“If you’re away from your desk more than five minutes, you put a magnet on your wall!”
Oh. I forgot about the magnets.
“Sorry. I forgot.” My face burns red.
I lift my phone and see it’s dead. Oops.
“My father wants you in his office. Now.”
He storms back toward the elevator.
I look at Stacy. She winces.
“Go. I got this,” she says, gathering up the piles of paperwork from the table. I grab my laptop and my coffee and follow him. I get into the elevator just before it closes. It’s just us, two.
He’s quiet.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
“Yeah,” he grumbles and runs his hand through his hair.
“We were just going over the paperwork from the last Eastmark conference. I was making a plan for things to do and see and I…”
“Whatever,” he cuts me off and the elevator doors open.
Yikes.
I follow him to his father’s office.
I step in. Aiden follows.
“Thanks so much for last night, Carly. Braeden is very taken with you. Sit down.” He gestures to a chair. He doesn’t look tweaked or angry.
“You’re welcome. Congratulations on your new granddaughter, sir.”
He smiles big and then grabs his phone and then he’s passing it to me. I see a picture of Aiden holding a tiny pink blanket-covered bundle. There’s a tiny face with chubby cheeks and loads of black hair. Aiden is smiling.
“That’s Lilly Rose.”
“Awe he’s beautiful. She. She’s beautiful.” I clear my throat and pass it back. Hot guys and babies evidently make my mouth malfunction. “I’m sorry if you were looking for me. I was working in the atrium with Stacy and forgot about the magnet system. My phone died.”
He waves his hand. “No problem. I just need to leave early today so needed to chat quick with you before I go. While you and Aiden are in New York, I’d like you to meet with a vendor who wants us to beta test their social media platform. I’ll send you a brief. Can you do that? During the conference, give him twenty to thirty minutes and listen to his pitch and when you’re back, test it and come to me and tell me about it. His father and I went to college together, so I told him I’d hear it out. He and Aiden don’t get on, otherwise Aiden would do it.”
“No worries.”
Someone not getting along with Aiden? Shocker.
Aiden is standing there against the closed door, arms folded across his chest, a scowl on his face.
“I’ll get you an email. Now, there’s also a small chance I’ll need you both to take a meeting with Babylon Unlimited. If so, it’ll be a dinner meeting. Aiden will head it up, I just need you to be there. Part of the presence. Are you comfortable with that?”
“Absolutely. I met with clients several times at Chancellor.”
He smiles big. “I like that you’re comfortable with that. That keeps doors open for you. Now, I’ve gotta run for a doctor’s appointment. I’ll make sure you get those emails tonight. Have a good trip both of you. You’re all good? Alice filled you in on all the particulars of your travel arrangements?”
“I’m not sure, but I think so. I’m sure I’m safe in her capable hands. Thank you. Oh, and by the way, I just wanted to thank you for the bonus. Not a lot of companies would hand over an extra month’s salary to brand new employees who haven’t had a chance to prove themselves yet. Giving team members that vote of confidence is very empowering, Sir.”
He smiles. “I’m glad you feel that way. We’re very happy to have you aboard. Keep doing the things you’ve been doing and you’ll go far here.”