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Chapter Three
“I was thinking.” Mary Ellen dropped her gaze and fiddled with an imaginary speck on her skirt. “While you’re interviewing this afternoon, I could get started on the quarterlies.”
Cameron frowned. “Why would you do that? We don’t start the quarterlies until next week, and besides, you’re interviewing, too.”
“I don’t have to, though, do I? I mean, ultimately, the decision is yours.”
“Look at me.”
Mary Ellen pursed her lips. Damn. He was onto her.
“Mary Ellen.” He sounded stern.
She reluctantly lifted her gaze to meet his.
“What’s going on?
She made a face. There wasn’t much she didn’t tell Cameron. He was her boss, but he was also her friend. He was one of the people she admired most in the world. Maybe that was why she didn’t want to admit what was going on. She knew he valued her, as a person and as his assistant. She didn’t want him to think any less of her because of the whole David thing. What she really didn’t want was for him to see David any differently because of her. If he thought David was the best man for the job, then he should hire him. She didn’t want to get in the way of what was best for the business. “I don’t know.”
Cameron leaned his elbows on the desk and looked her in the eye. “Are you okay?”
Tears welled up in her eyes. Where the hell had they come from? She blinked them away angrily. “I’m fine!”
Cameron looked worried now. “You’re obviously not. Do you want to tell me about it?”
“No. I don’t. I just don’t want to be part of the interviews this afternoon, that’s all. I do everything you ever ask of me. Can I just go with a flat no, an unexplained no on this one?”
“Sure. If you don’t want to do it, you don’t have to. Are you sick? Do you want to go home?”
Mary Ellen thought about it. “I’m not sick, but you know what? I think I will go home at lunchtime. I’ll take a half day.”
“Okay. Whatever you need. Go now if you want.”
“No. I’ve got plenty to be getting on with. And in case you’d forgotten, I need the Danson report from you.”
Cameron smiled. “I haven’t forgotten. I just need another hour on it.”
“Good. If you do that now, I can take it home with me this afternoon.”
“No. If you’re going home, you’re not going to work. Either have a rest and put your feet up, or go out and do something fun, but no work.”
Mary Ellen smiled back. “Thanks, Cam.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to tell me what’s up?”
She shook her head. She’d love to tell him, but she couldn’t. “Nah, just put it down to hormones or something.”
Cameron sat back in his chair, looking a little uncomfortable. “Ah. Okay. Sorry. I didn’t think.”
Mary Ellen laughed and got up. “No worries. I’ll be in my office if you need me.”
When she got to her desk, she stared at one of the photos on it. It was a group picture from a barbeque last summer. She stood between Cameron and Chelsea. Their parents were on one side, and Antonio and his brother Marcos were on the other. She loved that photo. It showed everything good about her life here. She peered at Antonio. She’d always loved that he was in the photo, but she’d never really looked at him before. At least, not beyond seeing the handsome face and sexy, muscular body. Now she looked into his eyes. Did they show any sign of the guy who’d spoken to her last night? He was smiling at the camera, his arm around his brother. No. There was nothing there to hint at a kind, compassionate heart, just a good-looking guy having a good time.
She needed to get some perspective back. He’d done a kind thing last night. He’d seen she was upset and had tried to make her feel better. He was a better person than she’d realized, but that was all, and that was the end of it. The next time she ran into him, she’d thank him, and perhaps in future, she wouldn’t try so hard to stay out of his way, but that was all. His act of kindness would cost her the guy she fantasized about—that guy had no personality or soul, he was just a handsome face with a hot body. Perhaps he’d be able to fill a new role as just a decent guy she knew. She chuckled. Perhaps she should think of him now as a tart with a heart.
Last night was done with. Hopefully, after the interviews today, she’d be able to put the whole episode behind her. She had to believe that Cameron wouldn’t think David was the right man for the job. He was good at what he did, she knew that, but he wasn’t a good human being. She had to trust that Cam would see that and hire someone else. If he didn’t … Well, she’d just have to cross that puddle when it rained.Ifit rained. Bigifthere. For now, she was going to finish up with the report she’d been working on, then she was going take herself home for the afternoon. She’d rather stay here and work, but it was best if she wasn’t around. She didn’t want to risk running into David if she could help it. Maybe she should hit the treadmill and do penance for last night’s dinner.
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