Page 83 of His Flash Mate
I followed Edi back, nodding greetings along the way.
The execs had all been fine.Everyone else was still watching me with suspicion, which made sense.
What didn’t make sense was Lianna’s turnaround in attitude.Was it really just that she thought I wasn’t taking my position in her department seriously because of my predecessors?Once Konni recognized my skills, had that been enough to change her mind about me?
As soon as we sat at our newly configured workstations, Edi swiveled to face mine.
“For today, you’ll be my shadow.Whatever meetings I go to, you’ll follow.You don’t need to take notes or anything.Just observe.”
I spotted Lianna approaching from behind him.She smiled warmly at me.Something must have shown on my face because he turned around and quickly stood.
“Mr.Steele is currently?—”
“I’m fine, Edi,” she said, going straight to Konni’s office door even as Edi moved to intercept.
She went right in without knocking.Edi stood in the opening.
“I’m sorry, Mr.Steele.”
“It’s fine.Close the door.”As Edi did so, I heard.“You need to knock, Lianna.”
Edi’s annoyed gaze found mine.
“Everyone follows the same protocol we did this morning.Ask the assistant if the executive is in.The assistant calls to verify then sends the person in or relays the message.”
“Everyone except Stonestock,” Bomir said softly from the other side of my monitor.
I leaned forward to look at him.
“Why?”
“Old money entitlement plus so-called friendship.”
Marius shushed Bomir.“Don’t let anyone overhear you.”
“Why not?”Edi said.“It’s true, and everyone knows it.”
I was giddy with relief and anticipation at how open they were with me.
“Why so-called?I thought you said they grew up together.”
“Watch them interact,” Bomir said.“You can tell he’s putting up with her.”
The door opened.
“If you’re not there tonight, we’ll lose the deal,” Lianna said over her shoulder as she strode out.
She didn’t look as happy as she had when she’d entered.
Edi caught my frown and flashed a smile at me.“She’s not easy to get along with, but you shouldn’t have to deal with her in the future.”
“That’s what the rest of us are for,” Marius said, leaning back to wink at me.
I smiled back, relieved and grateful that they weren’t shunning me as Whitney and Shana had, but instead already treating me like I belonged.
“Looks like you’ve been summoned,” Edi said, nodding toward my computer.
A pop-up message was on my screen from “Drokonnen Steele,” asking me if I had a moment.
