Honor

Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

E vie

As soon as I’ve sent the detail sheet for the Lightfoot deal to Mr Hunt, I send a text message to Lottie.

Evie: Good morning! I’m free as a bird tonight, so how would you feel about dinner instead of a coffee? My treat.

One of the kindest and most thoughtful things Cleo ever did for me was introducing me to a diner called Crispy Biscuit.

It’s a casual place with a small town feel and the best burgers in the city.

I’m sure Mr. Hunt would disagree, but other than his clothing, he has no taste. That’s a guess, at best, because I don’t have any insight into what he likes and doesn’t like other than how he takes his coffee and what he prefers on top of a hotdog.

I set my phone to vibrate right before Lottie’s response lights up my screen.

Lottie: I’d love that. Tell me where and when and I’ll be there.

I can’t contain a smile because I’ll look forward to having a burger all day, along with the look on Lottie’s face when she tastes the food at Crispy Biscuit.

I respond quickly because it’s only a matter of time before my boss sends me that list of tasks I need to handle today.

Evie: There’s a diner called Crispy Biscuit that makes the best burgers. They also have vegan options, although I’ve never tried any of them. If there’s another restaurant you’d prefer we go to, I’m open to suggestions.

I reread that rambling message before I shrug a shoulder and press send. It may not be concise, but it spells out my thoughts. I am open to suggestions, but I’m secretly hoping she’ll jump on board with my idea of eating at the diner.

Her reply arrives within a minute.

Lottie: I love burgers, and I just checked their menu online. Onion rings?! I’m so there. Does 7 work for you? We can meet at the diner.

Seven suits me fine because I’ll have time to head to my apartment to change before I go to the diner.

Evie: That’s perfect. I’ll see you then.

As soon as I press send, Mr. Hunt’s deep voice echoes through the air. “Miss Starling, call the car service and tell Baden to be ready to leave the office in ten minutes. The Bogners want us to meet them for breakfast at some diner.”

“Is it Crispy Biscuit?” I ask in barely more than a whisper.

“It is,” he answers.

What the hell is with the man’s hearing? How did he make out those words?

I scan my desk for a hidden camera, but come up empty.

“Are you making those arrangements, Miss Starling, or do I need to email my request? Spoiler alert. The subject line will be get it done now.”

My head snaps to the left so I can see clearly into his office. When he’s sitting behind his desk like that, looking like the boss that he is, he’s way more attractive than when he’s talking.

I pick up the phone on my desk and press the button to initiate a call directly to Baden’s cell phone.

“Hey, Evie!” he answers with nothing but cheer in his baritone voice. “How are you?”

“I’m fine,” I say, looking directly at my boss. “Thank you for asking, Baden. How are you?”

“Good. What can I do for you this morning?”

“Mr. Hunt would like you to meet him in the lobby in nine minutes. The Bogners have requested a breakfast meeting at Crispy Biscuit.”

Deep laughter floods the line. “Reid agreed to go to a diner for breakfast? Jesus, he really wants this deal bad, doesn’t he?”

“You know it,” I answer, grinning from ear to ear while keeping my gaze locked on Mr. Hunt’s face.

“Tell him I’ll be there,” he says. “I hope the day is good to you, Evie.”

“You too,” I say before I end the call and immediately scroll through my contact list for the driver that Mr. Hunt typically uses. With a press of a button, his phone starts ringing. He answers almost immediately.

While I sort out those details, Mr. Hunt pushes to his feet and disappears into his private washroom.

I use the momentary reprieve from his gaze to catch my breath.

I’ve never met anyone more intense than my boss. It’s barely nine a.m., and I’m already counting down the hours until I can enjoy a glass of red wine alongside my dinner.

I hang up the call after thanking the driver. I know he’ll keep his promise of being parked on the street in front of the building in less than eight minutes since he was already in the car just a block away.

One glance at my laptop screen notifies me of the five new email messages waiting for me.

I open my inbox and grin when I see the one at the top. It’s the most recent to arrive.

“Am I right to assume you got the email I just sent?” Mr. Hunt suddenly reappears in the doorway of his office.

Not only does he have impressive hearing abilities, but he’s stealthy as hell.

“Yes, sir,” I say, trying to keep my voice calm because excitement is shooting through me. “Thank you.”

With a curt nod, he walks past my desk and heads down the corridor to the bank of elevators.

I shift my focus back to my laptop screen and the subject line that parts my lips into a wide smile.

Subject: You’re Free to Leave at 3 Today

Excited at the prospect of leaving the office early today, I click open Mr. Hunt’s email. My stomach drops immediately when I start reading.

Miss Starling,

As the subject line indicates, you’re permitted to leave the office at 3 p.m. today if you can accomplish the following tasks by then.

I stop reading when I reach the twentieth item on the list. There have to be at least thirty things he wants done today, including picking up one postage stamp from a specific Post Office on Broadway and a visit to the library to return the three books on his desk. In addition, while I’m at the library, I need to choose two “ mind-bending thrillers” that he’ll enjoy.

“Does he even read books?” I whisper before getting to my feet so I can peer down the corridor to make sure he’s boarded the elevator.

He has, so unless he can hear through steel, I’m good.

“Son-of-a-jerk face,” I mutter.

Since I want to be home shortly after three and soaking in a bubble bath, I take a deep breath followed by a big sip of my coffee.

“You’ve got this,” I pump myself up with words of encouragement that I in no way believe to be true. “Just get it done.”

I forward the office calls to my cell, grab the books and library card off his desk, and sprint toward the bank of elevators.