Balancing Act. Laura Browning

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      Tessa did pause then, casting a questioning look at him. He was serious. Okay, maybe his temper was as bad as rumor had it.

      She glanced back at Chris Stevenson and said, “Mr. Barrett will see you now.”

      With a silent blessing on the man’s continued good health, she held the door for him and then shut it as he walked into the office. Even from outside, she heard Seth. His words left her in no doubt both what it was about and that finding the first aid kit was a necessity. She also located an ice pack to be on the safe side. God knew, she had gained experience dealing with fights while she worked with juveniles. And this seemed to be a very similar occasion.

      She had gathered all the supplies when Seth’s voice came over the intercom.

      “Tessa?” He added emphasis on her name. “Please bring two cups of coffee and a bag of ice. Oh, you better bring the first aid kit too.”

      “Yes, sir.”

      Tessa refused to show any surprise at all upon seeing the bloody handkerchief Stevenson held to his nose. She handed him an ice pack, keeping her expression the same as if she had been giving him a letter to sign.

      Seth almost smiled. “Thanks, Tessa. That will be all.”

      “Yes, sir, Mr. Barrett.”

      Tessa returned to her desk and shoved her personal mail back into her oversize purse before she returned to what she was working on. Arrangements for the trip for Seth. She looked up the account number again and soon had everything booked. He would take the corporate jet later that week instead of a commercial flight, so all she needed to manage were rental cars and the hotel suite.

      Chris Stevenson left a short while later, the ice pack still on his nose. Tessa watched him with curiosity until he disappeared in the elevator.

      “Tessa!” Seth barked over the intercom. She started. “Get in here. Bring the laptop.”

      Seth worked like a demon until lunch. Whatever had distracted him was now forgotten.

      “Check my calendar.”

      Tessa replied without needing to think. “You have a one o’clock appointment with Barrett senior and a supplier is coming in to make a pitch at three.”

      He stared at her, narrow-eyed, but Tessa just returned his look with a bland expression.

      “I don’t even want to know how you do that. It’s a little scary.” He stared out the window for a moment. “Cancel the supplier. Damn. I don’t suppose there’s any way you can make that one o’clock with my father disappear.”

      She tilted her head and gave him a steady look. “I can, if you’re serious.” At his nod, she asked, “May I use your computer, sir?”

      Seth stood up and moved from behind the desk. “Help yourself.”

      Tessa sat down and logged into the company system. She moved through several different screens, alternating between typing and clicking the mouse until his father’s calendar popped up. A minute later Tessa sat back.

      “There. The one o’clock is rescheduled for Wednesday and it will look like his secretary entered it that way last week. Is that okay?”

      Seth arched an eyebrow at her. “Something you learned at Smith?”

      “High school.”

      “Hmm. I suppose you were a straight-A student.”

      Tessa slanted a sideways glance at him as she stood up and started to move past him. “Yes. Legitimate A’s.”

      Seth locked up his desk and closed his briefcase. “I’ll be gone the rest of the afternoon. If you’d like to take the day off, you may.”

      Tessa smiled. “Thank you, Mr. Barrett, but I believe I’ll get those reports finished for you before your trip.”

      “Yes, right.”

      Seth was in a better frame of mind the rest of the week. He left Thursday morning for Chicago and Minneapolis and wasn’t scheduled to be back in the office until Monday morning. So Tessa at last had a chance to become acquainted with her workspace. She learned her way around the filing system and reorganized it. The revolving door of secretaries had left things in a shambles.

      She was tidying up her desk before going out to lunch when Brandon came out of his office down the hall. Instead of heading straight for the elevators, he strode toward her. Tessa glanced at him, finding him a less vibrant version of his brother. Though they were almost the same size, his eyes were hazel rather than the gold of Seth’s, and his hair was darker, as if his blond was attributable to the sun rather than heredity.

      “I was going out to grab some lunch. Want to come with me?” His voice was pleasant, not the bark of his elder brother.

      Tessa smiled. “I don’t think that would be a good idea, Mr. Barrett.”

      His brows lifted. “Afraid of what others will think? Or afraid Mr. Cantankerous will bite your head off?”

      Tessa arched a brow in return. “Neither. I just see no need to wave the red cape in front of any of the bulls in this building.”

      Brandon grinned, then broke into a full-fledged laugh. “You are so exactly what my brother needs. Please don’t leave. Now, all kidding aside, I’m running down to the deli on the corner. Can I get you anything?”

      “A chef salad would be great.” She started to reach for her purse.

      “My treat. Call it a reward for putting up with Seth.” With a wave of his hand, he turned for the elevator. “Be right back.”

      * * * *

      By Friday, she was feeling much more secure in her office space. She had finished setting up workable systems and getting things organized when her personal line rang late in the day.

      “Good afternoon. Tessa Edwards here.”

      “Tessa. I’m glad I caught you.” It was her attorney. “The judge moved the custody hearing up. I at least got them to give me a time Monday afternoon. Can you make that?”

      Tessa’s hand trembled. She had to catch her breath before she responded, “Yes. I’ll be there. What time?”

      “One PM.”

      Seth had rescheduled his supplier for that time and she knew he would want her in on the meeting, but this was more important. She would just have to convince Seth of that. After all, she didn’t have much choice, and she was not going to be the one making waves about the timing of the court date.

      She arrived extra early Monday morning. Even so, he was already in the office. Sometimes Tessa wondered if he lived there. She knew he kept extra dress shirts and ties in his coat closet. She’d seen that one day over lunch when the dry cleaner showed up with laundered shirts to put there. She brought him a cup of coffee, but instead of leaving after setting it down like she did other mornings, Tessa stood in front of his desk.

      Seth was working at his computer. He СКАЧАТЬ