Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
She came out a moment later, carrying her dirty plate and empty glass. She set everything on the dining table to be cleaned later and took a seat across from me. “How’d it go?”
“Fine.” It was one thing to look at labs and scans, but it was a whole other thing to open someone up and try to fix a broken heart. It wasn’t just about steady hands and a sound mind, but a lot of things you just couldn’t control.
Mom detected my mood and didn’t press me on it. “I thought you could use some assistance getting everything in order, so I hired someone to help.”
“Help with what?”
“You know, finding a new office, getting the everyday paperwork on track, organizing your schedule, just making this transition easier for you.”
I was surprised she’d rushed into it, but I also wasn’t. This was my mom we were talking about—Cleo Hamilton, the world’s most organized and effective delegator ever. “I said I would work on this, but I’m not rushing out to do surgery on someone.”
“I completely understand that. But we have to get started.”
“And I feel weird that you hired a stranger. I trust your judgment, but since I’ll be working with this person all the time, maybe I should pick.”
She smiled. “Well, I didn’t hire a stranger.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “Then who did you hire?”
“Sicily.”
It took a moment to absorb that information. “Why her?”
“Well, she’s worked in a medical office before, so she has the experience. I asked her what she liked most about her job, and she said it was working with the patients. Like you, she seems to care about them on a personal level. Plus, the two of you seem very compatible. She only has nice things to say about you, even before she knew I was your mother.”
Sicily hadn’t popped into my head at all, but after my mother made the suggestion, it made sense. “That could work. Having a sexy assistant to look at every day isn’t a bad way to make a living…”
She smiled slightly at my joke. “I know you’ll be professional, Dex.”
“Come on, if I wanted to date her, I would have done it already.”
“And why haven’t you?”
My eyes narrowed at her question because she was stepping into the realm of my personal life. “You better not be doing what I think you’re doing.”
“Meaning?”
“Playing matchmaker. It may have worked for Derek, but it won’t work on me.”
“And your father and me…”
“Not the same thing at all.”
“Whatever you say, baby. She seems like a good person with a heart of gold, and I know she’ll always keep your best interests at heart and do everything she possibly can to make your life as easy as possible. She’ll be an incredible asset to you.”
“And friend.” I wouldn’t get involved with my assistant.
Mom looked down for a moment before she pressed on. “You’re getting close to thirty. Maybe it’s time to—”
“Mom, come on.” I let them put me back on track with my career, but I wasn’t talking about my love life with my parents—or my lack of a love life. I didn’t have to defend myself or justify my bachelorhood.
Mom stared at me like she wanted to argue, but she made the wise choice and let it go. “I’m excited for you to start this new chapter in your life. I know you’re going to do great things.”
19
Sicily
It was my last week at the Trinity Building.
My employment had been short-lived so I shouldn’t feel sentimental about it, but I would miss this place. I was excited to work with Dex and be in a medical office again, especially when I was working for a brilliant doctor who didn’t just do procedures to fatten his wallet. Serving someone who made a lasting impact on people’s lives made my job much more fulfilling. Honestly, it was an honor to work for him.
Dex and I hadn’t spoken directly about my new job for him, and I decided to wait until he reached out to me first. I knew he was wary about the change, so it was smart to let him take that first step. In the meantime, I started searching for a new office in Manhattan, an apartment like Cleo asked, and got to work on his website and email. As a medical assistant, I’d never had tasks like this, but I’d worked in an office long enough that I knew what I needed to focus on.
Any type of real estate in Manhattan didn’t last longer than a day because it was such a hot commodity. So, every time I responded to a listing, it was off the market by the time I called, even if I reached out just a couple hours after the listing was posted.
When I told Cleo about my dilemma, she had a trick up her sleeve.