Page 69 of His Good Girl

“I can do that.”

“Everyone says that before becoming a subplot.”

“Ben-ja-min.”

His face softened by one molecule, which, for Benjamin, was basically a hug. “He knows you’re here.”

I hated that I needed to hear it.

“I didn’t ask.”

“No,” he said. “You pouted internally with such volume that the lights flickered.”

“I did not pout, internally or otherwise.”

“Ms. Hale, I work for Callum Rowe. I can detect restrained emotion through many square yards of concrete and steel.”

I opened my mouth, closed it, and decided dignity was sometimes a matter of retreat. “Where are the bathrooms?”

“Excellent pivot.”

The morning became a blur of passwords, forms, and Benjamin’s brand of corporate benevolence, which felt like being escorted through a museum by a man who suspected you might lick the paintings. He introduced me to people so quickly I retained almost no names, only impressions starting with Marina at reception, who had kind eyes; Theo in IT, who set up my laptop and told me my temporary password with the dead-eyed resignation of a man who knew I would forget it; Priya from legal, who shook my hand while still reading something on her phone; and Dana, who appeared at 10:00 precisely, wearing a gray blazer and the expression of a woman who had no time for anyone’s shit.

Dana looked at me for three seconds.

“Can you take notes?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Can you take useful notes?”

“I believe so.”

“That is not the same answer.”

“I can take useful notes.”

“Good. Can you tell the difference between urgent and loud?”

I hesitated. “Usually.”

She sighed. “Honest. Unfortunate, but honest.” She looked at Benjamin. “She’ll do.”

“I’m relieved you conducted such an exhaustive interview,” he drawled.

Dana ignored him and looked back at me. “You’re here because Callum thinks you deserve a chance.”

I stood a little straighter. “Yes.”

“That means exactly one thing to me.”

I waited.

“It means Callum thinks you deserve a chance. It does not mean you are useful yet. Become useful.”

Then she walked away and I just stared after her.

Benjamin looked almost emotional. “Wasn’t she magnificent?”