CHAPTER 9
Evie
“Andrea!”
The bellow came from behind Merrick’s closed door. I’d just come upstairs to talk to his assistant about scheduling an appointment, but Andrea wasn’t at her desk. I looked around, and she was nowhere in sight. So I walked to his office and waved so he could see me before popping my head in.
Two people were arguing loudly through his desk speakerphone. But Merrick waved me inside and pushed a button, which I assumed was mute.
“Sorry, I see you’re on a call,” I said. “I heard you yell for Andrea, so I figured I’d let you know she’s not at her desk. I just came up to speak to her myself.”
“Shit.”
“What’s the matter?”
“This call I’m on was in my calendar for this afternoon, not eight in the morning. I think she might’ve flip-flopped two clients when she input the appointments.”
“Oh. Well, do you need something?”
“I need Andrea to run upstairs to my apartment and grab a file that has the reports for this call.”
“I can do that.”
He hesitated. “You sure she’s not around?”
I looked back over my shoulder. “I don’t see her anywhere. But I can check the break room for you, and if I don’t find her, I can grab your file.”
“You don’t mind?”
“Not at all. I’m happy to help.”
Merrick nodded. “If you don’t find her, the file should be on the living room table. Some of the contents are probably outside the folder, so just grab whatever you see.” He pulled out a set of keys. “Top floor, apartment two.”
“Okay. Be right back.”
I quickly checked both the break room and the ladies’ room, but there was no sign of his assistant. So I headed to the elevator and pushed the button for the highest floor on the panel.
When I arrived, I realized apartment two was really penthouse two. I stood with my jaw hanging open as I let myself inside. Merrick’s place was ginormous, with an open floorplan that swept from the gourmet kitchen to the living room and dining room, separated only by a few steps down. I made my way to where he’d said his file was, drooling over the stainless-and-marble kitchen as I passed. Then I completely forgot why I was up here once I got a load of the view from the living room. Floor-to-ceiling windows lined one wall, looking out onto the river and bridge, while the adjoining wall showcased a skyline of tall buildings. I bet it looked incredible all lit up at night.
I could’ve gazed all day, but the boss needed his file—and I needed thirty seconds to nose around the rest of the apartment. At the far end of the living room, there was a long hall, which I assumed led to the bedrooms. So I scooped up the file I’d come to collect and the papers scattered around it, and went to check out the rest of the place.
The first room was an office, with gorgeous built-in bookshelves and one of those ladders attached at the top that could be rolled from one end to the other. God, I always wanted a ladder with my bookshelves.
The next room was a bathroom, and there was a bedroom across from that. At the end of the hall was a set of double doors. I might’ve gasped when I creaked them open and got a look at the master. The man had a terrace off his bedroom, with enough room to have a small party. And the bed? It had to be a California King—or bigger? Was there anything bigger? The four dark-wood, carved posts were so masculine and definitely matched the bossman downstairs.
Speaking of which…I needed to get the hell out of here. I would’ve loved a little more time to poke around, maybe check out the closet and master bath, but I wasn’t about to push my luck. As I pulled the bedroom door closed, a flash of color caught my eye on the nightstand on the far side of the bed.
Goldfish?
I don’t know why, but it struck me as odd that two plain jane, orange goldfish were sitting in a small bowl on a nightstand. Now, if there had been a five-hundred-gallon tank filled with exotic saltwater fish? That wouldn’t have seemed strange. But two simple fish that probably cost a dollar? While I stood there trying to make a piece fit into a puzzle, my phone rang. The number was familiar, although I couldn’t place it until I swiped to answer and heard the voice.
“Where are you?”
Crap. Merrick. “I’m…waiting for the elevator.”
“That thing is slow as shit. Take the stairs, please. I need the damn file.”
“Okay. I’ll be right there.”