“It’s almost midnight there. You need to get home and let Ben get home, too. He’ll have to be back with you very early tomorrow morning.”
I’m disappointed that she’s avoiding the conversation about her feelings with me, but I won’t push—at least not right now.
“Ben has the next few days off, and I have a new guy named Quint covering me. I really wish you were here. Goodnight, my love.”
“Goodnight.”
***
My alarm clock sounds entirely too early. There was a time when I didn’t have to wake to a clock. I was a machine. I slept five hours a night, I often worked eighteen-hour days, and I worked out every day. On occasion, I’d go to industry events, or I’d go on a date, but I hadn’t had a serious girlfriend since grad school.
Now all of a sudden, a switch has been flipped. I care less about long days at work, and I think one of my all-time favorite days was last Saturday. Corrine and I wandered the farmers market, had lunch with friends, and spent the rest of the day in bed, which led to spending a good part of Sunday in bed together. I want more of those kinds of weekends. I just need to convince her she wants that with me.
I trudge myself into work. Just after seven thirty, Quint knocks on my door.
“Sir, a Winifred Day is here as your temp,” he says.
I nod and stand to go meet her. She is an older woman and seems formal, but maybe that’s just how her name sounds to me.
When I walk out, she firmly shakes my hand. “Good morning, sir. I’m here to assist you with your day.”
“Great. Corrine will check in with you shortly. She’s on assignment at a piece of property I own in Hawaii.”
“I see.” She picks up a pad of paper and a pen. “Who are the people I can put through to you, and who should I take messages for without disturbing you?”
“You can put Corrine through whenever she calls, regardless of whether or not my door is closed.”
She scribbles Corrine’s name down and looks up at me.
“If I’m not on the phone or in a meeting, any of the executive staff can be put through. If they need to speak with me in person, and I’m not busy, they can interrupt, but also, my calendar is tight, so I need you to manage that.”
She nods. “And I can find the names of the executives on the website?”
“I believe so.”
“What about a wife, girlfriend, or lawyer?”
I don’t want to get too excited, but she sounds incredibly efficient, and I like this. “If my mother calls, take a message. If the international IP attorney, Charlotte Ming, or our investor, Mason Sullivan, calls, you also can put them through.”
“Anything else?”
“I’d like a double espresso with steamed milk from Starbucks across the street.” I start to look at the emails that are flooding in.
“Well, I think this is a good time to let you know I’m here for business reasons. I don’t do personal errands outside of this office. If you need coffee for your appointments, I will make sure we get that to you, but I don’t run to the coffee stores, dry cleaners, or pick kids up or anything like that.”
I’m a bit taken aback, but I manage a nod. “Thank you, Winifred.”
“Ms. Day, please.”
I nod. “Can you print a copy of my calendar, and let’s go through it?” When will my Corrine be back? “And while you do that, can you please send Quint in?”
“Yes, sir.” She turns and leaves, and I just hope she’s efficient in handling calls.
Quint walks in.
“Can you find me someone who will walk across the street and get us some coffee? I know we have any kind of coffee we want in our employee lounge, but I’d like a double espresso with steamed milk from Starbucks this morning.”
“I’m happy to go get it,” he says.
I’m relieved. “That would be fantastic. Here’s a Starbucks card. Buy yourself whatever you want.”
Ms. Day returns with my calendar, and we agree on when she needs to interrupt me, so I remain on time, and when we’ll go through messages, so I don’t miss anything.
Quint returns with our coffee, and I’m finally feeling efficient.
My phone rings shortly after nine, and it’s Corrine.
“How was your night?” she asks.
“I missed you. I see you got through Ms. Day without issue.”
“I talked to her for a few moments. She should be fine—very rigid, though, and that’s going to challenge both of you.”
“She refused to leave the building to do any personal errands, which include getting me coffee.”
Corrine laughs so hard that I swear she snorts. “I’m sorry.”
There’s a knock at the door, and I’m perturbed when Ms. Day sticks her head in.
“There are two policemen from Las Vegas here to see you regarding Cecelia Lancaster’s murder,” she says. “May I send them in?”
“Corrine, I’m going to have to call you back. Do you remember the name of the criminal attorney we were referred to?”
“What’s going on?” she asks, very alert.
I give her a quick rundown.
“Call Damien Lewis,” she says. “He’s Gabby’s boyfriend. He’s not a high-profile partner, but you shouldn’t meet them without him there, and he’ll jump for you. In fact, I’ll call him and get him over to the office right away.”
“Thanks.” I look up, and Ms. Day is waiting for me to tell her where to put the police officers. “Please take them down to the twelfth-floor conference room. I’ll meet them there.”
I text Corrine and walk back and forth in front of the windows.
Me: Please give him
