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“I’ll come over,” I say.

“Bring your laptop,” he replies.

I undock my laptop and move to his space. We spend the next couple of hours getting me logged into systems and walking through usage. Tricia comes over.

“Lunch time. You can’t overwork her on her first day,” she says to Alan.

While we work, Julian sends a group chat message saying he’s ordered lunch for the team so everyone can get to know each other. I was hoping they’d all grab food and leave it at that, but it seems Tricia has figured out she can’t get time with Ice without me.

“Alright, we’ll dig into the next steps after lunch,” Alan says. “You can leave everything here.”

I nod and move over to Ice’s desk.

“Ready?” I say.

“Always. Ready when you are, Lexi,” he teases. I know he’s also signaling to Tricia that he’s only moving when I do.

We get to the lunchroom and everyone pauses at the spread. Three different restaurants. All places I normally order from. Ice looks at me and snickers. We both know Bruce ordered this lunch.

Tom laughs. “So, can you start work like this every day?”

I shake my head.

I grab a plate, serve pasta, Mediterranean beef, and Brazilian beef. Ice does the same. We sit. It doesn’t take long before Tricia and Vivian join us. Tom and Alan sit together at another table. Once the women join us, the questions start immediately.

“So, why do you have a bodyguard?” Tricia asks.

“Sorry, I can’t share that with you,” I say quietly, though I’m nervous and hoping she won’t push further.

She looks taken aback but nods.

“Where did you work before coming here?” Vivian asks.

“A J Lloyd,” I answer, taking a bite of my Brazilian grilled beef.

“Cool. I interviewed there, but I didn’t get the job. Thankfully, I got this one and I like it here so far,” she says.

I nod. She’s more reserved, with an exotic look I can’t place. Tricia, on the other hand, seems happy wherever she is placed. She’s a petite brunette with energy that feels twice her size. And she has her eyes on Ice without hiding it.

They shift into work talk and office gossip. I smile along. I notice Ice’s phone buzzing; I don’t need to ask who it is. Bruce. He replies and keeps listening.

Julian comes in briefly, grabs food, and heads back to his office.

“Can you tell us how you know the big boss CEO?” Tricia asks.

“A friend of mine is friends with his wife,” I answer, giving myself credit for a clean cover. Not a lie, because Bruce is a friend of Anne.

“Cool, I’m definitely hanging out with you. He has a sexy friend I call McHottie,” Vivian says, surprising everyone at the table.

“Well, I know his wife, not his friends,” I reply.

“Well, this sexy one is definitely single. Tall, about six three or four, dark short hair, chiseled face, brown eyes, strong body. He’s got that military vibe, always casually dressed. Very McHottie,” she says in a soft tone.

Tricia and I stare at her. Ice is barely holding back a laugh. We both know she just described Bruce.

“Wow, you’ve really noticed him,” I say carefully.

“I noticed him. He doesn’t notice me,” she replies curtly.