Page 12 of Only Ever You

Ten minutes later, I join Garrett and Victor in the boardroom. The only one missing now is Mallory—Garrett’s ex and marketing manager extraordinaire.

Victor eyes my coffee. “I knew I should have made a stop before the meeting.”

I take a sip of my drink. “You snooze, you lose.”

He scowls as I take my seat.

“Hey Garrett, have you found a new PA yet?”

Garrett fixes his gaze on me. “Why? Are you ready to give up yours?”

I snort. “Not likely.”

“Actually, there’s a candidate coming in tomorrow. The recruitment company’s done a good job of weeding out the nopes this time. This one’s perfect on paper at least, so I’m hoping it’ll be a quick process.”

“Thank God for that,” Victor says. “Do you remember that dipshit they tried sending us for the accounting role?”

I laugh. Vic had nothing but trouble the last time he looked for a new assistant accountant. One guy in particular managed to bluff his way through the entire recruitment process until he interviewed with Vic.

Then it became painfully obvious that he thought he could just wing it.

Needless to say, Vic came down hard on the company we were using.

“Anyway, my candidate tomorrow is perfect. She’s from Gisborne too. I brought her file down on the off chance that you know her and can shorten this whole process.”

I roll my eyes. “You know as well as I do that’s not likely. I haven’t been back there since I was nineteen.”

He pushes the file across the table. A hazel-eyed gaze stares at me from the photo attached to the front.

Wait a minute.

I know those eyes.

I frown, opening the folder.

Philippa Theresa Chapman.

“No way.” I meet Garrett’s gaze.

His brows knit before he bursts out laughing. “You do know her.”

That photo. She’s gorgeous. That was inevitable for Pippa. She was a pretty girl, so full of life and love and everything good in the world. Her dark hair is swept up into a bun with loose wisps of it falling down the sides of her face. That smile of hers could light the darkest of places.

Lucas would hate it if I hurt her.

It would be the ultimate payback.

That thought, however brief, sits on my chest and aches. No. I couldn’t do that to her. She doesn’t deserve it.

I close the folder and lean back in my chair. “How do you feel about taking Simone taking the role?”

Vic smirks.

The boardroom door swings open and Mallory walks in. The only woman in our group—she was dating Garrett when we came up with our revolutionary business idea and given she was studying marketing at the time, it was a no-brainer for her to join us.

She’s often the one who grounds us—pointing out when we’re getting out of control. She might not be with Garrett anymore, but we’re all good friends.

“Can we get this meeting going? I’ve got an appointment with a new billboard company this afternoon.”

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