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  Both of my eyebrows lifted as I stretched my arms out, indicating the expanse of my office. “I only get to sit in this office in this building every day because of the people who work for me. I pride myself on paying my employees well; it stops a large amount of staff turnover that only causes disruption. Besides, that’s to scale to what Titus made me when he started as well. It’s not too much, Lilac.”

  “You mean this number is correct?” Doubt shadowed her tone, making her voice huskier than it had been before. “I really don’t mind if you want to lower it, at least until I prove myself. You can offer me half of that, even. I’d still be happy.”

  I ignored the breathiness in her voice, determined not to think about other circumstances in which it might sound the same. I had resolved to keep my mind out of the gutter when it came to her, and so I simply nodded firmly. “I’m not lowering it. That number is correct. It’s only your starting salary. It’s subject to annual increases and performance bonuses, of course.”

  Leaning forward with my elbows on my desk, I laced my fingers together and tilted my head. “Is that salary acceptable to you? Can we get started with work now?”

  She seemed dazed for a moment; her eyes unfocused before she closed them. When she opened them again, it looked like she had rallied. “Yes, it’s acceptable. We can start.”

  We went over a few more preliminary issues, but the fact that she’d tried to negotiate a lower salary for herself stuck in my mind. I knew it would for a long time. In the decade since I’d started this company, I’d only ever had people asking for more money, more perks. It had never been this way around.

  Get your head in the game, Matthews. I knew I couldn’t dwell on it, but her reaction made me even more sold on her as our CFO. She wasn’t money-grubbing or greedy and that was a good quality for a person in the role I needed her to fill. It meant she wouldn’t be blinded by what we stood to make on deals, her judgment would be clear and grounded in reality rather than in the clouds, dreaming about the new yacht she would buy if we closed it.

  “Right, let’s go to your desk. Ollie has already procured your company-issued computer. We’ll start by going over the software we use and take it from there. If you’re unhappy with the specs of the laptop, let Ollie know. He’ll see what he can do about getting you a better one.”

  “That one seems fine.”

  Another smile I couldn’t quite hold back broke free. “It’s top of the line, so I know it’s fine. What I meant was that if you need a more powerful machine for anything, we’ll get you one.”

  A confused frown crossed her features before she schooled them. “No, I’m not much of a techie.”

  “I am, and you have the same laptop that I do. It can do much more than what you’ll need for your job for the most part, but some people, especially those in our marketing department, often require something different.”

  I had no idea why I had just told her that, but I chalked it up to helping her get comfortable around me. We would be spending a lot of time together, and the sooner she got over her nerves, the better.

  We left my office side by side and went to her desk. I sat down in her chair and fired up her laptop while she brought one of the other chairs in her office over to sit down beside me.

  “I’m going to give you a rundown of the software we use. I developed it specifically for the company. It’s user-friendly, but you’ll want to pay close attention anyway.” I started explaining and quickly saw that she had been right about being a fast learner. I appreciated that about her. It would make inducting her into her role here that much easier.

  Next to her laptop, there was a picture in a simple white frame. It was of her and a little boy I assumed was her son. They were on the beach, both smiling wide for the camera. I could see she had taken it herself since there was a part of her arm in the bottom corner. It made me wonder if she and her son really had no one else in their lives, no one who could have snapped the shot for them.

  Doesn’t matter, I reminded myself. The kid was cute, but I didn’t mention it to her and finished explaining how the software worked instead.

  We spent the morning getting her acquainted with all the different programs she would be using and were only just done by lunchtime. I stretched my leg out under her desk while she was filling in her last e-form to register her profile on the software, and then got up.

  “Let’s have lunch in my office. When we’re done, I’ll take you to meet the rest of the team we’ll be working with.”

  “Okay.” She submitted the form and followed me back to my office, taking a seat in the lounge area as I handed her the menu for our in-house catering services. She arched an eyebrow, looking up to meet my gaze. “We can order gourmet food for lunch?”

  I nodded, amused by her disbelief. “An army marches on its stomach, doesn’t it?”

  Lilac shrugged, turning her eyes back to her options. “I guess, but this is really extravagant.”

  Chuckling under my breath, I shrugged too. “It might seem like it, but once you find out how hard everyone around here works and the hours they’re often expected to keep, it will make more sense. Nutrition is important, and I can’t expect people to work the way they do if they only eat junk.”

  “Fair enough.” She still didn’t sound convinced, but I was willing to bet she would be by the end of the month.

  After we’d decided on what we wanted to eat, I relayed our order to Ollie and settled back on the couch. Being in the lounge area of my office had reminded me of something I still needed to discuss with her.

  “Your office is yours to decorate as you want it. We have a decorator that we contract in as we need him. If you let Ollie know when you’re ready, he’ll set up an appointment. If you prefer to do it yourself, that’s fine too. You can do anything you’d like, as long as it’s not offensive to anyone. We don’t often have people coming into our offices aside from Ollie, but it does happen from time to time.”

  “So, no pink fur and kittens then?” She tried to keep a straight face, but I saw a ghost of a smile on her lips and traces of laughter in her blue eyes. “How about rainbows and unicorns?”

  I cringed as I imagined having to look at either of those suggestions all day long—I could see into her office from mine after all—and shook my head. “I was thinking more along the lines of some furniture and perhaps a coat of paint. Pink fur, kittens, rainbows and unicorns are fine for your house if that’s what you’re into, but it might give the wrong impression of you here.”

  Lilac snorted as she tried to hide her laughter, but didn’t seem at all embarrassed about the sound. “Right. Got it. I’m more of a dinosaur kind of girl at the moment anyway. Lincoln’s going through a phase, so there haven’t been too many unicorns and rainbows around the house lately either.”

  “Pity.” I pursed my lips in fake sympathy and chuckled. “I suppose dinosaurs might be more aesthetically pleasing in the office, as long as you don’t install speakers that have the sound effects going all day.”

  She didn’t try to hide her laugh this time. “No sound effects either, you have my word.”

  It surprised me how quickly we had reached the point that we could joke and carry on a conversation that wasn’t stiff and uncomfortable. Even Titus had taken months to warm up to me.

  Although, to be fair to him, he had entered the company in a much different time. With Lilac, I could afford to take some time to get her settled in before my natural inner asshole started to show. I couldn’t risk having her quit on me her first day on the job, so I had to make some kind of effort.

  When Titus had joined the company, we’d been under huge pressure and I hadn’t had the same luxury. Lilac and I talked some more while we waited for our lunch, then ate in companionable silence once it was delivered.

  After we were done, I pushed my chair out from under the table and lightly massaged my leg before standing up. “Let’s go introduce you to everyone.”

  Lilac perked up, smiling as she stood. “I ca
n’t wait to meet them. Everyone here is so nice.”

  I only barely managed to suppress a scoff. Competition in the company was fierce, and I knew there were some who were going to be less than pleased that I’d hired an inexperienced outsider.

  I didn’t give a shit. They wouldn’t bring it up to me, anyway. A lot of my employees were intimidated by me, even if I tried to be polite and pleasant to them.

  In time I hoped they came to respect Lilac, regardless of what their feelings toward her might be today. To be safe, and again to make sure nothing happened that made her quit on her first day, I would stick by her side during the introductions.

  To my surprise, she managed to charm everyone she met pretty much instantly. She shook hands, made small talk and smiled a lot. A few of my more stoic employees took a little longer, but she got at least one laugh or smile from everyone.

  I made the introduction and stayed by her side anyway, but now it was more to make sure that we could move to the next person eventually than to protect her from snide comments. I didn’t interfere with her in her interactions with the team who would become hers. I did, however, observe her closely.

  Since she took the time to speak to every person she met, we hadn’t gotten any work done by the time the clock struck five. She had met everyone though and was now familiar with the software, which meant we could get right to it early tomorrow morning.

  She grinned at me as she passed my office, her purse slung over her shoulder. “Bye, Joseph. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  I found myself returning her infectious grin. “Be ready to work when you get here.”

  Lilac lifted her arm like she was about to do something, then dropped it again and waved awkwardly with the other hand. No idea what that was all about.

  As I sat back in my chair, I thought about the day and my new hire. All things considered, I was glad we had taken the day to do what we did—if for no other reason than that I was now one hundred percent sure that I’d made the right decision with her.

  It was a giant relief and it strengthened my resolve to mentor her to the best of my ability. She could be a real asset to the company, but it was up to me to train her from the ground up. It was going to be hard work, but I had a feeling it would be worth it.

  Chapter 6

  Lilac

  At lunchtime on my second day of work, Ollie appeared in my open door. I’d told everyone I’d met that I had an open-door policy, and I was sticking to it.

  He was wearing what I was coming to learn was his signature grin, dreadlocks swinging as he walked into my office. They were loose today, tied back from his face by two of the locks in the front.

  As I was coming to expect from him, he had on a sharp suit and looked like a million bucks, even if it was really easy to imagine him lounging around and laughing in casual wear.

  Ollie had set me at ease immediately and the more I got to know him, the more the feeling grew. He was laidback and easygoing, which was why it was so easy to imagine him in a more casual setting.

  On the other hand, the man worked like a machine. I didn’t know if his settings extended to casual, even if it did look like he’d be a blast to hang out with outside of work.

  I didn’t know what time he arrived or what time he left, but so far, he had already been at the office when I got in and I had been early getting here both mornings. He’d still been here when I had left last night, and he’d still looked extremely busy when he gave a distracted wave goodbye.

  Just before I’d gone home yesterday, Joseph had informed me that we would be sharing Ollie as an assistant for the time being. He’d said it would make things easier since we’d be working so closely together and especially at the beginning.

  Knowing I was going to have Ollie nearby for now, to have someone I genuinely liked to show me the ropes, was a huge source of comfort to me. Asking him questions didn’t make me feel like he’d think I was stupid for not knowing the answers myself.

  He sauntered into my office, producing a small rectangular piece of paper from behind his back, and handed it over with something of a flourish.

  “What’s that?” I asked as I took it, then nearly fell off my chair at what I saw. I had to look at it three times to make sure I had read the number correctly. “Are you serious?”

  He threw his head back and laughed, his perfect white teeth a beautiful contrast to his dark skin. “Welcome to your new life, Lilo. You’re in the big leagues now.”

  “Lilo?” I frowned, clutching the check he’d handed over in a white-knuckled grip. My knees had gone weak and I needed a moment before I trusted them enough to stand up.

  Ollie shrugged, winking as he made his way back to the door. “I like it. We’re going to know each other well enough very soon to justify nicknames. I’m just getting a head start while we have time. Once the pace picks up, we’ll be spending more time together than you do with your best friends and we still won’t have time to discuss something as menial as more familiar names.”

  “Is that why you told me to call you Ollie from the beginning?”

  He turned when he reached the door, a big smile on his lips. “Everyone around here calls me Ollie, but if you want to choose your own nickname for me, you’d better do it soon. The other shoe is going to drop at any moment.”

  I stared at the spot he’d disappeared from after he’d so offhandedly said words that sounded somewhat ominous, but then my attention returned the check I still clutched in my hand. I looked down at it again and remembered the salary I’d been shown.

  I had nearly swallowed my tongue then, and it was no better now. Quickly doing the math in my head, I realized this had to be partial pay for my first week. It was only my second day, but the check was in an amount that was more than I had gotten paid in three weeks at my old job.

  Reaching for my phone lying next to my laptop, I tapped out a quick text to Alisha.

  Me: You, me + Lincoln @ D&B after work. I GOT PAID.

  Once I saw the message had delivered but that she hadn’t read it yet, I finally felt steady enough to stand. My knees still felt a bit numb, but they carried me to Joseph’s office without letting me down too much. I was a little wobbly, but that might have been on account of me not being used to being on high heels all day as much as it could be attributed to the shock coursing through my system.

  “I just got given a check,” I said when I walked into his office, closing the door behind me. Joseph’s sharp hazel eyes met mine, but he didn’t say anything. “I wanted to double-check that it’s not a mistake before I cash it.”

  After a beat, he did that weird half-laugh thing again that he had after I’d confronted him about my salary the first time. “I considered your starting time as the minute I hired you, so that’s your salary for three full days. Problem?”

  I blinked, at a loss for words. Again. Shaking my head, I stuffed the check in my pocket. “No problem. Thank you.”

  “Was there anything else?” There was a definite hint of amusement in his tone, but it wasn’t cruel or mocking or anything. More like he thought it was funny that I was so concerned over amounts of money that clearly didn’t mean much, if anything, to him.

  “Actually, yes. There was.” Since I was already in his office, I figured I’d better make the best use of his time. “I wanted to talk to you about that account you gave me to look over earlier. I was busy with it just before Ollie came to give me the check, and I had some questions.”

  Joseph gave a slight nod, pushed whatever he was busy with away and motioned for me to take a seat. After getting comfortable in the chair I was starting to think of as mine in his office, I explained my questions to him.

  He patiently answered me, not once mentioning that he had been in the middle of something or that he was too busy to talk now. When he was satisfied that I understood all his answers, he smiled and wordlessly went back to his work.

  I took it as my cue to leave, knowing he would be checking in with me again soon. As it turned out, his ide
a of shadowing me for the first two weeks was pretty much just popping into my office whenever he had time to make sure I was still on top of things and making time to answer any questions I had for him.

  I had briefly been afraid that he would be interfering and micromanaging, but I had come to learn that his management style wasn’t like that at all.

  The rest of the day passed quickly. I worked through all the accounts he had given me to look through and had made some notes like he’d asked me to do.

  At five o’clock, I went to pick up Lincoln from daycare and we met Alisha at the train. She smiled when she saw us, coming over to hug us both.

  “Hey, you two. How are you?”

  “We’re good.” I hugged her back, but didn’t really get to talk to her as we boarded the train and it took off.

  Lincoln couldn’t stop talking about the friends he had made, telling Alisha about Jodie and about everything they had done at daycare. “Webster has a dog. He’s a black Great Dane. Jamie says his mommy doesn’t like dogs.”

  On and on he went. Alisha nodded along as he told her everything he’d told me on the train yesterday, listening intently while I thanked God silently for my bank having the whole “take a picture to deposit a check” technology.

  When Lincoln started mentioning things that had happened today, I tuned back in and listened as he excitedly explained everything they had done in the afternoon. Alisha and I only really got to talk once we were sitting in a booth at Dave and Busters, waiting for dinner.

  We were seated in a dining area featuring giant landscape images from Cincinnati and northern Kentucky. Going with our regular order, we got a Glow Kone and the kids’ pretzel dogs for Lincoln and bang bang chicken with spicy Thai peanut noodles for ourselves.

  Once he went off with his card loaded up to play some games, Alisha took a sip of her cocktail and looked at me. “Okay, spill it. What’s it been like working for Joseph Matthews?”