We started to eat, and the silence was awkward, making me miss our snarky banter.
The best course was
to focus on why we were here. "Once we finish here, we can head down to the office to check out the systems down there. I’ll see if I can identify the breach and maybe trace it."
"I've already arranged for a car to come,” she said stiffly and professionally across the table.
I lifted my gaze up to her. "You're coming with me, aren’t you? You're the one that understands more of the operations."
She nodded. "Yes, the car will be here in about 30 minutes for us and Phil Scheer, the man your grandmother put in charge over here, will meet us in person. He will give us a rundown of what’s happened so far. And he's promised to give you access to all the computers and all the personnel files so we can work to identify if maybe the culprit is somebody in-house, although he doesn't feel that that is the case. Margaret really trusts him, and I think we need to keep that in mind."
I finished my pancakes and sat back to study her. "My grandmother trusts you, too."
It was occurring to me just how much she did. My grandmother had been running this business since she started it from her dining room table before my dad was born. As the story went, she was trying to fix a broken sandal, and from that, she came up with an idea that eventually became a sandal line that had since grown into a complete shoe line.
Granted, growing up, I never paid much attention to the people who worked with or around Gran, but thinking back, there was something about Andi that Gran had recognized as being special, and she’d taken Andi in, not just as her assistant, but like family.
I wondered what Andi was going to do when Gran finally retired. Would she still be Gran’s assistant, arranging her travels and other social duties? Or maybe now that Ryan’s wife, Kellie, had a baby, Andi would be assigned to work as Ryan’s assistant.
Something in my gut clenched at that thought, which didn't make any sense. There was no doubt that Ryan was completely devoted to Kellie. Not even a woman as smart and sexy as Andi would tempt him away from his wife. So, it made no sense why would bother me if that happened.
It occurred to me that once Gran retired, that there really was nothing keeping Andi at Strong Incorporated, and maybe I could hire her when I started my own company. She certainly had the smarts and the skills. But I quickly dismissed that idea. I might be a horn dog, but I did respect boundaries, particularly ones that involved power. I couldn't be lusting after a woman that worked for me. It was bad enough to be lusting for her now even though technically, she didn't work for me.
"I hope she does trust me. I admire your grandmother a great deal."
I nodded, noting it might be the only thing that Andi and I agreed on.
6
Andi
If I didn't already dislike Noah, I definitely would now. I was even more upset at myself because he’d been right. I should've gotten dressed, or at least put on a robe before running out into the living area to get my phone wearing only a towel.
When he first came out and saw me, his eyes took a long thorough scan of my body, and he looked like he wanted to eat me up. That, of course, incensed me. But then his eyes narrowed, and he started chastising me, telling me that I was being unprofessional.
I hated that he was right. Now, embarrassed and humiliated, I retreated to my room to get dressed. I noted he'd only been wearing jeans and a T-shirt, but since I worked for him now, and I needed to be professional I dressed appropriately in a skirt and silk shirt.
When I finally came out for breakfast, I didn't want to look at him in the eyes, which only annoyed me because I was a strong woman.
The initial part of breakfast was awkward, and I wished Noah would go back to teasing and poking at me because his quiet demeanour only served to embarrass me more.
Finally, he started talking about the work we had to do here, and while I didn't completely relax, I did feel like I was on a more even keel.
We finished breakfast and I went to get my purse so we could head down to meet Phil in the lobby. At the door, just before Noah opened it, he looked at me like maybe he was going to say something, but whether it was an apology or a reminder to be professional, I didn't want to hear it. So, I hurried out the door and to the elevator. He must've gotten the hint because he didn't say anything as we rode down.
I was able to pick out Phil easily. He stood out no matter where he was because he was tall at about six foot four, and had a bald head. I remembered when Margaret had interviewed him for this position, he had said that he shaved his head when he started to go bald when he was in his twenties. But now in his late 50s he looked quite distinguished.
Margaret had hired him partly because he had international business experience, but also because during his stint in the Navy, he was sent to the language school at Monterey and now had a very good command of both Mandarin and Cantonese.
He smiled when he saw me and held up both his hands to take mine to shake them. "Ms. Walker. It's so good to see you again." He turned his attention to Noah. "And you must be Margaret's youngest grandson, Noah. She speaks very highly of you."
Noah shook his hand. "I'm not sure I believe you, but okay."
Phil laughed and it was loud and hearty. Another thing that Margaret and I had noticed and liked about him.
“My car is out front ready to take us to the office."
We all went with Phil piling into the car and he drove us the several blocks to the Strong Incorporated office. On the way Phil began filling Noah in on the situation and handed back some files to him to review as we drove.