Damien (Slater Brothers #5)(79)

“When is your deadline?”

“In two weeks,” I answered. “It usually takes me a few days to get an outline that I’m happy with, then once it’s scanned to me desktop, things move quicker. I always give meself two weeks, just in case I get a block and lose the vision.”

“Has that ever happened before?”

“Once,” I answered, swallowing. “Family drama sort of knocked me off track for a few days.”

Learning of my da’s affair did more than knock me off track; it hit me like the full force of a fucking train.

“I’ve no doubt whatever you create will be fantastic,” Morgan said. “You’ve never created somethin’ less than incredible.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks, so I lifted my cup of tea close to my face, hoping Morgan would think the steam from the scalding liquid flushed them and not his praise.

“Are you ready to check out the office?” I cleared my throat. “I’m eager to get started.”

We left our cups in the kitchen sink, then entered the soon-to-be office. Morgan scanned the room, either taking it all in or figuring out where to start first.

“Where are you goin’ to put the bed?”

“I was going to take it apart, then just stand everythin’ upright and lean it against the wall.” I shrugged. “I can’t get rid of it; it’s part of the furnishin’ that the landlord provided.”

“These look expensive as hell,” Morgan noted, “and the mattress looks like it would be heaven to lie on.”

“It is,” I concluded. “I have the same mattress in me bedroom, and it’s incredible.”

Morgan placed his hands on his hips, and eyed the flat packs in the corner of the room.

“I can help you take it apart and put it against the wall, then we can put those bookcases and your desk together. It’s a sorry sight seein’ a Mac Desktop with such big monitors sit on a tiny stand like that.”

I glanced at the pathetic stand and sighed.

“I know,” I admitted. “I’m just not very handy; I suck at puttin’ things together. I was goin’ to ask Damien to help, but I forgot. Me friends had twins yesterday, and it’s just added to an already eventful week.”

“Damien?”

“Oh, sorry.” I chuckled. “Damien is me boyfriend. He’s at work right now.”

“Cool,” Morgan said with a bob of his head. “I’m sure he’d help, but since I’m ’ere, you might as well put me to work.”

My lips twitched. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”

Together, we spent an hour taking apart the spare bed and putting the wood and mattress carefully against the wall on the far side of the room. Building the large desk was a much quicker endeavour than I could have ever imagined because Morgan seemed to know exactly what he was doing.

I just had to hand him the correct screw here and there, and he did the rest. When everything was put together, we both lifted the desk to its new designated spot, and I placed the bookcases where I wanted them to go. Sorting out my computer and the monitors took maybe five minutes.

When we were finished, I placed my hands on my hips and smiled.

“I love it!”

Morgan glanced around. “A few of your designs on the wall will tie everything together nicely.”

I agreed and already began filing away ideas of what to paint at a later date. Morgan swiftly moved a lone chair that no one ever sat on in the sitting room into the office, so I could sit in there and sketch while he worked. It made sense instead of us shouting back and forth to one another. Once we were settled, I reread the client’s brief and got to work sketching.

Morgan logged into my business email that was connected to my website and started organising the emails in a categorised list for me to choose from. He would read a brief bit of an email, then we would both decide which file it would go into. He then replied to every single email, and from what I could see, there were a lot of unread ones.

“What are you sayin’ to the clients?” I asked as I smoothed out a rough line on a partially destroyed building that I was drawing with my thumb, creating a smoky effect.

“A pretty standard but formal response,” he asked, not looking away from the monitors before him. “Not acceptin’ the offer to work with them, but not turnin’ it down either. I’m askin’ for more information on what you will be designin’, whether it’s a book cover, an illustration, or a piece of art to hang up in a sittin’ room, stuff like that. Oh, and dates they would like work to begin and to be completed so we can check if they’re available.” Morgan glanced over my shoulder. “Ye’know what? I’m gonna create a form askin’ for all of that information, and more, then update your contact tab on your website. Everyone will have to fill the form out and email it to you to receive a response.”

I raised my brows. “Where have you been all me life?”

Morgan laughed, then turned back to the monitor.

“I’m linkin’ your calendar and email up with me phone, that way I can work on the go to make sure I don’t come in to work and be swamped for the few hours I’m ’ere.”

I paused. “I don’t want you workin’ outside hours, though. That’s not fair since I’m payin’ you just for our agreed weekly hours.”