He was probably paid to keep his mouth shut.
“Layla.” I press the intercom button, and when my assistant enters, I say, “Throw the flowers.”
She blanches. “But they’re so beautiful. Can I keep them?”
“Sure. Just get them away from me.”
She gives me an odd look, but does so. Taking out the card, I look over the message, and my lips press into a thin line. I refuse to feel scared. If Ethan is right and it’s not Lucas harassing me, then it has to be my mother. Although why she would go to this extent is beyond me. However, if my mother has decided to come after me, then I won’t go down without a fight.
I unlock the bottom drawer of my desk and retrieve a pepper spray and a set of brass knuckles. I put them into my purse before hesitating. No, it will be hard to retrieve these from my purse in the heat of the moment. It’s not like I will have the luxury of rifling through it.
Reaching into my pants pocket, I slide them in.
Ethan made dark promises last night when his head was buried between my legs, about coming to my office again during lunch. As a precaution, I decided to wear formal pants. Iprefer skirts normally, especially in this heat, but I’ll be damned if I let him have his way with me.
I look at the card. I should give this to Ethan, but he’s in the middle of a meeting. Clarice was on the phone with him this morning, discussing his schedule. I know he has a jam-packed schedule today.
“Later, then,” I murmur. I have a busy schedule as well.
First, I head to the Marketing Department where Caleb is waiting for me. Making the introductions, I tell Iris about our lunch plans.
“It’ll be a good opportunity to introduce him to the rest of the team as well,” I tell Iris, who studies Caleb doubtfully.
“I can’t lie. Your resume is certainly good. But given your experience, I’d like to put you in the strategy team. We have four members so far: Joshua, Flora, Steven and Eve. Eve and Joshua aren’t in right now, but you’ll meet them at lunch. I’ll introduce you to Flora and Steven.”
I watch her leave and sigh.
Initially, I was worried Iris would be a little hostile towards Caleb, but she seems to like him well enough. But then again, Caleb is friendly and likeable. And the two spent ten minutes together before I arrived.
I wait for Iris to return. “Well?”
“Well, what?” she asks, sitting down.
“What do you think?”
She gives me a wry smile. “His credentials check out, and to be honest, if Mr. Wilder is the one pushing him on us, then he must have a reason. And his resume is good. Like, really good.”
I study her. “About your laptop. I talked to IT. They have one ready for you. Upload your documents on cloud and have Caleb bring me your laptop.”
“Thanks, Natalie.”
“Sure.”
I head back, and as I get in the elevator, I run into Jake.
“Going up?”
“No, to my office.”
I keep my tone polite, and he winces. “Natalie, do you mind if we talk?”
“I really have to get to work.”
“I’m sorry about what I said that day in the apartment. I understand that things between you and Ethan are—were complicated. I overstepped.”
“Yes, you did.” I meet his gaze evenly.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
