Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
There were four people she was always to put through. Alejandro De Leon, his wife, Cat, his sister, Juliet, and his friend, Gwen.
“I don’t want to be a bother. He can call me back.”
“Are you sure? Are you okay? Do you need something? I mean, not that I can help . . . well, I could try. But likely not. I’m not very good at any of this stuff.”
There was silence.
Great. Way to embarrass yourself, Faith.
“Are you all right, Faith?” Juliet asked.
“I really don’t think I am.”
There was silence on the other end, so she kept talking.
“Truth is, I have no idea what I’m doing. Why did I think I could be a personal assistant? I’ve got no experience. The only thing I have going for me is that I’m stubborn and desperate. I even made him my famous banana bread and he spat it out! Can you believe that? I can’t operate Estelle. She just spits at me. I fed his pastrami to a lovely dog called Petey, and he had to buy me a water bottle because he’s worried I’m going to pass out on him.”
She took a deep breath in, then let it out slowly.
Wow. Way to spill everything, Faith.
This was his sister and now she’d probably tell Reuben what a basket case Faith was.
Like he doesn’t know.
To her shock, the other woman started to giggle.
“Are you . . . are you laughing at me?”
“S-sorry.”
Huh. She didn’t sound all that sorry.
“It’s just that you sound exactly like what he needs.”
She did? How could she be? She didn’t see it.
“I think I’m the opposite of what he needs. I think I’m making everything worse in his life.”
“Not possible. What was in the banana bread?”
Strange question, but Faith went through the ingredients.
“Walnuts,” Juliet told him. “He hates them. Oh, but he loves brownies.”
“Really?” she breathed out, like Juliet had just given her the secret to the universe.
“Uh-huh.” Someone called Juliet’s name in the background. “Gotta go. Tell him I’ll call later.”
“Will do. Thanks, Juliet.”
“Good luck, Faith. Don’t give up on him.”
That was a bit strange, but she shrugged it off. She guessed Juliet just wanted him to have an assistant who lasted more than five minutes.
Twenty minutes later, the people Reuben had been in a meeting with had left, and she walked in.
“Can you go grab us both coffee, Blossom?” he asked, slipping the credit card over.
“Sure.” She slipped the card into her pocket. “Your sister called. She said she’d call back later.”
Reuben raised his head from the computer screen and looked over at her. “Excuse me?”
Danger.
Red alert.
Fudge knuckles.
“I, um, Juliet called.”
“What was rule number one?” he whispered.
Oh. Right. He’d given her some rules when she started. Things like she wasn’t to talk about anything she saw here or the people she met. She’d signed an NDA too.
Also, no lying. No being late. No coming to work sick.
And always put Juliet through if she called. No matter what.
Okay. She’d really fucked-up.
Really, really fucked-up if the look on his face was anything to go by. Of all those times he’d come close to firing her . . . well, this time he might actually do it.
He drew his phone out of a drawer, checking it, then swearing quietly.
“I’m sorry, she—”
“Leave,” he interrupted her.
“But—”
“You’re fired.”
It wasn’t unexpected, but it still hit her like a blow. She stumbled back, then turned around and rushed out.
Yeah. She’d known things were too good to last. Too good for someone like her.
A failure and an embarrassment.
“Hey, big brother,” Juliet greeted him cheerfully.
Reuben let out a sigh of relief. It wasn’t like her to call the office number. Not unless something was wrong.
“Are you all right, Mini?” he demanded. “Is everything okay?”
“I’m sorry, did I worry you by calling the office?” she asked. “It’s just not like you to not answer your phone. I got concerned.”
He breathed out a sigh. “I had an important meeting. But I’m sorry, Mini. I won’t turn it off again. In any case, my assistant should have put you through immediately.”
What had Faith been thinking? That was the most important rule.
“Oh, she wanted to put me through, but I told her not to. I just wanted to know you were all right.”
“You told her not to?” He groaned. “Mini.”
“Oh no, what did you do? Reuben?” she asked sternly.
“Nothing.”
“Big Bad Wolf?”
“I fired her.” He sighed. Hell. “Why did you tell her not to put you through?”
“Because it wasn’t important. I just . . . I had a bad dream and I needed to talk to you. Reuben, you fired her? This is my fault.”
“No, it’s not. She still should have put you through.”
“And I told her to hang in there. I jinxed her.”
“Juliet Susanne, you did not jinx her. She works for me, so she needs to learn to follow my orders.”
Or he’d spank her ass.