Chapter 14 The First Week

Eden’s POV:
My first week at Clancy’s Comforts goes off without a snitch. Although Mr Grisham had clearly put in a massive amount of effort to be patient with me on the first few days, I’m quickly learning that he’s a completely grouch before he has his morning coffee and for the last thirty minutes of the work day. He’s also a tyrant right before lunch and… Who am I kidding? He’s just a moody git most of the time.
But a week in, I at least know it’s not all aimed at me. Everyone seems to get on his bad side in equal measure. His team don’t let it bother them though. Instead, they roll their eyes at him and even tease him for it. AND he lets them!
“Alright Eden,” Stacey, one of the designers calls over with a wave of her hand as she walks past.
“Not bad,” I reply just as my phone buzzes with a message from Mr Grisham demanding I bring him a set of files.
“He’s already on the war path, is he?” she asks, eyeing my phone.
I’m wary of agreeing with her. As right as she is, I can hear my grandma’s voice in my ear discouraging me from entering into office gossip. Instead, I shrug my shoulders, offering her a wide smile.
“We’re all going out for drinks tonight,” she tells me excitably. “You’ll come, right?”
I have nothing better to do with my Friday night but I’m unsure. In the past whenever people invited me out for drinks, it was only so I could foot the bill. Reminding myself that at least to Stacey and the others at Clancy’s Comforts I’m not rich, I decide why not. It would be nice to get to know them all outside of the walls of the Clancy building.
“Winters,” I almost jump at the sound of Noah’s voice, “where are those files?”
He has popped his head through the door and is looking at me with impatient disinterest. His hair is a little unruly, as if he’s been tugging at it none stop for the last hour. He steps out of his office when I don’t answer him immediately, his hand outstretched. Stacey scurries away back to her own workspace.
“Er, yes sir,” I say nervously.
I grab the files that I had been riffling through a moment ago and pass them to him hastily.
“Sorry, Mr Grisham,” I mutter.
He smirks down at the files now in his arms, turns to return to his office before glancing back my way. Oh god, what now?
“Quit gossiping,” he mouths to me and immediately my eyes go to his lips.
I force myself to meet his eyes, blinking several times. He’s clearly handsome, especially with his shirt sleeves rolled up, his tie slightly loosened. I don’t know what he’s doing in that office but he’s clearly been busy. His appearance is so completely conflicting with how he looked an hour ago.
“Yes sir,” I practically whisper, feeling a little unnerved.
He’s smirks at me one last time before returning to his office, closing the door behind him.
I let out a breath of air I hadn’t realised I was holding. That smile is disarming. I don’t like it. He doesn’t smile. Not often at least. I make a mental note that he might be a fan of Friday afternoons but then laugh at myself. Friday is EVERYONE’S favourite day of the week. Why would he be an exception? Even Eliza Clancy herself likes to leave early at the end of the week.
I don’t hear another peep out of him for several hours and I keep glancing up at the clock, eager to call an end to my first week. I’ve actually enjoyed myself, not that I’d tell my grandma that. Other than dealing with Noah’s moodiness, this job is just like any other I’ve had.
As soon as the clock hits half five, Stacey and several others are swarming my desk. They are finished for the day but I’m not. Noah has yet to make an appearance and I can’t leave before he does.
“If you give me the address,” I begin to tell them, “I can meet you all there as soon as I’m finished.”
There is a murmur of disappointment but it is quickly silenced when Noah’s office door opens. Stepping out, he says, “no need for that. I’ll bring her myself. We won’t be that long.”
My heart feels like it has literally stopped. The only reason I know that isn’t the case is that I’m still conscious.
“In the meantime,” he says easily, “why don’t you get a round in, Rob?”
He gives him a credit card and everyone cheers. Apparently, they like it when the boss pays. Big surprise there. Then they’re all making their way towards the elevator, no longer caring that I’m not going with them.
I eye Noah. Presumably, he won’t keep me here too long if they have his credit card. Just long enough for them to buy a round or two, so definitely less than an hour.
“Don’t worry,” he says. “I won’t keep you long.”
I laugh nervously, not liking the way he seems to have been able to read my mind.
“No problem,” I say, aiming for an indifferent tone and completely missing the mark.
“We just have to do a few HR tasks,” he says, his eyes lit up with entertainment.
“Huh?”
“Check that you still want to work here, don’t have any questions, worries, concerns. That you don’t want to take a pickaxe to your boss’s face…” He says it completely deadpan.
I let out a guff of stilted, my eyes wide.
“Is there a check list?” I ask.
“Of ways to kill your boss?” he retorts. “We wouldn’t want to give you ideas, Miss Winters.”
“Do you have a preference?” I think I’m flirting with him and that is a terrible idea. For one thing, he’s my boss. For another, he’s a miserable git, except apparently on Fridays. And lastly, he doesn’t even know my real name.
“Of ways to be killed by my assistant?” he asks, grinning. “I don’t know. Nothing disfiguring…” He waves a hand in front of his face as if to illustrate his point.
“I’ll bear that in mind.”