Page 63 of Gold Digger
“Iwasemployed here, if you remember?” Lucy said. “I was a gloriously bad assistant, and Felix was a totally inappropriate boss – complete HR nightmare.”
Felix laughed. “HR loves me now,” he said in a smug voice.
“Only because you made all the changesItold you to.”
It was his turn to shrug. “I am exceptionally good at taking advice.”
“God, you’re arrogant abouteverything,” Lucy complained. “You’ve even got to be the best at taking advice.”
“Si, I am.”
“Well,Ican’t afford to be inappropriate at work,” I tried to keep my tone light, but when Felix’s narrowed gaze came to me, I realised that some of the fear may have leaked into it.
“Hey, Lots,” Felix said carefully, “you know you don’t have to worry, right? We’re only joking around. I don’t give a shit if your boyfriend?—”
“Fiancé,” Ollie put in, and Felix rolled his eyes.
“Fiancé wants to be a pest. It doesn’t reflect on you, and you know your job’s secure, right?”
“Yes, sure, of course,” I answered too quickly. Felix crossed his arms over his chest and Ollie gave my hand a squeeze.
“I’m serious, Lots,” he said, clearly starting to get annoyed now. “You’re one of the most important members of the team.”
I sighed. “Okay, Felix. I get it.” I resisted the urge to roll my own eyes. I was unqualified for this job. The only reason I was even there was Vicky. My position was inno waysecure. Nothing about my life was ever secure.
Felix opened his mouth to say more, but Lucy cut him off. “Drop it, Felix,” she said in a soft voice, her gaze fixed on me. Luce could often retreat to her own little world, but when she was focused on the world around her, she was surprisingly observant.
“Right, anyway, are we prepping for the meeting now or what?” I put in. “Harry will be here in a minute.” Harding Moretti meetings with Harry York were still often tense due to both Felix and Harry leaning towards dickhead tendencies. They got on better than they used to, but they could still rub each other up the wrong way. So invariably I needed to be there to cut the tension, or they wouldn’t get anything done.
“Hi all,” Harry said as he casually strode into the office, ignoring Felix in favour of making a beeline for Lucy. Harry was a massive L P Mayweather (Lucy’s pen name for her fantasy books) fan.
“Harry!” Lucy said, her face lighting up.
“Hey there, little genius.” Lucy was still on the sofa, so Harry leaned down to give her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“York,” Felix snapped. His hands were balled into fists, but he knew better than to drag Harry away from Lucy – he’d had a long period of silent treatment from her the last time that happened. “You can’t just bowl about my office like you own it.”
“Well, nobody was in the conference room,” Harry said, straightening in his own good time from Lucy. “Not my fault if your organisation is sloppy, Moretti.”
“Sloppy? Jesus, you’re one to talk. The Lexington deal last week was a complete shitshow.” Harry had turned fully to Felix now. Both men had their hands on their hips. Things were about to deteriorate. I opened my mouth to speak, but my phone vibrated against my hip. Frowning, I pulled it out, and my heart sank when I saw the number on the screen. Mumbling to the others that I had to take the call (Harry and Felix were well into their argument now, so they barely noticed), I pulled my hand from Ollie’s and stepped towards the door.
“Hello?”
“Ah, Miss Forest.” I recognised the school administrator’s nasal, superior voice. “I’m afraid there’s a problem with Hayley.”
“Is she okay?”
“Well, it’s quite serious, but obviously, with Hayley’s difficulties, it’s hard to ascertain?—”
“What happened?” I snapped. “Is she okay?” In my panic, I’d stopped walking, so I was still in Felix’s office, and my voice had risen to a near shout. I was too worried to notice the silence around me, but I did feel Ollie’s large hand on my back.
“There was an altercation. Hayley is perfectly fine – just a few bumps and scrapes. One of the other children, however, has a bloody nose.”
I felt like I was going to be sick. “A few bumps and scrapes?” My gentle Hayley had been hurt.
“Yes, she’s absolutely fine, but unfortunately, she needs to be collected. She’s quite beside herself.”
“She’s hurt?” My voice came out as a strangled whisper. I couldn’t process anything. All this time and effort keeping her safe, and she’d been hurt anyway. I shook my head in denial and I was about to reply when the phone was snatched out of my hand.
