The Boss Project(55)

“So how did you come to work at Crawford Investments?” I asked her. “I feel like just about everyone I’ve spoken to so far had a connection to Merrick or one of the managers.”

Colette frowned. “One of my close friends brought me on…Amelia Evans.”

“Oh.”

Colette sighed. “I take it you’ve heard about Amelia.”

I usually prided myself on not showing a reaction or judgment during sessions, but apparently, I’d let my mask slip. I shook my head. “Only that she was one of the founders and that she passed away.”

Colette harrumphed. “Passed away. That’s a nice way of putting it.”

My brows pulled together. “She didn’t pass away?”

“Oh, no. She’s dead alright. But passed away makes it sound…I don’t know, peaceful. Like she was sick and when her time came, a sweet angel walked her to the Pearly Gates.”

“Was she not sick?”

Colette shook her head. “Amelia died in an accident.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Actually, I wish she would have died in the accident. Then maybe she would’ve had some peace. But she lived for months after the crash. It was horrible. And the man you work for, whom we both work for, didn’t give her one minute of peace.”

“Merrick was in the accident, too?”

“No. He—”

My phone interrupted with a light chime to signify the end of our session. I grabbed it and turned it off. “I’m sorry about that. Go on…”

But the moment had passed. Colette straightened in her seat. “It’s fine. I’ve learned over the years that I need to focus on good memories with Amelia and not her death. She was a very good friend—imperfect like all of us, but a woman I admired and loved.” Colette stood. “It was very nice to meet you. I wish you the best of luck here at Crawford. Since our chat is confidential, there’s no harm in telling you this will probably be our only session. I’m leaving the firm soon. I have a little more than five weeks left.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize that.”

She smiled. “That’s because you’re the only one who knows. I’m not giving notice. The day my employment contract expires will be my last day here. I’ve spent four years waiting for this day to come. Well, that’s not true. I’ve only hated it here for three. But I do believe adding your position is a step in the right direction for the employees, many of whom I care about. So I mean it when I wish you good luck.” Colette extended her hand before I could say anything else. “Take care, doc.”

? ? ?

The first thing I did when we landed was turn on my phone. I’d taken an evening flight down to Atlanta after work, and we’d taken off a few minutes late, so it was eleven now that we were on the ground. It had been a long day, but it was important to me that I’d completed all of my appointments before heading to the airport at five.

By the time I grabbed my luggage and got an Uber, it would probably be midnight when I arrived at Kitty’s. But she hadn’t been discharged yet, so I wouldn’t be interrupting her sleep by arriving so late. Merrick had offered to pick me up, but I’d declined, not wanting to put him out. Yet when my phone finished booting back up, the first thing I saw was a message from him. I swiped to read.

Merrick: I’m at the airport. Text me when you’re walking out and I’ll pull around.

Okay…well, so much for needing an Uber.

My bag came down the carousel pretty quickly, so I texted Merrick to let him know I’d be out in a minute. He was already waiting at the curb when I arrived. He stood next to the car, leaning against Kitty’s hot rod wearing a black T-shirt and jeans—and dammit, if he didn’t look sexier than ever.

He squinted at me as I approached. “What’s going on in that head of yours? That’s one hell of a mischievous smile you’re wearing.”

“I was just thinking how funny you look standing in front of Kitty’s souped-up Charger.”

“What? I can’t pull off a hot rod?”

I smirked. “Definitely not.”

Merrick took my luggage and lifted it into the trunk before opening the passenger door. “Listen, Prius, don’t judge.”

I pulled my seatbelt across my lap as he climbed in. “I told you I’d take an Uber. You didn’t have to come out at close to midnight.”

Merrick shrugged. “I don’t mind. You’re doing me a favor by coming. It’s the least I can do.”

“It’s not a favor at all. Kitty is my friend.”

He looked over and smiled warmly before returning his eyes to the road. “I know she is. That’s one of the things I like about you. You’re very loyal.”

“One of the things, huh? That must mean there are others?”

Merrick chuckled. “How was the office this week?”

“Well, no fist fights broke out, so you being offsite must have a positive impact on the stress level,” I teased.

“It was one fist fight.”

I smiled. “The office was pretty quiet. I got to see a lot of new people, and I had lunch with Will one day.”

“You had lunch with Will?”

“Yeah. He said he ordered the same Chinese food he always orders, but they arrived with your usual, too. So he had an extra meal. I guess they know you guys pretty well.”