Free Connectivity by Aven Ellis Page A

things the same way as I do.
    William lowers his hands from his face. “Good morning, Mary-Kate,” he says softly. “It’s good to see you.”
    My pulse races. The butterflies dance in my stomach as I see the way he is looking at me.
    “Good morning,” I say. “It’s good to see you, too.”
    Nothing is said for a moment and we simply stare at each other. The relationship has changed between us, that I know, but I also know this is the office. So I clear my throat and address the business at hand.
    “I will be back with your tea in a moment, but I wanted to confirm that Guy Kennedy is arriving within a few minutes,” I say. “I arranged for a car service to pick him up at the Four Seasons and bring him over for your meeting. I also ordered some whole grain, low-fat muffins and fresh organic fruit from a healthy café, and I will leave to pick that up once I have your tea ready.”
    William gazes at me with his piercing eyes, digesting my words. He now has the fingertips back in steeple position, a dead giveaway that he is in assessment mode. “You know about the heart attack Guy Kennedy had a few years ago, don’t you?”
    I blush. “Yes. I did my homework as soon as you scheduled the meeting. I read how he really changed his life habits and is a big proponent of healthy living.”
    Guy is one of William’s trusted advisors, one of many he surrounded himself with because of his young age in running an empire. And I did read that Guy had a heart attack two years ago at age 50.
    I watch as William’s eyes flicker in approval. “Brilliant. But I’m learning I should expect no less from you, Mary-Kate.”
    Now I feel my face flaming from his compliment. “Thank you,” I say quietly. I go on to remind him of the three conference calls he has today, and that I made a reservation for lunch at an upscale seafood restaurant.
    “Thank you,” William says. Then he takes his fingertips down and stares at me. “Did you submit the article to Jennifer?”
    “I am going to this morning,” I say, drawing an anxious breath. “I just hope she likes it.”
    “Likes it?” William repeats, creasing his brow. “She is going to love it. It’s brilliant, Mary-Kate.”
    Now I’m really blushing. “Well, I had a really good editor,” I say smartly, smiling at him. “Thank you for doing that for me last night.”
    William grins. “My pleasure. Much more entertaining to read than the dismal ratings I had to go over last night for some of these networks.”
    “So Guy has perfect timing for his visit,” I say knowingly.
    “Yes,” William says, his eyes never leaving my face. “He does.”
    I nod. “I’m going to get your tea. Does Guy take tea as well?”
    “Yes.”
    “I’ll be sure to bring in an extra cup. I’ll be right back.”
    I retrieve the water and fill his teapot. Then, as I do every day he is in Chicago, I prepare his tea and bring it into his office, and this time I leave an additional cup for Guy. William is already taking another phone call, so I discreetly put the items on his desk and slip out without saying anything.
    Then I bundle back up and take a taxi to the café, pick up the food, and arrive back to the office on Michigan Avenue. I am carrying everything back up to my cubicle, but when I near William’s office, I immediately hear another British-accented voice. Obviously Guy has arrived. I go to my cubicle and arrange the food nicely then pause outside William’s door, rapping on the frame lightly.
    Both heads turn toward me.
    “Mr. Cumberland, I have your breakfast,” I say. Which sounds so freaking weird coming out of my mouth. To call him that when he is now William to me.
    “Ah, yes, thank you, Ms. Grant,” he says, standing up. And as he says “Ms. Grant” I see his beautiful blue eyes shining at me, as if to tell me he thinks calling me that is weird, too.
    “Guy, I’d like you to meet my assistant, Ms. Grant,” William says. “Ms. Grant, this is Mr. Guy Kennedy.”
    I