Free Catering to the CEO by Samantha Chase

call out, okay?”  Cassie nodded and her eyes were closed before Lauren had even shut the door.
    Getting settled on the sofa, Lauren set up several textbooks in front of her on the coffee table when she heard Cassie’s cell phone ring.  Not hesitating, she walked over and answered.  “Hello?”
    “Hey, Cassie, it’s Grace.”
    “Hey, Grace, this is Lauren, Cassie’s sister.”
    “Oh, hi!  Is Cassie available?”
    “Actually, she is sound asleep.  Can I take a message?”
    “Is she okay?”
    Lauren told her about the surgery, remembering that Grace was Adam’s assistant.
    “Oh, my!  Is there anything I can do?  Does she need anything?”
    “She seems okay right now.  We just got home a little while ago.  The doctor said that she should be back to normal within a week.  She’s got some serious pain killers for the time being but by this time next week, she’ll be as good as new.  Do you want me to leave her a message?”
    “No, no…I was just calling to tell her how much everyone enjoyed the event this weekend.  She was a hit as usual.”  Lauren could actually hear Grace’s smile.  “Please tell her that I’m thinking of her and that I’ll give her a call in a few days.”
    “No problem.”
    “Thanks, Lauren.  Bye!”
    As soon as she hung up the phone, Grace immediately placed a call to her florist and arranged for a large bouquet to be sent from the company.  “That’s right, I want the card to say ‘Get well soon’ or ‘Wishing you a speedy recovery’, either one of those and sign it from ‘Your friends at L.S.S.”  She paused and listened.  “Yes, that’s perfect.  I’d like them delivered today.”  Another pause.  “Yes, please put it on our account.  Thank you!”
    She hung up and nearly fell off her chair when she turned and saw Adam leaning on her desk looking thoroughly annoyed.  “Who’s ill?”
    “What?  Oh, Cassie is.  She had surgery today and I wanted to send her some flowers.”
    “On the company’s account?”
    Uh-oh.
    “Well, um…she does work for us quite a bit and while I realize that I should have checked with you first, I didn’t think you would mind.  I mean, with Cassie soon to be family and all, I thought it would be okay.  Plus, you were on a call and I wanted to place the order in time for it to be delivered today.   So…”
    “Your babbling, Grace.”
    Darn it, he was right but she knew that look on his face and knew that if she didn’t distract him and plead her case quickly that he could get nasty.   Fast.  “I could call back and cancel the order, if you’d prefer.  Or I could just change it to put it on my own credit card…”  Turning her back on him, she picked up the phone and began to dial.  Adam reached across the desk and snatched the phone out of her hand and hung it up.
    “That won’t be necessary,” he snapped.  He took a deep breath and had to force himself to speak calmly.  “It’s a very nice gesture and I thank you for doing it.  Now, if I could get you to find me the Cairo contract, I need to make some adjustments.”  He turned and walked back into his office. 
    Once at his desk he had the urge to pick up the phone and call Cassie to see if she was okay.  She hadn’t mentioned the surgery but then again, when would she have had the time?  He didn’t speak to her at all on Saturday and that was the last that he’d seen of her.  Adam looked at his calendar and saw that his schedule was pretty full, but maybe he could find time to stop by her place tomorrow after work.  He’d have to call his mother and try to find out if anyone was staying with her; he hated to have to play twenty questions with another family member like he had with Katie on Saturday morning.
    To say that his mother was surprised when she heard his voice on the phone was an understatement.  “Adam!  How are you, sweetheart?  This is a wonderful surprise!”  Adam rolled his eyes. 
    “I’m fine, mother, just