apkin to clean up as much of the puddle on the table as

wanted to run out of the room. Jus

d used it to soak up as much of the coffee as she could. Very quickly

harpe?” one of the younge

older men agreed, “so we really s

ed coffee on the owner of the company, but she’d also disrup

t another smile, which should have made her feel better,

from starting the meeting,”

I say we start, Jim. Unless things have changed around

hanged,” the old

quieter, if such a

d done all she could to clean up. Her gaze kept st

nd he hadn’t even batted an eyelash.

t inh

pain and probably run out of th

had been sc

l perturbed. Which made no sense, considering how important

head. “I’m so, so sorry,” she wh

me,” he said. “I suppose you must grow on people,” he continued, crink

ttered, and then hurried out, praying she didn’t fall headlo

she shut the door and pressed her back

lway wa

re to put it, and her badge wouldn’t let her back

tal supervisor that she’d spilled coffee all over the head of th

n Sharpe what had happened and Ivy would be

s o

pack my things

egret, of having missed out on som

g?” the harsh voic

had just come around the corner and

to put the

e tray. “Why? What happened? Why is

e told me to bring the t

ed. “You spilled coffee

an acc

“I don’t know what Mister Sharpe was thinking when he asked yo

ay that bringing the boss coffee wasn’t exac

dn’t, she rem

ing Cullen Sharpe a cup of c

*

le for another hour or so when th

It might be Cullen again. What was he going to say? Would he tell her t

s only a man. Now answer the phone an

itation cost her dearly, because when she picke

hone to ring once mo

d headed for her desk. It was obvious that whate

pared to hand off her badge. Just from the dour look

Emma said

ttle relieved. It had been a hard, not very fun day, and it w

r, and perhaps a part of her would regret not getting to see more of him. Something

n a cubicle about four rows off, and he loo

you?” he asked, seemingl

“No, she’s not being cut. But you will be if you

as Ivy wondered what was happen

was being fir

there looking ditzy, and you get rewarded. Just when I th

hat do you me

s office. He wants to see you. Again.” Emma

ly firing me

ma retorted. “Then the universe

side. Emma held her badge to a sensor and th

llen Sharpe’s request that she come to his office.

lond supervisor stood next to Ivy and fumed. Emm

me so much? What d

nt now, however. Emma

hallway that was carpeted and wide. It h

he elevator. “Off you go

urned to look at her super

sarcastic wave. “Buh bye!” she

Tota

urned away from the elevator and examined her surroundings. The hallway st

go with it. Eventually, she’d come acros

she tried to brea

he wants. It could

tell you to pay hi

e got to the end of the hallway, she came to

’t have secur

dge and held it up to the

swore unde

crewing with her—play