“You spend a lot of time in Ethan’s office.”
Nora swirled around quickly in her office. She’d had her back to the door while she pulled a file out when that comment was made.
Not Heather from finance, but Colleen this time. Darin’s assistant. Someone a bit older, more chatty, and not afraid to say what was on her mind.
“Excuse me?”
“I said you’re in Ethan’s office a lot with the door closed.”
Stay calm. Be firm but professional. You’ve done this a million times. Only now it meant more. It held more substance and carried more weight to not crack when confronted.
She took a calming breath and explained, “Part of my job is confidentiality, as you know yourself. Is there something you need or needed me for when I wasn’t at my desk?”
What she wanted to do was explain nothing at all. It wasn’t as if it was their business. Or anyone’s. But then it’d come off defensive and she couldn’t do that either.
Blair had told her before that she’d be in Ethan’s office with the door shut at least half the time and so far it wasn’t even half. And she’d been watching it for her own guilty reasons.
She wasn’t counting things before or after hours when others weren’t even in the building.
Like two days ago when she thought someone got into his office who didn’t need to be. Or shouldn’t.
It was silly on her part to think it was anyone other than Ethan.
In her gut, she knew who it was. She went in there hoping to catch him. Maybe to fill in that fantasy she’d confessed.
And he fulfilled part of it.
It would have been a great time to say she was on birth control since she was positive he didn’t carry condoms on him. At least she hoped to hell he didn’t during the workday.
“No,” Colleen said. “I’m bringing you these reports since I have to drop something off to Mitchell from Darin.” Colleen moved into her office, then grabbed the door and shut it. “Can I give you a word of advice?”
“Sure,” she said, putting a smile on her face. “I’m always up to taking suggestions.”
“You’re young. Very pretty. There is talk that you’re Norris’s daughter, but no one wants to be the one to ask him.” Her expression didn’t change. Nor did she open her mouth. Colleen only laughed. “I’m not sure you’re in with Ethan more than Blair was.”
“I’m not,” she said. “But I’m not really keeping track, just doing my job.”
“I figured as much, but people get chatty. If you were older…”
“Heavier, uglier, and ruder, no one would think a thing, would they?” she asked, lifting her chin. This was where she wasn’t going to back down.
She wasn’t snapping. She was being honest.
“They would not,” Colleen said, nodding her head.
“I’ve been the new person before and that is the one who always gets talked about. More if she’s not open or outgoing.”
“You’re outgoing, just not open. I think if people got to know you a little, then they’d feel better.”
“It’s not really my job to make them feel better, is it? I’m not trying to be mean, just being blunt.”
“Which I like. And something you need in that position. I apologize for saying what I did. Maybe it was a test on my end.”
She didn’t want to get worked up, but part of her felt it coming. “I wasn’t aware I needed to be tested on anything or by anyone other than Ethan. Mitchell at the most.”
“I wanted to see if you could handle yourself. I get along with Carolyn, but she keeps to herself. Liz, she’s always miserable, but who wouldn’t be working for Norris?”
Carolyn was Mason’s assistant. “I’ve heard,” she said. It was all she was admitting.
