Chapter 30 Handle Yourself
HANDLE YOURSELF
“You spend a lot of time in Ethan’s office.”
Nora swirled around quickly in her office. She’d had her back to the door while she pulled a file out when that comment was made.
Not Heather from finance, but Colleen this time. Darin’s assistant. Someone a bit older, more chatty, and not afraid to say what was on her mind.
“Excuse me?”
“I said you’re in Ethan’s office a lot with the door closed.”
Stay calm. Be firm but professional. You’ve done this a million times. Only now it meant more. It held more substance and carried more weight to not crack when confronted.
She took a calming breath and explained, “Part of my job is confidentiality, as you know yourself. Is there something you need or needed me for when I wasn’t at my desk?”
What she wanted to do was explain nothing at all. It wasn’t as if it was their business. Or anyone’s. But then it’d come off defensive and she couldn’t do that either.
Blair had told her before that she’d be in Ethan’s office with the door shut at least half the time and so far it wasn’t even half. And she’d been watching it for her own guilty reasons.
She wasn’t counting things before or after hours when others weren’t even in the building.
Like two days ago when she thought someone got into his office who didn’t need to be. Or shouldn’t.
It was silly on her part to think it was anyone other than Ethan.
In her gut, she knew who it was. She went in there hoping to catch him. Maybe to fill in that fantasy she’d confessed.
And he fulfilled part of it.
It would have been a great time to say she was on birth control since she was positive he didn’t carry condoms on him. At least she hoped to hell he didn’t during the workday.
“No,” Colleen said. “I’m bringing you these reports since I have to drop something off to Mitchell from Darin.” Colleen moved into her office, then grabbed the door and shut it. “Can I give you a word of advice?”
“Sure,” she said, putting a smile on her face. “I’m always up to taking suggestions.”
“You’re young. Very pretty. There is talk that you’re Norris’s daughter, but no one wants to be the one to ask him.” Her expression didn’t change. Nor did she open her mouth. Colleen only laughed. “I’m not sure you’re in with Ethan more than Blair was.”
“I’m not,” she said. “But I’m not really keeping track, just doing my job.”
“I figured as much, but people get chatty. If you were older…”
“Heavier, uglier, and ruder, no one would think a thing, would they?” she asked, lifting her chin. This was where she wasn’t going to back down.
She wasn’t snapping. She was being honest.
“They would not,” Colleen said, nodding her head.
“I’ve been the new person before and that is the one who always gets talked about. More if she’s not open or outgoing.”
“You’re outgoing, just not open. I think if people got to know you a little, then they’d feel better.”
“It’s not really my job to make them feel better, is it? I’m not trying to be mean, just being blunt.”
“Which I like. And something you need in that position. I apologize for saying what I did. Maybe it was a test on my end.”
She didn’t want to get worked up, but part of her felt it coming. “I wasn’t aware I needed to be tested on anything or by anyone other than Ethan. Mitchell at the most.”
“I wanted to see if you could handle yourself. I get along with Carolyn, but she keeps to herself. Liz, she’s always miserable, but who wouldn’t be working for Norris?”
Carolyn was Mason’s assistant. “I’ve heard,” she said. It was all she was admitting.
“Blair and I got along the best,” Colleen said. “Tessa, she’s only holding on waiting for Mitchell to retire. She’s at a point now where she works and goes home.”
“That’s always been the point I’m at with my jobs. I know you and Blair were close. I guess that is why I was surprised you asked that question. I’m positive you still talk to her.”
Colleen grinned. “I do. I miss her. Could be I thought you and I could pick up there, but you’re just a few years older than my daughter. If that. I’m not sure how old you are, but I’m thinking older than twenty-five.”
“I am,” she said, not volunteering more.
“Blair really likes you. A lot. She thinks you’re a younger version of her but on steroids.”
She laughed. “I wouldn’t go that far. I’ve got a lot to learn.”
“We all did in the beginning. I know you had a run-in with Heather. Maybe a few more since.”
She hadn’t, but it seemed Heather could be playing that up. “No run-in. Just getting the right report, but there have been no issues since that I’m aware of.”
Colleen was still grinning. “She’s out of sorts. She wanted your job.”
“So I was told.”
“And those things don’t bother you, do they?”
“If someone had felt she was a good fit, I’m sure she would have gotten the job.”
“Agreed. But Heather is also the one who is making comments about you and Ethan.”
She frowned. “I wasn’t aware there were comments to be made. Heather has never been down this way that I’ve seen.”
“No. But people see you and Ethan out in meetings, walking to the building coming and going together.”
“Working,” she corrected.
Her door opened, and Mitchell was standing there. The look in his eyes said he’d heard some of what was going on. “There you are, Colleen. I was looking for you and thought that was your voice.”
“Coming,” Colleen said. “I was just chatting with Nora.”
Colleen turned and left her office and Nora went back to work trying to slow her racing heart.
She knew there was talk about her being related to Norris. It might be best to let that out at this point. She’d been employed almost two months. If people knew that, they might just leave her alone like they give her father a wide berth.
She could handle the comments that she only got the job because of her father. Because anyone saying it was talking out their ass.
No way her father would ever help her get a job.
Ten minutes later, she wasn’t surprised to see Mitchell step into the doorway, then come in and shut her door.
At this rate she wouldn’t get much done.
“Did Colleen give you one of her tests?”
“Is that something she is famous for?”
“And you answering like that tells me she did. It also means you probably replied to her the same way, which she would respect, but she needs to stop it. She’s harmless in a way, but it’s different now.”
“Because of Ethan. That is how it came up. I think maybe it’s time that I stop hiding who my father is. I know he’s not going to be happy. Me either, but if people think I’m hiding that...”
“That’s your decision. Not even Norris’s. I mean that. There are two sides to it. If it comes out, they might think he asked for you to be hired, though anyone who knows your father well would know that wouldn’t be the case.”
“That’s my thought. The other side is, if I’m hiding that, what else could I be hiding? But honestly, I don’t know that I care if they think I am.”
Except for the fact that she had one big secret that would be prime picking on the grapevine.
But she was learning to accept that she wasn’t alone and if that came out, then she’d have the support.
“Good for you,” Mitchell said. “If you care, then someone else will. We are all prepared regardless, but that is your guy’s call.” And that meant Ethan.
“You’re really okay with this?”
She was finding it hard to believe, but they were all so nice to her over the weekend. She never felt they were yanking her along or feeding her a false narrative.
“My children are the most important things in my life,” Mitchell said. “Above everything else. Money, careers, people’s opinions. If they are happy, then I am. I know he’s in love with you.”
And there the flush filled her face. “He told you.”
“He did. Almost like a giddy kid being told he was going to get the biggest stocking in the state on Christmas morning. That’s all I need to know. The rest is meaningless.”
Which overrode so many doubts in her head.
“You’re right. It is. I think I’ll have a chat with my father and let him know that the next time it’s asked of me, I’m not denying it. Or not avoiding it.”
She was positive her father wouldn’t be happy, but it wasn’t as if they talked all that much.
Funny how he wanted her here to mend their relationship yet once she started working on the same floor as him, they talked even less than when he was giving her a hard time to find a job.
“Good for you,” Mitchell said. “But again, make that decision knowing that you’ll have our family support.”
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that.”
Support from a family she’d known a few months and not from the man who fathered her.
“What are you still doing here?” Ethan asked at five thirty.
“I’m waiting until Liz leaves for the day. I wanted to talk to my father.”
“Everything okay?” he asked, coming in. “I thought you’d be gone by now. You knew I had a late meeting.”
“I’m just going to let him know that I’m not hiding I’m his daughter anymore. I’m not going to just tell people, but if someone asks again or it comes up, I’ll confirm and move on.”
Ethan smiled. “Is there a reason you’re doing this?”
Her head went side to side as she debated telling him about Colleen. If she didn’t, she was positive Mitchell would.
“Come in and shut the door.”
His smile dropped. “I’m not sure I’m going to like what you’re going to say.”
“It’s not horrible. Your father is aware.” She explained it all and Mitchell’s reaction. “See, not bad. But I’m ready.”
“That’s your call. Are you going to tell him about us?”
“No,” she said adamantly. One hill to climb at a time.
“Do you plan on ever telling him?” he asked. “Put yourself in his shoes. What if he finds out a year from now?”
She liked how he just assumed they’d still be together then.
“It won’t be that long. But a few months. No, not ready.”
“You met my father,” he said. “Maybe I want to meet your mother. She knows about me.”
It hadn’t even occurred to her he’d want to. “You do?”
“Nora,” he said, sighing. “That’s ridiculous and you know it. This is more than dating. Didn’t we establish that?”
“Yeah.” She just hadn’t thought much more than two steps ahead. “It was only a few days ago though. I’m still catching up.”
“Run faster,” he said, moving toward her, then leaned down to give her a kiss. “I’ll wait for you and we can walk home together. No arguments. I’ve got things to do right now. We’ll be parting ways toward the bridges anyway.”
“The way you are wrinkling your nose says that kills you to do that too.”
“Yes, it does, but I can be accommodating. I’d rather you came to my place and stayed the night.”
She hadn’t stayed the night once during the week. “Then we’d be arriving the same time.”
“We don’t have to if it’s going to bother you that much. I can run in like I planned. Or we can walk together and run after work.”
“So two nights together.”
“Go see if your father is here before this conversation takes a turn for the worse.”
He walked out after saying that. He didn’t sound mad. More like frustrated.
It was making her not want to talk to her father on top of it.
But she wouldn’t be that coward and got up to walk to the other end of the floor.
The noise level was down, not as many still here at close to six. Liz was gone too, but her father’s door was open and the light was on.
She popped her head in and he looked up.
“Nora, should you be down here? Everything okay?”
She moved into his office and shut the door. “Everything is fine. I just wanted to let you know that I’m tired of dodging questions about you and me.”
“People are asking you directly?”
“They are. I’m sure they won’t to you. I’ve avoided it for almost two months. We knew it’d come out at some point. I feel I’ve proven myself well in my job. I don’t like lying and it feels wrong.”
“You’re not lying, just avoiding. You just admitted that.”
She didn’t understand why this had to be so hard. “I’m done avoiding. I’m firm on this. Ethan and Mitchell are aware I’m letting you know so you’re not blindsided. Maybe now you can come down and say hi to me and not worry.”
Just tossing that out there to see his reaction.
He hesitated. “Do you want me to do that?”
“It’d be nice. I moved here to get closer, but it doesn’t feel as if you’re communicating much. I thought maybe some of it had to do with not wanting anyone to see us together.”
“So you’re doing this for me?” her father asked, the frown on his face not giving her much.
“I’m doing it for me and some for you. I understand people are going to talk, but they already are. If I keep trying to hide this, it could make it worse. The next time it’s brought up, I’ll just answer and move on. Nothing more. I believe people expect that of me. Could be I get it from you.”
Her little bone to see if he took a nibble.
“If that is what you want.”
“It is. I’ll let you know when it happens.” Her father nodded his head. He looked more tired to her. “Are you sleeping okay?”
“Yes, why?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen you much in the past month. Just in passing. But sitting there you look like maybe you had a long day.” Or a long several days. He was still thin to her and now was almost pale.
“It’s the end of the day. This is normally how I look. Once I get home and eat I’ll relax more.”
“How long are you working? Liz is gone. We could leave together and walk a block. Maybe get some dinner?”
He seemed to hesitate. How much more did she have to do? How much to say or give for him to see she was still trying.
It felt like her childhood all over again.
If it weren’t for having Ethan in her life, she’d be all alone. He said he didn’t want that for her, that it was why he’d asked her to move.
“I can be done in five minutes if you want to get dinner.”
She smiled. “I’ll go lock up and be back.”
“Well,” Ethan said. “How did it go?”
Oh shit, she forgot he was waiting for her.
“Good. We are going to dinner together. Sorry. He looked off to me. Tired and I think he’s getting thin.
Or I thought so. Anyway, he was good with it and I mentioned maybe he could come say hi to me once it was out.
It’s like he didn’t realize I would want that. ”
“All he has to do is open his eyes.”
“I tried to help him do that. So, I’m sorry. Another night?”
“Go have dinner with your father. But I’d like to hear how it went later.”
She returned the smile he had forced on his face. He’d just have to understand that she wasn’t always going to be at his beck and call, even after hours.
So far she’d been doing it because she had nothing else planned. This time, she needed to see what was going on with her father. Or at least take the steps to soften him up for the big reveal about her relationship.
Not now. But soon. Maybe.