Page 7 of Enthrall
“He pulled his arm in before the great white came any closer,” said Richard. “Pretty cowardly if you ask me.”
I gave him the frown that deserved.
He took a sip of coffee and pulled a face.
“Oh.” I opened my palm. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted sweet and low or--”
He pointed. “The real stuff.”
I ripped open the sachet and poured white crystals into his coffee, stirring it with the wooden stick before throwing it into the trash bin beneath his desk.
Richard took another sip. “Better.” His gaze lowered. “Nice boots.”
“They’re new.” I suppressed a cringe at my embarrassing answer.
“I like them.”
This was the hint of kindness I needed to see from the man I’d be working for and it felt nice to catch a glimpse of his thoughtfulness.
He took another sip. “Lotte’s been over everything with you?”
“She has.”
He swiveled in his high-backed chair. “You completely understand what it is we do here and you’re one hundred percent on board with it?”
“Oh yes,” I said, hoping he didn’t ask for specifics.
“Every day you’ll arrive half an hour before me. Check my emails and tell me which ones are urgent. Do not answer them on my behalf. Ever.” He leaned forward. “First thing, we’ll go over the day’s appointments. Not all of them are reserved for Enthrall.” He waved that off. “We can go over that later.”
“Thank you for this opportunity,” I said. “I’m very grateful.”
He looked surprised. “I didn’t hire you. The director did.”
“Oh.”
He leaned back and that icy-stare lingered on me for a little too long.
“Another coffee?” I said.
“Haven’t finished this one.” His stare refused to let up.
There came a flitter in my solar plexus, a foreign feeling I couldn’t quite place.
Richard slid open a side drawer and reached in.
He held his palm out to me. “Here.”
I stepped forward and took the key out of his hand and his touch made my fingers tingle. He snapped his hand back.
“It’s for the lift gate to the dungeon,” he said. “It’s your job to open the gate for guests and their escorts. Keep this hidden. Don’t take it home.” He narrowed his gaze. “Don’t go down there without my permission. Am I clear?”
I gave a nod.
“That’ll be all for now.”
I headed for the door.
“Make our clients happy,” he said. “That’s all we ask of you. Be polite. Patient. Kind.”
