Page 208 of Now and Forever

Concerned with her well-being, I looked away from my computer screen and gave her a tentative gaze. “Is everything okay, Denise?”

She paused, frowning down at me. “I’m running late. My boyfriend’s parents are in town from Australia, and I’m supposed to meet them for dinner. I haven’t even gotten around to what to wear yet. This is the first time I’m meeting them, so it’s a massive deal. I just want to look my very best.”

It was understandable. I had been there, done that.

“Can I help you with anything? Anything at all?”

“Could you please?” she asked, grinning at the prospect of me taking on some of her burden. “I’m waiting for a fax from Hong Kong. Make sure to separate different sections of the contract in different folders. I believe there are three separate ones. Lastly, you need to personally drop that off to Mr. Elliot’s home. There will be a driver waiting downstairs. Make sure you don’t utter a word about what you have in your hand. This is pretty hush-hush, and normally I don’t trust just anyone, but since you’re basically a family friend of the Elliot’s, I’m trusting you with this.”

I nodded, jotting down everything she told me, trying in earnest not to react to the fact that I was supposed to go over to Cruz’s place. What if his fiancée was there, too? Fuck. Whatever; it was too late to change my mind now. Besides, Denise needed my help. As a result, I sucked up my pride and just dealt with it.

She repeated the instructions several times before I reiterated everything to her, just so she could leave me be and head off to be with her boyfriend and his family. Although Denise was firm and efficient, I was pleased to see she could be easily ruffled just like everyone else when meeting their significant other’s parents.

While waiting on the papers from Hong Kong, I took a moment to stroll around, scanning the now empty office spaces. As I did so, I wondered where Cruz’s office was. There was only one set of black, double-doors on the floor, and it didn’t take a genius to guess it was the boss’s office. For a moment, I contemplated if I should go and scout into his space, but as easily as the thought came, I immediately scolded myself that there was no point in that. After all, I would feel downright awful after what I had done.

He was engaged, and hopefully he didn’t hate me for being aggressive the other night.

Retracing my steps back to my desk, I was glad to find the kitchen along the way. In there, I took a bottled juice, a banana, and a granola bar before retreating back to my post to man the machine.

The fax beeped at thirty past seven, indicating that the long-awaited files were being sent over. The mere sound of it almost made me want to dance because I was starting to get tired, and the last thing I needed was for me to fall asleep while the driver waited for me downstairs.

As carefully as I could, I followed Denise’s instructions to a T. Once finished, I held on to the folders for dear life as I headed towards the elevator and in search of the driver who would take me to Cruz’s apartment.

Oh, Lord. First assignment, here we go.

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