Chapter 6
Chapter Six
EVIE
I’ve cooked up the perfect recipe for my life. Step one: graduate from culinary school. Step two: save up for my bakery. Step three: open an adorable pastel bakery.
Working as someone’s assistant? Not part of the recipe, but improvisation has a place even when dealing with chemistry and food science.
Intentional Paper only takes up one floor of the expansive downtown building, but when I look up from the ground floor, I have to crane my neck to see the entire thing. Is this really where Theo works? Big business guy, indeed.
I’m wearing a new black pencil skirt, which feels fitting, and my hair is pulled back into a tight bun on top of my head. I look the part, but that doesn’t mean I’ll be good at being his assistant.
“Evie.” Everett squeezes my shoulder. “Stop dragging this out. Go in there. You’ll do great.”
“I don’t know if I will.” I look at him with bulging eyes. “What if I make a total fool of myself?”
“You won’t.” He leads me inside, jabbing the elevator door with an index finger. “Theo is a nice guy. You already know that.”
“I do, but what if he’s too nice? Like, if he secretly hates me, but he doesn’t want to say anything?”
“He offered you a job.” Everett steps into the elevator, and I follow, my heels clicking against the metal floor. “He won’t be that nice. Trust me. He once went off on me about my recycling habits.”
“He was probably teaching you a life lesson.”
“He was.” Everett nods. “He may have something to teach you, too, so pay attention to whatever he babbles about.”
We step out of the elevator into a warm reception area. There’s already someone at the desk—a man about my age with gelled hair and a big smile.
A large red couch sits in the center of the room, with plenty of space—but no one on it. I guess I can sit there if I faint. The rest of the room is white and green, with a few wicker chairs about.
It may be a typical corporate office, but there’s a warmth about the space, even though the skies are still gray this early morning. This isn’t the type of place I should be working. I’m instantly out of place.
Why did he hire me? I tried my best to blend in, but I am still so underdressed.
The man behind the desk was wearing… something designer.
Don’t ask me which designer. My outfit is two years old, and I don’t even remember where I bought it from.
Everett offered to buy me something new, and after today, I may take him up on that.
I run my fingers over the scratchy skirt.
I hate it. Why did I wear this stupid houndstooth skirt?
“I don’t believe you,” I mutter. “He’ll be too nice to fire me, I’ll be too nice to quit, and then I’ll be stuck at a job I hate.”
“Will it make you feel better if I say he’s secretly an asshole?”
“No!”
“Now, who are you two talking about like that?” Theo appears like a ghost, materializing into thin air, and claps a hand on Everett’s back. “You can’t be talking about me like this in my office. You wouldn’t do that, would you?”
Everett grins. “I would never.”
“Uh-huh.” Theo shakes his head and steps away. “Go home, Everett. I’ll take it from here.”
I freeze, looking between the two of them.
Everett lifts his chin, nodding toward Theo. “Follow him, or you’ll get left behind.”
Left behind? My brother is probably joking, but I’m not in the mood for it.
I rush after Theo, even though he’s walking at a personally reasonable pace, and he leads me through the sleek, minimal space.
Nature photos hang on the walls, and it’s quiet—no music, no loud discussions—just the soft bubble of a fountain. Hard-working people sit in glass offices with phones pressed to their cheeks. Fresh, green plants hang around each room.
I’ve never been good with plants.
“Who waters those?” I whisper, hoping no one else can hear.
He looks at me over his shoulder. “We have someone for that. Don’t worry. If it were part of your job description, I would have let you know.”
“Oh, thank God.”
There’s a twinkle in his eye as he turns away, opening his office door.
“Speaking of a green thumb… how do you feel about planting trees?” he asks, sitting at his desk.
“I…” A puff of air passes through my lips. “With all due respect, that seems even harder than caring for your house plants.”
“It’s not.” He chuckles. “You’d be surprised to know it’s easier—especially because you won’t have to tend to it. You do the planting, and the foresters take care of everything else. I’ll teach you all about it once we’re in Finland.”
Oh, and I’m traveling. Great. Thanks for the reminder, Theo.
I’ve always wanted to travel more, but Finland isn’t exactly on my bucket list. At least I’m traveling for a good cause—and I’ll be paid for it. Well paid. He sent a job offer early this morning, and the salary is more money than I’ve ever made.
That’s not all. My pay is doubled when we’re traveling. I’m still processing the email, even though I was quick to send my acceptance.
“Looking forward to it,” I mumble, scratching my cheek.
“Sit.” His hand waves in front of the empty chair.
After hesitating, I do as he asks—which is good because I still feel weak in the knees. Sitting. Yes, this is what I need right now. I love sitting.
I’m looking at a different version of Theo. His casual outfit from before is replaced with a green suit, making his eyes appear softer and more earthy. Everything else about him looks harder. His tie is straight, and his suit is pressed. It’s probably designer, too.
I’m putting too much pressure on myself.
He looks at me with a patient smile, and my stomach does somersaults.
This is exactly why I didn’t want to take the job.
It was easy to forget how he made me feel when he wasn’t standing right before me.
Now, with him a foot away, all I can think of is how warm his gaze is even when sitting in a cool, minimal office.
My fingers graze the corner of his glass desk, grounding myself with the smooth touch. I find comfort in a framed photograph of trees hanging behind him. The green is so vivid.
“You don’t need to freak out,” he murmurs. “I picked you for a reason.”
“What’s the reason?” I blurt.
“You’re smart and organized, and I have a feeling you’ll be able to think fast on your feet.” He lifts a shoulder like it’s just that easy. Maybe it is, and I’m making a big deal of everything. “Most importantly, you don’t annoy me. We’re going to be spending a lot of time together.”
I lean back. “Then… I’m the personality hire in this place?”
He lifts his hands. “I didn’t say that. I hired you based on many factors.”
“Right.” I roll my eyes playfully. “If a personality hire is what you want, I can be that.”
“Just be you. That’s all I want. Today is all about training and getting comfortable, so there’s no pressure. Follow me around. I’ll show you how to work the calendar, where your office is, and help you set up your iPad. Simple stuff. Sound good?”
I nod, hoping to look more confident than I feel. “Sounds good.”
He leans in, fixing me with a soft look. “You’ll do great, Evie. Have more faith in yourself. I have a ton of faith in you.”
“What if it’s misplaced?”
“It never is.”
“Maybe you’re too confident.” I shake my head. “Think that attitude can rub off on me by the end of the summer?”
“I think so. Confidence is something any leader needs to have, so… looks like you’re already learning a thing or two about owning a business.”
I exhale, finally letting my shoulders drop. “It looks like I am.”
This will be good for me. The pay is good, the boss is nice, and the office environment is pleasant. It’s a welcome change of pace from the stress of working in bakeries and dealing with chaotic customers. I wouldn’t mind staying here if I didn’t have a business to invest in.
I’m getting ahead of myself. Theo threw me into a new world, and I still don’t know if I’ll sink or swim.
The morning goes by quickly, and it’s not nearly as stressful as I assumed it would be. As promised, he helps me set up my iPad, shows me the tiny office attached to his, and introduces me to the calendar system.
That tiny office? It’s not spacious or private, but it’s all mine, and I find comfort in knowing I have somewhere to disappear to.
Theo’s schedule is a mess. I’m overwhelmed just looking at it, and I can’t imagine having to run around like he does. My hours at the bakery were exhausting, but that was mostly because I had to wake up early. At least I did my work all in one place.
We’ll be zipping around the office, talking to dozens of people, and even traveling around the city. That’s not to mention the trip to Finland that I’m in charge of organizing.
He lets me take things one second at a time, but my head is overflowing with new information by lunch. Theo has a call to take, and I don’t want to be too reliant on him, so I find my way to the lunchroom alone.
I expect to find a microwave, a few round tables, and sandwiches brought from home. Everett even made me a sandwich: peanut butter and jelly, like when we were kids.
That’s not what greets me. It’s more like a café than a lunchroom.
Soft jazz hums in the background. There’s a stand selling sandwiches, salad, and coffee. The aroma of roasted coffee beans fills the air, and I breathe it right in. I could get used to this. The sandwich Everett made for me is abandoned in favor of the ones offered at the stand.
I sit down with my newly acquired BLT and sigh, happy to have a moment to myself. My stomach growls loudly. I was too nervous to eat breakfast; now, I’m starving.
Someone sits across from me before I can bite into my sandwich. He wears a casual, black two-piece suit. His hair is slicked back and possibly has too much gel, but I keep the thought to myself.
“Mind if I sit here?” the stranger asks.
My eagerness to be alone is eclipsed by a desire to make a new friend.
“Not at all!” I lower my sandwich and smile. “How good is the food in here? I need to know what to expect before I bite in.”