Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 82767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“YAY!” she squealed, and people across the lobby turned to look at her, but she remained unfazed and called as she walked away. “Have dinner before you come, no pre-drinks and dress code is… sassy!”
I laughed and made my way up to the office where I was very pleased – and only a little guilty – to find that Keegan had gone out for lunch and left a note saying he wouldn’t be back until around three, as he was meeting with a client afterwards. I’d be long gone by then, and if I had come across any useful information that would prove what exactly was going on at Clover House, I wouldn’t be back. I got to work as quickly as I could, and the hours flew past. It wasn’t until Taylor knocked at the door of Keegan’s office that I looked up and saw that if I didn’t hurry, I would still be there when he got back. I shut down Keegan’s computer and stepped out. I had found precisely nothing. Not a single piece of incriminating evidence. Not even a hint of anything wrong or suspicious. I rested my head in my hands for a few minutes. I was struggling with not having found anything to justify my being there, but there was a different feeling. An unexpected feeling. I felt relieved. It looked like I was going to Ireland after all, and I couldn’t help but feel glad. It was like payback for the fact I had canceled my own travel plans to work at Clover House.
“Only a few more hours and then home time!” Taylor sashayed through the door. “Eat something and have a nap – you’re going to need all your energy for dancing!”
I laughed and gave her a wave as I left. As it happened, I did feel like dancing.
Chapter 16
KEEGAN
I BREATHED A SIGH of relief that Effie was gone when I got back after the meeting, which ended up taking all afternoon. She had been working in my office, and the atmosphere was so awkward. She was just so incredibly tense and cold that she instantly froze the room. It was impossible to make small talk or build some sort of rapport. I was starting to regret having to spend a week with her in Ireland. I had watched her a little as she worked. She seemed to find backing up files and re-organizing storage more exciting than I would have thought possible, her fingers moving quickly, her eyes flashing across the screen. She smiled to herself several times as she was working, and I wondered if she had someone special who gave her the reason to smile. It was warm in the office, and we had both taken off our outer layers and were wearing white shirts, and under hers I could make out a bright red bra with lace. It was so at odds with her usual plain style that it almost made me laugh. I looked away and hoped she hadn’t seen me looking.
Between lunch and the meeting, I’d decided a walk in the fresh air would be infinitely more enjoyable than sitting in the office with Effie. It had been ages since I had just wandered around the city. I found a café near the harbor where I ordered a cold beer and sat back. The small rebellion felt good. I rarely drank during the day now, and never during work hours. This was what my life had come to – feeling the thrill of being naughty because I had ditched work for an afternoon pint. And I knew I’d have to make up the time afterward, the paperwork on my desk calling to me. I’d got back as everyone else was leaving and had the place to myself. There were probably people still working in offices further up in the building, but on our level, it was just me and Beverly, who bustled in and instantly scolded me for making her jump.
“What sort of a gobshite are you, Keegan Callahan? I’m an old woman, you’ll give me a heart attack!” she shouted at me as though I were a child.
“I’m so sorry,” I laughed.
“Aye, you sound sorry!” she tutted and began to dust the shelves. “What are you doing here at this time on a Friday evening, anyway? You should be off enjoying yourself.”
“I had work to do,” I said.
“There’s always time for work. What about your young lady?” she asked.
“I thought you didn’t like her?” I exclaimed.
“I never said such a thing!” she looked outraged. “All I said was that she thinks rather a lot of herself.”
The one time Beverly had met Lucy at my place, Lucy had to ask her to repeat herself several times, as Lucy could not understand her accent and eventually just smiled at Beverly, who was clearly annoyed.