Free Blizzard of Heat by Viola Grace Page A

rates.
    “Hello. I am Cwen. I manage the office.”
    His smile warmed. “I am Tyr Westerson, here to take some of the burden off the rest of the crew.”
    “Excellent. Please, come this way.” She shook his hand and gestured for him to follow her down the hall.
    She showed him the receptionists. “This is Deanne, and this is Dana. They will be your hands and feet. Feel free to call on them if you need anything, and they will do what they can.”
    Tyr stepped over and shook the hands of the dazed women. “Pleased to meet you.”
    The ladies looked like they were scrambling for something else to say, but the phones rang and they had to turn away.
    She led the way through the maze of hallways, pausing to point out the breakroom before she showed him his office.
    “Here you go.”
    Tyr poked his head in and sighed. “I was terrified that the room was being used for storage.”
    “Not on my watch. We keep our records clear and filed. Nothing gets wadded up in a corner.” She nodded and crossed her arms.
    Tyr grinned. “You run a tight ship.”
    She shrugged. “I try. I will get you a computer and link it to the network. There is a pad and pencil in the top drawer of the desk. You can give me a list of what you need to get comfortable.”
    He looked around. “I guess I will start that list.”
    He unbuttoned his costly coat and hung it up on the coatrack in the corner. Cwen left him alone, and she headed to the storage room.
    Ten minutes later, she knocked on his door with her knuckles, juggling the laptop and the other basics that she had brought with her.
    Tyr opened the door and looked down at her in surprise. “That was quick.”
    He reached for and took her burden from her. “Wow, it looks like you got everything on my list.”
    She chuckled and lifted the notepad as he settled the pile on his desk. “I have already connected the computer to our system, and your temporary password is workload . The charger is there and the printer is down the hall to your left. The coffee cups are available in the breakroom. You are welcome to bring in your own. We encourage the folks here to use a little polite whimsy on their desks. It keeps you grounded.”
    She flicked her hair over her shoulder, and he focused on her with the sharp gaze of a predator.
    Uncertain of what to do next and unwilling to run, she stood there and scowled. “Anything else?”
    Anthony came around the corner, and he grinned. “Well, I have heard a lot about you, Tyr. Welcome to our little corner of Legal Aid. This time of year, we are dealing with a lot of illegal evictions and discontinuation of services. I have a stack of cases for you to start going over if you are ready.”
    Tyr grinned. “Bring it on. It is why I am here after all.”
    Cwen nodded and left them to talk about cases. She checked on the printers, toner, paper and the coffee. The essentials had to be maintained to keep things running smoothly.
    It was her job here to keep those around her as comfortable as circumstances would allow. She comforted mothers and children, held the hands of despondent fathers who were losing their homes before Christmas. The season of joy put extra stress on those around her, and she felt it when she looked into every face in the waiting room.
    Every night, she went home to her apartment a few blocks away, and she baked treats for the office. Keeping morale up during all of the litigation, restraining orders and visitation arrangements was the least she could do.
    There were one set of cookies or brownies for the lawyers and one for the clients. She knew all of the allergies in those working in the building, so she was free to bake within those guidelines. For the clients, she stuck to shortbread.
    She returned to her desk and got to paying the bills again. She made sure that the caseloads were evenly balanced and sent notes to Anthony if they weren’t. Cwen never confronted him, she simply did what women always did—she nudged him in the direction