at twelve on the dot."
"Great. We’ll be here," Jamie mumbled as the pretty girl walked toward the elevator.
Perfect. More competition.
Chapter 9
The morning went by smoothly, as Alex's clients showed up on time, and Mike worked with Paul on the upcoming audits. The call from IT a few days before had revealed that the extra ID was actually for Alex, but Jamie hadn't mentioned it to him. It was his company. If he wanted to set up an extra expenditure ID to use to go to the grocery store or anywhere else, that was his prerogative. She even wondered if it was for Murray, the caterer Alex has working for him.
A ding on Gina's laptop caught Jamie's attention, and she turned to answer the e-mail. It was from Nicholas who wanted to let Gina know that he would be a few minutes late to lunch.
"Late to lunch?" Jamie's eyebrow rose as she sat back in her chair. She'd gotten behind on her own duties thanks to Gina calling in twice over the last week. If the woman was sick, it was fine, but from the looks of things, it didn't seem that way.
She typed him a quick message back, asking where they were meeting again, and writing down the restaurant. It wasn't any of her business, but this was Alex’s dime and his business. If Gina was thinking about leaving Alex's company, then they needed to know. She wasn't the kind of person who would just up and leave, but with Nicholas tugging at her with the promise of more than just a job, maybe she did already have one foot out the door. Bumping into them casually with Paul and Mark wouldn't be that big a deal.
It would have been nice to take Alex, but he had a date with a cute cheerleader who had a smile that was sure to melt hearts.
Speaking of.
Jamie glanced up as Kristen walked from the elevator and stopped tentatively by the desk.
"Hi again. Your morning go okay?" the pretty girl asked as Alex walked came into the lobby from his office.
"Thanks for asking. It was—" Jamie was cut off by Alex's loud exclamation.
"Kristen Rodgers? No way!" He walked toward her and scooped her up in a warm hug. "Oh, my goodness! It's been years. How’ve you been?" His eyes shone. “You look fantastic!”
She giggled and pulled back from him as Jamie's whole body stiffened. Another old flame? Seriously?
"I'm good. I was in the city for a few weeks, visiting my dad, and thought I’d stop by. I saw the news about your dad in the paper. I'm sorry to hear about all that. You and Mark doing okay?" She reached out and rubbed his arm softly.
Jamie watched, knowing full well her mouth was hanging open. She knows Mark too?
"Yeah. We're good." Alex glanced over at Jamie, as if realizing she was standing there, looking like the secretary that she wasn't. "Kristen, this is my girlfriend and PA/Advisor, Jamie Connors. Jamie, this is Kristen. She's a good friend of mine from high school." He reached out and touched Jamie's hand as she laid it on the high desk top.
"Oh nice!" Kristen turned and gave Jamie a warm smile. "You should come to lunch with us. Alex saved my life all those years ago, and got himself in a world of trouble doing it. I never got to really say thank you."
"No need for that, Kris." Alex pulled his hand back and wrapped his arms around himself, suddenly looking uncomfortable. He smiled and clapped his hands. "Let's all go to lunch. It would be nice to catch up, and I promised Jamie some of my time today. She's a good woman and puts up with far too much shit from me."
Jamie smiled happily, hiding her relief that his friend wasn’t an old flame. This was the girl he had risked his life for, that he had lost touch with his family over. She had nothing to worry about. Wait, what? "I'm good, guys, but thank you. Go and catch up. I need to run a few errands. Really." Jamie walked around the counter and slid her arm around the back of Alex's waist. "Eat something yummy for me."
"Will do." Alex leaned down and kissed her quickly before looking back at Kristen. "Let me grab my keys and we're outta here. Does Mark know you're here?"
"No, but I'll see him when we get back." Kristen reached out and touched Jamie's arm. "You sure you're good with us going?"
"Should I be worried?" Jamie waited until Alex had disappeared into his office to ask.
"Heaven's no! I'd never hurt a flea. He's a good man. Hold on tightly to this one." She winked and released Jamie, her disposition and tone welcoming and kind.
Jamie’s insides relaxed. This girl meant no harm. "I plan to. Thanks." Jamie turned and walked to her office, stopping at the door and leaning against the frame. "I need to go over to La Griglia for lunch. Someone want to take me?"
"Alex buying?" Paul glanced over his shoulder.
"Yep. Why not?" Jamie chuckled and turned her attention to Mark. "You coming?"
"Yeah. I'm still not so sure that I'm comfortable with what I'm seeing in these records, but I'll bring the stuff with us and we can talk over lunch. Will that work?"
"Beautiful. Makes it a business write-off. Grab your coat. It's freakin’ freezing out there." Jamie walked back to the front and noticed her ankle was feeling better. She was barely limping as she went to pick up her scarf and coat before checking to see that Alex was gone. She could trust him. He hadn't done anything that said otherwise. Besides, being concerned about him loving someone else was going to get old fast. He either was or wasn't. Her bet was on wasn't.