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“So you think that it was love?” she asks into the phone against her ear. “Love is so fucking overrated. If you are naïve enough to believe a man when he says he cares about you, the heartache is on you. You and only you are responsible for that shit. Do you hear me?”
I stand and listen because there’s no other option at this point.
“Lawrence is the biggest asshole you’ll ever meet.” She glances at me before she casts her gaze back down to her blood red fingernails. “The only reason you’re with him is because of his net worth. Don’t even try to deny it.”
I clear my throat because I need to be back at work soon and her conversation doesn’t seem to be nearing an end.
She holds the phone close to her chest and looks up at me. “What can I do for you?”
“I’m here to see ...”
“You and half the women in this city,” she interrupts. “Let me guess...you had the most incredible night of your life with him and you’re worried that he lost your number since you haven’t heard from him since.”
“No, it’s not like that at all.” I scurry past her words, not wanting to engage in any conversation that includes details of Griffin’s sex life. “I’m just wondering if he’s available.”
She drops her phone on the desk and mimes air quotes. “He doesn’t do relationships so, yes, he’s available.”
I’m tempted to turn and walk out. I don’t see how it makes good business sense to have this woman meet and greet the public, but I shoulder on. “Can you call him and see if he’ll come out here to talk to me?”
“Dylan’s busy,” she begins with a heavy sigh. “You’ll have to sit and...”
“Piper?” Joyce pops her head out of one of the many offices. “I thought that was your voice.”
I turn to where she’s exiting the office and coming toward me. I wouldn’t have considered her a friendly face until now but compared to the woman I’ve been talking to, Joyce is a saint.
“What are you doing here?” She stops short of where I am. “Did you find out who the man was who robbed you?”
The woman behind the desk finally ends her call. “Joyce, man the phones. I’m going to lunch.”
Joyce rolls her eyes as the woman steps away from the desk. I can tell there’s no love lost between the two of them.
“That’s Fiona.” Joyce walks over to the reception desk. “Ignore her. She’s pissed at the boss and was unloading to a friend on the phone. I’ll have a talk with her later.”
I wave my hand in the air as I nervously chuckle. “It’s fine. I think she thought I was here to see Griffin’s partner.”
Her brows pop up. “Dylan Colt is his name. He had a brief fling with Fiona before Griffin hired her on. She keeps trying to pick up where they left off. Dylan keeps everything between them strictly professional. Today she’s on a crusade to warn all of her friends to avoid men. ”
I’m instantly grateful that I don’t have to deal with workplace drama. “I’d like to see Griffin if he has time.”
She looks at the screen of the computer sitting on the desk. “His next appointment isn’t for another thirty minutes. I’ll walk you back to his office. He’ll be glad to see you.”
“Are you sure you shouldn’t call him to tell him I’m here?” I point at the phone in her hand, unsure of how Griffin is going to react when I show up in his office without warning.
“I know Mr. Kent better than he knows himself. “ She steps toward me. “Follow me, Piper. I promise you my boss will have a smile on his face the moment he sees you.”
***
“If you’re anyone other than Joyce, you’re fired. If you’re Joyce, you should have knocked.”
I look past Joyce’s shoulder to where Griffin is standing near a window. His back is to us and he has one hand pressed against the glass. He’s wearing a pair of black pants and a white button-down shirt. The sleeves are rolled up to his elbows.
“I don’t knock when I bring welcome visitors.” Joyce takes a measured step into his large office. It’s decorated in masculine tones with a large glass and steel desk as the focal point. “Piper Ellis is here to see you, sir.”
He turns to face us. “You can go, Joyce. Shut the door and hold my next appointment until Ms. Ellis leaves.”
I’m tempted to reach over and grab Joyce’s arm to stop her in place. Her short blonde curls bounce as she nods. “If you need anything, sir, you know where to find me.”
I stand silently as I hear the door click shut behind her.
