Meet Mr. Prince Read Free Page B

important. That’s why I thought of you.”
    â€œBut, Alex, that’s not what I do, I don’t work in an office, and I don’t want to waste—”
    He held up his hand. “Wait. Hear me out before you say you don’t want the assignment.”
    Georgie made a face.
    â€œThis is only temporary, Georgie. Just until we can find a permanent replacement. Both Zach and I intend to keep looking, but in the meantime—as soon as you can wind things up here—you’re perfect for the job. You don’t need any training, and you can be an immediate help to Zach, which is a huge plus. And just because you’re working out of the office doesn’t mean you won’t go into the field. In fact, being Zach’s assistant means you’ll get plenty of chances to look into possible beneficiaries of the Hunt Foundation—the onlydifference being that those beneficiaries will mostly be in the eastern part of the U.S. Wouldn’t you like to go to Appalachia?”
    â€œWell, of course, I’d like to go to Appalachia, but—”
    â€œBut what?”
    â€œI like doing evaluations. That’s what I’m good at.”
    â€œI know that. It’s one of the big reasons you’re so perfect for this job. Zach tells me the pile of requests for assistance is stacking up faster than they can look at them.”
    â€œYou’re saying I’ll still get to do the evaluations and make recommendations?” Georgie knew she sounded skeptical. Shoot, she was skeptical. In her experience, assistants didn’t get the interesting jobs. They got the jobs the directors didn’t want to do themselves, probably involving tons of paperwork, which Georgie despised. Suddenly a new thought struck her. “Did my mother put you up to this?”
    â€œPut me up to what?”
    â€œSending me to New York.”
    â€œGeorgie, come on…don’t be paranoid.”
    â€œI’m not being paranoid. I know my mother. If she had gotten even an inkling about what happened in Burundi, I know she’d have been on the phone to you in an instant.”
    â€œI haven’t talked to your mother. She knows nothing about this assignment.”
    â€œYou’re sure.” But even as she said it, she could see from Alex’s expression that he was telling her the truth.
    She sank back in her chair, her shoulders slumping.
    â€œCome on, Georgie. Cheer up. This assignment is going to be good for you. Good for all of us.” When shedidn’t answer, Alex added softly, “Have I ever steered you wrong?”
    It killed her to say it, but she finally said, “No.”
    Alex started to say something else but quit because their waiter had brought their food. When he left them alone again, Georgie sighed and said, “You’re sure this assignment is only temporary?”
    Alex raised his right hand. “I swear, this is absolutely temporary. And the more you can do to relieve Zach, the more time he’ll have to find a replacement for you.” Then came the kicker. “If you do this for me, Georgie, I’ll owe you.”
    Georgie wished she could say no. She knew if she adamantly refused to go to New York, Alex wouldn’t force her. But how could she? Alex was her boss and her friend. He’d never before asked for a favor. And she owed him big time, even though he was too nice to remind her of that fact.
    â€œOh, all right, Alex. You win.” She picked up her chopsticks. “How soon do you want me to be there?”
    Â 
    Cornelia’s cell phone vibrated from the depths of her handbag as she walked toward the south entrance of Nordstrom. She managed to find the phone before the call went to voice mail and saw from the display that it was Harry calling. She felt like ignoring the call, but a mixture of curiosity and the certain knowledge that Harry Hunt, accustomed as he was to people leaping when he said, “Jump,” would