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I’m momentarily speechless. Charlie is warning me off Lisa because I’ve dated around before? Then the rest of his statement hits me, and my stomach gives a little flip. Charlie thinks Lisa is attracted to me?
“I can’t possibly have that effect on her. And if I did, wouldn’t you have that same effect? We’re virtually identical.”
“She doesn’t get flustered around me,” Charlie says.
“And she was flustered around me?” I ask, curious what that might mean.
“She definitely seemed a little jumpy.”
My stomach sinks. “That’s because I scared the shit out of her. Not intentionally.” I raise my hand in defense before Charlie can jump to any conclusions. “It was getting dark out, she was all alone, and suddenly a strange guy is standing at her office door. Why would you leave her alone in here anyway? You’re responsible for everyone in the office. If something happens, it comes back to you and to the company. It’s a bad idea to leave any of them here on their own at night with the door open.” I turn the table back onto Charlie and safer ground.
“The door wasn’t open,” Charlie protests. “Lisa was supposed to lock it behind us. I assumed it was unlocked when we got back because she opened it for you.”
“Nope, I walked right in. I get the feeling she went straight to her office and buried her nose in that laptop after your meeting.”
Charlie laughs. “You’re probably right. If she’s got words floating around in her head, the building could be burning down and she wouldn’t notice until after she’d put them all on paper.”
“That pretty much sums up the scene I walked into last night. Next time make her walk to the door with you and lock it. Better yet, don’t leave her alone. Or anyone,” I add for effect, hoping it will distract Charlie from noticing that my first thought was about Lisa.
“You’re right, I shouldn’t leave any of them alone. But I can’t be here all the time. I have meetings with schools, and hopefully soon I’ll have investor meetings. That’ll keep me out all hours of the day. Plus, half the time they work from their own homes or they come in here during odd hours.”
“That’s the problem with using a space like this instead of an office that is designed to help companies with staffing needs like yours.”
“Please don’t start. We’ve been through this. You know my reasons.”
“You’re right, I’m sorry. But I’m getting a security system installed for their safety.” For her safety. Even if I wasn’t slightly infatuated with the woman after our brief encounter, it’s clear she won’t take note of her surroundings unless and until she’s done writing. I’ll just have to do it for her.
“I love that idea, thank you.”
“I needed to do it anyway. Having my older brother in here just moves it to the top of the priority list,” I tease.
“Please,” Charlie scoffs. “I’m only four minutes older than you.”
“Still older, though,” I chuckle. “And I’ll never get tired of watching you squirm when I say it.”
“Why are you here again?” Charlie asks, exasperated.
“The signatures.”
“Oh right.” Charlie shuffles through the papers on his desk to find the envelope, pausing when he comes across a file folder that had been buried at the bottom. “Shoot, I forgot to give these to Lisa. She might need them for the competitor analysis she’s working on.”
“Great.” I snatch the folder off Charlie’s desk. “I’ll drop it by her office and apologize for scaring her last night.”
“Actually, she’s not here today. Most of them aren’t. Fridays are the perfect day to work at home.” My stomach sinks, again. “Simon is here, though.”
“Simon?”
“Our lead developer. You should talk to him. He’s a genius. He’d love the opportunity to explain what he’s working on,” Charlie says as he reaches for his phone and pecks away madly at the screen.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Telling Simon to walk you through the software in excruciating detail.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because I’m older.” Charlie laughs. “And because you’ve currently got a lot of free time.”
“My business problems are funny to you?” Since Charlie uses Erik’s company for data storage, he’s aware I think there might have been a breech, but like Erik, he thinks I’m overreacting.
