Easton has never personally hired anyone before.” She leaned in closer. “I heard him stop by your office and say he’s available if you need anything. Figured you must know each other for him to do that.”
Her observation made me uncomfortable since the last thing I wanted was to be seen as receiving preferential treatment. She didn’t come across as nosy per se. Just curious. And something told me I could trust her not to jump to conclusions. She had this friendliness about her that made me want to spill everything. I thought about not saying anything, but giving her a small detail would hopefully explain Easton’s attentiveness. “I know his sister. I’m not trying to hide that, but please don’t mention it to anyone else.”
“I won’t,” she said. “And don’t worry, I’m glad you’re here. It’s nice to have someone around my age to talk to.” She gave me a genuine smile, and I relaxed. She pressed her lips together, her eyes dancing with mischief. “Tomorrow is April Fool’s Day. Maybe you’ll be my partner in crime and play a prank on Easton with me.”
“A prank?” My eyebrows flew up.
“Yeah. Last year a few of us pranked George, but no one had the guts to go after Easton. But since you already know him…”
“Uh…I don’t know him that well. That’s not a good idea.”
“Oh, come on, it’ll be fun to loosen him up. He’s so serious and complex all the time. Just think about it. I have this great plan we can discuss over lunch.”
I leaned in. “What does everyone do for lunch around here?”
“Some like to eat out while others prefer to stay in the break room. A few lunch trucks stop by at noon, and the food is pretty good.”
“What does Easton normally do?”
She glanced up at the ceiling as if thinking. “He stays in his office. Occasionally he joins the staff in the break room, but he only does that once in a while. I have a feeling he does that to make an appearance.” She hesitated. “I wish he’d be more social. I’d love to get to know him better.”
Interesting. Easton had always had a lot of friends in high school, so I wouldn’t peg him as shy, but I was quickly learning I didn’t know the man very well. Maybe he just didn’t like people. That was probably closer to the truth.
“We shouldn’t discuss my plan for April Fool’s around others,” she said. “Let me take you out to lunch since it’s your first day. My treat.”
“Oh, you don’t have to—”
“But I want to.” She winked and then headed back to her office. She glanced over her shoulder. “I’ll come by to pick you up at noon.”
I got the feeling I didn’t have much of a choice as far as lunch, but I wasn’t going to allow her to push me into pranking Easton. He was the last person I wanted to upset right now. When I returned to my new office, Bruce leaned back in his chair and snapped his fingers. “Now I know who you remind me of.”
“Who?” I sat down at my desk and slid the employee manual closer so I could continue reading.
He placed his hands behind his head, and I wondered what was going through his mind. “Leighton Meester, the actress who played in that TV series, Gossip Girls.”
I hadn’t seen the show, but I pulled out my phone and did a search using her name.
“Your eyes and hair are the same. You could be her doppelganger.”
Leighton’s face came up in my search, and my eyes widened as I studied her. “She’s pretty. I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Bruce flashed a boyish grin that was a little too friendly, but I didn’t feel like he was hitting on me exactly. “It’s definitely a compliment. You’re both gorgeous.”
“Well, thank you.”
He smiled and then went back to work, and I was thankful he didn’t say more than that.
For the next thirty minutes, I read through more of the employee manual and then Deanna stopped by. “Are you ready?”
Bruce narrowed his eyes when she walked in. “Are you leaving? Can I come?”
Deanna laughed. “Not today. I’m taking Maya out to lunch, and it’s only us women.”
“You’re already hogging the new girl? I should get first dibs since she’s my office mate.” He grinned, and it was kind of cute, but I could tell he was just teasing.
Deanna tilted her head to the side and smiled at Bruce. “Next time we go out,