Page 104 of Heist

“Absolutely, Miss Yates. Just tell me when and where and I’ll be there.”

Austin laughed. “I hope if you’re going to be my office manager, we can be on a first name basis. Please, call me Austin. There’s a quiet little lounge about six blocks from the office called Pouring Ribbons. If you want to join me in about an hour.”

“I love that place. I think we’ll get along great, Austin. I’ll meet you there.”

Austin grinned. She was about to have her first planning session with her new office manager. It was all starting to feel more and more real.

Her phone buzzed. It was a text from Patrick.

Call me when you get home. I want to hear you come.

Austin’s heart felt like it might pound out of her chest as she responded to his message.

Yes, Sir. Might be a little while though. I’m having drinks with my new office manager.

Patrick sent a thumbs up emoji and another text.

I’ll be waiting. I don’t care how late it is.

Austin smiled and tucked the phone into her purse. The weather was mild, so she decided to walk to the bar. When she arrived, James was already waiting for her.

“Hope you don’t mind, I don’t live far from here, so I just walked over and got us a table.”

“Perfect, James. What are you drinking?”

He ordered an old fashioned since the bar was known for classic cocktails, and Austin opted for a dirty vodka martini.

When they were settled, Austin said, “I really just wanted to put a few things on your radar and talk about our work styles. I know managing an office can be hard if the business owner isn’t on the same page with you.”

James leaned back and propped a leather clad foot on his knee. “I appreciate that. I’ve been an administrative assistant and office manager of some sort since halfway through college and I’ve worked with a variety of difficult bosses.”

Austin laughed and sipped her drink. “I will strive not to be difficult.”

“What a pleasant surprise, Miss Yates,” a deep voice said.

She looked up and a slow smile spread across her face. “Pleasant surprise indeed, Mr.… Novak.”

She barely stopped herself from calling him Master Hunter and hoped no one noticed.

“Patrick back in California?” he asked as he stood looking down at them.

Austin nodded. “This is James, my new office manager.”

Hunter raised an eyebrow. “Finally striking out on your own? Congratulations, Austin. You deserve it.”

James sat up straighter. “Wait, you’re Hunter Novak? Like of the Vegas casino Novaks?”

Hunter laughed and dropped into an empty chair at their small table. “The very same. I’ve been opening a string of nightclubs lately so I’m in and out of New York a lot right now.”

After a few minutes of small talk, Hunter cursed. “I’m going to ask you to forgive me right now if your faces appear on the internet in some damn gossip column. I can’t go anywhere without one of them snapping pictures of me and now there are all these rumors that I’m sleeping with Skylar Cameron so every gossip rag in the country wants a picture. Austin, I wouldn’t be surprised if there isn’t a story that I’m cheating on her with you.”

Austin glanced around as she took a sip from her martini. She didn’t see anyone but had no reason to doubt Hunter’s word when he told her he recognized one of the slimy bastards who liked to follow him.

Austin patted his shoulder. “I’ve had press chasing me ever since I took Patrick as a client. I’m sure it will be fine. Are the rumors true about you and Skylar Cameron?” she asked with a grin.

Hunter shook his head. “Not yet anyway.”

Austin laughed as Hunter stood. “I’m sorry, I’m interrupting business. I just saw you over here and had to say hello. Congrats again on your own firm.”

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