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“I’ve done a lot of work,” is my distracted reply. She might not let me in to see him, but that doesn’t mean I’m any less hungry for information. I’m not sure how to phrase it, though.
“Can I tell you something?” she asks.
“Of course,” I reply and my nervous voice betrays me.
“He seems to be distracted lately.”
“Oh? I’m sure I wouldn’t know anything about that.”
She takes in my red cheeks. “Hmm. I think you might. I’m good friends with his driver.”
I blush deeper. “I see.”
Reaching for her glasses, she barely contains her cat-ate-the-canary grin. “If it were up to me, I’d let you in there, love, but I can’t.”
“Oh, I’m not—I don’t do this kind of thing.” A numbness creeps through me. How long have I worked here, only to potentially have my reputation ruined by the rumor mill? I have no idea if I can trust this woman in the least, although she seems friendly. I did just lie to her face, though.
Restlessly, I shift my weight from one foot to the next. I stop as soon as the secretary notices. “I really don’t do this,” I say again.
“Neither does he,” she says, leaning in, her tone friendly still. It eases something in me. “I mean it. I’ve worked with him for over a decade now. Mr. Bradford … he doesn’t behave like this. He’s strict with his regimen and occasionally a woman has come in to speak with him. But it’s never … like this.”
ADRIAN
“You know how I know you want to push me today and not in a good way?” I question the vixen at my side. Her cherry-red heels clip on the pavement as I open the door, waving toward Noah that I’ve got it. The spring day is a cloudy one, with gray skies and the threat of rain clouds.
“How’s that?” she asks, gripping the door frame, one shoe inside the car, the other firmly planted on the curb. She stares at me from over her shoulders, the wool coat perfectly hugging her frame.
“Because you’re eager to get me alone in this car. I didn’t have to fight you.”
Her smile is wicked, her rose petal lips trying all they can to stay pursed, but they fail. “Inside,” I command her and she obeys, properly and politely as I shut her door for her, knowing damn well she’s going to try to get information out of me. While I sat through meeting after meeting, she came looking for me. Andrea let me know. She suggested I order flowers, of all things.
I’m not sure what exactly she thought Suzette was coming to see me for, but if I had to guess, with the cars buzzing byus and the nightlife of the city turning vibrant, it’s about her department and the upcoming meetings.
With a steadying inhale, I climb into the back seat and shut the door.
“I tried to speak to you all day.” She doesn’t waste a second. She peeled her coat off, laying it across her lap and at first glance, I’m given a damn good look of her breasts. Whatever contraption she’s wearing has pushed them to the top of her blouse which hangs low, I presume to display cleavage.
Not fair.
Reaching for my seat belt, I prepare myself.
“I had roundtables with my team.” The belt clicks into place and the tick of the blinker is barely heard as Noah rolls up the partition, allowing us privacy.
“Your team who’s talking tomyteam,” Suzette stresses and I can’t help but to let out a chuckle.
Leaning my head back, I turn to face her.
“I don’t find it funny,” she tells me and there’s a hint of hurt there.
“Because you aren’t in control,” I tell her honestly.
With her hands in her lap, she fidgets with her fingers and tells me, “I just need to know what your plans are.”
“It’s after six, Suzette.” I’m soft with the reminder.
“I don’t like this.” She’s equally soft with her disappointment. It’s unsettling. Not anger; she’s genuinely upset.
“It’s okay to be uncomfortable. That’s how progress is made,” I tell her, in an attempt to ease her mind.