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you.”
    “You didn’t. You’ll meet her soon. I promise.”
    I looked around the office to try to break the awkward moment. “Do
you offer recess here instead of breaks?” I pointed to the play area in the
corner. “Unless those are for you?”
    Matt turned to look. “Oh.” He laughed. “Yes, I get my ideas from
play time. No, occasionally parents have difficulty finding daycare if their
regular provider is sick or on vacation. If I need someone here for a meeting,
I let them bring their kids.” Matt got up and picked up a snapshot on his desk.
“It started out being Ashley’s corner, but she outgrew all of that years ago.”
    He handed me the picture he picked up. She was bundled up, and it
looked as if they were sledding or skiing, but you could tell she has her dad’s
smile. “She has your smile.” I handed the photo back to him.
    “Yes, thank God that’s all she got from me.” He put the photo
back on his desk and turned back to me. “You ready for your first meeting?”
    I stood up and placed my hand on my stomach. “I guess, but I
still need to go to human resources.”
    “You don’t have anything to worry about. I think you’ve met
everyone already, and you don’t really have to contribute to this one. Just sit
back and get the feel of it. If you want to say something, say it. Just know I
won’t be calling on you. Then I’ll take you to fill out your paperwork afterward.
I need to introduce you to Charlie anyway. He’s in charge of security around
here.”
    “Thanks.”
    ~*~
    The first week was a little more brutal than I thought
it would be. The hours were supposed to leave me a little bit of time to start
my search, but I had been asked to show up earlier and to stay later than I was
originally told. Everyone grumbled when a deadline was pushed up, but no one
complained. Since it was my first week, I didn’t exactly feel I could say
anything.
    I thought I would be able to get away at lunch and use the hour
to at least check into where I should start my search, but I was either asked
to join Matt or Stacy and felt as if I couldn’t say no. I was new to town, and everyone
would wonder what I could have to do that was so important. I just couldn’t
risk the questions. I’d waited this long, so I could wait a few more weeks.
    Even though the job was similar to my previous job on paper, it
was completely more demanding in reality. I was used to deadlines and specific
style requests, but this was on a whole other level. I had never been happier
to see Friday afternoon in my entire life. I was just shutting down my computer
to leave for the weekend when Wade Upton walked in. He was part of the
brainstorming team that was supposed to give me direction on how they
envisioned the ads.
    “I’m glad I caught you.” Wade had spiked blond hair and always
wore a bracelet instead of a watch. He was a nerdy type of cute, and I think
the spiked hair was his way of trying to separate himself from the nerd within.
It worked for him, but someone should have told him to hit the gym and lose the
stick figure if he really wanted to distance himself. His clothes were preppy
and usually were dressier than what most people wore. He either came from money
or was gay. I just didn’t have the nerve to ask. “I wanted to see if you were
free for dinner.”
    “Oh, that’s really nice, but I’m a little beat. I just need to go
home and sleep this week away.” I continued to close up the rest of my desk and
grabbed my purse. “Could I have a rain check?”
    “Sure. I understand. I just thought you could use a little
company. I don’t suspect you know many people yet, and I’d love to help you
unwind. I know a great place around the corner that has the best service.” His
eyebrows shot up in a pleading fashion.
    Dinner out sounded really great, and I could have used a drink or
two as well. I hadn’t had much time to stock the kitchen in my new apartment.
Plus, he was right: I didn’t know many people and