Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 35660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 178(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 178(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
Now, I’m at the office. A few minutes later than my usual clock-in time, wearing an outfit of Sly’s choosing, too busy doing something with my hair and makeup to realize what he picked out for me. I should have known it’d be a tight-fitting skirt, black in color, hitting me at my knees, paired with a deep-plum-colored blouse and heels to match. The only item I added was a long-sleeve cardigan to hide my bandages. There were going to be enough raised eyebrows as we walked the corridors of the hallway, not to mention getting out of the same car together. The pinging of emails is non-stop, the phone ringing is constant, and there’s a chatter buzzing in the halls more than usual. I’ll be making up for my lost time through lunch and well after my usual six o’clock.
“Sterling & Associates, you’ve reached Fawn, secretary to Mr. Sterling, how may I help you?” I answer the call, putting on my nicest customer service voice when I’m ready to yank the cord out of the wall and hide from the work piling up.
“Hey, Fawn, it’s Theo. Any way you can sneak in on the big guy? I’ve called his cell and personal work line; no dice, sweet cheeks.” Dang. Sly must be really busy if he’s not answering when one of the Four Brothers calls, which makes me feel worse because he took off work yesterday to stay with me, even though I told him I’d be okay to work or stay at my house. Said big guy was not having it.
“Of course. Let me put you on hold. I’ll go into his office and get his attention. I think he’s playing catchup. It’s been a wild one so far,” I tell Theo.
“Not a problem. Thanks.” I hit the hold button, put the receiver down on my desk, push away from where I’m seated, and head into Sly’s office. The door is open, like it has been since the day I started. Now I know the reasoning behind it being that way.
“Hey, Sly,” I announce at the doorway in case he’s working on something that needs his full attention, waiting for him to pick his head up from the computer. Today, he’s in his usual black-on-black suit, hair combed back, thick black frames sitting on the bridge of his nose, pad of paper beneath his hand and a pen scratching along the surface in his signature scrawl.
“Everything okay?” He looks up. I’m at the doorway, wanting to take the handful of steps and be closer to him but unable to with work and all.
“It is for me. Theo is on line one. He’s been trying to get ahold of you.” I shrug my shoulders.
“Fuck, I’ll grab that now. How are you feeling?” he asks. We’ve been here less than two hours, and I know him well enough that if I so much as wince, I’ll be told to sit my ass on his couch and rest.
“I’m okay, promise. Grab that call. We both have a lot to work through. I’ll order lunch. I think we’ll both be eating at our desks today.” Our breakfast was much like yesterday—eggs, fruit, and this time toast. I’ll be starving in the next hour or so.
“You can order lunch, but I’ll be damned if we work through it. You need a break, and so do I. Plus, your bandages will need to be re-wrapped.” He looks at my wrists. Using them more than I did yesterday is already putting some wear and tear on the bandages. Hopefully by the weekend, we can do away with the gauze.
“Fine. Answer your call. Everyone and their brother are acting like their life is over because we weren’t here yesterday.” Sly acts like this is normal when it’s not. He never takes a day off work. Even away from the office he’s fielding calls, putting out fires. Yesterday was a one off.
“I will. Don’t work too hard,” are Sylvester’s parting words. I’m already heading back toward my desk, thinking about everything I want to tackle in the next hour. My head is still in the clouds. The lingering look Sly gave me only hinders me more. I’m in my own world, ready to see what happens next. It’s also why I’m unprepared for the man standing at my desk.
“Hi, can I help you?” I ask, walking closer, steady on my heels, hating that I didn’t think to put my cardigan on. The guy’s focus is lasered in on my wrists.
“Yes, I need to speak to Sylvester Sterling. Now. And word of advice, sweetheart, you don’t want to keep me waiting.” Interesting. He’s no one I’ve seen around Sterling & Associates. The man looks familiar, but I can’t for the life of me place him.
“Do you have an appointment?” I step closer to my desk, sliding the mouse around to wake up my computer screen. Maybe Sly put him on his calendar while I was digging my way through emails.