Page 86 of A Bossy Roommate

My aunt has met her a couple of times over the years when she’s had to fill in occasionally. Dammit. The longer she stays in the office chatting with everyone, the higher the chance of something going wrong. I understand that she wants to catch up, but if we don’t get her onto the elevator soon, there’s no telling what will come out of her mouth.

“Hello, Mrs. Toussaint. It’s wonderful to see you again,” Gretchen greets her politely. “To what do we owe the pleasure?”

“Oh, just visiting. Thought I would take my nephew and his new wife out to lunch.”

And there it is.

Gretchen appears confused, and the others stare at me and Eden with wide eyes.

“Assistant.” Eden laughs. “She means new assistant.”

Damn, she’s fast.

“This one, always trying to marry me off,” I say, motioning to my aunt, easily downplaying the slip-up. I know I should be unsettled that my aunt had just called Eden my wife in front of our staff—but I’m not. Eden is calm, cool, and collected, and so am I.

The doors to the elevator open, and Eden urges my aunt onto it. “Come on, Eleanor. Let’s go down to the lobby. Your nephew will join shortly.”

The last thing I hear before the doors close is my aunt saying, “Did I misspeak?”

Eden and I share a look before the door shuts, and I’m faced with the small group in the hallway, each of the three women giving me curious looks.

“It was nice to see your aunt again.” Gretchen is the first to speak up. “She looks so vibrant, as if she hasn’t aged a bit.”

Jaylin nods in agreement. “That’s what I noticed too. How long is she staying in New York?”

“Hold on, wait…did your aunt just call your assistant yourwife?” Lexi interrupts with a giggle. “That’s such a funny mishap, Mr. Bancroft! After all, sheiskinda your work-wife, isn’t she?”

Keeping things professional, I clear my throat. “Please, excuse my aunt. She’s struggling a little with her health lately and not doing well. She’s staying in the city until she gets better. Have a nice day, everyone.”

Of course, my aunt’s health issue is physical rather than mental, but I don’t need to tell them that. Gretchen, Jaylin, and Lexi nod in understanding, accepting my answer at face value like I knew they would. Eden’s response had been quick and genuine, really selling the whole thing as a mix-up. No one even bothers to ask why my aunt would be taking me and my assistant out to lunch—it’s plausible that I’d simply asked Edento accompany us. My curt statement seems to drive home the point that it actually is none of their business.

“Have a nice day too, Mr. Bancroft.” Lexi beams at me.

“Hope your aunt gets better soon, Mr. Bancroft,” Jaylin says.

I turn to go back to my office, carefully scanning my surroundings for Huxley. He’s nowhere in sight. Good. I’m glad he wasn’t present to witness anything that might have raised his suspicions. With everything else going on, I need to stay on high alert. The bullshit he had pulled in the meeting—or at least tried to pull—is troubling. Did he know Eden had overheard him? Maybe Huxley had even banked on her telling me. Over the last few months, he’s made it perfectly clear—at least to me—that he doesn’t have the company’s best interests at heart.

I wish I had a way to prove it.

Determined not to let Huxley spoil the rest of my day, I make a few last calls, change from my three-piece suit into a dress shirt and jeans, before joining my ladies out to lunch.

24

EDEN

When we get down to the lobby, Gwen smiles at us from the receptionist’s desk, peering over the rim of her glasses. “Ah, Mrs. Toussaint, I see you’ve found Eden,” she says in a friendly but louder voice.

“Oh, I have. Gwen,merci.” Eleanor pats me on the arm. “Come on, Eden, show me that little bistro.”

“Your driver is already waiting,” Gwen confirms when I look at her.

“Thank you, Gwen.”

It isn’t until we get into the car that she finally speaks about her slip-up a few minutes prior. “I’m sorry about that, Eden,” she says, squeezing my hand. “I was not even thinking. I know you and Carter wanted to keep things quiet. I completely forgot. I hope I did not just ruin everything.”

I’m confident that Carter will quell any rumors or talk about what happened. “Don’t worry about it, Auntie,” I say, squeezing her hand back. “Carter will handle it. Forget about all of that. How are you feeling?”

“Oh, you two make such a fuss over me! I’m perfectly fine! I mean…as good as to be expected.”