A Secret for a Secret (All In 3)

I settle in at my desk, prioritize all the things I need to accomplish today, and start on my emails. I scan all the necessary documents and tab them in the appropriate places. The tablets have proven to be a success. At the last meeting I snapped a few great candid photos and posted them to the team’s social media accounts, which made the company very happy. I’ve tried to streamline everything, and it’s been a pretty easy transition for everyone. This job may not be the one I want to do for the rest of my life, but I’m determined to make sure I’m effective while I’m doing it.

I’ve just finished uploading the most recent paperwork file when Violet pops her head in the door. “Hey, Queenie, have you seen Alex? He’s not in his office.”

“Sorry, not since I got here, and that was about forty-five minutes ago. My dad’s in a meeting, though, so maybe he’s involved in that?” I thumb over my shoulder to the closed door.

A little head of wavy auburn hair pops out from behind her legs, and huge blue eyes register recognition.

“Hey, Lavender!”

She ducks behind her mother’s legs.

“You remember Queenie, don’t you, Lavender?”

She looks up at her mother and gives her a serious nod. Then she turns that beautiful blue gaze back on me, and a huge smile lights up her face. She lifts her hand in a wave. “Hi, Keenie.”

Violet’s eyes flare, and she blinks a bunch of times before she strokes her daughter’s hair and beams down at her. “Good job, sweetheart. Maybe after we’re done here I should take you for ice cream. Would you like that?”

Lavender nods vigorously, her smile growing even wider.

Based on Violet’s reaction and my previous interaction with Lavender, I’m taking it that it’s a big deal for her to have actually said hello to me and used my name.

Violet checks her phone. “They’ve been in that meeting since eight thirty this morning. I hope this works out, or it’s going to be a lot of headaches and hours spent negotiating for no reason.”

I lower my voice. “Do you know what’s going on?”

“Only that they’re trying to negotiate a contract, but there’s some huge NDA attached to the deal, so he can’t even say who they’re negotiating the deal for.”

“It must be a pretty high-profile player.”

“Has to be; otherwise he wouldn’t be so tight lipped about it. Anyway, I was dropping by to see if the deal was done, because I’m nosy and I want to know all the secrets, but Lavender has a doctor’s appointment, so I guess it’s going to have to wait.” She reaches for Lavender’s hand, but she’s no longer standing beside her.

Instead she’s next to me. She tugs on my sleeve and holds out a piece of artwork.

“Did you draw this?”

She nods. “For you,” she whispers.

“You drew this for me?” I take it from her when she nods.

While it looks very much like the art of a child, it’s clear that Lavender has an incredible eye for the use of color, which is cool to see, since she’s so young.

“Good remembering, Lavender. She’s been holding on to that for weeks now, asking when she can see you.”

“Well, I love it. Thank you very much, Lavender. And the next time you stop by, we’ll have to draw something together. Sound good?”

She ducks her head with a smile and rushes back to the safety of her mother’s side. Violet and Lavender head out, and I find a place to tack up my new art. When I was a teenager, I used to go to an art camp in the summer for a couple of weeks. My favorite part was always working with the younger kids. When I started my college degree, I’d wanted to do something with art and children. At least until I lost my confidence and dropped out.

I’m about to get back to work when laughter comes from behind my dad’s office door. A few seconds later he steps out, followed by Alex. They’re smiling widely, which I’m taking to mean that whatever they were negotiating went well.

“Queenie, honey, it’s great that you’re here. I want to introduce you to the newest member of our team, and then you can help me get his paperwork together.”

“Of course, I’d be happy to.” I push away from my desk, preparing to greet the unnamed player. As far as I know, it’s uncommon for a trade to happen once the season has already started, but he and Alex seem pretty pleased.

A man appears, and my dad claps him on the shoulder. “Queenie, this is Corey Slater.”

I have to fight to keep my smile from turning into a grimace.

I know Corey.

Not because he’s an NHL player and is always in the media for some bullshit or other, but because he’s my ex.