My heart began to hammer. Had he finally convinced Julian to let him fire me? I knew he'd been trying since the first week I worked for him. I tried to keep my breathing even. I couldn't lose this job. I needed it.
I sat down before my legs could give out and cleared my throat. "Is there a problem, Mr. Moore?"
He waved his finger in the space between us. "What we discuss in this office, I trust it remains confidential?"
"Yes, sir."
He nodded and reached for his mug, sipping the beverage in silence.
"I need to speak with you on a personal matter."
I was confused. He never spoke to me about anything unless it was to shout out his demands.
"All right?"
He glanced around, looking uncharacteristically nervous. I took a moment to study him as he gathered his thoughts.
He was ridiculously handsome. Well over six feet tall, his shoulders were broad, his waist trim—he was the poster child for how to make a suit look good. He was clean-shaven most of the time; although on occasion, like today, his jaw bore a day or two's growth, which highlighted his strong profile.
He kept his light brown hair short on the sides, but longer on top, and had a cowlick, causing one patch to fall over his forehead. An imperfection, which only made him more perfect. He yanked on it when he was agitated, which was how he acted at this moment.
His mouth was wide, his teeth bright white, and his lips were so full I knew many women envied them. His hazel eyes lifted to mine, and he straightened his shoulders, once again in control.
"I need to ask something of you. In doing so, I will be placing a huge amount of trust in your discretion. I need to know you will honor my trust."
I blinked at him. He wanted to ask me something? He wasn't firing me? A small shudder of relief flowed through me; my body relaxed a little.
"Of course, sir. Whatever I can do."
His eyes locked on mine. I had never noticed how the colors swirled in his eyes under the lights—a mixture of gray, green, and blue. Often they were so dark with anger, I never held his gaze for more than a second or two.
He seemed to study me for a moment, then nodded.
He reached for one of his cards and wrote something on the back, handing it to me.
"I need you to come to this address this evening. Can you be there at seven?"
I glanced at the card, noting the address wasn't far from the home where I would visit Penny after work. To get there by seven, however, my stay would have to be short.
"Is there a problem?" he asked, his voice void of the usual hostility.
I lifted my gaze to his and decided to be honest. "I have an appointment after work. I'm not sure I can make it for seven."
I expected his ire. For him to sweep his hand in the air, and demand I cancel whatever plans I had and be where he needed me to be at seven. I was shocked when he only
shrugged.
"Seven-thirty? Eight? Can you work with that?"
"Seven-thirty would be doable."
"Fine. I'll see you at seven-thirty." He rose to his feet, indicating this strange meeting was over.
"I'll make sure my doorman knows you'll be arriving. He'll send you up right away."
It was all I could do not to gasp. His doorman? He was asking me to his home?
I stood up, disconcerted. "Mr. Moore, is everything all right?"
He regarded me with a strange look on his face. "With your cooperation, it will be, Miss Brown." He glanced at his watch.
"Now, excuse me, I have a one o'clock meeting to attend." He picked up his mug. "Thank you for the coffee and your
time."
He left me staring after him, wondering if I had entered an alternate universe. Never once in the year I worked for him had he ever said thank you to me.
What the hell was going on?
—————
I stood across the street from Mr. Moore's building, staring up at the tall structure. It was intimidating and spoke of wealth—all tinted glass and concrete looming over the city, reminding me of the man who lived within it.
Cold, remote, unreachable. I shivered a little as I looked at it, wondering why I was there.
The building was about a ten-minute walk from the home, and I was on time. It hadn't been a good visit with Penny today; she had been upset and agitated, refusing to eat or
talk to me, and I ended up leaving early. I was disappointed. She had been good all week, and I had hoped today would be the same; that I'd be able to talk with her as we used to, but it hadn't happened. Instead, it just added to my stressful, odd day. I left the home feeling despondent, and unsure as to why I was going to see Mr. Moore.
He had already confused me asking me to his home this evening. His behavior the rest of the afternoon proved to be equally bizarre. When he returned from his meeting, he asked me for another coffee and a sandwich.
Asked me!
He didn't demand, he didn't sneer or slam his door.
Instead, he stopped in front of my desk and politely requested lunch. He even said thank you. Again. He hadn't come out of his office the rest of the day until he left, when he stopped, asking if I had his card. At my murmured,
"Yes," he nodded his thanks and left, not slamming the door.
I was beyond puzzled, nerves taut, and my stomach in knots. I had no idea what I was doing at his home, much less why.
I inhaled a calming breath. There was only one way to find out. I straightened my shoulders, and crossed the street.