Page 35 of A Gift of Time
Chapter Ten
Monday morning, I left the house after telling Caden bye and drove to work. Christmas was exactly one week away, and the anxiety of that fact made it hard to function. I hadn’t even been able to finish my breakfast that morning once I realized the date.
Caden and I’d grown closer as friends over the past week, but I feared romance any time soon was out of the question. The only thing holding me together was my new plan.
If I couldn’t make him fall in love with me by Christmas Eve, I could stay in this life and try to win him over. All was not lost.
Walking into the office, I greeted each person I passed, trying to keep a positive attitude. A side of me even wanted to stay in this reality instead of going back to the old one. But I knew that desire was derived from selfishness.
Logan met me at my door and followed me inside my office, giving me an update on the current news. Sales were up and potential clients were reaching out with interest in hiring our company after the New Year.
“You’re kind of a rock star right now,” Logan said, raising a brow. “And even more than that, the people in the office have been talking about you.” He put out a hand, as if to halt an invisible force. “No worries. It’s all been good things.Muchbetter than what they used to call you.”
“What did they call me before?” I asked, not sure I really wanted to know.
Logan had already informed me of the asshole I used to be.
“Um. One was the office cobra. Because you were deadly and could strike out of the blue. And just, like, the usual names,” he said, clearly trying to dissuade me from pressing further. “What mattersnowis they’re calling you ‘nice’ and ‘a great leader.’ That’s pretty big.”
Deciding to let the topic drop, I moved onto another, asking him about the creative team and whether they’d made the changes I’d suggested on another advertisement. They had.
During my questioning, I noticed something: Logan was more cheerful than usual. Even when he was standing there, giving me a rundown of finances, a small smile lingered in the corner of his mouth, as if his mind was elsewhere.
“Is that all you need, sir?” he asked, after answering my last question.
“Yes. But before you leave… what’s going on?”
“Not sure what you mean,” he said as his forehead scrunched. At my knowing look, he smirked and glanced down, shifting his weight from foot to foot. “I’m just happy.” His brown-eyed gaze lifted again. “I’m kind of seeing someone.”
A tingling touched my chest as I took in his words. Logan was a great man, and he deserved someone who’d make him happy.
“That’s great,” I responded. “And around Christmas, too. Seems you have some magic of your own.”
Logan scoffed, but he couldn’t hide his warm smile. “I wouldn’t call it magic, Jack. It’s not some freaky crap like what’s going on with you anyway. Gage and I are just—”
“Gage from the creative team?”
He nodded. “Is that bad?”
“Not at all.” And I meant it. “It’s sweet, actually. I’m happy you found someone.”
If I ever returned to my old life, I’d do everything in my power to ensure those two men met.
As the work day continued, I had to make a quick run to another office to grab a file for a new pitch they needed approval on, but stopped when I passed the lobby.
Caden needed a lift in his business, so why not give him the opportunity that first helped him in the other life? Plus, the room was in dire need of his touch.
I’d need to get permission from Rick—who was still the head of the company—but I doubted he’d say no. Astoundingly, he liked me in this reality, and no ass-kissing had been necessary.
He had liked me in the other one, too, but I’d had to give up so much of my time to achieve such a thing. I’d pleased him more than my fiancé.
Before returning to my office, I went to Rick’s. He was on the phone when he motioned me inside, so I entered and stood a few feet from his desk, waiting for him to hang up. I didn’t intentionally eavesdrop, but it sounded like he was on the phone with his wife.
He kept repeating, “I know,” and, “I will,” over and over.
“Sorry about that, Jack,” he said after setting the phone down. “What can I do for you?”
I explained my idea to have the office decorated, and he nodded as he listened.
