Page 3 of Grace

She smiles. “You absolutely can. Especially considering the number of things I’m going to have you do on a daily basis. Efficiency is key.”

I work without problem until after lunch. I don’t even leave my desk to eat. I’m too nervous.

Sebastian doesn’t work here, but I’m sure I’ll stumble into his dad sooner or later. And if his father finds out about our breakup, I’m worried that he’ll fire me. I’m sure this has all been some kind of kindness, a favor to Sebastian, and now it’s not necessary.

I almost ask Ms. Castain about it, but she stands up at three p.m. When she sees me looking at her, she smiles slightly. “I’ll be back. Stay on top of the email and look over the packet I gave you when it comes to organizing things.”

“Okay,” I whisper.

She walks off, her heels clicking on the floor.

I take a deep breath, look at my empty inbox, and start going through the packet. I simplify what’s obvious to me and help a few people with questions since they claim they’re having problems with their computers. I fix them easily since my last job was in tech support, then create the more automated spreadsheets so the math will be done automatically and only numbers will have to be entered.

I use the Google calendar to update Ms. Castain’s schedule as emails come in. I’m apparently CCed on anything that would affect her schedule.

It feels good to have this much on my plate. My mind can’t wonder and make me second-guess everything I do.

“I’m glad you’re not just another body at a desk.” Ms. Castain’s words startle me, and I peek up at her.

A smirk tugs on her lips. “I expected less based on… well, that’s not important.”

“Oh,” I whisper.

She walks around my desk. “If you keep this up, I’ll be able to give you more to do, and we’ll see exactly how much you can take on. I might need you for some overtime,” she continues.

“I can take it,” I say, trying to sound confident.

She lifts her brows. “We’ll see,” she mumbles and hands me another file.

Her words have been true, as every day, she gives me more to do as she hurries off to some meeting. Anytime I’m trying to get ahead, she gives me something else to do. Twice, it’s going to get coffee for everyone—which means I end up spilling a cup on myself and having to replace it out of my flimsy income. She has me stay late since she points out issues in my reports and says I need to be able to compare it to previous reports and that she shouldn’t have to do it. And I do, without question, as she leaves me again.

There’s nothing she won’t let me do as I even sat in on some meetings for her. All I had to do was take notes, ask the questions she listed, and keep the camera off so that everyone thought I was her. I suppose.

By the end of the week, I’m exhausted as I type away on her computer, ensuring all the reports are up to date. I even manage to put a post on a specific, safe, online group saying I have a room for rent in my apartment, add the amount, make sure that I get a girl, and add that we can meet up at a local café to talk more before I show the apartment.

But it seems time has slipped through my fingers as Ms. Castain’s harsh voice cuts through the air.

“What are you doing? Where’s my coffee? Grace, keep up, for fuck’s sake,” she sneers.

I scamper up onto my feet and hurry away behind her desk. “I’ll get it now, I was—”

“Why aren’t the reports ready? Damn it, Grace!” she glances through the papers on her desk. “I just have to cover your assonce more.” She sighs, clicking her tongue with a shake of her head.

I checked the reports three times. They should be good. Fuck, how can I mess this up so badly?

My legs start to shake, and I try to keep my head high as she snorts and laughs while checking my work. “I’ll do better,” I say, and her gaze snaps up.

“You’ll have to,” she grumbles as heavy footsteps close in and I suck in a breath.

Here we go, no more escaping or avoiding my boss.

Mr. Brooks stares me down. His eyes are similar to Sebastian’s in shape, but the color is a sharp, intense blue. His big frame and broad shoulders look uncomfortable in his button-up, and there’s some light scruff on his cheek.

Sebastian has brown, copperish hair, but Mr. Brooks has tamed his dark hair and has it styled in a way that looks modern, yet professional as grey hairs peek through the sides.

His sharp jaw tightens and he crosses his thick arms over his chest. “Grace.” My name glides over his tongue, and I muster a smile. “Good morning, Mr. Brooks,” I say, my voice quavering slightly.

This is the moment, right? Where he scolds me like Ms. Castain did and tells me to pack up. Because why keep me? I’m nothing to him.

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