Page 18 of Bobby

“Yes, I do. I’m meeting with a few others today who I plan to pull into this new team as well. By Wednesday, I want us all on the same page and rolling over the files. Spencer didn’t give me much, but he confessed to doing this for years. I suspect more than a few files are compromised, and I want to know about them immediately and make sure the errors aren’t more significant.”

And the embezzlement isn’t ongoing. He leaves it out, but it goes without saying. There’s a chance that others, like Bobby already suspected, are in on this.

“I want to keep this on a need-to-know basis until we get a grasp of the full damage. Do you think your colleague can handle that?”

I don’t know why the question of my loyalty to this company isn’t even on his mind like it is for Missy, but butterflies take root while I nod in earnest.

“She’s one of a kind. I’ve even trusted her to watch my girls once or twice.” Not sure if that’s the proof he’s looking for to trust her, but he must know by now that my girls are my world. And I don’t trust them in the hands of just anyone.

“Works for me. I’ll get her name added to the list to discuss it and see if it’s something she wants to be part of.” He types something on his computer and then focuses on me again. “What else? Any other areas you wish to discuss in your new contract? Any changes you want to go over?”

I shake my head. “No, your offer is more than generous. Thank you.”

He nods but then says nothing. Neither of us speaks as he stares at me. I worry my bottom lip between my teeth for half a second before deciding.

Standing, I hold out my hand to him, and as expected, he rises and takes it. “Thank you, Bobby. Not only do I appreciate this opportunity to start on this team, but I also appreciate you taking the time to share your breakfast with me.”

He holds my hand a little tighter when I try to pull it out of his grasp the first time but then lets me go. I put my old shoes in the new shoebox and go back to my laptop, closing it and putting my contract on top along with the shoebox.

“I’ll wait for human resources to send me the contract to sign, and I’ll wait for further instructions on where you intend to place the new team.”

I don’t expect it to be on level seven. There’s zero privacy there. If he wants to keep this away from prying eyes, it will have to be on another level that I haven’t been to, one that’s closed off from unwanted visitors.

“Thank you, Willow. This morning has been very productive for me as well. I should have the contract sent over within the hour. Please read it over once more just in case you see something not listed properly, and come find me or email me with any questions. I’ll also be in touch with your relocation in the building.”

I try not to hyperventilate that the boss wants me to come find him if I have questions. Not human resources or someone else, but him directly. And from his whole “don’t call me sir” speech, I know he means it. He wouldn’t say it if he didn’t intend for me to come to him for something.

He stands the entire time it takes me to leave, and when I close the door behind me, I see Marco is standing by his seat. I just nod to him and the man behind the desk, who gives me a raised eyebrow, before scurrying away.

I’m not fleeing. This is simply going back to my desk. Sure, I do it with a quickened pace and don’t make eye contact with anyone who passes as I go, but it’s not a retreat.

This is a victory lap. I just need to get to my desk and sign the damn contract before this Cinderella miracle moment disappears and the clock strikes midnight.

I’m sipping my Diet Coke through a straw and munching on the last of my carrots when Missy comes over to me. I’ve been watching the elevator not so casually for the last hour, ever since she told me she had a random meeting to attend. Poor girl thought she was being fired. I said nothing other than “I’m sure it isn’t anything like that.”

Bobby trusted me to keep this discreet, and I don’t want to dishonor his wishes, especially after just signing off on the new contract. I’ve already logged the hours I predicted I spent working on unpaid overtime. I couldn’t recall all of them, but I did what I could.

“Oh. My. God,” she squeaks out before going to her side of the desk and leaning over the cubicle with both arms folded over the top. “Did that really just happen?”

“Depends. What happened?” I’m not giving anything away, because I honestly don’t know what was said in her meeting. It could have actually been a random one, since it wasn’t clear who she was meeting with. I’m not about to assume anything.

She looks around before leaning closer over the barricade between us, whispering softly. “You and I are going to be part of a new team to look for financial discrepancies that might be linked to an embezzlement ring that Mr. Folly was a part of?”

Guess the meeting was exactly what I thought it was.

“Yes.” I stand and lean just as close to speak low with her. “Did you accept?”

“Duh! Did you see the offer level? I would have been stupid not to.”

I laugh, knowing I felt the same way.

“That’s like a twenty-grand pay increase.” She shakes her head in wonderment, but it has me stunned. I know what Missy makes, and this doesn’t match. She’s been open about it because I asked about the full-time benefits and average pay, and she was very honest and shared more than I expected. Still, what she got and what I got are completely different amounts.

“Ms. Frazzer.”

I jump with a gasp, and Missy lets out a cry she covers up with her hand over her mouth as we both turn to see Marco standing right next to us. We were so focused on each other that we missed him showing up. I half wonder if he’s a ninja, because I could have sworn I would have heard if someone else had come close. Marco just has special skills that make him unique in that manner.

“Jesus, Marco, don’t do that again. I’m too young to have a heart attack.”