Chapter 14
HARPER
By the time I arrive back at my apartment, I’m dead on my feet.
A day of organising the party while managing Alessandro’s schedule has been intense.
Not to mention that I’m playing catch-up on meeting preparations, learning the document management systems and getting to know who’s who internally and externally.
My brain is in overdrive, and this is all before I take over from Callie, who currently handles the fashion-specific and creative support tasks. Apparently, they’re on Monday’s agenda.
I slump down onto the sofa and close my eyes, frowning when my phone pings.
KRIS:
Hope your first week has gone well. Parcel arriving shortly.
ME:
Feet haven’t touched the ground, but it’s keeping me out of mischief. Intrigued.
As if on cue, there’s a knock at the door.
I check the peephole and find a courier standing outside.
“Ms Brooke Feldmann?” he says as I open the door.
“That’s me.”
“Delivery for you, ma’am.”
I take the box he’s holding out.
“Thank you.”
“Have a good evening,” he says, walking away.
Closing the door, I reattach the chain before placing the box on the table.
I slide a knife through the packing tape, biting my lip as I stare down into the box. Inside are unwaxed lemons, unsalted butter, eggs, self-raising flour, baking powder, sugar, a carton of milk, along with a note.
Dear Brooke,
Thought this would give you something to do over the weekend.
I’ve included the lemon drizzle cake recipe belonging to my amazing cook, Mrs Transmere.
She said to call if you have any questions. I’ve included her number.
Happy baking.
Kris.
I smile at his thoughtfulness.
ME:
Thank you.
KRIS:
You’re welcome. Try not to burn down the apartment building.
ME:
Oh, ye of little faith.
I unpack the ingredients, putting away those that need refrigerating.
At least I won’t be bored this weekend. I’ll now be baking, as well as playing catch-up.
With Callie out of the office, I didn’t want to risk another scheduling incident. So, I double-checked every task I carried out this afternoon.
After seeing Sue, I spent an hour with Monty, the cafeteria manager.
We discussed the menu and previous events they’d catered for.
I learned who to go to in future to get budgets approved, although I copied Alessandro into the correspondence as he requested.
By the time I left, each department manager had messaged to say they would arrange a whip-round for anyone who wants to contribute to Callie’s leaving gift.
I spent the rest of the afternoon arranging for all the reports and presentations Alessandro wanted to be printed and ready for Monday.
I return to the sofa and pull my feet up under me, a large mug of tea in hand. I’m normally a coffee drinker, but today, I need a taste of home. Dragging the throw I’d had delivered over my knees, I open my laptop and search for local stores selling baby gifts.
Holy shit, there are a lot of them.
Two hours later, my eyes are fluttering shut, but I’ve bookmarked a list of potential gift items I know Callie will love. Gift-giving has always been one of my favourite pastimes.
Dragging myself into the bedroom, I face-plant on the bed. Week one complete!
My only consolation is that Callie seems to have a life, so clearly once I’m up to speed, things will calm down.
* * *
Monday morning comes around faster than I anticipate. I was dreading the weekend, stuck inside four walls without another human being to talk to, but it went surprisingly quickly, mainly because I powered through my to-do list and baked.
I also managed to speak to Kat and April, with Caleb, of course, putting in his two pennies’ worth. I told them about my job and what I’m doing. Having a focus for the weekend, then catching up on all the TV shows I’ve wanted to watch but never found the time to enjoy, meant the weekend flew by.
“How was your appointment?” I ask when Callie appears on Monday morning.
“It was fine. My obstetrician is pleased that I’m going to finish work early. Although not as pleased as David.” She rolls her eyes. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do with all the free time.”
“Swim? Walk? Sit with your feet up. I was going to say eat chocolate, but the diabetes puts a bit of a dampener on that.”
I suddenly remember the cake I’ve left in the kitchen and grimace.
Way to go, Harper!
“Is everything all right?” she asks.
“Fine,” I say, screwing up my face. “I baked over the weekend. I left it in the kitchen. I’m sorry, I didn’t think.”
Callie laughs. “Don’t worry about me. I was looking forward to getting large with child, gorging myself on chocolate with no guilt.
Someone clearly has other ideas. Besides, I’m more of a savoury girl myself.
And cake… how to make friends and influence people.
The team will love you. You might want to snag a piece for Alex before it’s all gone. ”
“Really?”
“Really.”
The elevator dings, and we both look up as Sue appears around the corner.
Her eyes drop to Callie’s growing stomach, and she smiles. “How’re you doing?”
“Getting bigger by the day,” she says, placing a hand on her neat little bump.
Sue looks over at me before returning her gaze to Callie.
“I was wondering if I could borrow Brooke? I was hoping to give her a tour on Friday, but something came up.”
“Of course.” She spins towards me. “It’s the best way to meet everyone. Just don’t try to remember everyone’s names. There are a lot of us now.”
I incline my head at Sue, who simply smiles back. “Let me know when you’re free.”
“Give me an hour to hand over to Callie, and then I’m all yours.”
Sue excuses herself, and Callie turns to me.
“So how did Friday go?” Her eyes flick to Alessandro’s door.
“It was fine,” I say.
“Fine as in you didn’t kill him? Or fine, I didn’t have any interactions with him, so you didn’t feel the need to kill him? Or fine-fine, as in you handled everything that was thrown at you, so he stayed quietly in his office.”
I laugh as her eyes sparkle. “Probably the last one. He was busy, and I gave him no reason to complain. I completed the list you left me.”
“What, all of it?” Callie looks at me, her eyes wide.
“Er, yes. Wasn’t I supposed to?”
Callie chuckles. “Well, if you got everything done, then my job is finished. You must have been working flat out.”
I shrug, not wanting to tell her I worked all weekend. “I prefer to be busy. Besides, I grouped the tasks so I could work through several at once. Your list was very comprehensive.”
“Well, if you’ve done all the jobs, then I can put my feet up and wait for Alex to call. Did you get him his morning coffee?”
I smile. “Of course, delivered with a smile and a breakfast bar. He looked at me like I’d grown a second head.”
“I’m going to miss your interactions. Alex will defrost once he realises that he can’t change the outcome and my baby is coming whether he likes it or not. Anyway, I’ll knock and see what he needs today.”
As soon as Callie moves out of sight, I reopen the email from Monty.
It contains an updated quote. Monty sent the original over on Saturday, which I immediately forwarded to Alessandro for sign-off.
He replied almost instantaneously, wanting a few items added, including a cake.
I sent the revised request back to Monty.
I’m not sure the man ever stops. He’s got being a workaholic down to a fine art, but then he reminds me of my brothers before their wives came into their lives and showed them another way.
My heart hurts at the thought. I miss them and our banter. Them telling me I need to grow up and me telling them all to butt out of my life.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, Brooke Feldmann is being a fully fledged grown-up, with grown-up responsibilities. If only they could see me now.
My email pings, announcing several messages from various heads of department asking for clarification about Friday’s event.
Everything looks good, so I breathe a sigh of relief.
Callie reappears, so I close my messages.
“Head off to see Sue. I’ve got everything covered,” she says. “It seems you’ve finally impressed him,” she adds with a wink. “Well done.”
My head swims as I head to meet Sue, with a grin the size of New York.
“Oh shit, cake,” I say, only to find Callie close behind me.
“Don’t worry, I’ll grab him a slice,” she says, shooing me into the elevator.