just not sure Jason is the one for you. I get the feeling there’s more to him than he lets on.”
I involuntarily squinted. Who was he to judge Jason? Wait a minute, how much did he really know? Jason said his cover was in jeopardy, maybe Devin knew more than he was letting on. Devin set the paper weight back on my desk. “It’s just something to think on, Alyssa.”
Biting my nail, I half-smiled. “I'll think on it, then.”
He waved on his way out the door.
My sigh was interrupted by my phone beeping. “Ms. Eastman, Jason’s on line one.”
“Thanks. Hello?” I twisted the cord around my fingers.
“Do you really think your parents don’t like me?”
I froze in my seat. “How did you know I said that?” I whispered into the receiver.
“I’ve had a bug in your office for six months.” Jason’s statement came out as a boring fact, not a confession. For me, the news was mortifying. I’d gushed over Jason since the day we met. Which meant he’d heard every sappy, love-struck confession in this office.
“You’re cute when you blush.”
Shocked, I barked, “Are you filming me, too?” I scanned the shelves and corners for hidden cameras; like I’d be able to see them.
“Naw, I can just tell what you’re thinking.”
I boiled over. “Jason Butler, I’m gonna...”
“Susan is three steps away from your open office door.” My mouth snapped shut as Susan walked by, serendipitously studying an open file.
“I do have cameras in the hallway.”
“Jason,” I warned.
“I’m just being thorough.”
“Seriously?” I groaned.
“I have to take a rain check on lunch; I’ll see you tonight for dinner?”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” I answered. W ouldn’t miss the opportunity to let you have it .
The rest of the day rolled by without incident. When asked, I said the weekend was underwhelming. People sensed my hesitancy to discuss it, a rarity in my relationship with Jason, so they left me alone. I could only imagine the rumors going through the office gossip channel.
By 6:30 p.m. the place had cleared out. My cell phone beeped with a text: All clear.
My “go” phrase.
I slipped the phone into my pocket, grabbed my purse, and made my way to the ladies’ room. Against every ounce of good manners, I called Jason from inside the stall where I was hiding. The phone’s beeps echoed off the tile walls. I quickly switched the keypad’s sound off and started again.
“Are you ready?” Jason’s deep voice was full of business.
“Hello, to you too.”
“Hello.” It sounded like it pained him to pause in order to deal with my sarcasm. Too bad, I’m all he’s got.
“The hallways are clear. Do you have the emergency button I gave you this morning?”
I fished in my purse until I held the round disk in my hand. “Yeah. It’s right here.”
“All right. If you press the unlock button, a universal key will pop out. Insert the key in Devin’s door and it should open.”
I pressed the button. Huh, it worked. “I’m on my way.” I poked my head out of the bathroom.
“Hello, Beautiful.” Jason said into the phone. I smiled, despite myself. I paused at the end of the hall and put the key in the lock. Click. I dropped the mechanism back in my purse.
Entering the office, I held my breath. The place breathed wealth. My skin broke out in goose bumps. I took a moment to verify the place was empty. It was just me and the portrait of Washington at Valley Forge hanging behind the antique English desk.
This felt wrong. I’d been in here dozens of times, but it had always been on invitation. You don’t just walk, er, I mean break , into your boss’s office. Steady breath. I could do this. “I’m in.”
“I know.”
Emptiness pressed against me. The air knew I wasn’t supposed to be there. “So now what?”
“Open his laptop.”
I sneaked over to the huge desk on tiptoes.
“You can quit the Pink Panther routine, the only one looking is me.” I straightened up, trying to
I involuntarily squinted. Who was he to judge Jason? Wait a minute, how much did he really know? Jason said his cover was in jeopardy, maybe Devin knew more than he was letting on. Devin set the paper weight back on my desk. “It’s just something to think on, Alyssa.”
Biting my nail, I half-smiled. “I'll think on it, then.”
He waved on his way out the door.
My sigh was interrupted by my phone beeping. “Ms. Eastman, Jason’s on line one.”
“Thanks. Hello?” I twisted the cord around my fingers.
“Do you really think your parents don’t like me?”
I froze in my seat. “How did you know I said that?” I whispered into the receiver.
“I’ve had a bug in your office for six months.” Jason’s statement came out as a boring fact, not a confession. For me, the news was mortifying. I’d gushed over Jason since the day we met. Which meant he’d heard every sappy, love-struck confession in this office.
“You’re cute when you blush.”
Shocked, I barked, “Are you filming me, too?” I scanned the shelves and corners for hidden cameras; like I’d be able to see them.
“Naw, I can just tell what you’re thinking.”
I boiled over. “Jason Butler, I’m gonna...”
“Susan is three steps away from your open office door.” My mouth snapped shut as Susan walked by, serendipitously studying an open file.
“I do have cameras in the hallway.”
“Jason,” I warned.
“I’m just being thorough.”
“Seriously?” I groaned.
“I have to take a rain check on lunch; I’ll see you tonight for dinner?”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” I answered. W ouldn’t miss the opportunity to let you have it .
The rest of the day rolled by without incident. When asked, I said the weekend was underwhelming. People sensed my hesitancy to discuss it, a rarity in my relationship with Jason, so they left me alone. I could only imagine the rumors going through the office gossip channel.
By 6:30 p.m. the place had cleared out. My cell phone beeped with a text: All clear.
My “go” phrase.
I slipped the phone into my pocket, grabbed my purse, and made my way to the ladies’ room. Against every ounce of good manners, I called Jason from inside the stall where I was hiding. The phone’s beeps echoed off the tile walls. I quickly switched the keypad’s sound off and started again.
“Are you ready?” Jason’s deep voice was full of business.
“Hello, to you too.”
“Hello.” It sounded like it pained him to pause in order to deal with my sarcasm. Too bad, I’m all he’s got.
“The hallways are clear. Do you have the emergency button I gave you this morning?”
I fished in my purse until I held the round disk in my hand. “Yeah. It’s right here.”
“All right. If you press the unlock button, a universal key will pop out. Insert the key in Devin’s door and it should open.”
I pressed the button. Huh, it worked. “I’m on my way.” I poked my head out of the bathroom.
“Hello, Beautiful.” Jason said into the phone. I smiled, despite myself. I paused at the end of the hall and put the key in the lock. Click. I dropped the mechanism back in my purse.
Entering the office, I held my breath. The place breathed wealth. My skin broke out in goose bumps. I took a moment to verify the place was empty. It was just me and the portrait of Washington at Valley Forge hanging behind the antique English desk.
This felt wrong. I’d been in here dozens of times, but it had always been on invitation. You don’t just walk, er, I mean break , into your boss’s office. Steady breath. I could do this. “I’m in.”
“I know.”
Emptiness pressed against me. The air knew I wasn’t supposed to be there. “So now what?”
“Open his laptop.”
I sneaked over to the huge desk on tiptoes.
“You can quit the Pink Panther routine, the only one looking is me.” I straightened up, trying to
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