She whispers, “What was that about?”
I mouth, “Wow.”
She in turn mouths, “So hot.”
She isn’t wrong. I think I will enjoy working with Marcus.
Not long after returning to my office, Jasmine enters. She doesn’t knock. Barging in must be her style. I remove the headphones I’m wearing.
“Documents, Abigail?”
“Yes, they are coming any minute. I delegated that task. I’m in the middle of transcribing dictation.”
“You delegated the task?” Her hands fall onto the desk before she leans down.
“Yes.”
“To whom?” Her eyes narrow.
“To someone who apparently loves photocopying. This way, I can get two jobs done at once.”
She tries hard not to look pleased but fails. “Fine, get them to me as soon as possible.”
“Yes, boss,” I reply, giving her a thumbs-up.
She closes her eyes and shakes her head. Jasmine is definitely growing on me.
Keys press down quickly. The voice of Mr Sims plays in my ears, a voice aged and oddly deep.
“(New sentence) Anthony James Stewart (comma) hereby agrees to give thirty days (comma) until ownership of this asset becomes that of (change to upper case) MURTELLl PTY LTD (full stop). (New sentence) Property pertaining to Mr Stewart will stay mute and undisclosed under the privacy laws of Australia …”
I’m interrupted by the sight of two folders falling onto my keyboard from behind me. The headphones I’m wearing are slowly pulled from my head. I sit frozen.
“Task complete, Miss McMillian.” His voice is warm, and his words flow softly into my ear.
“It’s just Abigail.”
“Abigail.”
My name coming from his lips sends a shiver coursing down my spine. He swivels my chair around. His gaze is unwavering and intense as he leans towards me, gripping both armrests. He’s so close.
“Th-thank you.” Fuck, he’s gorgeous.
“You’re welcome.”
As quickly as he appeared, he disappears. The sound of the door closing means I finally inhale air.
I think I might like this place after all.
SIX
Amusement
“Abigail, are you hungry?” Asher clears her throat, standing in the open doorway to my office.
“Famished,” I reply, rubbing at eyes stinging from the glare of my computer screen.
“Well, come on, let’s go eat.”
“Am I allowed to? Should I run it by the Nazi down the hall first?”
Asher giggles as she leans against the doorway. “The Nazi will be fine with you having lunch. It’s one o’clock. That’s your break time and mine.”
“Awesome. Hang on … I didn’t bring lunch. What do you have? Sharing is caring, my new friend.”
She laughs. “I eat at Leyton’s next door. Most of us do.”
“Who uses that big staffroom on the first floor?”
She shrugs. “I just use if to get coffee throughout the day, I’m not sure.”
“Okay, I’ll come. Just let me finish up here first and I’ll meet you there.”
“Good. Two shops down. Big yellow sign. You won’t miss it.”
“Sounds great.” Document saved.
As I’m about to leave, there’s a ringing coming from the desk. It’s the phone, which hasn’t rung all morning. I had no idea what it sounded like.
“Hello?” I answer.
“That’s not professional.”
“Who’s this?”
“Samantha, your best friend and ally in a world you think is filled with enemies.”
“No, doesn’t ring a bell, sorry. I think you have the wrong number. This is a law firm, lady.”
“Stop dicking around. How’s the first day going?”
“Stellar.”
“One word? That’s it?”
“Pretty much.”
“You’re very funny.” Sammy makes over-exaggerated and, quite frankly, dorky snorting sounds.
“It’s a gift.”
“I was being sarcastic. Stop changing the subject. Seriously, how are you?”
“Okay. I must be quick because I’m on lunch. Well, that’s what I’ve been told, and, girl, I’m hungry as fuck. I’ll give you the short rundown. Hold on to your seat.”
“Listening intently. Seat is bolted down,” she retorts, making me laugh.
“Good. Office: small. Direct boss: a bitch. Overall boss: have not met. Probably a dick—”
“You can’t say that about Trish’s dad.”
“Well, have you met him?”
“No.”
“So possibly a dick it is then. Now stop interrupting.”
“I only interrupted once,” she argues.
“No, there you go again, interrupting. That’s twice now.”
Sammy giggles. “Carry on.”
“Okay. Front desk operator: awesome. Lift: I use it a lot. We’re acquainted. I think we’re friends. Well, it hasn’t stopped on me today so far. Male assistant on the lower level: hot, funny, and does my work for me.”
Her gasp pierces my eardrum. “What? There’s a hot guy? Tell me more!”
“Interrupting,” I say in song.
“I hate when you sing words.”
“No, you don’t. You love it.”
“Continue,” Sammy encourages.
“Computer screen: hurts my eyes, and lunch breaks are taken at a place called Leyton’s and not in the fancy staffroom provided. Apparently, that may be used by most for only coffee. That sums it up, Ginger. I need to go. Ring me tonight. I’ll come ’round?”
“Sounds like a plan, Dorothy.”
“Now if you don’t mind, food is about to be my bitch.”
“Abi …”
“Yeah …”
“It’s good to have you back.”
I smile. “Whatever.”
“Go eat. Love you.”
“Ditto.”
***
The yellow sign is obvious. Nobody could miss such a huge and boring display. Asher is sitting at a booth in the corner of a large open space. Leyton’s is a sandwich house of sorts. This pleases me. I slide my bag and then myself into the seat opposite my lunch companion.
“I’m here,” I announce, grandly.
She snickers. Why she finds me so funny, I have no idea, but she does. “I can see that.”
“What’s good to eat here?”
“Everything, except for the BLT special. Do not get the BLT special.” She points to the image on the menu.
“Right, no special thing. What are you having?”
Her nose scrunches. “Probably an egg, lettuce, and tomato sandwich.”
“Sounds good. Get that by two.” I hand her a ten-dollar note.
She sits there staring at me with money clasped between two fingers.
“What?”
“Am I your waitress?”
“Um. Well, I guess you are. Trust me, I’m accident prone. The less amount of standing and navigating I do, the better.”
“What an odd thing to say.” Her eyes narrow and her lips twist.