“Please call me Abby,” she said impulsively when it became apparent that he wasn’t going to hold her impatience against her. His hand closed over hers, his grip firm without being overpowering. It was a confident grip, accompanied by a brief smile.
Abby hadn’t seen him smile much and was struck by the warmth in it.
“And how’s school going, Abby?” he asked, sitting in his desk chair and swiveling it to face her.
Abby caught a movement on her left as Valerie jerked her head to stare at her. Valerie obviously hadn’t known Abby was studying to get her business degree, making it even more astonishing that Parker had.
“F-fine.” When Valerie had asked about obligations, Abby hadn’t mentioned her night classes. “I have my final exam this week, and then the spring term will be over.” She understood that nothing could interfere with her duties to Parker Laird.
He hadn’t missed Valerie’s look of surprise. “I believe Abby is taking advantage of our tuition reimbursement program,” he said to Valerie.
“I’d forgotten that,” she murmured.
“What are you studying?” Parker asked. As he spoke, he removed the tape from the recorder and handed it to Valerie, who wrote on the label.
“Business Administration,” Abby answered, conscious that Valerie was less than pleased with her.
Parker nodded, then swiveled back around, obviously finished with the small talk. “Schedule for this afternoon?”
Turning on her recorder, Valerie instantly began reading appointments from her book which Parker either confirmed, or amended, then added comments.
They spoke in a rapid shorthand that Abby could barely follow. Parker’s day was scheduled in fifteen-minute blocks until ten o’clock at night and, sometimes, he was doing more than one activity during a block.
He returned phone calls while exercising on the treadmill. He met with people during meals. He dictated during his commute.
The man apparently never took a break. It wouldn’t surprise Abby to know that he listened to self-help tapes in his sleep.
She, who worked full-time and went to school at night, felt like a slug in comparison.
“Abby, when do your classes meet?” he asked.
The question surprised her. “I’m just taking one this semester. It meets Tuesday and Thursday nights from seven until ten.”
Incredibly, Valerie was marking it on the master schedule.
“And your final exam?”
“This Thursday.”
“Block out Wednesday evening as well, Valerie,” Parker instructed. “She’ll need to study.”
Abby was both stunned and touched that a man who regularly functioned on a global scale would even think of such minute details—or care.
Perhaps that was his secret: think big, but don’t forget little. She was going to learn a lot in the month ahead.
For the next ten minutes, Abby listened to more rapid-fire directions and updates and wondered how on earth she would ever keep up.
“That’s enough for now.” Parker pulled his cuff back and glanced at his watch. “Let Abby update the schedule and then she can work with you this afternoon.”
A look passed between Parker and Valerie.
“Go ahead and get started on the schedule,” she said, closed the calendar and passed it and the tape to Abby. “The name of the computer file is printed at the bottom.”
Abby stacked the book with the directory and stood. They were going to talk about her, she knew. “Shall I transcribe the tape as well?”
Valerie nodded, and Abby walked briskly from the room.
“She’s very young,” Parker commented as he watched Abby’s retreat, then leveled his gaze at the woman who’d been his father’s Executive Assistant and then his when he’d become CEO of Laird Drilling after his father had died. “Interesting choice.”
“Abigail Monroe is bright and a hard worker.”
“I’ve read her performance reviews.” Parker tapped a file folder on his desk. “But she’s only been on staff, what, six weeks?”
Valerie shifted. “That’s true, however, I feel she’ll have more flexibility than Barbara or Nancy.”
“Flexibility is important.” Parker smiled inwardly. Valerie had been able to meet his eyes as she spoke, he’d give her credit for that.
He knew exactly what she was doing by leaving an inexperienced substitute in her place while she was gone, and under other circumstances, he wouldn’t allow it.
But these were not normal circumstances. The strongest quality little Abby Monroe had going for her was a freckle-faced, farm girl unsophistication that wouldn’t appeal to his brother, Jay.
Valerie must have been thinking along the same line. “Should I brief her on all the... unique aspects of the El Bahar project?”
“You can stress how important it is that Jay not be distracted in any way from his preparations to head up that operation.” Parker smiled grimly. “And I’ll make sure there are plenty of preparations to keep him occupied until the minute his plane leaves the ground.”
“Oh, Mr. Laird!” Valerie gripped her hands. “I shouldn’t be abandoning you now, of all times!”
“You don’t have a choice.” Reaching across his desk, Parker plucked an envelope containing two firstclass airline tickets from his blotter. He’d also upgraded their stateroom to a suite. “In all the years you’ve worked for me, Gordon has never complained about missed dinners and holiday crises. If you canceled his cruise, he’d never forgive either of us.” He slid the envelope over to her. “Happy anniversary.”
“Mr. Laird!” Valerie swallowed, obviously preparing to gush her thanks.
Parker forestalled her with an upheld hand. “Have a good time.”
Abby concentrated on keeping her knees from wobbling as she made her way over the thick carpeting and back to her desk.
She was going to be Parker Laird’s Executive Assistant!
Mentally, she repeated this astonishing fact until her breathing slowed and she could think once more. Reaching her desk, she dumped everything onto it, then allowed her knees to give way as she sank onto her chair.
Hello, I’m “Abigail Monroe, acting as Parker Laird’s Executive Assistant while Ms. Chippin is away. Mr. Laird will be entertaining a party of five Thursday evening at eight-thirty.
This is Abby Monroe, Parker Laird’s Executive Assistant. Please reserve the Presidential suite for Mr. Laird.
This is Abby Monroe...yes, that’s right. Parker Laird’s Executive Assistant...
How many times had she imagined saying those words or a variation? Becoming an Executive Assistant had been Abby’s goal ever since she’d started working at Laird Drilling and Exploration.
She hadn’t realized such a position existed until she’d listened to the office talk and then it seemed like a perfect job. Excitement, travel, responsibility, meeting famous people—that’s the kind of life Valerie Chippin had.
She rode in a limousine with a driver, attended luncheons at fancy restaurants with fancy foods, wore designer suits and traveled to exotic destinations. Valerie Chippin lived the way Abby had dreamed of back when she was growing up in the tiny town of Haste, Texas.
When Abby had been promoted to Valerie’s staff just weeks