Wherever You Will Go(34)

“Shall we?” I say as I hold my hand towards the elevator, while using everything I have not to laugh.

She stands, straightening her outfit again, and makes her way to the elevator. I look back to Harper who looks away abruptly and pretends she’s typing something on her computer. I shake my head as I follow Brooke.

As soon as the doors shut, she starts, “Saxon, I am so sorry. I was just saying hello to everyone. I feel I can’t just start working without saying hello to the staff.” Raising my eyebrows at her, she begins to backtrack. “Fine,” she sighs. “I was really enjoying seeing everyone and having a laugh. I can’t remember the last time I laughed like that. It felt so good being with people and just talking nonsense.” She’s rambling on, and I can tell she’s sorry and elated all at once.

“Brooke, you don’t have to explain yourself to me. I am not your boss; you’re the owner, and this is yours. If you want to sit and chat with the staff all day, sit and chat with the staff all day.” I smile down at her and she looks up at me, face scrunched and eyes narrowed.

“Well, what was all that back there then?”

“I just wanted to fuck with you,” I say bluntly, no humour in my tone and a blank expression covering my face.

“Saxon! What the hell? You scared Harper, you know,” she says seriously. I laugh loudly as she scowls at me.

“Good. I am her boss, and she was totally out of line. We’re not paying her to lounge about with her friends.”

Brooke laughs. “Seriously, though, I’m sorry. I know you cleared your afternoon for me, and I do really want to see the place and get onto work.”

The elevator doors open. “Well come on then, Willis, you’ve got lots to learn.”





My first week at Argo flew by, and I can’t believe it’s Friday already. I spent my morning the same as I have all week: chatting to the staff, sitting and gossiping at Harper’s desk, having lunch with Bill, and sporadically meeting Ruth in the staff room for coffee. And this is exactly how Saxon finds me just after lunch.

“Why do we have the staff room upstairs if everyone comes down here to get their coffee?” Saxon interrupts as Ruth and I are bent over laughing about the delivery guy leaning down and showing us his man thong.

I try standing to answer him while still holding my belly. Saxon raises his eyebrows as he waits for a response. “I don’t want to segregate myself from the other staff. Whose idea was that anyway? Alienating staff members like we are too good to come down and have coffee with them.” I look to Ruth and can tell she’s trying to hold in her laughter.

“It was my idea,” Saxon says with indignation in his voice. “I didn’t do it to alienate anyone. I thought it would be easier and more efficient if you could grab a coffee and go back to work, rather than having everyone trying to stop you and ask you something.”

“I see,” I say with a sarcastic smile.

Saxon sighs deeply and rolls his eyes at me.

“Are either of you going to be doing any work this afternoon or are we already in weekend mode?” I hear the frustration in his voice. I smile as I hold my head high and walk past him to leave the staff room.

Out of the corner of my eye I see him shake his head and smile before he follows me out. Ruth doesn’t follow because… well, let’s be honest, no one tells her what to do.

Saxon steps into line with me. “Do you have any plans tonight?” There is hesitation in his voice, and it causes me to glance over at him. His face is blank, but I can see the uncertainty in his eyes.

“No. I’ll probably just crash like I have every other night. I’ve barely made it off the couch to my bed all week.”

Saxon chuckles. “Gossiping takes that much out of a person, does it?” He gives me a lopsided grin.

“Hey! I went from sitting home every day for three months to being here full-time. And yes, putting a smile on my face all day is quite exhausting.” I feel bad for over-exaggerating.

Saxon’s face drops. “I’m sorry, Brooke.”

“No, I’m sorry. I was trying to make you feel bad.” I look down sheepishly, unable to meet his stare.

He narrows his eyes, as if it’s something he really needs to think over. I’m embarrassed and decide to lead him back to the conversation. “Why were you wondering?”

“Hmmmm?” he asks, still studying my face.

“Why were you wondering what I was doing tonight?”

“Oh, I wanted to see if you wanted to grab dinner, celebrate your first week and all?”

“Ummmm,” I mumble in thought. “I’ve kind of enjoyed crashing on my couch every night. Plus it’s Friday night, the perfect night for pyjamas, ice cream, and movies.”