Page 18 of Reconciling With the Rival

“Brody, but I think you already knew that.” He smirks before he leans back in his chair. “Since Ella isn't here today, you’ll be with me. I think you’ll like me better than her, so enjoy today while it lasts.”

“Isn't that the truth?” I smile back at him. I’m really not excited to be working so closely with Ella over the next month. I throw my pens into the drawer and close it, sitting in my chair so I can chat with this guy. I think I like him already.

“So, today is pretty chill. We have one meeting later about a contract renewal coming up, but other than that, it’s a pretty standard day.”

“Sounds good to me.”

“So, did Ella scare you off already? I heard you met with her and Imogen the other day. She can be pretty edgy when you first meet her.”

“Ella Williams has always been a pain in my arse,” I tell him. I’m unsure of why he keeps bringing her up, but I don’t mindfinding out about how she operates here. I know Imogen is fond of her, but I don’t know about everyone else.

“You two know each other?”

“Quite well, unfortunately,” I tell him. He feels like someone I can trust, especially since he just got promoted. I wondered why Imogen didn't put him as my shadow, but his workload is probably heftier since the promotion. It makes sense that Ella—whose office is across from mine—is going to be teaching me everything I need to know for my first month here.

“Oh, I cannot wait to hear about all those stories. Look,” he leans closer to me, “she’s not my favorite person here, but Imogen likes her. She does fine work, but wow, she can be a lot to handle sometimes. Lots of fucking opinions.”

He’s right. Ella might be the most opinionated person I’ve ever met. She always has something to say about anyone and everything.

“Well, enough about her,” Brody says. “I already sent you an email of some stuff I want you to look over.”

I turn to my desktop, shake the mouse so the screen turns on, and open my email. “What do you want me to look for?”

“I sent a few things, some contracts I want you to review for me before I send them out. Every time we have a new client acquired, we send them contracts, but I’m sure you knew that.”

I nod. That’s simple business procedure.

“And the other attachment is a list of companies we’re thinking of pitching to, ranging from small chains here to bigger and wider known ones across the East Coast.”

“You want me to pick a few from the list I think would be good for us?”

“Yes, exactly. That way, you can go over our current client list and familiarize yourself with the kind of work we like to take on.”

“Thanks, Brody. I’ll get right on that. When do you need this all by?”

“End of the day?”

“Sounds good,” I tell him.

“Wonderful.” He stands. “If you have any questions or need my help, my extension number is 277.”

“Appreciate it, man.”

He’s about to leave my office before he stops in the doorway. “I like you already, Leo. I think you’ll fit perfectly here with us.”

I think I will too.

6

An Oscar Worthy Performance

Monday Night

“Lizzie, I already toldyou, I’m fine.”

“No offense, Ells, but I can tell you’re stressed out just from hearing your voice over the phone. What’s going on?” My little sister sounds genuinely concerned and, not wanting to worry her with my problems, I change the subject.

“I should be asking you that. What happened to that cute guy you mentioned? Did he ask you out or what?” I smile at the thought of my little sister dating, but part of me is also terrified for some reason. Getting your heart shattered into a thousandpieces sucks, and knowing something like that could happen to her makes me want to lock her in her room at my dad’s house for the rest of her fucking life.

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