Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Wendy
The kitten is going to be the death of me.
I sprint down the hallway of my apartment building, muttering curses as I fumble with my bag, phone and a leftover shoelace I Macgyvered into a makeshift kitten leash. I love animals, but I wasn't prepared for the chaos this little black fluffball would unleash in my life—or my sock drawer.
"I'll be back later," I tell Scraps as I set her —I'd done my best guess thanks to Google—in the bathroom, where I've hastily constructed a barricade of towels and an empty laundry basket. "Try not to eat the shower curtain."
She meows pitifully, and I feel like the worst pet owner in existence. But I don't have time to feel guilty—I'm already running late. Again.
Plus, she'd more than likely still be sitting in a box at a laundromat if I hadn't taken her home.
By the time I stumble into the office, panting and clutching my bag like it's a lifeline, I feel like I've run a marathon. "Made it," I whisper to myself triumphantly as I look at the time before straightening my blouse and trying to smooth my hair.
The receptionist from yesterday directs me to HR, where a cheerful, matronly woman with glasses and a colorful scarf is waiting.
"Ms. Harris, right? Welcome aboard! We've got a lot to go through before you can head on up to the fifth floor."
I nod politely, but my brain is already stuck on the massive stack of paperwork she places in front of me. As I skim through the employee handbook, something catches my eye.
"No policy against interoffice fraternization?" I murmur.
"Excuse me?" The HR rep asks, raising an eyebrow.
"Nothing!" I squeak, snapping the booklet shut and flushing crimson. As if it even matters—my boss is married.
Once the paperwork and training videos are mercifully over, I am escorted to the desk I'll be using. The one where Mr. Harper had met me yesterday. Sitting there is the most radiant woman I've ever seen. She's South Asian, with a glowing complexion and an enormous belly that practically screams 'I'm done, send help!'.
"You must be Wendy!" she says, warmly, extending a hand. "I'm Priya. I'll be showing you the ropes before I finally go on maternity leave. I was supposed to leave weeks ago, but Ethan and Cole couldn't agree on anyone."
I blink. "You mean they disagreed on candidates?" I don't know how I feel about working for two men that are that disagreeable.
"Oh no, they agreed on not liking them," Priya clarifies, laughing. "Ethan's all about gut feelings, and Cole.. well, Cole is Cole."
"Sounds like you get along with them really well," I say carefully.
Priya smiles knowingly and starts explaining all the systems and processes. As she talks, she mentions the project Ethan and Cole are currently at—a swanky new arts center in the heart of downtown.
"Cole doesn't usually go to job sites," she explains. "He's the architect, so his work is mostly done by the time construction starts. But Ethan practically lives there. He's a contractor at heart, loves getting his hands dirty, even though he doesn't need to anymore."
I make a mental note. Ethan is the hands-on type, Cole the planner. That's probably why they make such good business partners.
By late morning, my head is spinning with all the information. Priya is patient and kind, but I'm beginning to wonder if I'm cut out for this. Just as she's wrapping up a lesson on organizing client files, the door to the office swings open.
I glance up, and my breath catches in my throat.
Cole.
I feel like the floor has dropped out from under me. Not once did I think the Cole they were talking about was my Cole. The last time I'd seen him was in our hometown.
My mind flashes back to that devastating moment two years ago. He'd been standing in the doorway of his apartment while I fled in tears after catching his brother cheating on me.
I feel the color drain from my face as he strides into the room. He looks just as polished and self-assured as I remember, up to and including the air of maturity that I always admired about him. His crisp white shirt is rolled to his elbows, and his dark slacks fit him perfectly, hinting at the disciplined man beneath the tailored fabric. But it's his eyes that catch me—those piercing blue eyes that had once looked at me with so much kindness.
Now they're locked on me with an expression I can't quite place.
"Wendy?" His voice is deep, smooth, and filled with a hint of disbelief. It feels like a ripple in a still pond, sending waves of panic through my chest.
My throat tightens, but I force myself to respond. "Hi, Cole." My voice comes out softer than I intend, almost hesitant, and I hate myself for showing any kind of weakness.
Priya glances between us, eyebrows raised. "You two know each other?" She sends me an affronted look, and I can't blame her because I'd probably be offended too.
Cole doesn't answer immediately. He's still staring at me, his gaze a mix of shock and something else I can't decipher. "We... Well, Wendy dated my baby brother for a while," he says finally, his voice careful.
Priya smiles at this, clearly satisfied with his response. "Small world!Well, I'll let you two catch up later. Wendy's been doing great so far. She'll be a lifesaver once I'm on leave."
She pats her belly dramatically, as if the baby is about to drop any minute—and from what she's told me, there's a very high chance of that actually happening. She heads for the door, leaving me alone with Cole. The moment stretches painfully as the door clicks shut behind her.
"What are you doing here?" he asks, his voice low. Not angry, not welcoming. Just... Cole. I used to adore how calm and collected Cole was about everything. Until he calmly shook my world two years ago.
"I think that's pretty self-explanatory. I work for the temp agency. They sent me, and your partner agreed to take me on."
His lips twitch, almost like he's depressing a smile, and I don't know what to do with this version of Cole.
"Ethan told me at home last night about the Ms. Harris he'd employed, I never thought to make the connection to it being you. I didn't even know you were in the city."
His words hit me like a punch in the gut.
Ethan had told him at home?
Did that mean Cole was Ethan's partner... in every sense of the word?
"Ethan is your husband?" I ask, and the words are shaky at best.
This time his smile is genuine and wide. "Yes. We got married a few months ago."
I nod slowly, processing. "Knowing what you do now, would you prefer me asking the agency to send along another candidate?"
The door swings open again, before he can respond. This time, it's Ethan. The man of the hour. His presence is commanding but way more casual than Cole's. His button-down is open at the collar, his sleeves rolled up like he just came from the construction site Priya mentioned. His blue eyes light up when they land on Cole, but then they shift to me, and his expression shifts to one of cautious optimism.
"Ah, I see you've met Ms. Harris," Ethan says warmly. "She's great, isn't she?"
Cole doesn't answer right away. His eyes linger on me before he finally nods. "Yeah. Yeah, she'll do fine."
Even though he's agreeing to keep me on, it doesn't feel very promising. His words almost feel like a dismissal. It only serves to breathe air into the fire building inside me.
The room suddenly feels too small, too stifling. I clear my throat and step back.
"Well," I say, forcing a smile, "I should probably get back to work. Priya gave me a few tasks to work on, and I need to get started while she's still here to double-check my work."
Ethan looks between us, his brow furrowing slightly, but he doesn't press. "Of course. Let us know if you need anything."
I nod, then practically flee back to my desk, my heart pounding in my chest.
What the heck have I gotten into?
As I sit down and try to refocus on the stack of work Priya left with me, I can feel Cole's gaze lingering on me from across the room. And I can't help but wonder if this job—this opportunity I so desperately needed—will be the thing that finally breaks me.