“Sure. I could do that.”
I hear his harsh breath, a sure sign he’s relieved. “Thank you.”
“I was going to make it an earlier lunch today. I have a lot of work to do.”
“That works for me. I’ll meet you in the cafeteria at eleven?”
“Perfect. I’ll see you then.”
I end the call without saying goodbye. Looking at the clock, I have two hours before I meet Asher, so I will myself to banish thoughts of Charles and concentrate on the materials in front of me. We’re on a deadline, and I won’t mess this up.
* * *
The marketing materialsthe creative team sent were amazing.
The first draft was beyond expectation. They got our vision immediately and ran with it. I had a few minor tweaks, but it took me less than an hour to list them in an email and get them sent back.
Shanda, the head of the team, said that the changes should be done by the afternoon for final approval.
I think Holly, Catelyn, and Spencer will love the vibes we’ve created for the first four campaigns. Fun, flirty, sensual, and sophisticated. All words that come to mind when you think of all three Diosa lines.
This afternoon, Reagan will come in to fill out his new hire paperwork and get set up in his cubicle. I have two more second interviews for the AlteredX assistant and my personal assistant after Reagan arrives.
By my calculations, we’ll have our team in place, new hire work done, and I can hold my first team meeting. I’m very excited to see it all coming together. Feels almost too good to be true.
I swing by to see Shelby before heading down to the cafeteria to meet Asher. Charles’s door is shut, and my eyes remain fixed on it for too long.
“Everything okay?” Shelby calls from her perch.
I pull my eyes away from the door to answer. “Yes. I just came to let you know I’m heading to lunch. I’ll be back by the time Reagan and my interviews arrive.”
“Perfect,” she says, looking down at her screen. “Charlie won’t be able to make it today. He had a last-minute meeting added to his calendar that he can’t miss.”
“Oh, okay,” I say, dread seeping in.
Is he already avoiding me?
“You’ll do fine,” she says, misreading my emotions. “You might very well appreciate him not being there. You can choose the people you want without dealing with his grumpy moods.” She cups her mouth with her hands. “He’s got one hell of a temper today.”
My eyebrows tip in. “Really? Any idea why?”
Now I’m really freaking out. Is what we did finally setting in? Does he regret it now?
She shakes her head. “No clue, but I have a feeling it has something to do with the meeting that was added to his calendar.” She leans over conspiratorially, lowering her voice. “Something is going on with his father.”
My eyebrows lift into my hairline this time. That I didnotexpect.
“Is everything okay?”
She shrugs. “Haven’t the slightest idea. But I did a little research.” Her cheeks turn beet red when she realizes her words make her sound nosy as hell. A trait I’m beginning to believe is just Shelby’s way.
“The man he’s meeting with is Mr. Cavendish’s attorney. The senior Cavendish,” she emphasizes. “From London.”
When I don’t say anything to that, she continues. “The same man who showed up out of nowhere last week.” She puckers her lips. “Something is definitely going on across the pond.”
Interesting. I know he’s gone to London, and it’s no secret that he’s the heir to the entire corporation.
“Do you think he’ll be taking over sooner rather than later?”