Strings Attached (Return to Starlight Bay #12)

1. Evander

Evander

I hear the door open and it’s followed instantly by a loud crashing sound. I inwardly wince, knowing all too well that it’s Mireille. My assistant. Never in my life have I known someone to be so efficient at juggling my life but be so damn clumsy at the same time.

I rise from my seat and move through my office just as she calls out.

"Mr. Prescott, I'm so sorry about that. I'll clean it up right away."

As expected, Mireille is there, her face flushed with embarrassment, kneeling amidst a sea of scattered papers and what appears to be the remnants of my favorite coffee mug.

"What happened this time?" I ask, trying to keep the exasperation out of my voice.

She looks up at me, her beautiful green eyes wide with apology. "I was trying to bring in your schedule for the week, the contracts that need signing, and your morning coffee all at once. I thought I could manage it, but..." She gestures helplessly at the mess around her. "I'm sorry."

I shake my head. "Would it have killed you to make two trips, Mireille?"

She raises a perfectly sculpted brow as she rises to her feet. "Probably not, but I do see that someone forgot to take his morning chill pill. You should probably get right on that."

Christ, this woman has no filter. I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to calm down and not rise to her bait. The woman was sent to test me and she does so on a daily basis. "Mireille?—"

She smiles sweetly at me as she picks the documents off the floor. "Yes, Evander, is there something you need, or are you simply going to stare at me all morning?"

I glance at the clock on the wall and inwardly groan. It's not even eight in the morning and my assistant is already testing my patience.

I decide to ignore her jab and focus on the task at hand. "Just... clean this up, please. And for the love of God, be careful with those contracts. They're worth more than your yearly salary."

Mireille rolls her eyes as she gathers the papers. "Relax, Mr. Moneybags. Your precious contracts are fine. Unlike your poor, defenseless coffee mug."

I can't help but wince at the reminder. That mug was a gift from my late father, one of the few personal items I keep in my office. Mireille must notice my expression because her tone softens.

"I really am sorry about the mug, Evander. I know it meant something to you."

For a moment, I see a glimpse of the caring woman beneath the snarky exterior.

It's these rare moments of genuine empathy that remind me why I keep her around, despite her penchant for chaos.

Not to mention that she's the best assistant that I've ever had and is extremely proficient at what she does.

Mireille may be clumsy, but she's damn good at her job and that outweighs her klutziness.

I wave off her apology. "It's fine. Just... try to be more careful in the future, alright?"

She nods, a determined look crossing her face. "I will. I promise."

As she finishes gathering the papers, I notice a small cut on her hand, likely from the broken ceramic mug. Without thinking, I reach out and grab her wrist, examining the wound. Electricity zaps through me like a bolt and I glance at her wide eyes. "You're hurt," I say, staring at the cut.

Mireille freezes, those big beautiful green eyes filled with uncertainty. The air between us is thick and filled with tension.

"It's just a small cut," Mireille says softly, her voice lacking its usual edge. "I'll be fine."

I realize I'm still holding her wrist and quickly let go, clearing my throat like I've been burned. "Right. Well, make sure you clean it properly. I don't need you getting an infection and missing work."

Mireille's trademark smirk returns. "Aw, Evander, I didn't know you cared."

I roll my eyes, retreating back to my office. "I care about the work getting done, Mireille. Now, if you're done making a mess of my office, I have a conference call in ten minutes."

I hear her gathering the last of the papers.

"Of course. I'll have your new schedule on your desk in five minutes, and get you a fresh cup of coffee.

" She pauses at the door, and I turn and see that her expression has softened again.

"And Evander? I really am sorry about the mug," she tells me as she closes my office door.

I find myself staring at the closed door, my mind replaying the feeling of her skin against mine. I shake my head, trying to clear these unwelcome thoughts. She's my assistant, for God's sake. Nothing more.

But as I prepare for my call, I can't stop thinking about how good it felt to hold her even for a fraction of a second.

Christ, what the hell is wrong with me? Mireille is my assistant, and it's going to stay that way.

There's a knock at the door, and I watch as Mireille pokes her head through the opening and gives me a blinding smile. "Evander, I have Greyson Wells on the phone. He's wondering if you have time for a meeting next week? He's intending to flying down to Starlight Bay, it seems important."

I haven't seen Greyson in a while. We met at an event almost a decade ago and have remained friends ever since.

He owns a successful business specializing in guided hiking, climbing, and survival tours on the Fire Mountain range in Ashwood, Montana.

It's been about a month since I last spoke to him, but it's been a while since we've seen one another.

For him to venture off the mountain means something big has happened or is going to.

"Tell him to come and we can set up a meeting, set up whatever he needs, Mireille, accommodation, flights, whatever it is he needs." I know Greyson will probably only want to stay for a few days at the most, but it'll be good to have him here for however long he'll be in Starlight Bay.

She nods, her smile widening. "Of course, I'll take care of everything. Should I book him into the Starlight Bay Inn?"

"Book him into the Starlight Bay Inn, book the best room and ensure it's fully stocked with beers and food for him."

Mireille's eyebrows raise slightly. "Wow, you're really rolling out the red carpet for this guy. Must be someone special."

I nod, my focus on the spreadsheet in front of me with last quarter's data that I need for my conference call. "Greyson's an old friend. One of the few people in this world I actually enjoy spending time with."

"Oh?" Mireille leans against the doorframe, a mischievous glint in her eye. "And here I thought I was your favorite person to be around."

I roll my eyes, but I can feel the corners of my mouth twitching upward. "You're a close second, Mireille. Right after my dentist."

She clutches her chest in mock offense. "You wound me, Evander. And after I've been nothing but a ray of sunshine in your dreary life."

"A ray of sunshine that breaks my coffee mugs and scatters important documents all over my office floor," I retort.

Mireille waves her hand dismissively. "Details, details. Now, is there anything else you need before I go arrange your friend's visit?"

I shake my head. "No, that's all. Thank you, Mireille."

She nods and turns to leave, but pauses at the last moment. "Oh, and Evander?"

"Yes?"

"I'm heading to Lil's Sweet Treats; will I get you a coffee while I'm there?"

"There are other places to get coffee from, Mireille, including the kitchenette that we have. You do not need to go to Lil's Sweet Treats every time you get a hankering for chocolate."

Mireille's eyes widen in mock horror. "How dare you suggest I go anywhere else for coffee? Lil's is a Starlight Bay institution! Besides, their mochas are to die for."

"Fine, fine. Get me a large black coffee, no sugar," I tell her.

She wrinkles her nose. "Boring. But as you wish, boss. I'll be back in a jiffy."

As Mireille turns to leave, I call out to her, "And Mireille?"

She pauses, looking back at me expectantly.

"Maybe get yourself one of those mochas you love so much. On me." I rarely treat her, she usually always gets my coffee for me.

Her face lights up with a genuine smile, one that makes her eyes sparkle. "Why, Evander, are you going soft on me?"

I wave her off, trying to maintain my stern facade. "Don't get used to it. Now go, before I change my mind."

She gives me a little salute before practically skipping out of the office. I shake my head, wondering not for the first time how this whirlwind of a woman has managed to become such an integral part of my life.

As I turn back to my work, I can't help but feel a warmth in my chest. Despite her clumsiness and her penchant for testing my patience, Mireille brings a lightness to my days that I've come to appreciate more than I care to admit.

I glance at the clock, realizing I have just a few minutes before my conference call. I take a deep breath, pushing thoughts of Mireille and her infectious smile to the back of my mind. Time to focus on business. After all, that's what I do best.

But as I dial into the call, I find myself looking forward to Mireille's return, and not just for the coffee. Her presence, as chaotic as it can be, has become something I didn't know I needed.