A Bossy Roommate (Next Door to a Billionaire #2)

9. Eden

9

EDEN

I ’m glad to see Carter leave for lunch. His verbal lashing earlier wasn’t pleasant, to say the least. I feel bad about messing up his schedule, but there was nothing I could do other than fix it. Thankfully, I was able to quickly clear up the misunderstanding, and the client’s assistant couldn’t have been more pleasant. Considering it’s only my second day, I’d say I’m doing a decent job, mix-up aside. Still, between staying with Carter and working with him, I need a break from his presence.

After he leaves, I decide I’ll take my lunch too.

I grab my purse and the container of breakfast leftovers I brought. When I poke my head into Gretchen’s office, she’s typing away at her computer.

“Hey! Do you want to take your break?” I ask.

She looks up and smiles. “Yes, for the love of God. I haven’t moved from this spot since I got in.”

“Busy day?”

“Always.” She logs off her computer and grabs her stuff.

Together, we go down to the break room. The other girls aren’t there so we grab a table for the two of us. After heating up my food, I sink into my seat with a heavy sigh.

“Speaking of busy days,” Gretchen says, taking the lid off her salad. “How’s everything going today?”

“Well, for the most part, it’s been fine. However, I did make a mistake with scheduling, which Mr. Bancroft was less than thrilled about. Thankfully I was able to fix it.”

“That man is really particular about his schedule.”

“I’ll say. He was pretty pissed off. But I’m trying not to dwell on it.”

Gretchen studies me for a moment as we start to eat. I’m not sure, but I get the sense that there’s something on her mind. After we’ve each taken a few bites, her gaze shifts upward. “Hey, can I ask you something?” she asks in a low voice.

“Sure…”

“I can’t help but get the sense that there’s something between you and Mr. Bancroft.”

My guard goes up, and I try to keep my face passive and my food from dropping off of my fork. “What do you mean?”

“It’s hard to explain. I guess, there was a familiarity there that I wasn’t expecting.”

I contemplate what to say. Carter’s adamant that no one in the company knows what happened between us. I don’t owe Gretchen any explanation, nor do I want to give her one flat out. The only problem is, if the chemistry between me and Carter is this noticeable, not saying anything could lead to worse assumptions. I don’t want to lie outright. Perhaps I can be vague enough to satisfy her curiosity?

“We met once before, but I don’t know him very well,” I say, choosing my words carefully, emphasizing them with a casual shrug. “I was surprised to see him on my first day. I’m sure that’s what you were picking up on.”

She studies me. “Probably. Where did you run into him?”

I think about telling her about the ice cream place and whole “roommate situation,” but instead I say, “He’s my neighbor.”

That’s not a lie. Not entirely. His room is next to mine. Once Hattie moves out, Carter will be my actual neighbor and that could easily explain any weirdness anyone might sense between us going forward. Also, it will eliminate any further questions as to why we have the same address. Someone at HR will notice eventually. In my sister’s firm, we’d all filled out a sheet with everybody’s name, address, and birth date. It was supposed to help bonding as well as possible car sharing.

“ Really ?” Gretchen’s eyes widen. “Oh, man, that’s gotta be weird being neighbors with your boss.”

“You don’t know the half of it.” I briefly explain to her how I’d ended up in a posh apartment, carefully omitting all the details of the crazy date mix-up, of course, as well as the fact that Kate and Lewis’s apartment wasn’t quite ready for me yet, resulting in my unfortunate temporary stay at Carter’s place.

“Wait, that would also mean you’re possibly going to be running into him in your spare time too.”

“Yup. That’s very likely.”

Gretchen makes an “I’m sorry” face, shaking her blonde head. “Rough deal. Imagine wanting to unwind after work and still bumping into your demanding boss. Well, as long as he doesn’t try to rope you into working for him outside of office hours… Although, I will warn you that that is a possibility. He puts in more hours than anyone else and several of his other assistants had to stay late numerous times. That’s why they quit eventually.”

“I don’t mind that. I plan on saving as much as possible during the next six months. That being said, I’m definitely not going to let him dictate my work schedule outside of the office.”

In my mind, I know that’s going to be difficult since I’ll be staying in his apartment for two whole weeks, but I’m rather good at sticking to my guns when I need to. On the plus side, Gretchen makes me think of another ground rule I should set when we get back to his place: no discussing work outside of work hours.

“On the other hand,” Gretchen smiles, “in New York, nobody knows their neighbors. You probably won’t even see him when you’re off duty.”

You have no idea , I think, taking a bite of my crispy toast. “Don’t worry about me. I can hold my own against Carter Bancroft. I just don’t want any rumors spreading,” I add truthfully.

Gretchen grins. “Oh, no worries, hon, your secret is safe with me. But be careful around Lexi. She’s our gossip queen, as you might have noticed. If she knows, everybody knows. Ever since the news slipped through that Mr. Bancroft went to battle for a pay raise for his team and all of us assistants after winning that huge Granger account, Lexi has been enamored with him and dying for news. Best keep some things to yourself when she’s around.” Gretchen adjusts her red-framed glasses. “However, I did have another question. You seem pretty firm on that six-month time frame you mentioned. I never asked you why you came to the city for a few months.”

“Oh, I don’t think we have a long enough lunchtime to fill you in on all the details.”

Gretchen laughs at my joke. “Get through as much of the story as you can.”

I tell her about Rob and being left at the altar. How painful it had been for me, how I didn’t even see it coming. She confides in me that she sometimes isn’t exactly the best judge of character either and we bond over the fact we’ve both made bad decisions in the past, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. It’s a nice, chill lunch hour. After my break, I go back to my desk, refreshed and ready to take on the rest of the day.

Carter barely pays me any attention when he gets back. His afternoon is filled with back-to-back meetings, and the only instructions he gives me are sent via internal messages between appointments. Occasionally I go to the archive room to pull the brochures and reports he asks me for. Five o’clock rolls around, and when he doesn’t return to the office or message me again, I pack up for the day.

I took an Uber in this morning, but since it’s the end of the day, I decide to walk back to the apartment. I want a chance to stretch my legs and take a look at the city. I make my way from mid-Manhattan toward the Upper East Side, passing iconic landmarks like Bryant Park and Times Square.

Coming from a small town, I instantly feel lost in the sea of people—but not in a bad way. The crowd offers a kind of anonymity I’m not used to, and for some reason, I find it inspiring. I love walking among everyone, observing them, feeling the vibrant energy of the city pulsate around me, and I can’t help but wonder about the people around me. Who are they? Where are they going? What are their lives like?

A forty-five-minute walk turns into an hour and a half. The air isn’t as fresh as back home, but it has its own characteristics. Yes, there are noises, exhaust fumes, and oil from the many cars, but I focus on the food smells wafting from various directions. I pass the tall and majestic Rockefeller Center, charming shops nestled in the vibrant streets near Central Park, and upscale boutiques lining Madison Avenue. Along the way, street vendors peddle delicious-looking meals, and I also spot a few pizza restaurants and bistros I vow to try once I get my first paycheck. Finally, I reach the prestigious Upper East Side with its tree-lined streets, elegant townhouses, and refined ambience.

Back inside the apartment building, I pull some of the glossy brochures out of my handbag and tuck them under my arm to get to my phone and keys. While I ride the elevator up, I check my messages. There are a couple from Carter outlining tasks for the next day, but the final message tells me he’s ordered dinner, and it will be arriving shortly. That’s the only text I respond to, which is on purpose. When he gets home, I will tell him my new ground rule about contacting me after hours. Not just for my sanity. It’s important that he gets relaxation in too, and by refusing to be at his beck and call twenty-four-seven, he’ll have no other choice but to switch off the boss-mode.

I’m so busy on my phone that I don’t hear Hattie’s door open until I start fumbling with my keys.

“Evening, Eden, love!”

I jump in surprise. “Hattie! You startled me.”

She chuckles from her open doorway. “Oh dear, did you perhaps mistake me for a ghost? Ha-ha, I'm not quite dead yet, you know. I do apologize, my dear. I assumed you’d heard me open the door. You’re back pretty late, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, I took a walk after work. I want to explore as much of the city as I can while I’m here.”

“Oh! That’s lovely, dear! As it happens, I’ve compiled a list of all the places I find delightful. And it’s not just the mundane museums, you know! I’d be most pleased to share it with you.”

“That would be great, thank you, Hattie. How was your day?”

“I’ve just finished grooming Myrtle and Mitsy. Ruth is up next. On top of that, I’ve sorted through some of my photo albums and diaries, preparing everything meticulously for the impending move. This old girl, has journeyed quite a distance, you know,” she says, affectionately patting her round hips. “You’d probably be amazed by the tales I could tell you. I’m as British as they come, born and raised across the pond. But then along came an American doctor named Theodore, who whisked me away. Before I knew it, I had my bags packed and was crossing the ocean to embark on a new chapter. Theodore wasn’t my first spouse, mind you. And he certainly wasn’t my last, because after him, there was Conrad?—”

Buzzz .

My phone goes off. A text tells me that the food is on the way. “I’m so sorry, I have to go prep for dinner, but I swear, Hattie, I’m going to need to hear the entire story of your life.”

“And I shall be delighted to recount it all, my dear. And then you can enlighten me about what it’s like to reside with your employer.”

Whoa.

I almost drop my phone.

How does she know that? Yesterday, I only told her that we knew each other, but not from where or how. “How do you know he’s my boss?”

“Oh, I just joined the dots, my dear. This old bat possesses a keen intuition, you see. Plus, you mentioned you’ve just returned from work and you’re clutching his company’s annual report and brochures under your arm.” She laughs.

I look down and laugh too. Duh . “Good night, Hattie.”

“Good night, love.”

Now it seems both Gretchen and Hattie know more than they should about my living situation with my boss. Hopefully none of this will backfire.