Chapter 24 Trouble And Gossip
TROUBLE AND GOSSIP
“So, are you any relation to Norris?”
She turned her head on Tuesday when she was asked that question. She’d been coming back from the coffee shop next door with two smoothies. Ethan had come in late, said he hadn’t eaten and asked if she’d go get him one before he got on his call.
It was just after eight, and she’d been here for thirty minutes already.
“Excuse me?” she asked. Heather was asking her that question. Go figure. She’d had a few conversations via email with the woman from finance, but nothing more.
Nora was keeping her distance like she did with most. Just doing her job and keeping the peace.
How she’d always operated at work.
But Ethan had told her Sunday night that his father mentioned there was some chatter that Norris was her father. That was after Ethan spilled the beans on their personal relationship. She was still tweaked over that.
“I asked if Norris was your father?” Heather asked. “The age is about right. If you look closely, there is some resemblance. Someone mentioned his daughter’s name was Eleanor, so close.”
“I don’t understand why that would matter,” she said, frowning. Keeping it professional and vague.
“Nora,” Ethan shouted. “There you are. My call is starting in a minute.”
“Sorry,” she said. “Coming.”
She turned from Heather and all but sped-walked down the hall toward their offices.
He took the green smoothie out of her hand. She didn’t know how he could drink spinach, but he was also the guy who ate almost an entire bag of puffy orange powdered snacks the other night when they were watching a movie.
“What was she questioning you on?” he asked.
“Nothing important.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
She lifted her eyebrow. There was humor in his voice rather than him being a dictator. That was the only reason she didn’t get her back up.
“I’m not. It’s not important. Not to me.”
He followed her into her office rather than his own. “She’s asking about Norris?”
Talk about persistent. “Yes. I didn’t answer her. I’m not going to. I didn’t lie though either. Not my concern if someone cares or not. It’s not their business. They don’t work for him and neither do I. End of story.”
“Good girl,” he said, smiling.
She squinted at him. She wasn’t sure if that was praise or a joke. Best not to know either way. “You’re going to be late for your call.”
“Going. Boy, you’re more strict than Blair.”
Yep, he was being playful. She found she liked that more than anything. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
He turned and went to his office, shutting the door, and she got to work.
When she saw the email from Blair answering a question she’d had and then saying it might be easier to talk, she didn’t hesitate to shut her door and reply she was available now.
“It’s not a bad time is it?” Blair asked.
“No. I just got back from getting Ethan a smoothie before his call.”
“That nasty matcha spinach protein one?”
“That’s the one. I want to eat vegetables, not drink them. To each their own.”
“He used to always ask me if he had any left in his teeth after,” Blair said. “Sorry, but if you’re that concerned over it, don’t drink it.”
“He hasn’t asked me and it’s the third time I’ve gotten him one.”
“He won’t ask you. I told him he could look in the mirror in his bathroom or on his phone. Good lord, I hope he’s become more self-sufficient.”
She laughed. “He’s good. I don’t even get food for him that much. I ask him or pick things up weekly to keep in his fridge.”
“I’m glad to know that. You aren’t there to wait on him though I did it. That’s on me. He got lazy and doesn’t need to.”
“I’ve done those things in the past for other bosses and I wasn’t their assistant. It’s fine. I don’t have a problem with it and it gets me stretching my legs. Now if he wants them in the dead of winter, that might be another story.”
“He won’t,” Blair said, laughing. “Before we get to what I need for what Ethan has me doing, tell me how things are going there. We have chatted little more than email.”
Because she wanted to respect Blair’s time. There hadn’t been a reason to call or text. Nothing that was an emergency.
Maybe Ethan was doing it, but she wasn’t. Blair was working on other projects that she’d take over another time, but for now was thankful she didn’t have to deal with it.
She was busy from the moment she came in until the moment she left and that was still not operating at the job fully.
“Things are going great. I want to say smoothly, but I don’t know if that is the case. I’ve had a few hiccups. Made a mistake my first day on my own and had to redo a report.”
She confessed it to Blair now but hadn’t wanted to back then. Didn’t sound like Ethan had said anything either.
“Those things happen. I should have told you that you have to be on your toes with data from others. I’m sure it’s not malicious by any means, but everyone makes errors.”
“I think it was an honest mistake. She had the right one on her computer and just attached it wrong. I was more concerned over her attitude but didn’t let it pull me in.”
“Heather is testy. She’s always been that way. She’s been looked over for promotions and has posted out for other jobs and not gotten them. She wanted yours but wasn’t even qualified. I think she just wanted something else. Anything else.”
“Why not just look for another job elsewhere?”
“I’m not sure anyone will hire her. She’s got a permanent puss face and an unwarranted chip on her shoulder. Even when she’s being nice I think she rubs people the wrong way. I’d bet she is a horrible interviewer.”
“Makes me wonder how she got hired.” She was glad to hear that her judgment wasn’t far off on Heather.
“She knew someone. I’m not sure who, but it was someone in the department. I think early on she was a decent employee, but the more she gets passed over, the worse she gets.”
“I’ve limited my interaction with her through email and it’s been fine. But she stopped me in the hall and asked if Norris was related to me. That people are wondering if I’m his daughter as my name is close to what he’s said his daughter’s name is.”
Blair laughed. “I’m not surprised it’s being put together. It took longer than I thought. If it were anyone else, it would have been out by now, but since it’s Norris, no one will ask him.”
“And most are tiptoeing around asking me. I don’t overextend myself with friendliness, but I’m not mean.”
“I get it. I still talk to plenty there and they say you keep to yourself. Don’t even go to lunch or try to make connections. I said you’re just shy and not everyone is there to make a friend. I didn’t have anyone to go home to, so I’d go out with coworkers. They became my friends.”
“Yeah, I’m not looking for that here. It only causes trouble and gossip. I’m used to being alone anyway.”
“Everyone is different and I pointed that out.”
“Have you heard anything else? Anything bad?” She wanted to ask if there were any rumors about her and Ethan, and though she hadn’t seen nor talked to Mitchell since he found out, he admitted he’d been clueless to it.
“Nothing bad. People are always going to talk. You know that. If Ethan is happy with your performance, that is all that matters.”
“That’s what he said.”
They got through that topic and returned to the reason for the email, finished up ten minutes later and she was back to work when there was a knock on her door.
“Hi, Mitchell. Is there something I can help you with? Ethan’s on a call right now.”
“I know. I’m joining him in a few minutes. Thought I’d see how things were going.”
“Good.” She didn’t know what she was supposed to say. This was more awkward than she’d imagined it’d be.
Mitchell moved in and shut her door. Oh boy. It was coming.
She just didn’t know what it was. Other than Mitchell hadn’t been exactly thrilled with the knowledge of her dating Ethan.
“I’ve needed a few days to process the news.”
She nodded her head. “I understand. I don’t want to cause any problems here or with your relationship.”
He held his hand up to stop her. “As my wife pointed out, if you weren’t Ethan’s employee, I’d be over the moon.”
Her jaw dropped. “You would?”
“I can see why Ethan has some concerns,” Mitchell said, frowning.
That was only worse. “Concerns about what?”
“I’m sorry. That came out wrong. Or should have stayed in my mouth.
Concerns that you doubt him and his intentions.
Maybe even doubting yourself. I guess what I should say is that he’d never tell us about you two if he wasn’t taking this seriously.
And I worried that me taking a day to come to you might give you the impression we aren’t happy with the relationship. ”
“Are you? Unhappy?” Might as well put it out there. She boasted that she was confident and she wanted to know. Waiting and guessing served no purpose.
“My wife is thrilled. Ethan hasn’t spoken to us about a woman in longer than we can remember. None of our boys did unless they felt there was a reason. It’s just the way they are.”
“Could be the reason is I work here.”
“That is part of it,” Mitchell said. Her heart just sank to the ground and went splat on her shoes. “But that was just a small part of it.”
“He told me he was going to you as his father, not his boss.”
“Which put another twist on it for sure. I want my boys to feel as if they can come to me for anything. That doesn’t mean I won’t be truthful back. I was. I’m not sure what he relayed to you.”
“Nothing worrisome. He said he told you both and that your wife wants me to come to dinner this weekend.” She kept out the part that Mitchell was cautious. She was positive it was more than that and Ethan was sugarcoating it.
Though when Mitchell smiled, she thought maybe she was working herself up over nothing. “She would. We haven’t decided if we are going to be on the island or not but will let Ethan know.”
“I don’t want anyone to be uncomfortable. Not for me, but not for you either.”
“And that is one thing I like about you. You’re nothing like your father, but there are parts of you that are.” She tried to keep the snarl from her face, but might not have accomplished it when he laughed. “You should see your expression. I didn’t mean to insult you.”
“How am I like my father?”
“You’re not afraid to be honest. You’re not blunt with it, but you’re to the point. It’s softened where Norris isn’t, but that’s his personality. You know what you’re getting with him.”
“I always thought people knew what they were getting with me. At least I want them to.”
“My son sees the good. The honest. The genuine parts of you. It’s hard for him to do that.”
She frowned. “I don’t know much about his past relationships and won’t ask you,” she rushed out.
“Nor would I tell you. Like any other relationship, you two have to navigate it. I trust that whatever it is or happens, it stays out of this office. It wouldn’t be good for anyone if there were drama here of that nature.”
She was shaking her head. It was a subtle warning that she didn’t need to have voiced. “Trust me, I know. That’s one thing I don’t want to happen. As I told Ethan, he’s the boss. No one would say anything to him about it... other than you.”
Mitchell smirked. “Don’t be so sure, but he doesn’t let it get to him. My biggest concern is that if it bothers you, he’s going to speak up.”
It was a strange comfort, knowing someone was willing to stand up for her, even when she didn’t ask for it. Especially when she didn’t ask for it.
For so long, she’d been the one to smooth things over, to keep the peace, to swallow her pride in the name of avoiding another confrontation.
Ethan didn’t play by those rules.
He’d step in. He’d take the hit if it meant shielding her from one.
That scared her almost as much as it made her heart twist.
Because she wasn’t used to being defended.
She wasn’t used to mattering that much.
And that might be the most concerning thing of all.