Chapter 113 Katie Knows What She’s Doing
Meanwhile, Katie was still as entertaining as ever while she helped out around the office a few times a week. Emily usually tried to spend as much time as she could working on designs, but these days, she often stopped by the main office on days when Katie was working to chat with her young protege.
“I organized all these receipts for you by month,” Katie said, pointing to a folder with the receipts all neatly paperclipped together.
“You’re amazing!” Emily said, “What would I do without you?”
“That’s not all,” Katie replied, “I’ve almost got Loungers to carry our brands!”
Loungers was a huge retailer, and if Katie could pull that off, then Emily was pretty certain the kid was a genius. She must be just biding her time in college before taking over the world.
“Loungers is a big deal,” a smooth male voice said from nearby. “I could help you negotiate with them.”
Emily realized her receptionist Spencer was leaning against the door frame.
“It’s okay, I can handle it on my own,” Katie said, and Emily detected that undertone of dislike in her voice again.
Spencer didn’t seem offended by her refusal. “I just wanted to see if you needed any help, Katie. You are rather new… That’s not to say you’re not doing a great job. Carry on!”
As soon as he left, Katie made a face. “He’s so smug,” she whispered.
Emily pursed her lips, feeling confused. “I don’t know why you think so. He’s always helpful. And he said you were doing a great job.”
“But it’s the way he said it,” Katie replied.
“Maybe he is a little smug,” Emily said after considering it. “I guess he likes feeling like he’s more experienced than someone else since he’s one of the youngest people here.”
“Are you sure you can trust him?” Katie asked, closing the door of the tiny office.
“Why?”
“He’s always acting kind of weird.”
“He’s just a very nice, polite individual,” Emily said.
“But no one is that polite all the time. There must be something wrong with him! And the other day, I saw him acting weird in the design studio.”
“How so?”
“He was snapping pictures of some of the designs with his phone.”
This made Emily a little more suspicious. “Did he say why he was doing it?”
Katie shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t want to ask so that he wouldn’t know I was on to him.”
“Maybe he needed them for something…” Emily mused. “But that is a little weird. My fiancé would love this kind of thing. He’ll get his top security guy on it.”
“Awesome!” Katie said. “Meanwhile, I’ll see if I can find out more.”
If Katie had been clueless at her job and trying to blame someone, Emily wouldn’t have thought twice about the accusation. But Katie was doing extremely well, especially for someone in their first year of college. Emily had always assumed there were hidden depths to this girl. Now that Katie suspected Spencer of doing something nefarious, it seemed like a good idea to check it out.
She didn’t want to accuse Spencer without proof, but if he was up to something, the “top security guy” also known as Fred might be able to dig something up.
Emily decided to surprise her fiancé with a lunchtime visit. Although Byron was happy that she brought him food, he barely smiled when she walked in. Work was his constant escape from troubling thoughts, and he probably wanted to be left alone.
When she asked Byron to put Fred on the assignment, he didn’t seem too excited about the mystery. The issues with his father must still be bothering him, Emily thought. But she didn’t want to pressure him on the subject.
“Shall I ask Fred to investigate a connection with anyone in particular?” Byron asked as she was about to go.
“I guess I’ve amassed a few enemies,” Emily said, turning in the doorway. “There’s Christine and Ruby. Those two would be my top picks.”
Byron tried to smile again, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. She wished he could be free of his worries, but he was stubbornly holding on to anger at his father. “Sounds good, I’ll check them out. Maybe any connections to old Josh too.”
“Hopefully it’s not Josh,” Emily said. “That could be dangerous. Ruby I can handle.”
“You can handle anyone who crosses your path,” Byron reminded her.
However, she didn’t want to do anything too drastic like firing Spencer. He would have to be considered innocent until proven guilty.
