Amy looked a bit helpless but forced a smile. “Ms. Murphy, I suspect you still have feelings for Mr. Holcomb. Guess we could end up as colleagues, friends, or even love rivals.”
“I wouldn’t call us love rivals,” I said coolly. “Relax, I’m not getting romantically entangled with Jared ever again.”
“Oh, really?” Amy’s face finally relaxed a bit. “Is it because Mr. Holcomb has some kind of health problem? He looks like the type who’s all about self-control. So, how often did you two… you know, do it each month?”
I met Amy’s gaze and said, “Ms. Wilder, some things are better left to the imagination.”
Amy let out an awkward laugh. “I talk about this kind of stuff with my girlfriends all the time. Ms. Murphy, are you not into these topics? If you wanna know, just ask. I’m an open book.”
I shook my head. “Let’s keep it professional. Talking about personal stuff just gives people ammo to use against you later.”
Amy burst out laughing. “Ms. Murphy, you’re really careful, huh? But seriously, you’re such a fun person. How come you still ended up divorcing Mr. Holcomb?”
Amy didn’t pull any punches. Every word hit right where it hurt, and I could feel the sting.
I kept my cool. “If you really want to know, Ms. Wilder, you’ll have to ask Jared first. Only then will you get the real story from him.”
Amy threw up her hands. “Alright, Ms. Murphy, your mind is way deeper than mine. If I ever get the chance, I’ll go straight to the source and ask Mr. Holcomb myself.”
After lunch with Amy, I headed straight to the hotel. As soon as I arrived, Ryan got up from his desk. I was surprised to see he’d come in so early, too. He might have just gotten back from Shariport.
Ryan’s job had changed. He used to be the go-to guy for everything, but now that the hotel renovations were finally wrapped up, he was working as a receptionist in the lobby. Still, he looked like he was feeling a little put out about it.
When I arrived, he knocked on my office door and came in, giving me a sheepish grin. “Victoria, is there any way I can switch jobs? HR wants me out front as a receptionist, but I can’t be in the public eye like that.”
I laughed. “I know you’ve got special circumstances, so being out there isn’t a good idea. How about you become my assistant instead? You can help me out behind the scenes, run errands, and handle paperwork for me.”
Ryan’s eyes sparkled, and he nodded right away. “Awesome! This suits me perfectly.”
I smiled, taking a closer look at him. Wearing the hotel’s tailored suit, he looked so much more polished and sophisticated. Especially with his hair slicked back, those clean lines at his temples highlighted his sharp features. He looked so handsome.
I’d always felt there was something different about him, but I could never quite name it. At that moment, I realized that Ryan carried an undeniable, almost supreme sense of authority.
All it took was a word to HR, and Ryan was my assistant. He handled his work with real care, never slipped up, and even the smallest details were always spot on.
Later that afternoon, Yvonne came by to hang out. She even brought me some homemade bread that the housekeeper baked. Her hair used to be so long it reached her waist, and I’d always come up with new ways to braid it for her.
At that moment, it barely touched her shoulders. She’d just tied it back in a messy little ponytail, with a messy fringe falling over her forehead.
Whenever she looked up, she’d brush the hair out of her eyes. Gone was her usual delicate vibe, and she looked just like a little tomboy.
When she came to see me, she wasn’t throwing tantrums like she used to. She just sat next to me, reading a comic book. Every now and then, she’d wander over to my computer and ask me to teach her a few words.
Just then, her smartwatch buzzed. She glanced at it and pouted, turning to me. “Mom, Tracy’s trying to reach me again. I don’t want to hang out with her, but she just won’t leave me alone lately.”
I was shocked. Yvonne was getting impatient with Tracy.