Page 72 of Austen Persuaded

Just then, I felt a certain heated masculine presence directly behind me, perhaps just a few inches. I sidestepped a few inches, my breath catching.

“Annie, I’ve called Rainn to take you home. Sai,” he said in a commanding voice, staring down at the teenager. “ou can facilitate the rest of the discussion, right?”

Her mouth gaping, Sai just stared up at Kylan for a moment. “I guess so. Can’t be that hard,” she mumbled.

I felt dizzy as my gaze bounced between them. “Wait, what? You called me a ride … home? Wh–why would you do that?”

He gave me a look of impatience before sitting down to talk to Sai quietly for a brief moment, and then he rose again. “Rainn should be here soon. He concurred that you likely need rest.”

“What—how—you don’t get to decide that for me,” I sputtered. “In what universe do you think—”

Sofia put an arm across my shoulders and spoke in a soothing tone. “Yes, it’s a bit heavy-handed, but it’s sweet. We’re just worried about you, girl. You look really pale, and your eyes, well, it’s not you. Go home and rest. Take care of you. Work can wait till tomorrow.”

I wanted to protest, to scream that Kylan of all people had no right to decide this for me, but my outrage was dwindling along with the last of my energy. I couldn’t deny that I was bone-tired. At least it was Rainn driving me home and not Kylan. I couldn’t resist glaring at him for good measure before turning to leave, but he didn’t seem offended. He looked somehow … grateful? OK, somaybehe cared about my basic well-being at some rudimentary level.

So what?

As if that mattered.

Except it does.

Oh, it does.

On Friday morning, I was considerably more awake, having slept like a rock for the past two nights, but my embarrassment lingered as I avoided eye contact with Sofia and then Kylan when they entered the conference room. Fortunately, we were surrounded by many others, as this was the weekly agents’ strategy meeting, which meant that all agents and assistants would be there as usual, along with our manager, Francis, and apparently Kylan too.

Francis, who hated when people arrived to meetings late, didn’t wait for the two latecomers and simply started without them. Ambrose and Jessa were only half a minute late, but their eyes clearly conveyed their nerves and regret, which Francis ignored as they spoke of some general company business first.

My nerves were so high in my new boss’s presence, which had been relatively rare so far, that I hardly paid attention to my former lover in the room. I was starting to become used to his presence at work—if you could call not having a panic attack becoming used to it.

After speaking for a long while, Francis paused and pinned Laina with a stare. “And now, Laina has an announcement to share.”

“Thanks, Fran.” Laina’s mouth curved into a half-smile. Only she could call Francis by the nickname; apparently the two of them went way back. “I don’t want to make a fuss, so I’ll just say it: I’m retiring.” Gasps were heard around the room, but before anyone could respond, she added, “In July. You have two months.”

Once again, I forgot that Kylan was in the room.

Laina’s leaving.

Laina’s leaving!

I could …

“Two months for one of you assistants to prove yourself capable of being an agent,” Laina said, giving a cursory glance to each of the four of us. “Ifanyof you are.”

Kylan frowned and cleared his throat. “I’ve no doubt they are. I’d actually like to help—to support the team, which is part of the reason I’ve joined you for the weekly meeting today.”

Francis’s lips curled in distaste. Although they were often distant both literally and figuratively in my day-to-day work, it wasn’t the first time I’d found myself thinking that my boss was one of the few people who didn’t like Kylan. Despite being one of the “bad guys” acquiring our precious agency, he was almost universally liked. Either that or people were very good at pretending. He knew how to turn on the charm though.

I know that better than anyone.

Clearly Francis was immune though. “Yes, thank you, Kylan. Now I’m going to assume all of you assistants are eager to move into an agent role. Our optimistic new leader here has convinced me not to open the position externally, at least not yet, and to give you four the chance to fight for the position first. You have two months. In that time, you will need to persuade us you can do this job and do it well. Our agents are top notch here, and they don’t just learn on the job. You need to be top notch on Day 1. Spend your time in the next two months well. If you’re not already co-agenting some projects, you’ll be at a serious disadvantage.” At this news, my heart sank. Of course I hadn’t started doing that yet, as I was still so new. Two of the other assistants smirked, while the other newer one looked about as happy as I did.

“But as Francis said, you have two months,” Kylan said smoothly. “You can do a lot in that time. If you work hard. Many of the agents are already great mentors to you, from what I’ve heard. And I’ll be here to support you and the agents, as well as the leadership. I’m rooting for all of you.” He flashed an encouraging smile as his gaze traveled to everyone around the large table. I thought his eyes paused just slightly when landing on me, though I might have imagined it.

After Francis concluded the meeting indicating they would be sending the job posting and interview process details via email shortly, I rushed back to my desk, eager to read all the information. This was my chance! The chance every agent assistant was always waiting for. But was it too soon? Before I could sink into self-doubt, Sofia came over and pulled me into her office.

“Annie, we are getting you that job,” she hissed. I had never seen a more determined look on Sofia’s face, and she was one of the most driven people I’d ever met.

I smiled and looked at the open door as I sank into a chair in Sofia’s office. “Should I close your door?”

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