Page 8 of Until I Find You

I reach into my pocket for my work phone, but Seth waves his hand. “No, you don’t need that. I’m not dictating. I have an offer for you.”

I quirk my eyebrow, returning the phone. “All right…”

“You look nervous.” He sips his coffee.

“Yeah, you’re acting in a way that’s making me nervous.”

Seth laughs. He might be my boss, but we have a rapport that’s grown since my intern days.

I could tell Seth respected me from day one because, and I quote, “Even when things feel like they’re on fire, you’re in control.”

I graduated from intern, to assistant, to executive assistant. And now, I have a voice in most meetings.

“You don’t need to be nervous, I promise.”

I heave a sigh. “Okay, then what’s up?”

His eyes are focused on me. “I think you’ve…grown as much as you can here.”

I sit forward as if a swarm of bees is attacking my back. “I thought you said I don’t need to be nervous!”

Seth holds out his hand palm facing me. “Relax, please. Just hear me out. I have a point, I swear.”

I brace for whatever is coming my way because it sounds like I’m getting fired.

“You’re beyond good at your job, Camilla. You know that, right? And I want to work with people who are beyond good at their jobs, absolutely. So, you can stick around here, wearing your Executive Assistant title and getting raises every now and then…” Seth narrows his eyes. “But I have a feeling that’s not going to sate you for much longer.”

“I’m perfectly sated.”

Seth’s eyes widen, he smiles. “Fine, then I won’t tell you about the better offer I have for you.”

“I–what better offer?”

“Ah…I knew you’d be curious.”

“For God’s sake, Seth, just tell me what’s–”

“Fine. So, my friend Jack’s starting a business. Coffee. And he’s never been the boss. He’s been a yes man. Stockbroker. Smart as hell but burnt out. Needs good people on his side. A good team, yes, but he also needs a partner. Someone to lean on while he navigates things. I immediately thought of you for the job. No one better in my mind.”

My jaw drops. I knew it. “You want to get rid of me?”

“Not at all. But I know you’re the best, and Jack deserves the best. He’s more like a brother than a friend.”

“Thank you…” Is that even the right thing to say? I have no idea what is happening right now.

“Better pay. More input. Getting in at the ground floor. Somewhere to grow and go with your career. What do you think?”

I blink. I’ve been running on autopilot for years now. I know I’m good at my job. I know I could stay here and go above and beyond, just as I always have.

But there’s an itch inside me, one I haven’t felt needed scratching until this very moment.

There’s another road for me. Something beyond assisting.

Creating.

I grin. “Where do I sign up?”

And more importantly, what the hell am I getting myself into.

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