Without a Hitch(30)

Hadley takes the computer into her lap. “Eli? Go grab my computer and start looking into logos while I type up the business plan.”

Eli scurries into Hadley’s room while I sit there watching it all happen. “What do I do?” I ask when I finally find my voice again.

Delaney is in her element, and she wastes no time putting a plan into action. “You, my friend, start researching the best ways to handle the baddies. I think if you do an Enneagram for each personality, it will give you best practices. It’s a good place to start at least.”

“Enneagram? You mean the personality tests Sloane uses to create the characters in her books?”

“Yes! That’s basically what we’re doing here, right? Except, we’re not creating them. We just need to know how best to disarm them.”

“Right,” I reply, absently grabbing my iPad from the kitchen table.

By the time the weekend is over, we have my business plan typed up with my new logo front and center. An LLC is in the works, and a business banking account is ready to go as soon as I get the paperwork declaring The I Do Crew an official business.

And when Audra calls on Wednesday night, I’m ready for this new challenge.





C HAPTE R 1 0

LOCHLAN

“W hy isn’t there a new blog post?” I bark, walking past Angie and soon-to-be-fired Brittney on my way into my office.

“Does he ever say hello?” Brittney whispers, but not so quietly that I don’t hear. I pause mid-stride, ready to lay into her, but Angie jumps in.

“Mr. Blaine is very efficient with his time, Miss Wallace. He says what he means when he means it, but he’s also very deliberate. I suggest you watch your tone and learn to manage expectations.”

Satisfied that Angie has handled things, I slam my door with enough force that papers flutter on my desk thirty feet away. It felt good. Really good. Rolling my neck, I’m just settling into my chair when Brittney teeters in on heels far too high to be efficient in my office.

Angie enters next, shaking her head. She knows I’m not here for the rubbish people keep dishing my way. Perhaps there’s something in the Manhattan water?

Brittney walks straight to my desk, moves a candy dish aside, and places her palms on the freshly polished glass surface. All I can focus on is how she moved the bowl of red candies to do it. My fingers twitch with the need to adjust it, but with her standing there, it’s impossible. I stare at the damn candy, trying to give her a hint that she shouldn’t touch my shit, but she doesn’t take it.

Instead, she leans over my desk, her blouse unbuttoned so low that her breast actually pops out.

She lifts her gaze, attempting to appear sheepish, but I keep my eyes on my bloody fucket candy bowl.

When I don’t acknowledge her, she licks her lips and shrugs unnaturally as she straightens herself out.

I tap my forehead with my index and middle fingers. Grinding my teeth to sawdust, I take a deep breath to prevent myself from saying something that will get me sued.

“Miss Wallace,” I fume. “Go see Natalie in HR. Now.”

“Oh.” She pouts. “I’m terribly sorry, Mr. Blaine.” She sounds like an animated version of Marilyn Monroe, and she’s lucky that Angie interrupts her when she does.

“That’s all, Brittney. Natalie will be waiting for you.”

“But if I could just explain…”

“Now, Miss Wallace.” Thank God for Angie Moore.

I turn my chair to face the floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over Manhattan as Brittney click-clacks out of my office. The view of the city is spectacular, but I rarely enjoy it. I sit with my back to it to remain as productive as possible. I don’t allow myself distractions. Of any kind. Ever.

Pepper’s face flashes like the perfectly haunting memory she is, and I scowl.

“Perhaps we need to try a new agency,” Angie says, dragging me back to the present. I hear her behind me, adjusting the mini sake cups I sort my candies into. “This one does seem to attract the same type of person every time.”

“Or,” I say, swiveling my chair back to face her, “you could just stay.”

“Or,” she challenges, “you could try to be less charming for the next applicant.”

“Charming?” I scoff. “I haven’t said two words to that girl the entire time she’s been here.”

“Some women do like a bad boy, Mr. Blaine.”

My eyes roll so hard they ache from the effort.

“Now, what is it you were bellowing on about when you walked in?”

I hold up a finger. “First, you must have noticed her attire change over the last few days, Angie.

Right? Why did you let her strut in here like that?”

“One of these days, someone will grab your attention and shake some sense into you. Who am I to say it’s not an employee?” she muses.

“I’m to say. You’re my executive assistant who knows I have a firm no-fraternization policy.”

“Yes, but I can’t help it if men and women alike want to be the one to lure you in, Lochlan. You’re quite the catch when you’re not barking orders, you know?”

I smile when she uses my name. Most people in my life call me Blaine. A couple of friends and my sister are the only exceptions. Even my parents call me Banny, for Christ’s sake.