Page 3 of Lilly's Little Labor Day

Someone cleared their throat and Lance turned to see Holly—Edward’s assistant—standing in the doorway.

“Sir, I need your signature on those documents before we send them to Boulder.”

“Of course,” Edward said. He looked at Lance. “If you’ll excuse me.”

“Sure,” Lance said.

His annoyance was evident as he huffed from the office.

Holly stepped deeper into the office and flashed a wry smile at her boss.

“You’re a lifesaver,” Edward said. He knew good and well there were no documents to sign. “And since when do you call me sir?”

She laughed. “I threw that in to get under his skin. Remind him that you’re the head of this company.”

“He wants this chair,” Edward noted with a nod.

“Uh-huh. And he’s willing to do some shady stuff to get it. I’d watch him if I were you,” Holly said.

She put one hip on the edge of Edward’s desk. She looked beautiful with her long, blonde hair falling past her shoulders that showed more and more silver with each passing day. She was in her mid-fifties, making her about twenty-five years Edward’s senior. She had grace, poise, and plenty of wisdom. She also tempered the young CEO and kept him grounded.

That’s why she was the best assistant in the world, Edward thought. He needed her.

Success had come early for him but not easily. He’d had to work for it. To chase it. But he’d proven from the start that he was a whiz kid. Now, he was on the Forbes Under 40 list and at the top of his game. That’s why so many people wanted to take a shot at him.

People like Lance Collins.

Edward was pulled from his thoughts when Holly spoke again. “Remember, you’re babysitting your little sister this weekend.”

Edward groaned.

“Is she that bad?” Holly asked with a knowing smile.

“Lilly isn’t bad. And she isn’t my sister.”

“Stepsister,” Holly corrected herself.

Edward nodded. “She’s sweet. But she’s twenty-one and still needs someone to look after her? I didn’t at her age.”

“Not everyone is putting together investors and launching a company when they’re not even out of college,” Holly reminded him. “Your story is unique.”

“Still,” Edward said. “Twenty-one?”

Holly smiled wider, spread her hands, and then stood. “Go spend time with your stepsister. Life is short. Family is important.”

Edward only nodded again as the assistant left his office. His mind drifted back to Lilly. And that dream he’d had before being interrupted by Lance.

It had been her. In the dream. Lilly.

He stood, gritted his teeth, and growled in frustration. He began pacing in front of the wall of glass, looking out on Denver as his mind spun a dozen different directions.

Sure, it would be annoying to look after his kid sister.

Stepsister.

She was old enough to take care of stuff on her own. It was ridiculous that he was even doing this.

But that wasn’t the only reason he was so frustrated. It wasn’t even the main one.

---