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“Twelfth floor, please,” I called out to the man in front. When he turned to look at me, I recognized him as the same man in the navy suit who had ignored me several months ago. He smiled and pressed the button for the twelfth floor.
“I guess you can hear just fine then,” I said when the doors closed.
“I’m sorry,” he asked. “Do I know you?”
I shook my head. “Not at all.”
All right, that wasn’t exactly true, but I felt like a different person. It certainly was a new beginning for me.
As I waited for the elevator doors to open, my phone pinged. Checking the message, I noticed it was from Marco.
Marco: Hey, my first class was amazing. I learned some cool new design tricks. This graphics course will be killer but worth it. Luv you, sis.
My heart swelled and I smiled down at the phone. I was so proud of my little brother and happy I could help him.
Me: Can’t wait to hear all about it later. Nonna’s making your favorite for dinner, gnocchi.
Marco: Yes!
“Hey there, girl,” said Erika when I approached her desk. “Nice to see you back at the office.”
“It’s good to see you, too.” I walked around the desk and hugged her.
“Are we still getting lunch together today?” she asked.
“Definitely,” I said, pointing a finger at her new headband. “There’s a lot I want to discuss with you.”
She grinned. “Looking forward to it.”
“Is he in?” I asked.
“Yep. Hasn’t left his office all day.”
I nodded and walked toward Colton’s office.
I spotted Ava Grady at her desk, typing away. I inhaled a deep breath and marched toward her.
“Hi, Ava,” I said, and kept my hands rigid next to my sides. I didn’t want to fidget or appear nervous despite my rising anxiety. I was getting better, but I still wasn’t completely over my fear of confrontation.
She swiveled in her chair, crossed her arms, and raised her eyebrows at me in anticipation. Okay, she wouldn’t make this easy.
“I wanted to apologize to you personally for what I did.” She continued to stare at me. “I had no right to take the PA job under false pretense and assume your identity, even if it was only to be temporary. I meant you no harm, but it was still wrong of me to do so. I’m truly sorry.”
She stood and uncrossed her arms. “That was pretty unprofessional if not downright unlawful,” she said, and my heart sped up, wondering if she would press charges. “But I can’t help but have mad respect for a woman willing to go to great lengths to get what she wants. I won’t make it easy for you if you want your job back. The pay is incomparable. I heard you negotiated that. Nice work.”
“You’re welcome,” I said, and glimpsed Colton’s white shirt and his hand rubbing the back of his neck. “See you around,” I said to Ava and walked up to Colton’s office.
“Frances, sweetheart,” he said, looking up from his computer, already rising from his chair.
“Please, sit. We need to talk,” I said.
“All right,” he said, slowly. “I’m glad to see you. Did you want to take a seat here or go someplace else?” He gestured toward the black leather chair in front of his desk.
“Here’s fine.” I sat down on the chair, feeling the soft leather massage the back of my thighs. “You know, the first time I sat down here, I wondered how it would feel making love to you on it.” Colton’s eyes grew larger and he checked over my head in Ava’s direction.
“Perhaps we can make that fantasy a reality,” he whispered.
I smiled. “Perhaps, but that’s not why I came here.”
