Carve My Pumpkin (The Night Realm: Halloween Marked #3)

Chapter 3

THREE

COLETTE

Was my plan simple? Kind of. Did I think there could possibly be flaws? Also kind of. But it wasn’t like I had the ability to use satellite surveillance on every person on the planet and then ask them to please lift up the left sleeve of their shirts. I had a pad with a list of things on it and a small printout with me. It didn’t feel like enough, but I had to see where Mateo’s head was at with all these things.I had to get a feel for where to even start.

“Hey, you look kind of nervous.” Diego watched me with wide, concerned eyes. “Everything all right?”

I stood there gathering my things, getting ready to move to the desk just outside Mateo’s office. I knew I was still in my two-week trial period, but if we were going to work together, then we had to have access to each other. So my tiny cardboard box only had my tablet, a small plant for my desk that my mother gave me, and a few notebooks. It wasn’t much, but I’d have the rest of my things brought over eventually. For now, the bare minimum would do.

“Yeah, I’m okay.” I am not okay . “I’m just nervous to start a new position, you know?”

“Oh, I know. When I started here, I was so scared, but you showed me the ropes and everything turned out okay. I love the job, and I like being here. I’m sure Mateo will show you how he wants things done, and it’ll all work out fine.”

That was not the sense I got from Mateo Vauntero, but I wouldn't say that to Diego or anyone else in this office. I placed a smile on my face. “I think you’re right.”

He glanced down at my pitiful little box. “Do you need help taking that to your new desk?”

I shook my head. “No, I got it, but thanks.”

“Well, don’t forget the little people when you rise to the top.” He winked at me.

“Diego, I am the little people.” I chuckled and picked my box up off my desk. “And I still expect to have lunches with the gang.”

“Of course. If you need anything, just let me know.” He gave me a little wave as I walked out the door.

I felt like all eyes were on me, and for a moment I hesitated to make the move. If it didn’t work out, then I would be doing the walk of shame back to my desk with this stupid box in hand, and they would all know I failed. Which was, of course, the whole point of not moving desks until after the two-week trial period but for me to do the task requested of me I needed to be near my boss. End of story.

Part of me resented the fact that my job was playing matchmaker. That was not what I signed up for. I’d been in nearly all the departments in Prescott Tech and felt valued in each one. I knew this company inside and out, and nowhere did it state finder of soulmates in the job description. I tried to move as silently and discreetly as possible to the empty desk outside Mateo’s office, but even so they all watched me. So, I did the only thing I could: I held my chin up and forced my movements to be calm and sure. Fake it till you make it, right?

When I got to the desk, his door was wide open. I placed my box on the table and started to take my things out.

He cleared his throat, and I froze. “Ms. Rothchild, come in here.”

I squared my shoulders and grabbed my pad with the notes I’d scribbled down last night along with the paper printout. I turned and walked into his office. He didn’t look up at me. He just continued scribbling notes on the paper in front of him as he studied his computer screen.

“I don’t remember asking you to move to that desk.”

“If we are going to work together, then we’ll have to be in some proximity.” I thought this was obvious enough, but now I felt foolish for thinking that. Even so, I held my ground.“Particularly for the task at hand.”

“I fail to see how anything you have to tell me cannot be put in an email.” His voice was low and calm. There was no anger to it, just complete coldness.

“Searching for a soulmate is a personal matter. If you’d like me to email you my findings, I’d be more than happy to do so, but I was under the impression you would want to participate in something like this. Seeing how it is your soulmate, it would require us to work together.” I held my notes to my chest, trying not to squeeze and wrinkle the papers.

His gaze slowly drew up from his paper to meet mine, and I swallowed. There was no mistaking that Mateo Vauntero was compelling. His thick black glasses made his sapphire eyes look that much bluer, and when he looked me up and down, and pursed his lips, I suddenly felt self-conscious about the black pin-striped blazer and matching pencil skirt outfit I’d chosen for the day, especially the black kitten heels. My blouse was pressed, and I’d pulled my hair back from my face. He almost looked sour that I was even standing in the room.

“Very well. But from now on, any changes in location must be approved by me first.”

“Understood.” I nodded.

I hated how unwelcome I felt here in this situation. It was almost like my very existence annoyed him, or that he was just so cold that he didn’t care at all. It was a hard place to be in. The rest of the Vaunteros I’d worked with before were always so warm and inviting. Mateo had a reputation for being a rake, yet he hadn’t shown me an ounce of charm.Yet I’d seen a glimpse of him talking to Mr. Prescott before he realized I was there, that Mateo had been friendly and charming. It had to be me that brought this out in him, for reasons I would have to uncover for my own sanity.

“Since you insist on moving and I haven’t denied you, though it’s well within my power to do so, do you have a plan in mind for finding my soulmate?” He leaned back in his chair and rested his hands on the arms of it.

“Yes, Mr. Vauntero, I do.” I walked toward his desk and handed him the printout I had of all the events for the Halloween season. “This is a list of all the events happening this season for Halloween. I thought we could attend each one and look for her there.”

He took the paper from me and placed it on his desk without looking at it. He just stared at me for what felt like forever. I held my breath and didn’t move. I felt like a worm under a microscope, and I did my best not to squirm under his scrutiny. After long moments, he placed his hand over the paper. “You do realize I am a Vauntero?”

His question caught me off-guard. I frowned. “Of course.”

“Then you also realize that as a Vauntero I have access to this list already.” He sprawled his fingers over the paper.

I cleared my throat. “Um, yes, I do.”

“Then you also realize that giving me a list of things I already have a list of is not helpful?” He steepled his fingers in front of him.

My nerves were frayed from just standing here under his scrutiny, but I didn’t squirm or show weakness. Something told me that if I did show any sign of weakness to him, it’d be like a shark smelling blood in the water.

“I thought we could go over your schedule and see when you’re available to attend so that we can start eliminating prospects.”

“So, you want me to go and walk around the Island aimlessly and hope to spot my soulmate . . .” he sat forward. “. . . like I have been for nearly a year now.”

“I just thought?—”

“Your job is to think outside the box. That is what Lexington said you were capable of and that is what I expect, not standing here with a list of events I’ve known about before anyone else.”

I wanted to scurry away in this moment. “I understand.”

“We shall see if you do.” The worst part was he didn’t raise his voice or rant. His words were cold and calculated.

I wanted to like my new boss, to connect with him so that perhaps we could enjoy the work we could do together. Instead, all I seemed to be doing was disappointing him on my first day, which only made me feel worse. But I couldn’t fault him for his annoyance. He was kind of right. This wasn’t outside the box.

“I was hoping we could sit down and go through your expectations for me and things you’d like to see from me in the future.” I wanted to get off on the right foot.

“I expect you to come up with a better plan. When you do, block a meeting out on my schedule. Until then, your future only consists of your two-week trial period. After that, we shall see where I invest my time.”

Um, okay. Ouch.

I swallowed down my emotions and gave him a tight-lipped smile. “Very well. I’ll have something new for you as soon as possible.”

“Good.” He grabbed his pen and began to take notes once more. He didn’t look up to say we were finished with the conversation, but I could take a hint. I turned and started walking back to my desk. “Oh, and Ms. Rothchild, don’t get rid of the box. You might need it sooner rather than later.”