Lag (The boys of RDA #2)(49)
He slides the basket across the desk top to me. “A first day gift.”
“You brought her fruit?” Grant deadpans and lifts one eyebrow at Trey in question.
The three of us look to the basket together. “Yeah, it’s in a basket.”
“It’s a nice basket.” I pull the heavy piece toward me. “I love the color. Thank you,” I rush to express my gratitude. A guy has never given me fruit before. I have no idea what it means.
“Yeah, now you don’t need to leave your desk for lunch.” Grant pulls on the plastic wrap, but it doesn’t come undone. “Make sure and take this part off. You want to let it all breathe.”
I’m about to ask him why my fruit needs to breathe, thinking he’ll have some catchy reason, but Trey speaks first.
“She’s coming to lunch with me.”
“I am?”
He leans on the desk harder, angling his body closer to mine and our eyes lock. “Yes.” His command should piss me off. I know this. Yet, my body responds in places it shouldn’t with the simple word mixed with his tone of voice.
Grant laughs at our exchange and then pats Trey on the back. “Oh, my friend. So much to learn.” When Trey doesn’t move his eyes from our silent show down, Grant continues. "Remember, I’ll always be a loyal friend, unless your girlfriend makes the first move.”
Those words spur Trey to move his eyes from our staring contest and I silently congratulate myself for the win while he pushes off from the desk. With an outstretched finger he points to me. “Lunch, at noon.” And then his hand sways to Grant. "Stay away from Simone.”
Grant reaches out with a closed fist hitting Trey on the shoulder. It wasn’t hard since Trey’s body doesn’t sway from the move. Both of them are smiling by the time they walk through the lobby and enter the office section of the building. Boys.
**
“We don’t use IDs, but you’ll learn everyone eventually. There aren’t many of us.” Finn shuffles more of his papers and places one on the table in front of me. “Sign here.”
I sign my name for the sixtieth time today and he takes the paper back. Finn came back this morning and took me on a tour of the first floor offices. There aren’t cubical walls. Instead, the desks are staged in a sort of circle. Actually I’m not sure there's any kind of reason to the layout. I envision on move-in day everyone picked a random spot in the room they liked and set up shop. We met each of the guys and even a few girls and so far they all seem nice and happy to have a new receptionist. I hope I can live up to the hype Finn’s given everyone here.
While I completed the first batch of paperwork, Finn taught me the phone system and rules for running the desk… there aren’t any. He promised if I used common sense on the job I’d be fine, but I worry. If it’s that easy, why couldn’t keep someone in this position?
The largest part of my new job appears to be ordering the employees’ lunches by ten on a daily basis. There are cards they drop off with what they’d like for the day and then I call it in. Snacks are dropped off each morning on a rotating basis between doughnuts and bagels and I have to set them up on a table in the office area. It doesn’t seem hard. I don’t see how I can screw it up.
“All right, we’re done. I’ll give Trey all your papers and leave you here. Remember, if you need anything Trey’s number one and I’m two on the phone. Call one of us and we’ll help out.” Finn taps the stack of employment forms I signed on the desktop and wanders to the back without another glance.
The door latches behind him and the sudden quiet is too loud in the cavernous space. At least my desk chair is comfortable. I pull myself to the desk and open the email client to see my empty inbox.
Five minutes later when the front doors open, I almost clap my hands in anticipation. The thought of having a conversation with another human, regardless of how brief, is the most excitement I’ve had all morning. That is until I recognize the other human.
Mari, with bright red heels, a black business suit, and matching purse struts into the lobby and heads to the office doors. For a second I’m torn. Her confident walk says she’s done this a thousand times and I shouldn’t question it, but it goes against what Finn said earlier about calling back first. Plus, I hate her a small bit for wanting to marry Trey for convenience. He’s not mine, but he’s worth more than a marriage for looks.
I decide it’s best to follow procedure on this one, and if she is allowed to tromp through the halls, I’ll blame it on first day jitters and ignorance. “Can I help you?"
My words stall her in line with my desk about halfway to the door. The hard gaze on her face as she stops warns of what’s to come for someone who stands in her way. “I’m here to take my Trey to lunch.”
She acts like she doesn’t recognize me, and maybe she doesn’t. We’ve met before but never had an official introduction. It reminds me that in this scenario I'm the other woman, and I experience a moment of anger at myself. Stupid Trey and his stupid lies.
“I’ll buzz him and let him know you’ve arrived.” I try my best to sound innocent and naive, but when she doesn’t look away or soften her face I panic. “Would you like an apple?” I ask as I wave my hand over the now unwrapped fruit basket on the top of my desk.