The next day, I was alone at my desk in the outer section of the mayor’s office. He was in his office with Brooke, of course. Sinclair was down in her office. I was going over vendor contracts for the upcoming Heritage Festival.
I heard the opening of the door from the hallway. Looking up, I saw Simon Stark walk in. I frowned. He didn’t have an appointment. And he wasn’t welcome, as far as I was concerned.
I plastered on a pleasant expression because that was my job. “Can I help you?”
Mr. Stark smiled in that way rich people did to act friendly even though they expected the world to bend at their whims. “I’m here to see the mayor.”
“And you are?” Yes, it was snarky, but men like Stark could use a bit of push back. It wasn’t right that they went through the world thinking they owned the place and everyone knew it.
His jaw clenched slightly, but he held onto the smile. “Simon Stark.”
I looked at the schedule I had for the mayor, even though I already knew he wasn’t on it. I lifted my gaze back to him, with my own fake smile. “I’m sorry. I don’t see you, Mr. Stark.”
“I was on the phone with him just over an hour ago. He is expecting me.”
I tried to keep my smile, even as my insides started to boil. Had the mayor really made an appointment and not told me? Or more likely his new infatuation had.
“Let me check with him.”
I expected a man like Stark to respond with something like, “You do that,” in a condescending tone. However, he simply nodded and said, “Thank you.”
I picked up my phone and called the mayor’s office. “Mr. Stark is here. He says he has an appointment with you.”
“Ah yes. I forgot to mention that to you. Send him in.”
Jerk, I thought. He’d made me look like an idiot to Stark. And I couldn’t help but feel disrespected by the mayor. This was something I should have known and yet he didn’t bother to tell me.
Making sure to smile again, I looked up at Mr. Stark. “The mayor says you can go in.”
He nodded and thanked me again. At least he had manners, I thought until I remembered he crashed Sinclair and Wyatt’s wedding to try and discredit her. Asshole, I said under my breath.
I worked a little bit longer, but then decided it was time for a break. It was petty and unprofessional, but I didn’t bother to let the mayor or Sinclair now. I went to the breakroom for the entire city hall building and made coffee. The break room was empty and I enjoyed the quiet.
“Ms. Lados? Right?”
I looked up and saw Mr. Stark in the breakroom doorway.
I frowned, wondering why he was there and why he cared about who I was. “Mr. Stark.”
“I’m sorry to bother you on your break. The mayor said you’d help me with a permit I want for a public gathering.”
It was harder to smile now, but I mustered one. “Yes, of course.”
I started to stand, but he said, “No please
sit. I’m interrupting your break.” He walked into the room. “Mind if I join you?”
Yes. “Go ahead.” I nodded to the chair across from me.
“I take it the mayor didn’t let you know I was coming today.”
“He gets busy,” I said, wondering why I felt the need to defend him.
“Still. It’s your job to keep him organized. It makes it hard for you to do that if he doesn’t keep you informed. It’s disrespectful of you.” He shrugged. “At least, that’s how I see it.”
How was it possible he understood that? I thought he was one of those men who didn’t pay much attention to the peons of the world. Then I thought maybe it was a test. Was he trying to get me to bad mouth the mayor?
I decided not to say anything.