Chapter 19
Okay, he thought he’d work from home.
Until his normally comfortable warehouse began crushing him like a trash compactor. Mostly because Isa had left without a goodbye after their argument. The air at home was stale—heavy with the weight of her absence.
On Wednesday, he gave up his home office and stepped into the Crane with—God help him—a leather shoulder bag containing his laptop and other important files.
G.I. Executive.
Eli hadn’t been to Reese’s office downtown in…he didn’t know how long. His older brother was made for this place. Reese had always had a penchant for business, for presentation. For professionalism. Eli preferred some grit in his life. Always had. The most grit inside of the Crane was…well, Eli, at present.
He’d dressed in a suit and tie, face shaved—a sight he hadn’t yet grown used to seeing in the mirror.
At the top floor, he stepped out of the elevator and greeted Bobbie, Reese’s long-time assistant. Everyone said the woman was a bear to deal with. He didn’t get it.
“Good morning, Bobbie,” he greeted.
She smiled, but the expression did little to erase the hard lines of her features. “Elijah. You look well.”
“How is Derrick?” Her son was military, a few years older than Eli.
“Home for the holidays.” Her smile broadened.
“That’s good news.”
“It’s the best news. I’m sorry about your injury, but I’m glad you made it back alive. Derrick has lost friends.”
“Comes with the job,” Eli commented. The worst part of the job. At least as COO of Crane Hotels, the fallout wouldn’t be as traumatic if he fucked up. “Is Reese in?”
“He is.” She lifted the handset of her desk phone. “Reese, Elijah is here.”
“Seriously?” Reese asked into the speaker.
“I’ll send him in.” Bobbie pressed a button and Reese’s office doors swished open, automated or some fancy shit. Reese stood beyond them, stark surprise on his face.
“What’s wrong?” Reese asked.
“See you, Bobbie.” Eli touched the woman’s shoulder as he passed by and watched as she blushed. Merina and Tag always said the older woman was a hardnose. He didn’t see it.
The doors whooshed shut behind him as he stepped into his brother’s office. “That’s some real Star Trek shit.”
“She loves you more than any of us,” Reese commented, ignoring Eli’s observation about the doors.
“Who? Bobbie?”
“I think she has a crush on you.”
Eli grunted. “Whatever.”
“Yeah. She’s married anyway.” His brow crinkled. “I think.”
Reese’s office was regal. A lush leather couch sat under bookshelves packed with spines, and a black block of a desk stood in front of windows that wrapped the room.
“So…?” Reese lifted an eyebrow at the bag slung over Eli’s shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
“Why does something have to be wrong for me to show up here?”
Reese offered a bland blink.