Page 41 of Worth the Fall
I could feel his fingers under my chin, forcing me to look up at him. “I don’t even know him!”
“If I were you, I’d miss just looking at him!”
“Miss Ford!”
My heart stopped as Mr. Sterling suddenly appeared beside our desks. I straightened myself and gave him my best smile. “Mr. Sterling, good morning!”
“How was your weekend, Craig?” Martha asked, giving me a second to gather myself.
He smiled at her, wearing a navy pinstripe suit and red tie. “It was good, Martha. The wife and I went to the vineyards. How about you?”
“Fun! Jeff and I need to get down there sometime. We were lazy and boring.”
“And you, Miss Ford?” He directed his attention to me.
I was gathered, thanks to Martha. “It was wonderfully relaxing,” I lied.
“Could we talk in my office, Miss Ford?” He asked, holding out his hand.
I gathered my armful of files and nodded.
I could feel everyone’s gaze on my back as we passed by, no one daring to utter a syllable. It was torturously silent, the only sounds being Mr. Sterling’s heavy steps and the sharp click of my four-inch heels.
He turned the corner and opened his thick oak door for me. I thanked him and walked in.
I took a seat across from his black stone desk, opening my binder and holding my pen at the ready. He shook his head and gestured to the couches beside the floor-to-ceiling windows. “Miss Ford. Please relax.”
I walked to the couch and sat, feeling my posture once again disappear into the deep cushions.
He sat across from me, crossing one leg over the other and leaning back. “Miss Ford, I got your email, and I have to say, it was troubling.”
I gripped my files, hoping my sweat wasn’t ruining the paper. “Yes, I would like to apologize. I had some…personal drama arise in the midst of my travels and-”
He held up his hand and poured a glass of water from a crystal pitcher. “Miss Ford, let’s drop the formalities, shall we?”
I cocked my head as if to ask, “What do you mean?”
He gave me a grandfatherly smile. “Can I call you Allegra?”
I nodded, my legs tightly crossed and my posture perfect.
“Good, and call me Craig. Listen, I really like you, kid,” he started, and I felt my heart drop to my stomach. He was goingto fire me, I knew it. “You’re incredibly professional, and you’ve never made a single mistake as long as you’ve been here.”
I ignored the ringing in my left ear. “Thank you, sir.”
“Craig,” he reminded with another small smile. “But, I sent you on this project to see if we could break open your shell and find more from you.”
I swallowed hard, not sure how to respond.
“How do I word this?” He muttered to himself. He thought for a moment. “Allegra, you don’t seem to have progressed since our last conversation in this office. Am I wrong?”
I forced myself to release the files. “Yes, sir, you are wrong,” I said quietly.
He leaned back in surprise and motioned for me to go on.
I took a long breath. “Sir, I’ll-” I shook my head, “Craig, I’ll admit, this project was definitely out of my comfort zone. I am used to a routine, I like the way things are, and I have no desire to change anything. But, as time went on, I was able to spend more time alone, get to know myself again, and make some wonderful friends along the way. That, unfortunately, is what caused the ‘drama’ to unfold in Utah. Though it is really nice to be home, to get caught up on my paperwork, showcase my presentations,and do some much-needed laundry, I am truly excited to get back out there and work even harder on these next rodeos.”
He was grinning, the happiest I’d ever seen him. “That is the best news I’ve heard this quarter, Allegra.”
