Neve (Silver Skates #3) - Helen Scott Page 0,3

the silver handle, and the door swung toward me, wafting the warm air in my face. I hadn’t expected it to be so cold, but then again, I wasn’t exactly that familiar with the weather in upstate New York.

If I was in the city? I could at least take a cab and there would be a doorman to get one for me or something, but here? I wasn’t even sure if they had cabs. They certainly didn’t have doormen.

There was a short hallway before the building turned into an open floor plan. The main area was what I think they called the bullpen, or maybe that was with the police? Either way, it didn’t matter. There was a small cluster of four desks, two of which were empty. And by empty, I meant no one was using them at all. There wasn’t even a computer set up on them.

A quick glance around the room showed me an actual office that had a door on it and everything, with the title ‘Editor-in-Chief’ written on it in the same blocky font as the front door. Overall, I’d say it was about as impressive as I’d expected, which was not very. It was something like my apartment—peeling, stained linoleum flooring, chipped paint on the walls, and the smell of week-old fast food lacing the air. Plus, I could practically feel the dust that was floating around the place on my tongue.

Bleugh.

Before we did anything, this place needed a good cleaning. I wondered if the town had a cleaning service? Was it big enough for that?

“Excuse me, miss? These are private offices.” A man’s voice broke me out of my analysis of the place.

“Yes, they are. Ones that need to be cleaned.” Finally, when I turned my head to meet his gaze, I was struck by a pair of blue eyes that were so bright, they were almost the same color as the wintery sky outside. The effect was only heightened by the thick, black rimmed glasses he wore. His gaze also happened to be demonstrating exactly what he thought of me in that moment. Combined with the slight pursing of his lips, I’d say it was a safe bet I’d just insulted him.

“I think it’s time for you to leave.” He walked past me into the hallway and extended his arm, indicating that I should follow.

“Not quite yet,” I said, enjoying how feisty he was. “I think I should introduce myself first. I’m—”

“Look, if you’re trying to get us to buy cleaning services from you, then you need to talk with our new owner. We’re in limbo until they tell us what we’re doing.” He sounded exhausted, as though getting a new owner was the most tiresome thing in the world.

“That’s just it. I’m the new owner. Ta da!” I flashed him a smile that would send most men to their knees, but he only looked confused.

“You’re N. Astor? I thought the Astor family of businesses was run by an older gentleman?”

“That would be my father, Nathan Astor. I’m Neve Astor, the new owner of the Silver Springs Gazette.” I smiled again, but somehow, it still wasn’t affecting him. Was he defective? No man could resist my smile. What was wrong with him?

“I see. So you’ve come to assess you’ve new business?”

“Yes, and to figure out how we can make it successful, bring in a revenue instead of just hemorrhaging money. I’m not here to fire anyone or turn this into a corporate thing or whatever, just get us back on our feet, then I’ll get out of your hair. Easy peasy.”

“Easy, hum? You clearly haven’t been in Silver Springs long. Most of the residents don’t give two shits about this paper. The Herald is the one that gets all the subscribers.”

“Well, we’re just going to have to change that. Put the Herald on notice that there’s a new game in town.” I winked, and it still had no effect on the man. Were the glasses obscuring his vision of me or something?

“Listen, I was just about to head out. After all, it’s pretty much the end of the day. Maybe if you come in on Monday morning, we can try this again?”

Was he scolding me? “I thought the news never slept?”

“It might not, but the reporters do.” He pushed past me and grabbed his bag, shoving the sleek laptop that had been sitting there in the satchel before slinging it over his shoulder. “I’ve got to go get some notes for a