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sparkled with humor. “You will one day. And when you do, you’ll realize the important things in life aren’t money and the office.”
    “Can you, maybe, take a step back in your duties? That way you could still hang on to it…”
    I grimaced. I’d said it before I could run it through my filter. It was the opposite of what I was going for.
    “I tried. That’s what I was supposed to be doing this year. But I was distracted all the time, wanting to be in the office when I wasn’t, having to clean up messes—it wasn’t working. I’m too old for it now. Time to pass the torch.”
    I nodded in understanding, looking at the table. “Sucks.”
    “Tell me about it.”
    “So you have three business guys breathing down your neck.”
    Bruce closed his computer with a click. I thought I’d just ended the conversation, but instead, he leaned his elbows on the table and looked over at the lagoon. “Exactly. One mammoth company, and two large companies. Hunter has the deepest pockets, but he’s…the job. He’s a bright kid, I’ll give him that, but he doesn’t have the years of experience the others do.”
    “Even those with experience have to answer to their company’s board members. Really, the winner is who can push their ideas past the stockholders.”
    “True. I couldn’t even imagine that kind of hassle.”
    “I couldn’t before this job. Now I’m getting a glimpse. Hunter has all these plans years out. Years! Don’t ever play chess with the man, seriously.” I threw up my hands. “I can’t think that far ahead. I just can’t. I’m more of an ‘in the moment’ type of girl. Maybe a month out, but that’s it. Planning isn’t my specialty. Maybe someday, but…”
    “And yet you are trying to keep track of his scheduling…”
    “Yeah!” I barked out laughter. “I’m no good at it, though. Joke’s on him, right? It’s like trying to direct a river barge up a stream. I want to pull my hair out half the time, and punch him in the mouth the other half.”
    Bruce gave a large belly laugh. His deep, delighted rumble had the man across the lagoon looking over. “Why are you in the job, then?”
    “I just got the job—a month ago. I graduated six months back. You do that math.”
    “Oh. A product of the economy, huh?”
    “Exactly. All the clubs and extracurricular activities look good on the résumé, but not half as good as some experience. Call me enlightened. It’s okay, though. His other assistant, Brenda, does most of the heavy lifting with the admin stuff. I get random jobs.”
    “So Hunter gave you a chance and is now playing to your strengths…”
    I glanced at my screen as another email came in. “Stop sending me stuff,” I muttered, minimizing the window. I turned back to a smiling Bruce. “I think he’s happy to have someone that can do more than admin. And I’m happy to get paid, so we can use each other for a while.”
    “No harm in that. And you seem to be learning…”
    “It’s good, but there’s always a moment of frustration when he gives me something new.”
    Bruce got up and slipped his phone in his pocket. “Well, I have to run. Thanks for letting me use your phone. Download the update—let me know what you think.”
    “Gaming isn’t your business, though, right?” I asked, pulling my phone closer.
    “No. Another hobby. One that makes money.”
    “Must be nice, being smart.”
    “You should know.” Smiling, he sauntered away.
    I gave myself a mental pat on the back. I had given him something to think about, even though I had been a little heavy-handed. At least now I could work on him. Or just introduce Hunter and do a little damage control.
    My mind went back to my comment about using each other. That statement might’ve been a little one-sided.
    Glad to be on my own again, I got lost in my work. What I’d said was true—Brenda did most of the admin stuff. So I pulled up the marketing spreadsheet I’d been working on, and got lost in