Page 73 of Austen Persuaded

Shaking her head, Sofia sat down at her desk. “No need, this will be quick. I just thought you might need to know you have my full support.”

“Thank you. It means so much,” I said, my voice trembling a bit. I’d known Sofia only a short time, and she was already such an amazing friend and colleague.

“Seniority isn’t everything. Don’t let that issue get to you, Annie. You have what it takes.”

“Well, it’s not so much seniority I’m worried about as lack of experience, knowledge …” I floundered. “I—you know, the stuff I just haven’t had time to acquire since I’m brand new.”

“We’ll get you there. I’m not worried. At all. This job is yours,” Sofia said breezily.

Our heads both turned at the sound of heavy footsteps. Kylan strode into the room noisily, wanting his presence known. “Sorry, I couldn’t help but overhear.” He didn’t look pleased.

“Really, you couldn’t?” Sofia raised her eyebrows, and her lips were curved into a slight frown, unlike her usual lightly flirting expression around him.

“Well,” he said, clearing his throat. “This agent opening isn’t anyone’s to claim. Ann—uh, Ms. York will have to work just as hard as anyone else to get this position. Probably much harder. It’s rare for a brand new assistant to be promoted to agent so soon. Nearly unheard of.”

The gentle ticking of the clock was suddenly the loudest sound in the room.

“But not quite unheard of, right?” Sofia asked, her tone deceptively calm as her gaze narrowed. “After all, you went from college grad to owning and acquiring agencies in, what, four years? Clearly some people can move up the ladder quite quickly.”

I wanted to high-five her, especially as I noted Kylan’s grimace as he shuffled his feet. Instead I inhaled slowly. “I’m aware I’ll have to work harder than anyone else,” I said quietly. Before he could respond, I added, “But I’m up for the challenge. I can’t wait for it, actually. It’s why I joined the agency.”

Sofia smiled at me, and even Kylan’s stoic expression started to curve into a grin until he caught himself. He covered his face with his large hand, pretending to yawn instead. “All right, good luck toyou,” he said gruffly. “Sofia, I’ll get in touch later about the client dinner.”

Once he was safely out of the room, Sofia let out a bark of laughter. “That man is wound so tightly sometimes, and then other times he just morphs into the most easygoing, charismatic guy … so confusing. But I think I like that about him, you know?”

Fortunately she was turned toward a window away from me and didn’t seem to be expecting an answer. I probably couldn’t have given her one because, well, what did one say in such a situation?

“Yeah, I like that too, everything about him actually, well, more like I used to love him, but now I—”

So stupid, stop it, Annie.

“So anyway, we’re going to make this work. In a few months, you are going to be the newest agent, and I’ll be the brilliant agent just next door,” Sofia said, spinning in her chair back toward me. “Can Sayaka handle book club for a while? The more time we can put into mentoring you, the better. Get ready to eat, breathe, and sleep agenting, Annie.”

“I can ask Sai and Hakeem. She’ll probably roll her eyes but say yes.” I couldn’t stop smiling if I wanted to, but of course I didn’t want to. “Curious, what’s in it for you—to put so much effort into helping me, that is—other than just being an awesome friend?”

“Hmm, good point. I’d actually lose a great assistant if you’re promoted. Maybe I should rethink this …” She grinned as I threw a stick of gum at her.

Chapter 19

“Hey, Annie.”

Even now, after three weeks of being in the same office building with Kylan almost daily, I still couldn’t handle it like a normal person. And if I had to see him, even from a distance conversing with someone down the hall or in an office as I passed by? My heart skipped a beat, or several. Serious efforts were needed to calm myself whenever I heard his voice, even when it wasn’t directed toward me and even if I couldn’t see him.

But on those rare occasions he was speaking to me, in front of me?

I was a bumbling idiot. Not to mention a klutz.

And that’s how, moments later, I ended up face-down in the hallway but perversely glad of it, if only so I could escape interaction.

But of course he couldn’t have the decency to leave me alone in my mortification, could he? I looked up and sideways at his bulky thighs crouched down and his hand hovered above me in uncertainty. “Annie? Are you OK? Can I … help you? I think I misheard you.”

No, you didn’t mishear.

I just said something completely incoherent about tea and peaches and then venetian blinds before inelegantly tripping over … probably nothing.

Why can’t he just go on his way and pretend I’m not here?

Step over me and move on?

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