“Okay.” I shake off the strangeness from the conversation and flip to the third page of the map so I can refresh my memory of where my new office is.
Map still in hand, I make my way to the main floor entrance to the school wing. Not wanting to get Wes into any more trouble, I just give him a wave when I pass him at the front desk. He has the phone cradled on his shoulder while his hands fly over the unseen keyboard. He still stops what he’s doing and waves back, giving me an encouraging smile.
I place my keycard on the small, black panel next to the door and hear the click of the lock disengaging. Quickly, I turn the knob and push through the heavy door. The halls look much the same as the staff wing, with lots of wood and polished surfaces, although maybe a little more worn, but still up to my mother’s standard of clean.
I find myself standing near the base of a wide set of stairs. There’s an elevator near the bottom, but I ignore that and look up. I can see all the way to the third floor. The baluster and newel posts are ornate. It’s hard to imagine this place as anything other than what it is now.
I wasn’t able to find much history on Havenfall in my research, but it’s rumored that it’s been in the Stone family for generations. That was before everyone accepted that supernaturals lived far longer lifespans than a human. For all I know, the generations of Stones in residence could be the same original Stones. I wonder if it was built for the sole purpose of what it’s being used for. Why is it so grand?
The halls are still quiet as I slowly make my way up to the third floor where my office is situated. A few doors are open as I pass, but most are closed. From the map layout, it looks like there are only offices up here, since all the classrooms are on the first two floors. I pass all the numbered brass plates until I’m almost at the end of the hall. The door is just barely ajar, and it gives me a leery feeling as I push it open.
From the corridor, I can see a large, wooden desk stationed in the center of the room, just like the other open offices I noticed as I walked by. There’s a wall of bookshelves built in on the left side of the room, and a large window behind the desk. No longer worried I might find a dead animal, I step into the room and a giddy excitement fills my stomach. For months—years, if I’m being honest—I’ve been worried that everything I was doing would be for nothing, but here I am. Standing in my own office at Havenfall Harbor, a place where I can actually do some good.
Walking over to the brown leather chair, I run my hand over the back and feel the supple material under my palm. I pull the seat back a little and it glides out silently on smooth wheels, rolling over the heavy ornate rug beneath it.
I lower myself into the seat and do a happy shimmy while running my fingertips over the glass-like top of the desk.
“Settling in?” a deep voice asks from the open door.
I clear my throat and still, wondering how much of my little dance Griffin saw. “Yes, just getting acquainted.”
Griffin smooths his hand over his lips, but I notice a slight softening around his eyes. “Looks like it,” he deadpans, but for some reason I feel like he’s teasing me.
I narrow my eyes. A door shuts down the hall, and when I look back to where Griffin was standing, he’s gone. I shake my head, he didn’t even say goodbye.
I leave the door open while I turn on the desktop computer. The last page has all my login information and passwords to access all the school databases. I don’t bother signing into my personal email from the computer, knowing that on a system like this all the searches and everything that’s accessed through this portal will be monitored. I’m not worried about anything of mine really, but I have no clue what kind of stuff my mother might send me or say in an email. It wouldn’t be the first time she sent me an anti-supernatural message. She even tried to get me to attend a fundraising event that was funded by the Human Eternal Rights Organization. HERO is exactly the kind of group I’ll be working against.
I spend most of the morning getting acquainted with the school’s software and my computer system. The phone on my desk rings, and I completely blank on how I should answer. It rings a second time and I pick it up quickly.
“This is Quinn Shaw.”I wince as the words come out. I should have just said hello.
“It’s Ally, you coming down for lunch?” She doesn’t react to the way I answered the phone.
I look down at my watch, it’s a few minutes after noon. “Sure, what time will you be there?”
“I’m on my way now. I thought I’d see how your first day is going.”
I put my computer to sleep. “I’ll be right down—wait, do you eat on the staff side or—”
Alice answers before I can finish. “Staff, if not you’ll be sitting with the kids, they don’t have a separate cafeteria.”
“Okay, I’ll be right over. Thanks for thinking of me, Ally.” I hang up, realizing I used her nickname, the same one I heard her friends use last night. It brings a smile to my face.
After pushing in my chair, I look around quickly, making sure I have everything I need. It’s strange not to have my purse. I pat my pockets to ensure I have my keycard, phone, and keys, making a mental note to give Ally my cell phone number.
I pull the door closed until it snaps and turn the handle to make sure it’s locked. It’s not like I have anything in there to worry about, but I also don’t want to return to any surprises either.
My shoulder bumps into someone, and I’m apologizing before I even turn around. “Excuse me, I’m so sor…” My words die off when I see Griffin. The loose pants and linen shirt he was wearing this morning have been replaced by a well-fitted suit. My mouth goes a little dry. A man in a suit has never really been my thing, but that was before I saw Griffin in one. I run my hand over my side and down my pant leg, feeling way underdressed. His shoulders are wide, filling out the jacket that was obviously tailored to fit him. My eyes go to his hands, he’s still wearing the heavy, silver metal rings on his fingers, and it’s such dichotomy with the suit look, but there’s something about it that just looks so damn perfect at the same time.
“We seem to keep bumping into each other,” Griffin comments when I don’t finish my apology.
“I was just thinking the same thing. Sorry about that,” I murmur, and lift my hand, letting him know he can walk without the danger of me slamming into him.
“Everything going okay?” Griffin questions, as he steps down the wide hall. I take it as an invitation to walk with him.
“Wonderfully actually. Alice just invited me to lunch.” I tuck a stray piece of hair behind my ear. I feel like I need to do something with my hands. Why is he making me so nervous? I wasn’t this nervous alone with him in my room last night. It must be the suit.
“Alice Miller?” Griffin tilts his head and peers down at me.
