Eden was in her office when I went to lunch, and she was still in the same place an hour later when I returned. In fact, she never left her desk until almost four o'clock. I'd seen her on the computer and the phone throughout the day. I thought about interrupting her a few times, but quickly decided against it. I didn't coddle any of my other associates, and I wouldn't start with her.
She knocked on the door between our offices and opened it, not waiting for a response. However, she didn't come in. She remained in the doorway with the folder clutched tightly to her chest.
"That was fast. I wasn't expecting you to come up with a decision so soon." I motioned her over to my desk and invited her to take a seat.
"So soon? I've been working on it all day," she teased. "Although, I was able to learn faster ways of looking things up, so hopefully, it won't take me as long in the future."
I took the folder and opened it, acting as if I were poring over the details of the company. "Appears to be a good choice, doesn't it?" I asked, baiting her.
"Yes, it does."
I won't lie, her answer was a little disappointing and my heart began to sink.
"However, I don't think you should do it."
That got my attention. "Oh, yeah? And why is that?"
"Well, although it seems like a good choice on the surface, I started digging into the Johnson brothers-the ones who bought the company a few years ago. They both struck it big at a casino and used their winnings to buy the established firm. The corporation itself is what's making it seem like a perfect idea because it's amazing. Great idea, fabulous business plan, dedicated employees … however, the new owners … not so much. I would have had this to you right after lunch, but I was waiting on a call. I just got it and it confirmed my suspicions. The problem is the way they obtained the company in the first place. With their winnings, and they've never stopped gambling. Now they've been gambling with bigger wages. And even though I can't solidly prove it's the firm's money, I don't think it's a safe investment. Too risky."
I was stunned into silence. She managed to find all this out in less than a day. It was impressive, but I was too shocked to offer much of a response. For some reason, she seemed nervous as she waited for my reaction.
"Was my decision all right?"
"All right? It's fucking perfect. I'd already canceled this one out last week, but I was curious to see what you'd say. I've gotta tell you, Eden, you had me scared when you first came in with the file. But I'll admit, I'm an extremely smart man for hiring you."
She finally laughed. "Yes, let's go ahead and give you all the credit for my hard work."
"What? You didn't know that's what would happen when you took the job?"
"You're very right, Dane. You're a smart man to hire such a talented, brilliant, hard-working woman such as myself," she teased, and it lightened my spirits.
"Good job today, Clare."
"Thanks, Kauffmann."
"Go ahead and go home for the day. I'm getting ready to leave, too. It was a good first day. You know, once we got past the morning." I smiled, as did she. "I'll see you tomorrow."
She stood and began to return to her office when another thought crossed my mind.
"Oh, and … Eden?" I waited for her to face me again. "You really don't listen to me, do you? I told you to not cover your ink and to keep in your piercings. Yet you took them out and you're wearing a sweater."
"It's not professional," she responded, as if it were obvious.
My brows pinched together and I blinked a few times, expressing my confusion. I made a show of my arms, the parts that were visible with my sleeves rolled up. "Clearly, my company doesn't follow the same idea of professionalism you seem to think. If the founder wears his ink proudly, then so should you. You are my sidekick, by the way."
She giggled and glanced at the floor.
"And fuck what people say is professional. I like the Monroe and the nose stud. From now on, it's part of your uniform. Come in without it again and I'll send you home."
She nervously played with her large curls draping over her shoulder. I must've made her uncomfortable because she turned quiet again.
"That wasn't me hitting on you. That was nothing more than me giving you a compliment."
"I know." She met my stare and offered an uneasy grin before turning to go to her office.
I eyed the closed door that separated us and knew I was ready to accept the changes that lay ahead. Handing over some of the decision-making wouldn't be easy, but I had a feeling Eden would make things easier.
And in addition, I had an inkling that Eden would also make things more complicated.
5
Once a year, Kauffmann Investments held an associate appreciation barbecue at the beach. It was a way for me to show the people who devoted so much of their time to the company that I noticed them, and I valued their hard work.
This year, I hadn't looked forward to it, as I had in the past. Things seemed to get worse with Gabi by the day, and I currently had a hard time being thankful for anything. But I'd always been good at compartmentalizing, and that meant keeping things at work separate from my personal life. To a point.
Normally, Gabi came with me. But as I got ready this morning, she refused to get out of bed. Part of me thought I should stay behind with her. My darkened mood wouldn't add anything good for the people expecting a fun, relaxing day in the sun. But I knew not attending wasn't an option. I had to go. Not only for them, but for me, as well. I couldn't continue to stay cooped up in the condo with Gabi all day. The few times I'd managed to get her to talk, she obsessed over the baby. I literally lived in a bubble of pessimism, and I felt the need to escape the depravity that our relationship had reached.
The sun was bright and the sand was hot. People were already in the area of the beach we'd roped off for the party. It should've been enough to pull me from the mood Gabi had confined me to, but it wasn't. At least I was here. I needed a beer and some friendly conversation and I'd snap out of it. I headed to the cooler where several guys were huddled.
Two minutes into listening to them talk about some game they'd watched, I caught the sight of her fiery hair. In an instant, everything else faded away. The conversation around me turned to a low hum, the people milling about on the beach blurred, and the sounds of the ocean became white noise. All I could focus on was the woman setting up her chair away from everyone else.
Without thinking, I made my way to her, catching her by surprise when she glanced up and saw me standing next to her.
"I hope it's okay that I came. I know I've only worked for you for five days … but Steve from legal encouraged me to come. If I shouldn't be here, I can leave. I won't be upset if-"
I stepped closer and placed the pad of my thumb over her lips to make her stop talking. "Eden, you're allowed to be here. This is a company event. You work for the company. Therefore, you're more than welcome to be included."
She sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. Her shoulders slumped a few degrees, signaling the tension leaving her body. "Oh, good. I feel so out of place, but I figured if I didn't come, I'd never meet anyone."
"Why do you feel out of place?"
Her lips quirked and a soft, short gasp of a giggle escaped. "Let's see here, Dane … I don't really know anyone. I haven't worked there for long-oh, and I can't swim. We're at a beach, and I don't know how many excuses I'll be able to come up with as to why I can't go in the water."
"Why haven't you ever learned how to swim?" I had wondered that very thing since the night she'd jumped off the pier, but I never found the right time to ask.
She took in a breath and then slowly released it before answering. "My little brother couldn't swim; he was scared of the water and wouldn't even get near it. So we never went to pools or lakes. I was thirteen when he died, and I just never learned after that. I was so used to not being around water that it never bothered me."
"Except now you've moved to a place where you're surrounded by water."
She smiled as her shoulders bounced up and down with one of her silent laughs. "Yeah. I guess I am. But I'm pretty sure twenty-five is a little too late to learn how to swim. I think I'll be okay."
"Well, you don't have to worry about making up excuses. The amazing part about the beach is you can stay in the shallow parts without needing to swim. And there's a whole box over there"-I pointed over my shoulder to where we had everything set up-"with rafts and those foam noodles. You'll be fine."
"Thanks. I think I need a drink first, though. Almost drowning last weekend traumatized me." She laughed, and the sound of it distracted me from the guilt that plagued me anytime I thought about that night.