Now, Please(14)

“True. I couldn’t even imagine that kind of hassle.”

“I couldn’t before this job. Now I’m getting a glimpse. Hunter has all these plans years out. Years! Don’t ever play chess with the man, seriously.” I threw up my hands. “I can’t think that far ahead. I just can’t. I’m more of an ‘in the moment’ type of girl. Maybe a month out, but that’s it. Planning isn’t my specialty. Maybe someday, but…”

“And yet you are trying to keep track of his scheduling…”

“Yeah!” I barked out laughter. “I’m no good at it, though. Joke’s on him, right? It’s like trying to direct a river barge up a stream. I want to pull my hair out half the time, and punch him in the mouth the other half.”

Bruce gave a large belly laugh. His deep, delighted rumble had the man across the lagoon looking over. “Why are you in the job, then?”

“I just got the job—a month ago. I graduated six months back. You do that math.”

“Oh. A product of the economy, huh?”

“Exactly. All the clubs and extracurricular activities look good on the résumé, but not half as good as some experience. Call me enlightened. It’s okay, though. His other assistant, Brenda, does most of the heavy lifting with the admin stuff. I get random jobs.”

“So Hunter gave you a chance and is now playing to your strengths…”

I glanced at my screen as another email came in. “Stop sending me stuff,” I muttered, minimizing the window. I turned back to a smiling Bruce. “I think he’s happy to have someone that can do more than admin. And I’m happy to get paid, so we can use each other for a while.”

“No harm in that. And you seem to be learning…”

“It’s good, but there’s always a moment of frustration when he gives me something new.”

Bruce got up and slipped his phone in his pocket. “Well, I have to run. Thanks for letting me use your phone. Download the update—let me know what you think.”

“Gaming isn’t your business, though, right?” I asked, pulling my phone closer.

“No. Another hobby. One that makes money.”

“Must be nice, being smart.”

“You should know.” Smiling, he sauntered away.

I gave myself a mental pat on the back. I had given him something to think about, even though I had been a little heavy-handed. At least now I could work on him. Or just introduce Hunter and do a little damage control.

My mind went back to my comment about using each other. That statement might’ve been a little one-sided.

Glad to be on my own again, I got lost in my work. What I’d said was true—Brenda did most of the admin stuff. So I pulled up the marketing spreadsheet I’d been working on, and got lost in analysis.

I finally came out of my spreadsheet fog as a chill breeze prickled my skin. I took a deep breath and looked around. The guy that had been on the other side of the lagoon was gone and I was alone.

I glanced at the clock. “Oh crap!”

It had been three hours! I was supposed to be ready for dinner in an hour and a half. That seemed like plenty of time, but I always seemed to mess up at least one part of my wardrobe.

I packed everything up and jammed my computer into its bag. I hurried to the golf cart and put it into gear, lurching to a start. It took me thirty seconds to come to a horrible realization—I didn’t know how to get back!

I’d taken turns without a thought to the way back.

Well, now I was in a pickle.

I squinted at the upcoming sign. “Rec room —>”

“Rec room?” I muttered. Out here in the middle of cultivated gardens and nondescript buildings, and they thought the rec room was the most important directional tool?

I thought about calling Hunter as I zoomed along the path and around a couple people on foot, one in a suit, the other in jeans.

“Livy?”

I slowed and craned in my seat, recognizing the voice. Sure enough, Bruce looked at me quizzically with a twisted grin on his face. He and a businessman with a frustrated expression stopped next to me.

“Practicing for the Indy 500?” Bruce asked with twinkling eyes.

“I’m totally lost!” I said. Then couldn’t help a laugh. “But yes. This thing’s a hoot!”

“We’ll have to race one of these times. Where ya headed?”

“I’m in room 1023. Any ideas?”

“You’re just…” The businessman squinted off to the left. He stuck out his hand and pointed. “Just there, I think. That way.”

He assumed I could fly, apparently, because he was pointing straight at a gazebo and a bunch of bushes.