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“Alright, babe,” I said finally. “I won’t work with him anymore.”
****
My phone zinged to life on my desk and I picked it up, cradling it between my shoulder and ear as I finished sending my email.
“Can you do me a favor?”
No ‘hello’ and no ‘please’. It was one of two people. The frigid chill that was signature Natasha was replaced by sugar and caramel drawl which meant it had to be Missy Diaz.
I turned from the computer screen, giving her my full attention. Not because she deserved it mind you, but because I had to be on the ball around her. She’d sent me five press releases riddled with grammatical errors and incorrect information, clearly hoping I’d miss it and would crash and burn.
“That depends on the favor, Missy.”
“It’s nothing hardcore and you’re clearly very capable.”
I rolled my eyes. There was no way I was going to write this chick a blank check so she could screw me over. “Tell me what you need and I might be able to help.”
She let out a loud, obnoxious sigh. “I thought it wouldn’t be a big deal, considering you’ve been the go-to during the Wallace project.”
My stomach clenched. “W-Wallace project?”
“Right. I’m supposed to be meeting him in ten, but something came up and I need to leave the office.”
I knew that Jacob and I had an agreement. A verbal understanding that I’d keep my distance as far as Cade was concerned, but it wasn’t public knowledge because it would bring up a host of questions.
“Me? I, uh--”
“You’re just going over the damages and giving him the information for the gift bags we’re sending over to Jon’s studio.” She cleared her throat. “He’s insisting on delivering it in person.”
I bit my lip, Cade gaining some much needed respect points. Delivering those packages was the least he could do for the mess and inconvenience he caused. Still, I didn’t want to break the deal with Jacob. “Is there someone else?”
“What?” she barked, not letting me off that easy. “I didn’t hear you.” She let out another dramatic sigh. “Look if you can’t handle it--”
“I can handle it.” I said, my ego doing the talking. CrapcrapCRAP.
“Cool. I’ll just send him up to your office.”
The line clicked. Of course she hung up without a thank you. But I had bigger fish to fry. Like how I’d just agreed to meet with Cade.
I jumped up from my chair, my eyes shooting to my purse and jacket hanging near the door. I could sneak out and claim I forgot. That might work with Cade, but my last minute amnesia would raise all sorts of red flags with Missy. She already had me in her sights, undoing my efforts at making friends as soon as I introduced myself. Even Snap Girl from the research department didn’t want anything to do with me. When I tried to eat lunch with her she trashed half her sandwich rather than being seen talking to me.
I crossed my arms against my chest, pacing back and forth as I tried to convince myself that Jacob would understand. At this stage, I had no problem putting the whole thing on Missy.
I put on a mask of indifference as she pranced into the office without so much as a knock. She handed over a folder and a card with the address where Cade could pick up the gifts.
“Thank you so much for covering for me,” she said batting her spider lashes. “You are a lifesaver.” She turned on her heels, pausing at the door. “I’ll definitely let Jacob know that you were indispensable.”
“That’s not necessary,” I blurted, panic gripping my voice. I let out a choked, nervous laugh when she glanced back at me, eyeing me strangely. “I mean I appreciate it.” I scoured my mind for some way to explain why I didn’t need her to speak up for me without drawing any more attention. “I mean, I appreciate the gesture but I’m just being a team player.”
It must have been enough to throw her off my scent because she breezed out of my office with a shrug, I dropped my painful grin and started freaking out.
It’s going to be fine, I breathed in and out, gripping the edge of my desk. You’re a professional, remember? You kept it together when he--
“Ahem.”
I exhaled, clearing everything from my face before turning to him. Gone was the leer in his eyes and the eau de drunk. In its place was the cool, collected guy I’d met. He stepped into my office, decked in a white button down shirt and light jeans that hung low on his waist. His eyes raked over my face and he must have seen something I couldn’t hide away because he stopped just inside, giving me space.
“I’m sorry you had to see me like that,” he said, visibly embarrassed.
