again.
I didn’t need an assistant who brownnosed. I needed one who owned their mistakes and moved forward. In the past, I’d had an assistant who thought she could get in my good graces by going out of her way to buy me things I hadn’t asked for.
“Thank you for the coffee, but keep the bagel for yourself. I’m not fond of veggie cream cheese—it gives me heartburn. I don’t want you buying me things I didn’t ask for. In the future, own your mistakes and move forward. And from here on out, don’t tell anybody about my schedule.” I took a sip of coffee and turned my attention to my computer. “By the way, I need those reports we discussed. Have you finished them?”
Lucy’s shoulders sagged, and she seemed deflated. “Oh … yes, about the reports. Well, I forgot. I was so tied up with the—”
“You forgot?” My gaze snapped to her, and I took a deep breath to keep from losing my temper. “They were supposed to be your top priority.” I waved a hand when she began to stutter again. “You’ve got a long day ahead of you, Ms. Barnes. I suggest you get back to work.” I turned away, effectively dismissing her. I knew if I continued this conversation, I may say something I’d regret. What had started out as a playful exchange earlier had turned to shit in no time at all. I was pissed.
I started the monotonous task of sorting through my daily messages, not bothering to spare Lucy a glance. I couldn’t—not right now. It wasn’t until I heard my office door close, that I picked up the phone again.
It rang several times before it was answered. “HR, this is Phoebe.”
“I need a new assistant.”
Only two years older than me, Phoebe Mac acted like it was more than that. We’d known each other since we were kids, and she’d always had my back. She was like a sister to me, and one of the few people whose advice I sought on a regular basis.
“Marcus—absolutely not. No.” I could have sworn I heard her roll her eyes at me. She probably did. “What’s wrong this time?”
“She’s not cut out for the job.” I pinched the bridge of my nose, envisioning Phoebe’s face. This might take some sweet-talking. “I need someone else—someone who can handle the pressure.”
“You’ve just fired poor Mrs. Hester-Smith,” Phoebe reminded me, “and I don’t blame you, however, I’m not finding you another one. Give Lucy a chance.”
“Poor Mrs. Hester-Smith?” Was she kidding?
“You can’t blame her for becoming forgetful with age.”
“But I can blame her for passing not only private but also business-related information on to my father.”
“Lucy won’t do that.”
“Mac, I’m telling you, this won’t end well.”
“And I’m telling you to stop being so hard on her.” I could hear Phoebe tapping what sounded like a pen. “You’re so quick to dismiss people when they don’t instantly meet your expectations.”
I leaned back in my chair and stared at the ceiling. “This job isn’t easy, and I’m not going to waste time with someone who can’t handle it.”
“I’m not finding you a new assistant,” Phoebe said decisively. “Not yet. Also, how about greeting me when you call, huh? Ya know, a hi, kiss my ass, how ya doin’, something like that? I don’t appreciate being barked at first thing in the morning. I’ve barely had two sips of coffee.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Good morning, Mac, Goddess of HR.”
“Goddess? I like that title. I totally feel the vibe—has a nice ring to it. I’ll go with that. So, where’s my T-shirt and my bling? And I’ll need a full uniform to go with that title. Everybody around here will need to know the Goddess of HR’s in the house.”
Phoebe was killing me. How was I supposed to have a serious conversation when she kept making me laugh? I straightened my face and cleared my throat. “Will you at least double-check Lucy’s references? I know Aaron Patterson, and there’s no way Lucy worked there for as long as she said she did—if this is the way she behaves.”
“Fine, I’ll double-check.” Phoebe sighed. “But you still haven’t given me any specifics. I found her more than capable during our interviews, and each time I’ve interacted with her since then, she’s been nothing but professional. Give her time to learn the job, and get used to you,” I heard her giggle, “before you make any rash decisions.”