“Everything’s good, boss,” Sam answers. “How’s Miss Lia doing?”
I know I have a sappy, whipped look on my face, but I can’t bring myself to care. Fuck it. They all know by now that she owns me and I have no problem with it. “She’s good. We’re fine,” I add. I know they’re probably wondering after the way I rushed out in a panic the previous day when Lee called to let me know about his conversation with Lia.
“Oh, Luc, that’s great,” Cindy beams at me. “I’d love to see her more. Can’t you talk her into working here with us?” Sam laughs softly under his breath at Cindy’s suggestion. I think he’s been around Lia enough to know how she would balk at the suggestion. When I’d taken it upon myself to deposit money into her checking account and resign her employment with Date Night, she’d been so pissed off. She’d busted into my office and insisted on working to pay me back. Cindy had unfortunately picked that moment to tell her that I was looking for a new housekeeper and Lia had seized upon it immediately. I hadn’t wanted her cleaning my apartment, but I had certainly become addicted to having her there and had been willing to do whatever it took to keep her.
When Cindy clears her throat, I realize I’ve been standing in a daze without answering her question. Sam is still smirking at me, which makes me want to do something evil in retaliation. “Lia has her hands full right now with finishing her degree. I’m not sure what her plans are beyond that, but we’ll see.” Turning to Sam, I try to keep a straight face as I say, “Marcus is going to be out this week since his wife had a baby yesterday. I assured him that I could spare you to cover for him.” I literally have to bite my lip now to keep from laughing. Marcus is the head of security and almost obsessive about his job. Sam has no problem with the job, but he knows well that Marcus will call and text him every hour on the hour to double-check that things are being run as he wants them. Marcus is a likable man and I love the attention to detail he gives his work. Unfortunately, covering for such a perfectionist is a real pain in the ass, as Sam well knows.
To his credit, Sam’s only reaction is a few rapid blinks of his eyes before he gets to his feet. “No problem, Luc, I’ll get on down there now.”
I clap my hand on his shoulder in appreciation. “Thanks, Sam. I’m sure Marcus will express his thanks soon…very soon.” Sam throws me a disgusted look over his shoulder before telling Cindy goodbye and walking toward the elevator.
When he’s gone, Cindy looks at me and shakes her head as if I’m a misbehaving child. Hell, that’s exactly what I am in this instant and we both know it. “Kevin was supposed to cover for Marcus, wasn’t he?” she asks dryly.
“Yep.” I chuckle before going past her to my office door. “I saw an opportunity and I took it, Cindy. You can’t hold that against me.” Her laughter follows me into my office before I close the door behind me.
I take a seat behind my desk and quickly get lost in emails and phone calls. It’s a relatively quiet morning for a change. Aidan flew out last night to woo a potential partner. Their software would be a perfect fit with ours and I’m counting on him to finalize the deal. I’ve already made the initial technical pitch, but Aidan is the man I send for the socializing aspect of the business. He is the closer for Quinn Software, and he’s damn brilliant at his job. Even with the latest distractions concerning Cassie, I know I can count on him to put his focus where it needs to be until the ink dries on the contract. He will, of course, visit Cassie on the way home and the fucking bastard that I am will hope her improved mental state has stalled and nothing else has changed.