Page 49 of OutFoxed

“I am glad it wasn’t a lame reason like setting me up.” She grimaced. “So, when can I get that list?”

“I will have my team send it to you as soon as I get back to the office.”

She nodded. “Well, it will be interesting to finish this project, Mr. Mayhew.”

“Elias. Please.”

She paused and then nodded. “Elias then.”

The door opened, and Merry’s mates exited without the boisterous laughter that Ula’s had shared. Giovanni paused and smiled. “Elias. Good to see you again.”

“And you. You have a mate now?”

Giovanni grinned. “We do. Tom, Rick, and I are over the moon. Merry’s a real angel.”

Libby snorted. “Sure she is.”

The courier from storage arrived, and Libby sorted the garment bags. She opened Merry’s door and hung the change of clothing on her door without a word. Merry nodded weakly and gave her a thumbs-up. Ula was flattened on her desk but elevated a hand in thanks.

Libby tutted and exited. It looked like being a mate was hard work. “I will bring you some tea, Ula.”

Ula lifted her head and smiled. “Thanks, Libby.”

Libby exited and typed an order in the company app for the café downstairs.

She nodded to Elias. “I have to go pick this order up. I will email the rest of the details once you get me that contractor list.”

“You are babying them?”

“I am taking care of them, keeping them productive, and getting myself a snack.”

She put out her “back in five minutes” sign and got her phone for payment.

She smiled. “Well, this has been interesting, but I have to get back to work.”

He paused and nodded. “I will walk you out.”

She looked up at him. “I don’t know if both of us will fit in the elevator.”

“Let’s throw caution to the wind.”

She snorted and summoned the executive elevator.

When they stepped inside, she noticed a new nameplate on the fifth space from the top. “Really?”

He chuckled. “Just until the projects are done then we will reassess.”

Delightful. She sighed and pushed the button for the lobby. They descended, and the button next to Mayhew Venture lit up for a moment as they dropped.

They moved faster as they left the executive levels, and she swayed. He politely gripped her arm to keep her steady.

“Thank you.”

“My pleasure.”

They exited on the main floor, and she walked to the pickup area with three beverages and a paper bag. The young woman smiled sadly. “Sorry, Libby. We were out of chocolate croissants today. I subbed it for a blueberry muffin.”

“Ah. Thanks, Tish.”

“See you tomorrow.”

Libby looked around and found Elias talking to a young blonde woman. She grinned and shook her head. It looked like any port in the storm for him. Ah well, just a few more months, and he would move on. She hoped he would. She was pretty sure she hoped he would. Damn. She got into the elevator again. A tiny part of her hoped he wouldn’t, and that treacherous bitch tended to take the wheel when it came to reckless actions.

She exhaled on the way up and tried to focus on things she had to do that didn’t involve Elias. A family gathering loomed, and that was going to be a nice friendly riot to her senses. Uncle Grigori’s birthday was next month, and she was going to have to shop for a present.

Her wits were slowly coming back together as she came up with a game plan. She just had to keep calm, and things would take care of themselves. They always did.

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