Page 53 of It's Always Been You
Suddenly, I regret my behavior. Somehow, I’m already failing at keeping things professional with her.
I glance down at my watch. “Do you need anything else? I need to start my day, but I’m always a phone call or message away.”
“Nope.” Her shoulders are tense, her voice tight.
How have I already messed this up?
I turn to leave, but then hesitate and consider apologizing. I didn’t mean to make her uncomfortable. But an apology might call unnecessary attention to the situation, so I remain silent and head back to my office instead.
As I’m sitting down at my desk, I hear what I’ve been waiting for—her delighted squeal. Grinning, I tiptoe back to the door and poke my head out. Evie’s gazing into her desk drawer, clapping excitedly over what’s inside.
An entire set of brand-new stationery, bought just for her.
Chapter 17
Evie
Thursday,December18,2025
I’ve been Brandon’s assistant for three days, and I already want to end it all.
It isn’t because Brandon is acting unprofessionally. No, the total opposite. After that first day, when he poked my chest and told me that I was his “subordinate,” I thought for sure that he was going to make my life miserable by flirting with me nonstop.
But no, I stand corrected. He’s all, “Please and thank you, Evie.” “That will be all, Evie.” “Place that call on line one, Evie.” “No-show my last patient, Evie.”
Basically, if he were a hairstyle, he’d be both business in the front and business in the ba—
“What are you doing?”
Startled, I spring from my seat and whirl toward the sound of Brandon’s voice. The pen I’m holding flies out of my hand and hits him square in the eye—and if not for the spasm in my lower back, I would be laughing at the way his chin jerks back and his lips pucker in surprise, making him look like one of those blobfish. Instead, I barely manage to keep myself upright as a sharp, shooting sensation radiates down my legs. My knees buckle, and I grab the edge of the desk for support.
Brandon grabs my arm when he sees that I’m about to crumble to the floor. I flinch as he steadies me. “Are you alright?” he asks, holding me upright.
“I’m fine.” My ears warm as I shake off his touch. He releases me slowly, but his hands hover around me for another few seconds. “You just scared me, that’s all.”
He peeks over my shoulder. “Busy?”
Sheepishly, I shake my head and reach back to snap the diary closed.
I was in my own little world just now, journaling away. There’s nothing else to do during these afternoon lulls when Brandon and Gladys are between patients. I’ve tried cleaning to keep busy, but Brandon scolded me when he caught me mopping the bathroom floor yesterday. Apparently, they have a cleaner who comes twice a week, and Brandon didn’t like the idea of me doing physical labor “in my condition.” His words, not mine.
“Why? What’s up?” I ask sweetly, snapping back into secretary mode.
“I need you to fax this to the pharmacy urgently,” he says, still gazing at my new diary. I shift forward, attempting to hide it behind my body.Nothing to see here. Just me complaining about how insufferable you are. Carry on.
He lifts a brow and hands me a prescription order, craning his neck to try and see around me.
You know what? I’m convinced he became a shrink because he likes poking his nose in other people’s business.
He nods at the diary, still fixated on it. “More questions for me?”
I shift on my feet, unsure what to say. Navigating our new boss-employee relationship is kind of like wandering through a minefield. “Uh . . . no. Not exactly.”
His gaze slides back to me. “Were you slacking off, Miss Montgomery?”
Oh, for Pete’s sake.Miss Montgomery.If I’m honest, I much prefer flirty Brandon. I can handle his flirtatious banter and volley it back. I don’t know what to do with this brooding, taciturn version who takes the whole “I’m your boss” thing way too seriously.
“No.”
