Page 11 of Illicit Education

Speaking of which, I had some research to attend to.

I nodded in the direction of my office down the hall. “I have to hop on a call.”

“Have you picked a new firm yet?”

I sighed, shaking my head. Frustration tugged at my brow. “I trust you. Pick the one you like the best out of the three you picked.”

Travis leaned back in his chair, pushing the seat back and forth in a half-moon as his gaze held mine. With his elbows resting on the arms of his chair and his fingers steepled in front of his chin, he said, “You need to sign off, man.” He shrugged and placed his hands on his desk, stopping the motion of his chair. “I’ll tell you who I’m leaning toward, but you gotta give the go ahead, Cabot. I don’t want that decision to rest on my shoulders alone.”

I waved my hand as I turned to leave. “You’re right. Get your top three choices to Stella and I’ll review them by the end of the week.”

“Already on your desk, buddy.”

“Who are you leaning toward?”

“Harkins.”

I nodded and continued down the hall.

Relieved to reach my office with no further interruptions, I slipped inside and shut the door behind me. Standing behind my desk, I set my phone on the charging pad and fired up the computer, then stripped out of my blazer as I waited for the computer to boot up. I settled in and opened up the security feed, clicking to view the cameras for the seventy-third floor. She wasn’t likely still standing at the reception desk or sitting in the lobby, but perhaps I could catch a glimpse of her on her way to whatever appointment she’d come here for and gather some indication as to who she was–

My intercom beeped and I jumped.

“Christ!” Quickly closing out of the security feed before I took a dangerous step right into stalker territory, I pressed the intercom button. “Yes?”

“Please check your inbox, Mr. Reed. I was able to get a list sent up from security. Everyone who entered the building this morning signed in. I’m waiting for some additional information from Reed Publishing’s HR, but this is a good start.”

I had my email client open before Stella finished the sentence.

Security. Why hadn’t I thought of that?

Everyone had to sign in. Assuming she’d stopped to do so in her haste to reach the restroom, her name would be scribbled on the list.

“Thank you, Stella.” I quickly disconnected and scanned the list for anything that jumped out at me.

A few of our acquisitions editors were scheduled to meet with authors today, but they were names I recognized.

An ad exec would be headed up to seventy-five this afternoon to meet with my head of marketing.

A local literary agent or two had appointments with the editorial team.

The usual comings and goings.

Unless I was correct in the assumption that that woman was just a hopeful author, hand-delivering a manuscript, she should be somewhere on the docket. But… no, even then, she wouldn’t have made it past security without an appointment.

I scanned the list and nearly laughed out loud.

Of all the cruel jokes.

How could I forget?

With a groan, I leaned back in my chair and ran my hands down my face.

Today was the first day of the fall internship. I chuckled as it all clicked into place. Unless my gut was wrong–and it was never wrong–that feisty little brunette was my new intern.

“For fuck’s sake.”

Rylan Blake, Reed Romance

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