Madison

By the time I got to the office Monday morning, I’d already finished half my venti latte, skinny of course, with extra vanilla. 

I wasn’t supposed to be happy about seeing Kade. Not while I was still mad at him.

He would have to come in to the office this morning to sign some papers and get set up. 

His first flight wasn’t until morning.

I could tell myself not to be happy about seeing him all day long.

But I couldn’t fight it.

I’d fought it all weekend and I was battle weary.

All I had to do was to admit to myself that I was happy to have the opportunity to catch up with him.

That was my story and I was sticking with it.

Just because I was happy to see him did not mean that we were getting back together.

In fact, there was no way I would get back together with Kade.

Not a chance.

He’d let me just walk away and then he hadn’t had the decency to even call me. Not even once.

And that was after we said we’d stay in touch.

I pushed the button on the elevator and rode up to the third floor.

Ok. I’d spent a little extra time on my makeup this morning. And my hair.

And I’d worn my red blouse beneath my standard black jacket. I was wearing my favorite black skirt—the one that hugged my curves just so and I’d even worn my shoes with the red bottoms.

Basically my standard outfit—the best one, but I just felt good today. Like I had something to look forward to.

Just knowing that Kade was going to be there put a lightness in my step that I hadn’t felt in a long time.

I made it to my work station ten minutes early. Flipped on the computer and the phone. 

If someone called early, they’d get me, not the machine. I was here, so why not.

I tucked my handbag in the large drawer at the bottom of the desk and watered the ivy that the last receptionist had left behind.

I’d taken a liking to it even though I’d never been much of a plant person.

It looked like a good hardy plant, so I had high hopes that I wouldn’t kill it.

There. I stood back and looked around.

Everything was ready for the day.

There was something satisfying about having a job to do and knowing that you were good at it.

That’s what the latest psychological research was showing. Life is all about work and relationships.

People need a purpose and they need to feel like they’re making a difference.

I’d be making a bigger difference when started teaching at the end of August, but for now I was determined to make my family’s company the best it could be.

Just as I sat in my chair and put on my headset, I heard male laughter coming from the office area.

I froze.

I knew that laugh.

It was Kade Johnson.

How had he gotten to work before me?

And what was I supposed to do with the sudden rush of adrenalin that shot through my system?

Before I could come up with any ideas, the office phone buzzed.

But it wasn’t a customer, it was Quinn.

“Can you come back here for a few minutes? Kade and I need your help.”