Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
I stood. “Now I’m going to eat my sandwich.”
“Fine.”
I scribbled a note.
“What are you writing?”
“To remind myself to get you a thesaurus. Or I could make you a list. Fine is sufficient, but there are other words—for instance, thank you or great job. They sound so much nicer than fine.”
He scowled at me. “Do your job.”
I smiled. “Fine.”
At the door, I paused. “See how boring a word it is? I could have said, ‘Right away, sir,’ or ‘Aye-aye, Captain,’ but I substituted ‘Fine.’ It doesn’t have the same ring, does it?”
I glanced over my shoulder, certain Mr. Bane was fighting a grin. I wasn’t one hundred percent sure, but I was almost positive I saw his lips quirk.
I sat down at my desk, looking over my list of things to do.
I took a bite of my sandwich, looking at the scribbled notes I had found stuffed into desk drawers. One piece of paper noted my new boss’s lunch preferences, which had helped me this morning. Turkey, ham, roast beef. All made the same way, on seeded bread with mayo and mustard. Pickles on the side. The name of the deli where the sandwiches were ordered that had his credit card on file. The underlined note on the bottom made me grin.
No later than 12 or else he gets grumpy.
I tried not to laugh. He was always grumpy. I could only imagine his foul temper if he became hangry.
His list of likes reminded me of my father. He ate a sandwich every day, and those were his top three. Along with egg or tuna salad. I always brought him sandwiches when I went to visit on Wednesdays and Sundays. I left enough for him to have one every day as he said I made the best sandwiches ever.
An idea formed, and I made myself another list. I was going to be so valuable to Mr. Bane, he would never let me go. I’d make sure of it.
Chapter Four
MAGNOLIA
Iwas tired the next morning but arrived at the same time as Mr. Bane. The elevator door was closing, and I rushed toward it. “Hold, please!”
The doors opened, and I was met with Mr. Bane’s scowling countenance. I hurried, not wanting to keep him waiting. My foot caught on the mat on the floor, and I tripped, closing my eyes in anticipation of hitting the floor. But a pair of solid arms caught me, holding me upright. Seconds passed as neither of us moved. He felt so warm, strong, and oddly safe. I tried not to notice how delicious he smelled. Crisp, clean, woodsy. Reminding me of a fall day in the sunshine. I wondered what it would be like, walking in the forest with him, his large hand wrapped around mine, keeping me safe and laughing with me. Complimenting me on—
“Jesus, Myers, you need to watch where you’re going,” he snarled and pushed me away, albeit gently. “Try to stay upright.”
The doors opened, and he strode away, leaving me still mid-fantasy, his voice in my head not so frosty. I sighed as I went to my desk.
Great start to the day.
I delivered his coffee, then stowed the bag I’d brought in the fridge in the break room. I made myself a coffee and returned to my desk, determined to do something with the files.
Around eleven, Mr. Bane came out of his office, frowning at the mess. “What—”
I cut him off. “It will all be back in place today. I’m organizing.”
“Fine.”
I resisted rolling my eyes.
“Staff meeting,” he informed me.
“I’m aware. I see your schedule.”
“I’ll want lunch when it’s done.”
“Fine.”
He did that eyebrow thing, slowly raising it as if he was challenging me. I met his glare with a steady gaze. He waited, then rolled his eyes, apparently not trying to resist the way I had. “Are you coming, Myers?”
“Oh. I wasn’t sure I was supposed to. You never said anything.”
“Staff meeting indicates staff. Of which you are one. For now,” he added after a beat.
I grabbed my notebook and hurried after him, tripping on the cable that ran past my desk. I muttered a curse, rubbing my thigh where I hit it on the edge of the desk. He stopped, shaking his head. “What now?”
I glared. “There’s a cable here, and I keep tripping on it. It’s dangerous.”
“I think you might be the danger, Myers. You seem to invite bad luck. Try to be more careful.”
Then he turned and walked out. I rushed behind him, following him onto the elevator, making a face behind his back, then sticking out my tongue like an angry toddler. What a jerk.
“We’re using the larger boardroom today,” he said, looking straight ahead. “The one on my floor is mainly for the partners and clients.”
I nodded, unsure of what else to say.
We stopped on the right floor, and he held out his arm, indicating I should go first. As I went by, he leaned down, his voice a low hum in my ear. “Always look around enclosed spaces.”