Page 42 of We Met Like This
I laughed but then realized he hadn’t actually committed to lunch. “So? Can you come celebrate with me then? Friday. Noonish?”
“Yes,” he said.
“Okay, cool.”
“Margot?” he said.
“Yes?”
“I’m excited to see you again. Finally.”
My heart galloped to life in my chest. “Me too.”
CHAPTER 13
I knocked on Rob’s office door while glancing down the hall toward Rebecca’s. She’d join us when she got off her phone call. That’s what Cole had said when I stopped by on my way here.
“Come in,” came Rob’s muffled reply.
I took a deep breath. This was it. The moment my life was going to change. Or at least the moment it was going to take a massive step forward.
Two hours ago, I’d arrived at the office, completed my morning tasks, and immediately started reading author queries from the email slush pile. The very first email was amazing: the story interesting, the voice fun and refreshing. I read the five sample pages she’d included. Those were even better! The first email of the day! That never happened. I took it as a sign. Sloane was right. Positive energy was in the air. The universe was providing.
I opened the door and stepped into Rob’s office. He was sitting behind his desk. A book was open on top of it, but his attention was on the computer.
“Hi,” I said.
“Margot, good morning again.” He’d said good morning on his way into the office thirty minutes earlier. It was weirdly formal, but that’s where we were at this point.
“Yes, good morning.”
“Could you grab me a cup of coffee? I haven’t had a chance to get to the lounge yet.”
The agents called the break room “the lounge.” They probably thought it sounded fancier than what the break room was: a couple tables and chairs, a microwave, a fridge, and a coffee maker. A break room.
When I didn’t move, he said, “I think my mug is in the sink. If not, I have one in the cupboard as well.”
“Don’t let him play any head games,” Sloane had said that morning during our practice session.
Was this a head game? Either way, I didn’t want to start on his bad side, so I left his office and rushed to the break room. I should’ve worn flats today. I’d put on my heels for confidence but I felt like I was going to fall flat on my face.
“Hey, Margot,” Cole said from his seat at a table.
“Oh, hey. How are you?” I went to the sink. Rob’s dirty mug was in there from the day before, unwashed. Ironically, it saidworld’s greatest bosson the side. I’d given it to him two years ago when that sentiment was truer.
“Living the dream,” Cole said, raising a carrot stick to me. The carrot made me think of Oliver and the woman who’d told him he was rideable. I had to stifle a laugh.
I rinsed out the mug, then filled it, and left Cole with a “Keep dreaming.” It sounded more sarcastic than I meant for it to.
I was forced to walk slower on the way back. I’d filled thecup too full. Rookie mistake. In my left hand, I held a handful of creamers and sugar packets. Rob didn’t take either in his coffee, but if this was about control, I was prepared.
I slid the coffee onto his desk.
He gave it a quick glance. “Oh, can you—”
I dumped my handful of additives next to the mug.
“Always one step ahead of me,” he said with a wink.
