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“See? Didn’t even have to say it.” She pushed the iPad at me. “Fill out your pertinent info, and I’ll order your badge. It’ll be ready when you finish your day. Just stop over and pick it up on your way out.”
“Thanks.” I went to the U-shaped set of chairs around a coffee table. Instead of magazines, there were slots for four full-sized iPads charging in a large hub. There was also a place to plug in cell phones.
I filled in my name and social security number, but paused on my address information. I couldn’t exactly put my grandmother’s house there. At least not until I got it back. “Philomena, forgive me,” I muttered. Most of my life was spent in the Lady’s Cove Gallery, so I used the building space behind it as an address. The owner, Philomena Stanwick, was my first patron and my first boss.
Saving her gallery should count for at least a tiny white lie.
The rest of the details were fairly easy to fill out. My twenty-five years on the planet had netted me a pathetic work history. The gallery had been my internship and my main job until my glass had started turning a profit.
I went back to the desk and set the iPad on the ledge.
“That was quick.” She took the tablet.
“My résumé is small but mighty.”
“Well, nice to meet you.” She glanced down at the iPad, tapped around before looking satisfied, and put it down. “I’m Violet Donnelly, head of security.” She looked over my shoulder. “And there’s Mr. Hollister.”
I turned around. Jack was in a gray suit today, and his tie was still on, though it was already loosened at his neck. “Morning, Mr. Hollister.”
“Ah, c’mon now, Grace. We went through this. Jack.”
“Jack.”
He nodded at the security guard. “Hiya, Stretch.”
Violet sighed. “Can’t even let her think we’re professional for one day?”
“Why bother? She already has to work with Blake. That’s enough to handle for anyone. She might as well know the rest of us are friendly.”
She crossed her arms and cocked her hip again. “Don’t mind this one. Blake isn’t bad, he’s just driven.”
“If by driven she means an insane workaholic who doesn’t believe in sleep, then no—he’s not bad at all.”
“You love it, Jack.”
“Yeah, I do.” He waggled his brows. “See ya, Stretch. Thai for lunch?”
“Yes,” she said with a happy sigh. “I’ll have it here for two.”
Jack looked down at me. “You like Thai?”
Oh, it was my turn to talk. “Who doesn’t? Anything with chicken and spicy peanut sauce works for me.”
“See? She’s going to fit in just fine.” He put his arm around my shoulders and dragged me against him. “Okay, let’s go do this, shall we?” He peered down at me. “Did you forget your umbrella?”
“Today was so far past an umbrella, I gave up.”
He laughed. “Well, I’ll give you the three-cent tour. The bulk of Blake’s empire hinges on glass. We use it for security measures, both to shield and protect.”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
“Well, if you notice—the glass looks opaque from one side and translucent from the other.”
“Yes. It’s interesting.”
“Innovative, really.”
“What makes it so special? We already have tinted glass that does the same thing.”
