I knew he was right, but that didn’t make me any less nervous when we walked into the Steele building together thirty minutes later.
While I was right on time for my usual schedule, Konni was coming in later than normal.People paused to greet him and glanced at me.Most of them were just glances.Some of them were curious.None looked judgmental, not even when we reached the executive floor.
The Snack Pack were all at their stations waiting for our arrival.
Behind the cover of his screen, Bomir pointed emphatically at Konni’s office.
A warning.
“I’ll get your coffee ready,” I said, bailing on Konni with a quick about-face.
He sighed but didn’t try to stop me.I took my sweet time making his post-Lianna recovery brew.Thankfully, my strategy paid off, and she wasn’t in his office when I entered.
“What was this morning’s drama?”I asked, handing him his coffee.
“An extension for the Southside proposal deadline for her overworked design teams, and Pennly lost an investor he was counting on to go with the upgraded proposal on the Riverfront project.”
“She’s asking for an extension because they didn’t come up with anything better than what I’d proposed.And if the Riverfront is a sound investment, which I believe it is, Pennly will find a replacement easily enough.”
“He did.However, they won’t invest if you have anything to do with the project.”
Crossing my arms, I leaned against his desk.“I’m betting Ms.Stonestock had some thoughts about that, which I’m not interested in hearing.But here are my thoughts… Rather than focusing on an investor who is easily influenced by gossip news, Pennly should find one who can see the value in the proposal.”
“We have the same thoughts.It’s like we’re meant to be.”
I snorted and straightened away from his desk.“If there’s nothing else, I’m going to go see what other marketing projects I can butt into.”
He chuckled as I left.
When I wasn’t shadowing Edi, I reviewed the list of Steele’s active projects.It was impressively large and diverse, with projects that were much smaller in scale and cost than the two I’d seen.One, a little boutique caught my eye, mostly because I knew the area.It was close to our house.
I became so absorbed in reviewing the project that time slipped by unnoticed.
“Ready?”Konni asked, startling me.
Turning, I asked, “For what?”I remembered the lunch meeting with his mom at the last second.
“Yep.I was just about to leave.”I stood and patted his arm.“You’re staying here.”
He studied my determined expression.“Let’s compromise, and I’ll walk you to the car.”
Very aware of our avid audience, I agreed and ignored Bomir’s smirk as we left.
Lianna caught us by the elevators.“There’s another issue with the?—”
“I’ll be back in five minutes,” Konni said.“It can wait until then.”
Her gaze met and held mine as the elevators closed.
One problem at a time,I silently told myself.First, Konni’s mom.Then Lianna.
Konni waited until we were outside to say, “What if I just rode along and stayed in the car with Harlow?”
Harlow, who had already opened the door for me, covered his mouth and cleared his throat.I was glad he found Konni funny, too.
“Why?”I asked.
“I’m worried about your safety.”
