Page 50 of The Forever Rule

Chapter Five

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Dear Diary,

Sometimes plans change. And sometimes they change you.

Steppinginto the Cage offices felt as if I were stepping into a new phase of life. I didn’t want to speak in metaphors, didn’t want to speak in flowery language that confused me, but I couldn’t help it. Everything felt different. As if maybe I wasn’t making a terrible mistake. Oh, I probably was. Totally. But I didn’t have to make that terrible mistake.

And it wasn’t as if I had any other choice or anywhere to go.

I waved at the admin, who smiledat me and pointed toward the elevators. Everybody seemed so happy to be here, something I had noticed the first time, but still couldn’t quite believe. I hadn’t realized how toxic my previous job had been until I had been able to step out of it and realize that maybe I needed something a little more positive.

This was going to be a change. Something different.

I could do good work here. I had of course heard of the Cages before I had even met Aston and his family through that text message chat. And not just because my previous boss hated them. No, they did great work in our side of business. Not only did they build new businesses and find ways to make them more approachable and ethical, they worked toward environmentally friendly avenues. They were in real estate development, environmental research, and were small business backers. They even had a microloan program that made me smile just thinking about. My previous employer was more into gaining momentum with increasing financing, than anything. And now I’d be able to get my hands into many of the projects the Cages worked on. At least, that’s what James had told me. For all I knew they were all liars, and I was going to get right back into the situation I had been in before, except for now I’d be working near a man I had made out with in public. Of course, everything was going to be fine. And I wasn’t going to panic.

As I stepped foot onto the floor, I looked up, surprised. James Cage held out a cup of coffee, his perfectly sculpted hair shifting slightly as he tilted his head.

“Good morning. And welcome to your first day with the Cages.”

I took the offered mug from him and blinked. “Am I going to expect this kind of service from the bosses every day?”

He snorted and shook his head. “No. You can bring your own coffee or get it from the staffroom. You don’t have to pay here, and if you’re a person who needs lids because you spill everywhere, let me know.”

I looked down at my bag in one hand, and the coffee mug in the other. “I think I can make it to my desk. I really hope so.”

He laughed and took the mug gently back from me. “Come on over, and I will show you to your office.”

I blinked. “An office? Not a cubical with a desk.”

“We treat our employees well here, and you’re about to do tons of work, so you’re going to need the space for everything. Plus, you’ll have a small seating area, and by small, I mean two tiny chairs that could break at any moment. That would be for your meetings. Because you’re going to have lots of meetings.”

I tried to hold back the excitement becausean office. “You’re really upselling it for me here.”

“I try. Come on, let me show you around, and then you’re going to meet your team.”

“I get a team?” I ask, my stomach twisting into knots. We’d gone over some of my responsibilities but not the details. Apparently, there weremanydetails.

“You do. And an administrative assistant, who is currently working with my administrative assistant to getall the paperwork done. Don’t worry, we’re not throwing you to the wolves right away.”

“Maybe tomorrow.”

He let out a snort but nerves still hit me. “Your office is three down from mine, and you have this small window. I know it’s not perfect, but who knows, you can rise in the ranks. We have to make sure you have something to work up to after all.”

I set my bag down and reached for the once again offered coffee cup. “I’m still confused as to why you are the one showing me around. Do you do this for all employees?” I asked, a little uneasy.

James studied my face, before nodding. “I do. Anyone in my department. Same with Flynn, and Aston. It’s not just because we accidentally scared you with our group chat one time. And I do apologize.”

I bit my lip. “It honestly wasn’t too bad. Though I still don’t know who was who.”

“Eventually you might be able to figure out some of it once you get to know us, but we’ll keep it a mystery for now. So we went over some of the responsibilities and duties that we’d want you to have, and our schedule for meetings, but I’m going to go over it again as we introduce you to the staff. Sound good?”

“It sounds great.” I took a sip of the coffee, and smiled because it was light and sweet and exactly as it’d tasted that first day after James had shown her around. “Perfect.”

“I should be honest to say that I did not remember. My admin did. Sorry.”

That made me smile. “Then I’ll have to thank them.”