Page 5 of Submitting to Them
Kingston
“We need to talk about the Ruberetta accounts,” Kristin says, walking into my office without knocking.
Mildly annoyed, I look up from my monitor.“Just come right in, why don’t you.”
“Thanks.”She smiles widely.“Ruberetta is turning into a bigger pain in the ass than I ever would’ve expected.”
“Is it because you’re a woman, or because you’re not Joel?”I turn back to my screen.
“Both, probably.He’s the biggest misogynist I’ve ever met.”
Yeah, he and Joel had a lot in common.I knew it wouldn’t be easy to get rid of Joel and put someone else on Ruberetta’s accounts, but if anyone’s up to the task, it’s Kristin.
“Are you uncomfortable with it?Do you want me to give him to Grant instead?”I ask.Grant will want to die a thousand deaths before dealing with Ruberetta, but that goes for just about everyone at Tyler Analytics.
“Not uncomfortable per se,” she says, leaning against the edge of my desk.“But I’d feel better if you and I could meet for dinner one evening and hash out some strategies.”
“Sure, run it through Fareed, he knows my schedule.”Fareed, my personal assistant, should have been consulted on this to begin with—Kristin knows that.
“Will do.”
When I don’t say anything else, she straightens up and moves toward the door.Finally.I need to concentrate.
Before she leaves, though, she says, “It means a lot that you talked to me last Saturday, when we were evacuating the building.”
“Of course.”It was almost a week ago, so it’s weird she’s bringing it up now, but okay.
She doesn’t speak, and I can feel her eyes on me.
“Is there something else?”I ask, looking up.
Shaking her head, she runs a hand over her neck and upper chest, as if trying to subtly bring my attention to her cleavage.
Shit, is she interested in me?I thought it might be the case earlier on, so I foisted most of her training onto Grant.I thought that she’d gotten the hint that if there was any interest, it wasn’t mutual.
“All right,” I say brusquely.“If there’s nothing else, I need to get back to work.”
“Right.I’ll talk to Fareed when he gets back from his lunch break.”
Ah.Of course.That’s why she didn’t initially go through him when she wanted to arrange a meeting with me.Fareed is used to operating behind the scenes, and sometimes when I’m working hard, like now, I don’t notice when he takes his lunch.
When I don’t respond, Kristin nods to herself and finally leaves the room.
My flow and my sense of focus has been disrupted, though.I may as well take a short break.I reach for my phone, which I’d put onDo Not Disturb.
Several texts from Ella, and a missed call from Sebastian.
Ella’s texts aren’t emergencies, but it’s been too long since I heard her voice.I hit the button for a video call, hoping she’ll accept it.
Ella
My apartment is pretty damned clean, but of course I’m cleaning it again anyway.Nervous energy.I haven’t seen Kingston or Sebastian in almost a week, and I’m missing them.At least Sebastian is texting with me, little notes here and there, asking about my work schedule, trying to see if I can get Saturday night off from the pub.I probably could, but I need the money.It’s a game night, so we’re allowed to accept tips.
To Sebastian’s credit, he’s very understanding and just asks me to let him know when I might have a Friday or Saturday night off because he wants to do something special with me.
Kingston texts, too, but his messages are terse.I get that he’s busy.I just miss him.
Maybe I’m being too clingy.
