Page 45 of Exchange of Heart

‘Do you have any info on the meeting in my calendar for tomorrow?’ I asked.

Paddy scrunched his nose and forehead in confusion. ‘I didn’t know you had a meeting booked in. I checked your calendar this morning when I came in.’

A test from the universe. How good are you, really, Nora Claremont? Pretending to be the offspring of the boss is easy when there’s minimal chance you’ll be fired no matter how terrible you are, but proving oneself in front of another company requires knowledge. Knowledge not in my possession about this company, nor the mystery one.

‘Must be new. Can you find out for me?’ I asked.

‘Sure. Want me to get you some lunch around midday? You should be done with that report by then.’

My heart pounded at the thrill of lunch being delivered to my desk. No pacing the street in search of something that wouldn’t risk food poisoning. I could send him to a respectable café for a freshly made meal. Perhaps I could get used to Paddy after all.

‘Can you get me some Mexican?’ I tried to contain the excitement, but the pitch of my voice verged on a whistle impersonation.

‘Since when do you like Mexican food?’

How interesting. Corey hated Mexican food.

‘Well, you know, they say your taste buds are always evolving. In fact, I read this fascinating book the other day about our evolving palates and how our taste receptors…’

Paddy stared as though I had my fingers shoved up my nose.

‘Is there something on my face?’ I rubbed my cheek.

‘What the hell are you talking about?’

‘What?’

‘Reading books about taste buds? Since when do you read books about taste buds? In fact, since when do you read… anything?’

I don’t know whether my heart stopped beating or thumped harder. I couldn’t concentrate on anything other than convincing Paddy nothing strange was going on.

‘You don’t know everything about me.’ I crossed my arms.

Corey’s poor brain was clearly deprived of proper mental stimulation. If I read enough while I’m in his body, perhaps he’d retain some interesting facts. I mentally selected the titles that would benefit him the most, consisting of Female Power and Mysterious or Arrogant.

Paddy mimicked my crossed arms and challenged me with a pointed stare.

‘All right then. What’s my favourite colour?’

‘Green. Although, you tell everyone it’s black because you want to come off as edgy and cool.’

My eyes rolled at the accuracy of that statement.

‘Do I have any fillings?’

‘One down the bottom.’

My tongue ran over the grooves and edges of my teeth which gave away nothing. I’d have to take his word on that considering I hadn’t peered too closely inside this mouth.

‘What do I do when I’m not at work?’

‘Watch TV at mine, and when no one is around to see, you sketch in your notebook.’

Again, I’d have to take him at his word, although now that he mentioned it, I recalled Corey almost always had the same notebook with him. The sketches I’d found in his briefcase were good, and curiosity stung at me until I swelled with the urge to find that notebook at home to see if they were drawn by him.

‘Well. Add ‘tries new food’ to the list of things you know about me. And I’ll see you with my black bean burrito at one. Extra guac, please.’

Ending our conversation with a delightful nod and turning back to my laptop, Paddy walked out having transformed his eager face to confusion.