Chapter 17 More Disciplined
MORE DISCIPLINED
“How was your weekend?” Blair asked her on Monday.
“It was great,” she said. “And yours?”
“Spent packing. Not that I’ve got that much in my small apartment but much more than I thought. My mother’s house is bigger, but I’ll just be in my old room on the second floor.”
“What are you doing with all your furniture?”
“I’m bringing everything,” Blair said. “I don’t plan on living in the house forever. I’m getting her set up and if I can move into an apartment, I will. Otherwise, I’ll stay until there is no need for me to be there or we can get help.”
“Would you ever come back and want your job back?”
Why hadn’t she thought of this?
Maybe she wouldn’t have been so unsure of things if she had had any communication with Ethan on Sunday.
But nope.
They’d eaten dinner together, then ended up back in his bed. At that point, there was no reason to fight it.
As her mother used to say, the cow was out of the barn so let him roam free.
After the second time, they’d ended up in the shower together.
Another first for her with a man.
Seemed like Ethan brought a lot of those experiences out.
After their shower, they chatted a bit more, nothing of substance, and then when she wanted to walk home, he drove her instead. It was silly in her mind for him to do that when he could walk faster, but also considerate too.
But Sunday rolled around and it was absolute crickets. Nothing. Not even a text.
How the hell were they supposed to act around each other today?
Was she going to be able to keep her blushes in?
She hadn’t when she talked to her father last night and he asked how her first week went. The first he’d talked to her since she’d started.
She shouldn’t have been surprised and realized there’d be no moral support on his end and wasn’t sure why she thought there might be.
“I won’t come back,” Blair said. “I moved here with my ex-husband years ago for his job. Raised my kids and they’ve moved. There isn’t much holding me here other than my job and some friends.”
“That’s not enough?”
It was more than she’d had holding her in Vermont.
“No. I’ll be closer to my kids than here. I was going to retire in a few years anyway. A few years early isn’t the end of the world. I’ve got a nice retirement fund. If you stay here for your career and are smart, you will too.”
“My father said that too,” she said.
“But I’ll continue to work part-time for now. Then we’ll figure it out as it goes. You’ll be good for Ethan. It’s going to work out, I can feel it.”
“I hope so,” she murmured.
“It’s only been a week. Ethan is easy to get along with. And you’re a fast learner. He didn’t bug you this weekend with anything, did he? He was texting me a few things yesterday, but I hope he left you alone.”
“I left her alone.” She turned when Ethan said that. He was standing in the doorway to her and Blair’s office. “You told me I had to.”
Blair laughed. “I’m sure Ethan is going to explain what is going on unless you want me to do it.”
“I’ll do it later today or tomorrow. You’re going to take care of what I need first, right?”
“I’m on it,” Blair said. “So nothing at all? Don’t say a word.”
“The minimal,” he said. “Sorry, Nora. There is a reason for it.”
“It’s fine. I’m sure I’ll learn it all when it’s time.”
She held his stare and hoped he saw nothing other than the professional work mode voice she was perfecting in the mirror yesterday.
The one that didn’t show the hurt that he blew her off even though he’d told her that his time was limited.
But if they only had two days a week, it was five more days before she could relax her guard.
Maybe it wasn’t going to be a good thing. She didn’t know if she could even handle a normal relationship and this was much more complex.
Ethan nodded and turned to his office.
“I know you’re confused,” Blair said. “He’s got a new venture. This one is different. One solely for him. It’s his first and he’s stressed.”
“Oh,” she said. “I understand. I think. I know he has other ventures outside of Bond Enterprises.”
“He does, but this is different. Like Eli and Egan have their own companies, this is Ethan’s. Only it’s not something he’d be working at full time. So, there are a lot of moving parts if it gets there. I’ve got some work to do before it happens.”
“Got it.” Which meant don’t ask questions and Blair had to spend time on that. “Why don’t you show me what you want me to do or handle and then I’ll take care of it?”
“That was going to be my suggestion.”
The two of them got to work, Nora happy that she could do things on her own.
When lunch rolled around, she grabbed her purse and put her sneakers on. She’d forgotten her lunch on the counter and just hoped the apartment didn’t stink when she returned after work.
“Hold the elevator.”
She reached her hand over for Ethan to jump in. When it shut, they were alone. It wouldn’t stay that way, she was positive.
His hand reached and touched her slightly.
She turned her head, saw his smirk, and said, “It’s Monday.”
He laughed. “Sorry. My bad. You’re more disciplined than me. Just didn’t want you to think that maybe you’re not slipping into my mind another way also.”
Her heart raced, her palms got slick, and the corner of her mouth slowly lifted.
Before she could say another word, the doors opened and a few people piled in. It was better that way.
When she walked out of the building, he was behind her. “Are you following me?”
She wasn’t too worried about saying that. If anyone saw them, they’d know she worked for him. It was outside the building. It was a stupid benign question.
“I need food,” he said. “You?”
“Me too. I left mine on the kitchen counter and my place might stink when I get home.”
“Distracted when you left?”
“Just a little.”
She turned to the first place, a deli she had noticed while walking. He followed her in.
“So you are following me.”
“Not really, but there is no reason I can’t buy my new assistant lunch for putting up with me for a week.” Ethan lifted his hand to someone. “I don’t want you to quit on me so soon. Blair told me I had to be nice.”
“That’s Ethan for you,” some guy said. No one she knew, but it was a clue that they could be watched.
“Jared, this is Nora, my new assistant of one full week. Blair said she’s great and so far I agree. Got to keep her happy so I’m treating her and Blair to lunch. Nora, Jared Willard works in finance with Darin. You’ll see him now and again if you go down here.”
Oh, so it wasn’t just her then. Probably had more to do with Blair doing some extra work for Ethan in her last week.
She had to not get stressed over that either.
Just four and a half more days of training in person.
“It’s nice to meet you,” she said, shaking his hand. His name was called and he moved up to get his order at the end.
“Welcome to the company,” Jared said as he walked out.
Ethan leaned down to reach for a napkin and whispered, “There are several here.”
Things she’d have to recognize at some point. “Blair told me about this place,” she said. “I think I’ll get the grain bowl with grilled chicken.”
Ethan moved to the counter. “Two grain bowls with grilled chicken and one turkey club with fries.” He pulled his card out, tapped it to the screen, then took the receipt and moved to the side.
She wanted to pick on him about the French fries but told herself that would be out of line. And people were watching. Two more walked over and got an introduction.
“Thanks for lunch,” she said while they waited.
“No problem. Blair told you all my favorite places.”
“And a list of what you like and where.”
“So you knew what was mine,” he said, laughing.
“I did. Plus Blair told me the grain bowl is her favorite. It sounded good. She’s been swamped this morning. I’ve been working on my own.”
“I figured as much. It might be like that for a few days. You’re not nervous about this being her last week?”
“Noooo,” she said, nodding her head up and down.
He smiled. One that had a little something extra in his eyes that he’d have to watch out for. When she lifted her eyebrow his smile dropped. As if he knew what he did.
“You’ll be fine.”
“Everyone keeps telling me that. I just have to start believing it.”
He grabbed their order and carried it out, them returning upstairs and her walking in with Ethan. Blair was sitting there eating a sandwich. She turned to look at him and he laughed.
“I bought you dinner for tonight,” he said. “I know you’re going to be here later.”
“Thanks, boss,” Blair said, taking it. “Saves me from running out to get it.”
Once Ethan left, Nora sat at the table to eat and flipped the lid on her laptop.
“What do you need me to do this afternoon? I should be done with the data analysis. I’m not sure if you’ll have a chance to look it over.”
“Eat your lunch and relax for a minute,” Blair said. “I won’t be able to get to it today but will later. I need to finish a few things for Ethan.”
She ate her lunch in silence, the phone ringing on Blair’s desk. She stood to get it, but Blair snagged it after looking at the number across the screen, then said she’d be right back and left.
There was a knock on the doorframe, and she looked up to see Mitchell standing there. “My son hasn’t scared you off yet, I see. Thank God.”
“No. He’s pretty easy so far. We’ll see once Blair is gone.”
Mitchell looked to both sides and then stepped in. “It will get better. I’m sure you’ve been told that by more than one person.”
Mitchell was talking about her father.
No, her father hadn’t told her it’d get better. He’d told her to make sure she worked hard, stayed professional and kept her head down and did what she was told.
Completely night and day from everyone else.
Unfortunately, she didn’t seem to listen to her father.
Or maybe that was a good thing.