23 - A gem

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Zach knew something was up when Lilli shut his door. The last thing he expected to see was children. He didn't really care if she was watching Leo's kids. If the guy brought them to work every day, he'd raise some concern.

He wanted to answer he hoped so, when Riley asked if Lilli was his girlfriend, but the question had embarrassed Lilli. Faced with looking like a jerk which would never help him wiggle into Lilli's heart, he chose to enjoy the unexpected guests and went for snacks.

Leo came out of his office carrying a tray of dirty cups. "Dad, look." Riley held up her snack.

The older man smiled and placed the tray on Chelsea's desk. "We have thirty minutes. Can you reset for my next meeting? I'll have water. Thanks, you're a gem."

Zach turned to leave and hid his smirk, but Leo followed. He mocked, "You're a gem?"

Leo shrugged. "Handling her is the same as..." He pointed to his daughter. "Praise the results you want."

Good advice. Would you climb into my bed and never leave? Thanks, you're a gem.

Somehow Zach didn't think it would go over so well. He lost any coherent thought when they returned and he saw the boy on Lilli's lap. Her smile was more natural than he'd ever seen. He came to just in time to orchestrate another lunch with Lilli.

The restaurant was more casual than DMLA would approve of for important clients, but it wasn't a business lunch. They sat in a booth with him and Lilli next to each other. She kept her distance, which was just as well. Every time they touched, his blood flowed south.

Leo thanked them for their help. "With the move, we've been in turmoil. By Monday, things will be better. New nanny and new house, right, guys?"

Riley frowned but was too busy with her coke to comment. When they ordered their drinks, Zach could tell soda was a treat. The discussion centered on which pizzas to order. Riley announced she didn't like pepperoni.

Both Lilli and Zach spoke at the same time. "I do."

Leo laughed. "You two." he shook his head. "I can see now why he wanted you so badly."

Zach cleared his throat. "She's a great assistant."

Lilli said, "That's two accusations in two days. I'll get fired over rumors."

Leo laughed. "You can't get fired. Dwyer Mitchell is full of relationships. We had a couple in California. Dwyer met his wife through the agency. Anita is an elite agent."

"Anita?" Lilli asked. It surprised Zach that Lilli didn't know about his uncle.

Leo explained. "Anita Browning. She works in New York with Kurt."

Lilli bounced on the booth as she sat up. She never knew the successful agent was married to Dwyer. Lilli didn't usually miss details. "Browning. That's your girlfriend's last name."

Zach rolled his eyes, but didn't argue. He was eighty percent certain she was teasing him - twenty percent phishing. She had seen them together at JJ's party. "Olivia is Anita's daughter."

Lilli looked at him. "No wonder you became an agent so young."

"I'm thirty. I interned at the agency when I was at NYU." Living in Dwyer's brownstone.

"You and Livvy," Lilli muttered.

Zach felt a trap. "Yes, but..."

Leo said, "I was an agent before thirty. I worked for a small agency when I met Mitchell at a publisher's event and he was interested in expanding his coverage of the younger markets. They hired me as an agent."

"Meanwhile, I know no one, so I was an assistant hired to be an assistant."

"You know me." Zach stopped her chain of thought. "You're on track now if you keep doing what we're doing."

Leo said, "I'll help you, too. I see your potential. Anyone who doesn't is blind."

"You're just glad that I introduced you to Matthew."

Leo smiled. "Imogen and I are still working out some details."

Lilli added. "I met Sam Mazzarelli, but he's already represented by Dwyer Mitchell."

Zach said, "Yeah, Dwyer himself. How did you meet him? Not through Roche-Sumner."

"He likes coffee in the morning. His father-in-law is also friend with my friend's parents. Stepfather-in-law, actually."

Zach laughed. "I lost you at coffee."

She sighed. "When I was still in college, he spent a summer at the beach and came in for coffee every morning. It was the summer he met his wife. She's related to some of my neighbors. It's not that difficult."

Leo asked, "Where's this beach?"

"Maine. Same beach where Matthew lives."

When the pizza arrived, the children took over the conversation. Zach joined in and felt Lilli looking at him. He turned to her. "What?"

"Nothing. I never thought of you hanging out with kids."

She thought of him.

"What? I like kids. Kids like me."

Lilli didn't reply, but Cody had monopolized her attention. He didn't blame the kid. He had good taste.

Their unofficial lunch took under an hour. Once they arrived back at the office, the afternoon turned quieter with Lilli's office back to normal. Zach talked to Josh Roche in hope of by-passing Kendall with her aggressive non-compete clause. He wasn't about to get a reputation as a pushover. Lilli went back to submissions and emails. She was so efficient his productivity increased with her as his assistant. He may have had an internship, but Lilli's Roche-Sumner experience was far more inclusive.

Leo and the kids stopped in at two-thirty to say goodbye. His colleague had a bag full of files, so Zach assumed Leo would work from home.

Lilli had hugs from Cody and kissed his cheek. The minute she pulled away, the purest smile took over her face. Zach felt it where he felt everything involving Lilli.

"Have a good weekend. Good luck with your new house." Lilli waved.

She was still smiling after the chattering disappeared into the elevator.

Zach smiled. "You enjoyed your day with them, didn't you?"

"I did, but I hardly got any work done."

"You're the most efficient assistant I've ever met."

She blushed. It wasn't flattery; it was true.

He could stay all night, but took work home with him, because Lilli wouldn't leave until he did. Staying with her when everyone else left was dangerous. There was nothing stopping him from making a fool of himself. His fantasy was to copy the scene in Ree's book, Office Secrets. It involved a sofa and his dick hardened just thinking about it.

When he stood and entered Lilli's office, he asked her to leave with him, but she was still finishing up. Rather than stand over her and watched her work, he waved and walked away.

By ten o'clock he was tired, but had hoped to hear from Ree. Two nights in a row, they texted. He wasn't any closer to convincing her to agree to let him represent her. She claimed to have stopped writing in order to pursue her career. He had sent her a message, hoping she would reply and was lying in bed when his phone buzzed.

๐Ÿ’ฌR: I haven't changed my mind.

๐Ÿ’ฌZ: I was hoping.

๐Ÿ’ฌR: Nothing had changed my mind.

๐Ÿ’ฌZ: What can I do to convince you?

๐Ÿ’ฌR: Why do you care so much?

๐Ÿ’ฌZ: I really liked your story.

๐Ÿ’ฌR: Do you have your own office secret?

I wish.

๐Ÿ’ฌZ: I'm single. Although people assume I'm in a relationship with my best friend.

๐Ÿ’ฌR: Do you want to be?

๐Ÿ’ฌZ: No. I never felt that way about her. She's family.

๐Ÿ’ฌR: Like a blood relative?

๐Ÿ’ฌZ: No. Her mother is married to my uncle.

๐Ÿ’ฌR: Do you have an assistant like in my book?

๐Ÿ’ฌZ: I have a beautiful assistant.

๐Ÿ’ฌR: Do you like her?

๐Ÿ’ฌZ: It's late. Think about my offer. Goodnight.

He double checked that his alarm was set and put down his phone. Closing his eyes, he saw Lilli with Cody. Every day she surprised him. Professional, quirky, and thanks to Leo's kids, affectionate. He would settle for a kiss on the check, especially if it made her equally as happy. His mind conjured up the sofa scene. He groaned. He would never sleep frustrated. His hand reached into his boxer, as he shut his eyes and imagine it was Lilli's long fingers.

Vote for ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅZach ๐ŸŒŸ


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