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‘You think she won’t make time for you?’ Lloyd guesses, too accurately.
‘I don’t needyouto swan in and fix my problems. It’s – it’s not even a problem! In fact, I’m going to bringit up at the meeting next week. Fiona will be there, and so will Simon from Finance,andthe project manager. Someone will have to own up and take responsibility, if they’re all put on the spot.’
I hope.
God, I hope. I don’t have a backup plan, otherwise.
But Lloyd looks – sort ofimpressed, actually. He hums quietly, nodding, and clicks onto the next slide to scan that one. I feel a little flicker of warmth in my chest, and have to suppress a smile before he notices and has one more thing to feel smug about.
We finally wrap up when my computer dings, a reminder popping up on screen that I have a meeting in fifteen minutes.
Lloyd starts to get up, and does that thing where he only stands halfway, one hand braced against the desk and the other on the arm of his chair.
‘Does that thing’, like I know all his quirks and habits by now. I don’t.
But I do know this one.
‘Can you –’
‘Yes, Fletcher, I will send you the slide deck, so you can give me copious notes which I may or may not choose to take on board.’
He grins at me. I should be used to it, but I’m not. It’s no less heart-stopping than it was the first time.This time, he winks, and I think my heart actuallydoesstop for a moment. He should have no right to look so bloody good all the time.
‘You’re a star. Thanks, Annalise.’
‘I’vetoldyou it’s just Anna.’
‘Whatever you say, Barbie.’
‘You call me Barbie one more time, I’ll report you to HR.’
‘And risk them bringing up your file and realizing you’re only a first-year?’ he asks in a low, teasing voice that draws me in closer against all my better instincts. He smirks and pushes away from the desk – from me. ‘Sure thing.Barbie.’
‘Oh, piss off already, Fletcher.’
With Lloyd’s notes on my presentation landing in my inbox at four o’clock that afternoon, I push away from my desk and decide to take a breather. Loath as I am to admit it, he’s made some good points. I don’t want Lloyd’s help, but heisthe font of all Arrowmile knowledge – I’ve grudgingly come to accept that I’d be silly to ignore that.
The first time he sent me back a pile of notes, I was mortified. I wasn’t expecting them, and immediately messaged him to remind him inno uncertain termsthat I didnotneed his help and did notwanthis help, either.Lloyd was quick to point out that he’s pretty well known across the office for giving notes and feedback on things – I wasn’t getting any kind of special treatment.
Anyway, I’ll tackle this latest batch of notes this evening; I’ll only stress about them all night otherwise. I don’t mind staying late, but Idothink I should take a break.
Outside, I take a gulp of fresh air. It’s somehow cooler out in the blazing sunshine and still city heat than it was in the office, and the sun feels good on my skin, breathing a little life back into me. I walk to one of the nice coffee shops a few streets over to grab myself a Frappuccino and a snack.
I’m not paying very much attention as I go back into the office; my mind is already on the details of the Vane engine and Lloyd’s notes. There’s a mass exodus underway as people escape a little bit early to go and make the most of the summer afternoon. I have to wait for a break in the tide to find an empty barrier to swipe my way through, and then wait for the lift, which seems to stop on almost every floor on its way down.
But finally, the lift makes it to the ground floor, and I wriggle past the group of people on their way out. I reach for the button for the eleventh floor.
‘Sorry, do you mind pressing number twelve as well?’ says a voice behind me, and I jump out of myskin, choking on the Frappuccino I just took a sip of; I hadn’t realized there was anybody else in here.
Coughing into the back of my right hand, I jab the button with my left.
‘Thanks. I’ve been stuck in here ages trying to get out. But you know our motto – at Arrowmile, we alwaysstrive to keep moving forward,’ my lift-mate jokes, and there’s something familiar about the way he speaks …
I’m already rolling my eyes, turning to face Lloyd with a wholly unimpressed look.
‘I’m surprised you didn’t just command your legions of adoring subjects to step aside for you to –’
Oh.
