Chapter 110: Busy Floor

There was a pause on the other end.

"Mrs Heathcliffe... what can I do for you?"

Naomi leaned one hip against the reception desk. "So, I have a teeny-weeny problem. I think you can handle it for me. I was thinking of surprising my husband at work..."

"Didn’t get enough of him at home, eh?" Adrian clearly hadn’t been able to help himself.

"Adrian, focus!"

The receptionist glanced up briefly, then returned to whatever she was doing, looking very much like she had dismissed Naomi as someone else’s problem.

"I want to surprise my husband, but I cannot get through." She emphasized husband just enough to make the word travel across the desk.

The receptionist did not react.

"Where are you?" Adrian asked.

"Downstairs. In the lobby."

"One minute."

Naomi heard movement on his end, followed by the distinct clicking of buttons on what sounded like his desk phone.

A few seconds later, the receptionist’s phone rang. Naomi watched her pick it up.

"Reception."

A beat passed. Then the woman’s entire expression changed. Her spine straightened. Her face went pale.

"Of course, Mr Archer."

Oh, this was beautiful. Naomi remained perfectly quiet, enjoying the transformation in front of her.

"Mrs Heathcliffe, are you there?" Adrian came back on the line.

Naomi’s eyes stayed on the receptionist. "Yes, my forever darling."

"Ugh..."

She heard his groan clearly. Naomi grinned.

"Well..." Adrian continued, sounding resigned to whatever strange relationship he had somehow developed with his boss’s wife. "Open sesame, ma’am."

"Thank you, darling." Naomi ended the call.

Then she turned toward the receptionist with the sweetest smile she could possibly produce.

"What floor?"

The receptionist swallowed. "Partners’ floor, ma’am. Just tap on the button."

Naomi nodded graciously. "Thank you." She turned away before the smile on her face became completely inappropriate.

This was childish. She knew that. Naomi headed toward the elevators. She stepped inside and pressed the button for the partners’ floor.

As the doors closed, she glanced at her reflection in the polished metal and adjusted her bag. The elevator climbed.

Then the doors opened. Naomi stepped out immediately and stopped. The floor was a busy hive. Assistants moved between offices. Lawyers crossed the corridor mid-conversation. People spoke in low, hurried voices.

Naomi suddenly became very aware that she had wandered into a strange world. Maybe she shouldn’t have come.

Adrian appeared before Naomi had fully decided whether to retreat back into the elevator. "Mrs Heathcliffe?"

She turned toward him distractedly. "Hmm?"

"Mr Heathcliffe is in a partners’ meeting at the moment, but you can wait in his office."

Naomi’s brows lifted. "If he’s busy, I’ll just leave. Never mind."

Adrian gave her a patient look. "Mrs Heathcliffe, I’m sure he will be happy to see you."

Naomi glanced around again. She wasn’t so sure. "I’m not even sure I’m supposed to be here. This is all just so overwhelming." Her eyes tracked another group of people moving quickly past them, all carrying folders and looking like they knew exactly where they were going. "Who are all these people?"

"Associates."

Naomi nodded as though that explained everything. It did not. Adrian stepped closer and gently took her by the arm, guiding her forward before she could change her mind and disappear into the elevator.

"Paralegals too. Partners’ assistants. A few senior associates."

Everyone seemed expensive.

"But it’s a busy day," Adrian continued. "We have a crisis at the moment, so this floor is more crowded than it usually is."

Naomi stopped walking. "A crisis? Then I definitely should not be here. Look at this place. Everyone looks important."

"Mrs Heathcliffe—" Adrian called moving her forward again.

"And why does everything look so bright? Even the walls look like they cost more than Dorian’s townhouse."

"You have every right to be here."

"Oh no.... I don’t."

Adrian stopped walking and turned toward her properly. "Do you know the power your new name carries, Mrs Heathcliffe?"

"I’m learning slowly."

"If I were you, I’d use what you have wisely, Mrs Heathcliffe." Adrian resumed walking and stopped in front of an office. He opened the door. "Here you go."

Naomi stepped inside. Then stopped. Her eyes widened. She turned around in shock. "I thought his office would be more private." She looked at the glass again. She could see everything from inside the office.

Adrian smiled. "Hoping for a little office tryst, Mrs Heathcliffe? I thought you saved those for Saturdays."

Naomi turned and gave him a small slap on the shoulder. "Look at you teasing me. I thought you didn’t like me."

"Oh, I do like you. I just don’t want to be attached to you."

Naomi’s smile faded a little. "Right, because I’m leaving in a few months."

"Can I ask you a personal question?"

"Of course."

"Do you have to?"

Her brows drew together. "What?" She stepped closer, curious now.

"Leave. Do you have to leave?"

"Adrian, you drafted our contract."

"The contract I drafted is different from the one you both are working with right now, is it not?"

Well.

Technically...

Yes.

"You added a few fun things. Contracts can be edited or thrown in the fire, Mrs Heathcliffe." Adrian stepped backward. "Please, make yourself comfortable." He walked out and shut the door behind him.

Naomi took a deep breath. She turned around and looked properly at Dorian’s office. It wasn’t what she had expected.

From the feel of the office alone, anyone could tell Dorian adored his family. There were photographs on the walls.

Family gatherings.

A single one of his father was the biggest. Naomi smiled faintly. Her eyes moved toward the shelves.

A few plaques were arranged neatly. There were also several autographed items displayed carefully.

Naomi stepped closer to inspect them. Probably from famous people he had represented. She wandered around Dorian’s desk, taking everything in.

The office was beautiful in a very Dorian way. Nothing unnecessary, nothing out of place, and just enough personality to remind anyone who entered that the man occupying it was not nearly as emotionless as he liked to pretend.

Her gaze landed on the jacket draped over the back of his chair. She lifted it, brought it closer and inhaled.

That faint clean scent she had somehow learned without realizing she was learning it. A smile immediately spread across her face.

Then common sense returned. Naomi spun around quickly. The glass walls suddenly felt extremely offensive.

Was anyone watching her? She scanned the busy floor outside. Nobody seemed to be paying attention.

Thank God.

Imagine getting caught sniffing her husband’s jacket like some lovesick lunatic. She carefully smoothed the fabric and placed it back exactly where she had found it.

Then she sat in his chair. Naomi leaned back and looked through the glass walls at the people moving around the floor.

She wondered what it felt like for him to sit here every day, watching all these people who worked with him, answered to him.

He must feel like a king. No wonder he acted like one. She smiled to herself. King Dorian Heathcliffe.

The title fit far too well.

After a few minutes of sitting quietly, however, Naomi started getting restless. She had no idea how long the partners’ meeting would last, and she was beginning to wonder whether surprising him had been such a brilliant idea after all.

She pushed herself to her feet. Her bag caught on something near the desk.

"Oh, come on."