“She flushed. We all know you know you’re good looking.”
“Only good looking?”
“Don’t let your head explode too much,” Blair said drily. “I don’t have time to clean up that mess.”
“Got it.” He was going to miss this banter more than anything. “But good looking makes me sound average. Please, my ego doesn’t need that kind of hit.”
Blair rolled her eyes. “You’re so full of yourself. Try to reel that in some in the beginning.”
“It’s going to be hard to do with you here. Or am I not allowed to be myself around you like I’ve been for years?”
“I think you should but with some restraint. She’ll see how you can be, even if it’s not directed at her.”
There was a knock at the door. “Come in,” he said.
Nora’s head popped around the corner. “I’m sorry to interrupt. There is a Conrad Baldwin on the line. I said you were in a meeting, but he said it’s important and is always patched through. He knew I wasn’t Blair. I verified he’s the president of one of your properties quickly as to not just assume. I hope that was okay?”
“Always let Conrad through,” he said. “He’s also family.”
“Oh,” Nora said. “I’ll make a note of that.”
“I’ll be out in a minute,” Blair said. “Thanks.” Nora shut the door and Blair turned back to him. “I like she did that. Your phone is on do not disturb. She verified someone wasn’t blowing smoke up her ass before she came in.”
That definitely showed initiative, especially in a position like hers.
He picked the line up. “Hi, Conrad. Sorry for the delay. I’m in with Blair and we are training her replacement.”
“Oh,” Conrad said. “That’s why I was calling.”
He frowned. “Do you know someone interested?”
“I did, but it doesn’t matter now,” Conrad said. “It’s all good. Someone I know from the hospital that has a good ten years left before she retires, but was an assistant to the head of our department. She’s not happy with the new man in charge and it’s not your concern as you’ve got someone in place. But I can send you Wendy’s information for someone else or if this person doesn’t work out.”
“You can do that,” he said. “Thanks for reaching out though. We hired Nora last week and today is her first day.”
“That’s what I get for waiting to call,” Conrad said. “Been spending some time with my grandkids on the island and Blake had let it slip last week you were looking for someone.”
“I appreciate it,” he said.
“I’ll let you get back to your meeting,” Conrad said and hung up.
He picked his phone up, called Blair’s desk knowing Nora would answer. “Hello.” She sounded nervous and he didn’t want that.
“Can you come in here?”
“On the way.” She hung up on him, just like Blair always did. Oddly, he was okay with it. There was a knock on the door, then it opened. “Yes?”
“Come in,” he said. “Have a seat. First off, I just wanted to say that I appreciate you vetting the call. Blair will give you a list of who to always push through and I’ll add or take those people off as they get on my nerves or my good side.”
Nora smiled when he’d added that. “Good to know.”
“As for Conrad Baldwin, you know I own a stake in his company, but his daughter, Blake, is married to my brother Egan. I actually owned a smaller stake before Blake even moved here, though I was a silent stakeholder and still am.”
“Got it,” Nora said. She was typing into the tablet in front of her.
“How do you do that?”
She looked up. “Do what?”
