Just like at the Academy in Philly, a sea of cubicles greeted me. They were all empty as I walked past them. It was still about an hour before the sales teams and trainers would arrive.
I walked toward the closed offices, my steps slowing as my uncle, Andre Lima, rounded the corner. With slightly graying hair, he was still more fit than most men in their twenties.
“Jilly!” He strode forward, his short but powerful strides eating up the distance. Grasping the box from my arms, he placed it on a nearby desk and then wrapped his arms around me. I squeaked as he spun me around like I was twelve. When he placed me back on my feet, I felt like I’d just gotten off a merry-go-round. “Look at you, all dressed nice and stuff.”
Andre was wearing khakis and a Lima-branded polo.
“You look nice too,” I told him, brushing my hair back from my face.
He laughed as he picked up my box. “This is my I’m almost out of here clothing attire.”
“You really want to get back to Philadelphia, don’t you?”
“I miss it. So does Tanya, and you know what they say. Happy wife, happy life.” Andre winked at me. “Aren’t you here early?”
“I figured I’d get myself settled before everyone started showing up.”
“Smart idea,” he replied. “Well, let me show you the office. It’s new since we didn’t have a manager position before.”
Moving so he was to the left of me, I peeked over at him. “Can I ask you a question and you give me an honest answer?”
Grinning, he nodded. “When have I’ve ever lied to you, Jilly?”
“Does the staff think this position is unnecessary?” I asked.
He started to frown. “I’m not sure I understand what you mean.”
I guessed I couldn’t beat around the bush. “What I mean is, do they think Andrew Lima randomly created this position for his daughter?”
“What?” Andre laughed. “No. Not at all. They actually think it’s a good idea. Trust me, I needed the help, and more than once I had to have one of my sales reps join me in meetings—spending extra time on the job in a way that’s not necessarily going to make them money. Now they’ll be able to focus on their accounts and training sessions while you’ll be accompanying the new GM to meetings.”
That made sense. “Well, I’m relieved to hear they think it’s a good call.”
“They do. So we had a contractor come and carve out a new office for you,” my uncle explained, stopping in front of an office that had a glass front. “The office furniture just arrived. Never used, and it’s all yours.”
The office reminded me of a partial fishbowl. This was nothing like my tiny office with walls that weren’t see-through, but it was definitely nicer than I realized as I’d stepped inside.
The large, dark cherry wood desk was spotless—not even a fingerprint marked the shiny surface. A new desktop computer sat to the right. Beside it was a NASA-level phone system. Two chairs were stationed in front of the desk, and the chair behind it looked like it would be more comfortable than my bed. There was a credenza against one wall, and on the other was a large potted plant with palm leaves. Blinds covered the wall facing outside.
“What do you think?” Andre placed my box in one of the chairs in front of the desk.
“It’s great.”
“My office—well, my old office—is right on the other side of the sitting area.” He gestured to his right, and since I had glass walls, I looked past the sitting area, and saw the fully walled office of the GM.
“Has a new GM been hired yet?” I asked, wondering if another one of my uncles would be coming down in the interim.
His dark brows knitted. “You don’t know who’s replacing me?”
I placed my purse on my desk. “So the position has been filled?”
“Yes. It was filled quite some time ago,” he said as I turned around, moving toward the blinds. Been filled for quite some time? My father hadn’t mentioned that. I opened them as Andre said, “Actually, here he comes now. Earlier than I expected. Not that I’m surprised. You’re early, so of course, he’ll be early too. Just like old times.”
Just like old times?
I froze.
My fingers were wrapped around the little knob connected to the blinds and I simply stopped moving as a series of shivers crawled across my shoulders.
I’ll see you again soon.
No. No. No.
Everything started to click into place, but I refused to believe it, because I couldn’t fathom how or why. In a state of utter disbelief, I let go of the knob. It swung back toward the blinds, clanging off them. I slowly turned around.
Brock Mitchell stood in the doorway of my brand new office, his lips curved into a half-smile. “Good morning, Ms. Lima. I hope you like your new office.”
Chapter 7
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” I gasped.
Brock’s eyes widened and then he threw back his head, laughing loudly and freely. “Ms. Lima, language.”
My face turned blood red. Did he seriously just say that to me?
Andre’s smile was a bit sly as he eyed the both of us, and I knew—I just knew—he was fully aware of the fact I had no idea Brock was going to be here. Just like my mother had to have known and just like my father had failed to mention.
My family was a bunch of assholes.
“Okay, I’m going to go—uh, pretend to do something,” Andre said.
Brock’s brown eyes were trained on me as he stepped aside and clapped the shorter man on the shoulder.