Sighing, it’s a mix of my apartment issue and knowing where my day is going. “Sure. I’m going to ask Hayes, but it’s because of Lola, and she has a room there. As for Hayes and me living together, that’s a different situation, I’m positive he will point out. This is temporary.”
“Sure. Whatever you say.” She doesn’t sound convinced. “Anyhow, I would say let’s grab lunch, but I think you have bigger fish to fry right now. Hopefully, they are not swimming in the ocean in your apartment.” She stands.
“Wait.”I grab my phone as I rise. “I’ll join you, as I need to…”
She looks at me wide-eyed, aware of what I’m doing. “See Hayes?”she finishes the sentence.
“Yep.”
“I’m happy there are company perks here, and that is that I’ll get to have a front-row seat to the Elodie and Hayes show.”
“At least I’ll have another friend around.”
We leave together, and once in the elevator, the door is about to close but slides back when a hand stops it. Foster appears and joins us.
“Morning, Elodie,” he greets me, and his finger stabs the number for the floor where the logistics department is.His eyes drift, and I follow his line of sight which lands on Sutton, who gives him a courteous, feeble smile.
They both linger a second more than they should.
For fuck’s sake.
“Sutton. Her name is Sutton,” I announce blandly.“Friend,”I stress to Foster, and he returns his attention to me.
"How convenient.” He doesn’t sound thrilled.
Sutton struggles to grasp the message between Foster and me. It’s our own communication style, developed over the years of working together.
“So he gets to know my name, but I have no clue who he is?” She teasingly complains to me.
“Foster. Friend of Julian. Executive team member at the company you are going to work at, and my manager.” I’m lacking pep in my tone.
Something clicks in Sutton’s head. “Ah, yeah. I’ve heard about you before. You’ll also be at the big wedding.”
“Big wedding?” He’s a little confused.
“Savannah and Julian,” she clarifies.
It registers for him. “Of course, that extravaganza.”
“I mean, we could probably add Hayes and Elodie to the season, complete with a wedding gift registry for a new toaster.” She glances sideways at me with a smirk.
Foster chuffs a laugh and looks at the arrow above the door, indicating his floor is next. “You are going to fit in around here.”As the door opens, he adds, “Have a good day, ladies.” He definitely gave Sutton one last once-over.
When the doors close, I turn to Sutton with my best unimpressed look, even if there is a tiny laugh wanting to escape me.
She shrugs at me. “What? He is part of the inner circle out of the office.”
I can't argue. My mind's already somewhere else.
Cautiously,I glance around to make sure no one is watching as I quickly exit the elevator and head to Hayes’s office. Once inside, I close the door securely behind me with a definitive click and lean against it, as if bracing myself.
Hayes’s eyes drift up from his laptop screen, and he notices me. Lines form on his forehead in confusion before a smirk slowly draws on his face.
“Well, well, well.” He stands and buttons his blazer as he rounds his desk. “What a surprise. You never come in here. Avoid this place like the plague.” He perches on the front of his desk. “What brings you here, Elodie?”
I’ll never get tired of the way my name rolls off his lips.
I step away from the door, and I slowly approach him to close the distance. “I kind of need to talk to you about something.”