Page 14 of Your Last First Kiss
“You don’t sound too excited about that.” I grin because I still don’t think he’s happy about having a Westbrook as his brother-in-law, but truthfully, he couldn’t have asked for a more devoted husband for his sister than Ash.
“I didn’t get a say in whom my sister married. But I have to admit, Ashton’s vision is—interesting. And in the long run, I think it might be the best thing for my hotels and for you.”
“Me?” I squeak. “What do I have to do with anything?”
“Jesus, Penny. I hope that someday you’ll be able to see your potential like the rest of us do.”
Compliments make me sweaty. And panicky. And so uncomfortable that I start searching for an escape from this conversation.
Lochlan hands it to me in the form of the folder he’s clutching tightly in his fist.
“Nothing is set in stone yet, but we have big plans for your future within this company. As long as you don’t mind working with Dillon and we can sort out the details, I think we’ve come up with something that will be better for your family. I know that’s not a lot of information, but I’ll fill you in once we’ve nailed down a few more things.”
“Nothing like dangling a really stressful carrot in front of a starved rabbit,” I mumble.
He laughs. “I’m not being intentionally vague. There are a lot of details I need to finalize before I get anyone’s hopes up. And before I agreed to anything, I wanted to make sure you were okay with seeing more of Dillon. I know he hangs around here because of you.”
God, I actually feel my face flush a hundred shades of red. “Like I said, we’re friendly.”
“Good.” He stares at me for a beat too long, then nods like he’s made a decision. “That,” he says, pointing to the sealed folder in my hands. “Can you drop that off to Dillon? The address is on the front. Then you can head home early, for a change.”
The pile of folders on my desk belies that statement. I give Lochlan a horrified look.
“Leave them for tomorrow. There’s nothing in there that won’t keep overnight,” he says.
With a shrug that reaches my ears, I finally give in. “Okay. I’ll take them home with me to work through tomorrow. So, just drop this off with D—Dillon?”
He smiles down at me. “That’s it. As soon as I know more, I’ll let you know.”
Shit. I wasn’t planning to see Dillon today. It’s not Wednesday, for crying out loud! My shirt is ruined. I’m a mess. It’s the story of my life. I guess it’s time Dillon saw me for who I really am—a messy, uncoordinated disaster of a human.
Using another handful of tissues, I do my best to dry the stain down my front, then shrug into my thick raincoat. At least I have this. I feel marginally better when I zip it up all the way to my chin. Perhaps he won’t have to see my ruined shirt after all.
* * *
Confirmingthe address on the envelope, I look up at the building before me. It’s nothing like I was expecting. This looks more like condos in an old factory than somewhere a massive security firm would be.
I check my outfit one more time and sigh. At least my boring black jacket covers the spill. Seriously, I might need to start investing in adult bibs. Is that a thing? Or at the very least, Scotchgarding my clothes.
I square my shoulders and march into the building. An older gentleman sits at the information desk with a kind smile. His nametag reads “Tony.”
“Hi. My name’s Penny Mulligan. I’m here to see Dillon Henry from Envision.”
“Ah, Penny. Yes. He said he was expecting a visitor,” the older man says with a smile.
He did? Huh. I guess Lochlan called him.
The man stands and points to a bank of elevators around the corner. “Take the last one on the right. I’ll access his floor for you from here.”
After so many years of being ignored, I’ve made it my mission to acknowledge everyone, especially people like Tony, who see hundreds of people every day who will never remember him. It’s a basic human decency that most people ignore these days, but I know what that can do to a person after a while.
“Thank you, Tony. I’ll only be a minute. I have to drop something off.”
“Not my business, Miss Penny, but I’ll see ya when you’re done. I’m here all night.”
“Right. Okay. Thanks again.”
I hurry past him to the elevators and try to relax my hands. The death grip I’ve got on this folder has crinkled the corners. I haven’t felt this nervous since prom night. And prom was a very long time ago.
