Page 144 of Fifth Avenue Fling

“Nope. Not her.” I glare at him. “But if I see a girl with sausages I’ll be sure to send her your way.”

He grunts and walks on, no further use for me.

What a charmer.

I reach the sleek reception desk with a man and a woman behind it. It’s so large they must have to use microphones to talk to each other.

“Hi,” I say to the receptionist lady, in the same voice I use with Siri. “I’m here to see Killian.”

She gives me an amused once-over. The humans here are all so intimidating. I feel a tad self-conscious. In my defense, the holes in my blue jeans are by design. I’m wearing the bunny T-shirt because I know it drives him crazy. In a good way, I think.

She laughs in my face. “Killian? Killian who?”

A video of Killian and Connor being interviewed plays on the large LCD screen behind her. It’s distracting.

In return, I smile sweetly. “Killian, whose name is on the big sign outside the building? The guy on the widescreen behind you.”

She sees my sweet smile and raises it with her ownsaccharinepassive-aggressive smile. “I don’t think so, honey. Please leave.”

“No, wait,” I start before she can alert security. “He asked me to come. I can call him if you don’t believe me.”

Her brow arches into a severe line with as much belief as if I told her a group of little fairies was outside. “And you are?”

“His beck-and-call girl,” I say sarcastically. “Clodagh Kelly.”

Her eyes narrow. “I’ll call his receptionist and find out, beck-and-call girl.”

She picks up the phone and talks to someone. “A Clodagh Kelly is here to see Mr. Quinn.”

“Uh-huh.” She talks on the phone, narrowing her eyes so much that I am surprised she can see. “Uh-huh.” There’s a pause as she stares at me. “Uh-huh.” Her face screws up with an array of emotions ranging from confusion… irritation… curiosity, and finally… is thatjealousy?

The phone is slammed down.

“Here’s your visitor’s pass.” She hands me the pass over the desk, devastated that I’m allowed up. “Take the elevator to the seventh floor. Someone will meet you there.”

No retina scan. I’m surprised.

“Thank you.” I smirk at her, resisting the urge to blurt out that I’m boning the boss.

Taking the pass, I make my way to the lift.

My ears pop as I ascend. The elevators have nice music and show surround video of New York as I travel, like the Empire State Building does.

The elevator dings as the doors slide open. Thankfully, someone with a friendlier face is waiting for me.

“Hi, Clodagh,” the lady says to me. “I’m Mandy.”

“Hi. We’ve talked on the phone a few times.”

“I know. I couldn’t forget your accent. Come on, I’ll take you to his office.”

I hope that’s a compliment.

She smiles and motions for me to follow her. Nerves take over as I walk through the bustling open-plan office. A million conversations are going on.

I feel so out of place. Why couldn’t Killian call me instead? This is weird.

I see a face I know. “Hi, stranger,” I call out to Marcus.

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