Page 44

“Yes, thank you,” I reply with a small smile and raised brow.

“Good, I just wanted to make sure you are settling in fine,” he continues.

“She’s good,” Julian snaps at Declan.

I notice the others watching, probably wondering if I’ll be one of them or a spy for the CEO.

“Perfect, I’ll let our friend know you’re good,” he grins. “Continue,” he says, then walks out.

I turn to Ice; he shrugs, letting me know he doesn’t know about Bruce sending Declan down.

“Let’s get back to it,” Julian says. “Alan, you will work with Lexi today. Show her what you do. Tomorrow will be Tricia, and the day after, Vivian.”

“That works,” Alan says.

“What about me?” Tom asks.

“Vivian will show her everything she needs. If we need anything from you, I’ll let you know, but right now a broad view is enough for this week,” Julian says. Tom nods.

“So, what about him?” Tricia says, nodding at Ice.

“You wouldn’t know I’m here unless you attack her,” Ice says with a grin, which shocks me. I expect his usual grumpy look.

“You are kind of hard to miss,” she replies.

“Trust me, I can be as quiet as a mouse,” he says again, smiling.

“Now that I would like to see,” she says, grinning at him with fluttering lashes.

They hold each other’s gaze. We can all feel the tension between them. Oh my God, they are flirting. He’s so not going to hear the last of this from me.

“Now that we are all done, come on Lexi. I’ll show you to your desk and Ice’s desk,” Julian says.

Everyone rises and grabs their laptops.

“I get a desk?” Ice questions.

“We can’t have you standing like a monument behind her all day or crowding her space,” Julian says.

Ice chuckles.

I follow Julian as we all file out, past a few desks with more eyes on us, then a narrow hallway. He swipes his card and the door slides open into another office space. The team goes to their desks, and Julian points to mine and Ice’s beside it. Tricia is behind Ice. Vivian is behind me. Tom is in front of Ice. Alan is in front of me. All seven of us are in a closed-off space away from prying eyes, with large windows. This, I like.

“Dock your computer and I’ll show you around, like the lunchroom and stuff,” Julian says.

He walks further back and swipes his badge again.

“This is the fastest way in and out.”

In a few steps, we’re at reception, where Mandy waves. He turns again and there’s a mid-sized lunchroom. Further down is the bathroom. We head back through the shortcut to my desk. “If you need anything, my office is over there,” he says, pointing to the corner.

“Thank you,” I say as he nods and heads off.

Alan reaches over my desk. “Let me know when you’re ready. We can start onboarding,” he says.

“I’m ready now,” I reply.

“Okay. Come over, or should I?” he asks.