The Mysterious Mr. Hastings

Chapter 06-Chris POV

“I wonder if they’ll introduce new rules,” Diane said, sliding her hand along my thigh under the table. “Like HR policies about dating within the company.”

“Why?” I asked. “What’s the rule now?” Theo and I hadn’t bothered to look into that.

“There aren’t any,” Hugh said. “Date who you want. Even the boss.”

“So if this Christian Hastings ever shows his face, he’s fair game, too,” Diane said with a grin.

“If he hasn’t shown himself by now, he won’t start today,” Allegra said. “Why even bother with it?”

Back at our desks after lunch, Allegra noticed me staring blankly at my keyboard and rolled her chair over.

“Want some help?” she asked. I nodded. Her sharp, tart perfume hit me again, instantly searing itself into my brain. She showed me the software, and I pretended to listen while focusing on the clarity of her eyes.

“You actually know the program?” she asked doubtfully. I nodded.

“I do, but I’m better at drawing by hand,” I lied confidently. I’d never used the software in my life and couldn’t draw to save my soul. Not that I planned on doing much of either here.

“Then you’ll be fine,” she said with a smile, rolling her chair back to her desk.

“You saved me again,” I said. “Thank you.”

“No problem.”

“I’m starting to owe you. A dinner won’t be enough to square the debt soon.”

“Reducing my workload would be help enough,” she said seriously.

“We could start with a coffee,” I suggested. She just smiled and didn’t answer.

—

Simon stopped looking for her name; there was no point now.

Diane was on me every single day. I couldn’t move an inch without her finding some excuse to tag along; she did everything in her power to grab my attention. Under any other circumstances, I would have shut her down immediately, but since we were teammates, I couldn’t afford to make it awkward.

After only a few days, she asked me to drive her home and then openly invited me up to her place. I didn’t turn her down, but I didn’t stay long, either. At least now she won’t be breathing down my neck, and I can finally focus.

“Did you ask Allegra to dinner?” Theo asked that night. We were eating with Simon and Aunt Sydney.

“I’ve asked for coffee, dinner—everything,” I replied. “Her colleague, on the other hand, invited me up today.”

“Christian,” Simon said, his voice heavy with disapproval. “Tell me you didn’t go. Since when do you stoop to workplace flings?”

“I’m not staying in that department long, and she wouldn’t have let it go until I went up,” I said with a grin. “It was the cleanest way to handle it. Tomorrow I won’t be interesting to her anymore; I made that clear while I was getting dressed.”

“I thought you were interested in Allegra,” Theo said.

“I’m not interested in her any more than I am in anyone else,” I replied.

—

Allegra always got in early. Every other day she came from the gym, which explained her incredible figure. I started coming in early, too, to get my actual work done while the office was empty.

“Morning,” I said, leaning back in my chair. She sat down to work. “Always this early?”

“I’m an early riser,” she said. “I value a free afternoon more than sleeping in.”

“You haven’t told me anything about yourself,” I said. “Are you married?” She wasn’t wearing a ring.

“I probably haven’t told you because I didn’t think it was relevant,” she said with a smile. She dodged the question again.

“Are you looking forward to meeting the new management?” I asked.

“I just hope Mr. Hastings is actually decent,” she replied. “I don’t want to lose my job.”

“Miller said no layoffs,” I reminded her. “Hastings promised.”

“I doubt he cares about the lives of average workers,” Allegra replied.

“A few days ago, you said you weren’t judging him.”

“I’m not,” she said. “But a billionaire like that doesn’t have time for individuals. He’d only know the truth if he actually spent time with his workers. Can you imagine Leopold snapping to attention if Mr. Hastings showed up in some expensive suit to ask about the workflow?” She laughed. “Besides, no one would tell him the truth, and he wouldn’t be able to move for all the women throwing themselves at him,” she continued, laughing. “I wouldn’t even be able to get near the breakroom through the crowd.”

“You’re not interested at all in who he is?” I asked, genuinely surprised.

“He has a reason for staying private, and that should be respected,” she answered.

“What kind of man do you think he is?” I pressed, wanting her honest opinion.

“If he built this company, he’s smart and has authority,” she said. “But it can’t be easy for him. It must be hard to find real friends with a name like that. I get why he hides who he is.”

“Would you go to coffee or dinner with him?” I asked carefully.

“His name and his wealth don’t change my standards,” she said with a small smile, then turned back to her computer.