you.” That thought scared me so much. I almost didn’t dare feel what I was feeling, in case something happened to take it all away.
He pressed a quick kiss to my forehead and chuckled softly. “Good. In that case, I suggest you open the blinds and get back to your own seat behind your desk before Saint drops by and has a fit when he finds us kissing like teenagers in the office.”
19
Jamie
My knee jiggled, and I pressed my palm onto my knee to try to contain my show of anxiety. I swallowed to try to combat my dry throat, but it didn’t work so I closed my eyes and took several calming breaths instead. Thursdays didn’t usually make me nervous, but it wasn’t just an ordinary Thursday.
It was intern evaluation day, and I was sitting in front of Saint’s PA waiting to be sent into the conference room. I was first in, which should have been a good thing, but my worry levels were revved right up, and the other two interns at my side looked almost bored. I pushed out another breath and tried to focus on my positives for the week. Malcolm had pretty much left me alone. I’d only received a few more dark glares than usual, but I could shrug those off because both Nico and Saint were quietly in my corner.
I smiled. Perhaps Nico wasn’t so quiet about it, but his support leant me strength.
“Jamie, you can go through now.”
I glanced up at Saint’s smiling PA. I had no idea how she knew—some PA psychic shit, probably, although I wouldn’t have wanted any sort of connection with Saint’s mind. I didn’t question her and stood rapidly, ready to get my evaluation over so I could carry on with the rest of my day.
I took brisk steps down the corridor and knocked on the partly open conference room door. At least this room had proper walls.
“Come in.”
I smiled at hearing Saint’s voice and pushed the door then hesitated when I saw the seating arrangement. Saint and Nico were in their usual chairs at the top end of the table, and Malcolm sat to Nico’s right.
Of course he did.
I pressed my lips flat as my chest hollowed. Fuck. Malcolm. I couldn’t let him intimidate me just be being there.
I took heavier steps up the side of the table until I reached the seat one away from Saint, not quite opposite Malcolm. I didn’t want to meet his gaze every time I lifted my head. The clock on the wall ticked too loudly today, and my collar suddenly had a tight grip around my neck.
Then I made my first mistake. I met Malcolm’s eyes as I greeted all three of mentors and they narrowed as he focused his familiar glare on me. This wouldn’t go well.
“Thank you for joining us, Jamie.”
I smiled at Saint’s formality and thanked them for allowing me to be there.
“Nico has your evaluation, so he’ll speak first.” He looked to his right and Nico lifted a piece of paper to read from.
I zoned out as I tried to focus on chasing my anxiety away, but my knee jiggled again under the table, and my palms grew damp. A few words made it past my tangle of thoughts.
Quiet…conscientious…hardworking…
I looked up at Nico as I sensed he was reaching the end, and he’d stopped reading from his paper and appeared to be speaking to me directly instead.
“He has a lot of passion for the people involved and is never afraid to argue their case. He’s a fantastic advocate for our clients and is always prepared to go the extra mile to succeed.”
“Thank you, Nico,” Saint said when Nico put his prepared statement back on the desk.
Malcolm lifted a finger, capturing everyone’s attention. “I’m a little worried.” He spoke his words loudly, and his strident voice carried through the silence.
I glanced at the door. There was no way that flimsy wood could hold whatever he was about to say within these walls. Not at the volume he was using.
“I believe Nico might have a biased opinion with regard to his intern,” he said, his voice smooth, his words oiled and greasy. He smirked. “I mean, it’s correct he has known Jamie for many years, yes? I’m not sure we can take accept this evaluation on its apparent merits.” He tapped his palm on the desk to punctuate his last few words, and the smile on his face was a satisfied one as he finished talking.
I opened