Page 18 of Heart Like Yours
“In my defense, I was aiming for your lap.” I grimace, thinking about the time she came to ask me for some time off because her mom had just died. But the moment the words were out of her mouth, the tears started, and I just…reacted. It was the one emotional situation that I should have been able to relate to, and instead, I panicked.
Thankfully, Eva didn’t get mad at me that day. She had every right to, and I was half ready to march down to HR and tell on myself. But then she laughed. She waved off my apology, taking me up on my offer to come help with her sister with a bottle of wine in place of an “I’m sorry.”
She drops her head back and laughs. “Well, you have shitty aim.”
“We both know I normally don’t,” I retort, sticking my tongue out at her.
“Right, only when there’s crying involved.”
When our laughter slowly fades, Eva raises a brow at me.
“So what job were you offered so that I could take yours?”
I bite my bottom lip between my teeth. This was a question I had expected, had even gone over with Garrett on what I could and could not say. However, now that it was actually said out loud, it feels as if all my doubts come rushing back. Those voices from when I accepted my job at SweetHeart taunt me, telling me I’m not good enough.
“Nothing is being announced until after the Halloween party, so anything I tell you is strictly confidential for the next three weeks. If asked by the team or anyone else, we are simplysaying that we are looking at a restructuring that will benefit the company and everyone employed here.”
“Well, that sounds both ominous and exciting.”
“That means it’s the perfect answer. Keep them hooked and wanting more.” I laugh. “Besides, since you’re accepting the job, you get to be in the loop of very few people who know what’s going on, so it makes it even more exciting, right?”
“I do?” She sits up, her whole body practically lighting up with anticipation.
“Yup,” I say, putting extra emphasis on the P. While I’ve already talked this through with Garrett and Lilly, being about to talk about this with Eva feels like a whole different weight is being lifted from my shoulders. Now that official steps are being made so I can start my new role with the company, it makes everything seem more real.
Smiling, Eva and I spend the next hour diving into everything she gets to know.
“Won’tit be so much nicer next month when you can just say my name to get my attention instead of having to call me on the phone from the other side of the office?” Garrett’s smooth voice teases on the other end of the line. I huff a laugh, shaking off that same feeling from earlier when it comes to thinking about how close in proximity we’re going to be.
“That makes it sound like you’re at my every beck and call.”
“Just call me butterfingers because when it comes to you, I’ll drop everything.”
A laugh breaks free, catching me by surprise. “That’s…wow, you really know how to smooth talk the ladies.”
At the sound of his laughter in my ear, I shift in my seat and try to ignore the flutter it causes in my stomach.
Clearing my throat, I look out my open office door and am reminded of why I called him in the first place.
“Brandon just walked in,” I state, watching said employee closely.
“I’m on my way,” Garrett says without missing a beat and hangs up the phone. Pushing from my seat, I smooth out my black dress pants and shirt before rounding the desk to head to the door.
After speaking with HR, it was determined that the only way to proceed with Brandon after all the chances he’s been given was to fire him. Which he made impossible all last week. It’s like he knew when we would be in meetings, popping into the office when everyone that could have a conversation with him was occupied. If it weren’t for the fact that he talked to some of his coworkers, I would have actually assumed he was a no-call, no-show every day.
I don’t even know why he bothered coming in. It’s not like he did any actual work. Eva speculated earlier that she doesn’t even think he’s noticed that his last manuscript has been given to someone else. He clearly doesn’t care about this job, so why bother coming at all? After a certain point of not showing up at all, we could terminate him for job abandonment.
Not that any of this will matter in five minutes.
Garrett rounds the corner from his office across the space and immediately looks directly at me. My heart stutters at the smile that tugs at his lips. He greets everyone he passes,managing to politely acknowledge them while not once stopping in his mission to get to me.
Needing to break the building tension, I focus back on Brandon, only to find him watching Garrett warily. His clear apprehension makes me pause, wondering what possible reason he could have for not liking our boss.
Garrett is the kind of guy that if someone says they don’t like him, I would considerthemthe red flag.
Well, at least we’ll be helping Brandon in a way. No one should have to work for someone they don’t like. Even if they have no reason for their distaste.
Shaking it off, I wait until Garrett is almost to my office to cross the couple desks in the shared cubicle space.