Chapter 8 #3
Benji Warren had a brilliant mind, and working with him had already been exciting and fruitful, but just being with him was exciting as well. All we’d done was ride an elevator, and I felt like I never wanted Benji to be anywhere but by my side, the proton to my neutron.
As your assistant. At least the logical part of my brain offered an appropriate response to the situation.
I really couldn’t have any more foolish or fanciful thoughts.
What I could do was foster a young scientist at the start of his career.
That would be more than enough. Or at least, it would have to be.
“... security?”
I’d distracted myself again and missed Benji’s actual request. “Forgive me,” I said as if it was a question, giving him what I hoped was an embarrassed and apologetic smile.
The chuckle I was learning to love preceded his response once more.
The elevator stopped, and my hand shot out to hold the door open though I was focusing all my attention on the man before me and his deep-brown eyes.
They left me, and I felt it, the zing that had been coursing through me transforming into a weight in the pit of my stomach. I had done something wrong.
Staring at his shoes, Benji let me know what that was.
“We walked right past security. Um. I think they wanted to check me in or something.”
“Oh? Right. Well, obviously you’re with me,” I said, the words sounding shrouded in meaning to my foolish ears. Romantic thoughts were not really my forte. They were most certainly not something I was known for. Luckily, Benji seemed to have heard the intended meaning and not the fanciful one.
“Of course! But, um, just so you know, the guards were definitely staring me down and maybe trying to flag us over.” Benji stepped out of the elevator, and I followed, but he faced me in front of the elevator door and finished his thought, standing taller, his eyes back on me.
“You’re the boss, obviously. But they have a job to do, too, so …” Benji’s eyes, his rich, chocolate, expressive eyes, got wide, and his cheeks flushed to a charming shade of light pink.
“Sorry,” he muttered, but then his head snapped in a single sharp nod as if to himself, and he awaited my response.
It took a moment for me to process, but I understood what he was trying to say and found myself even more impressed with him, that he was willing to call me out on something I should have known.
“So I should let them do their job,” I responded in enthusiastic agreement. “Of course. You’re right.”
I took a step forward, then opened my arm, gesturing toward one of the doors in front of us and encouraging Benji to walk ahead of me.
There were three offices immediately surrounding the elevator landing: mine, Beck’s, and that of the assistant we shared, Ross.
There were other offices down the hallway, resided in by members of our senior staff.
The executive boardroom was also on that level.
Ross’s office consisted of glass walls so he could keep an eye on the elevator and monitor the staff’s comings and goings.
It was Ross’s open door that we entered.
“Ross?”
“Boss?”
“This is Benjamin Warren. Can you please call down to security and ask if they can log him in as my guest?”
Ross’s expression seemed odd for a moment, and once again I wished I were better at reading faces.
“Benjamin Warren, the new guy.” Ross smiled and stood up, looking Benji up and down as if he were appraising the unassuming scientist. I didn’t like it. “Snuck you past security, did he?” he said as he stepped forward and extended his hand.
Benji shook it as he replied, “I can go back down …”
“No need. I’ll take care of it.” Ross continued to take Benji in, possibly holding his hand a beat too long.
I tried to put my hands in my pockets, the lunch bag dangling off one of them making the move impossible and making me feel awkward.
At least my actions drew Ross’s attention from Benji, and he eyed the bag with the same inquisitive gaze he had bestowed on our newest employee.
He tilted his head as if he was reading the logo emblazoned upon it, then he looked up at me. “Can I get either of you anything?”
“I know Benji isn’t scheduled to start until after his graduation, but would it be possible to procure a laptop for him, full access?”
Ross opened his mouth to reply, then shut it again, eyeing Benji once more, this time with narrowed eyes.
“I’ll talk to Erin.” He was still looking at Benji. “Coffee, tea?”
Benji pointed at the bag.
“I brought sodas, but thanks.”
“Thank you, Ross. We’ll be in my office,” I added, then I turned and headed to my door, Benji following behind me.
“Sure thing, boss.” Ross sounded bewildered and maybe a little snarky, which was saying something because Ross could be a lot snarky when he wanted to be.
I could hear that he hadn’t moved to sit back down but rather had remained at the entrance to his door.
When I got to mine, I turned to see that Ross was in fact leaning on the door frame, staring at the pair of us.