“I’ll be cutting it close,” Adam said distractedly. “Let me get you settled before I go.”

He led the way out to the large alcove where she would work. He pointed out the wall of file drawers behind her desk that held most of his clients’ personal information and all the deals he was currently working on.

“Arranged in alphabetical order,” he added.

Remembering his comment to the HR manager, Trish smiled. “I assure you I’m familiar with the alphabet.”

He managed a rueful chuckle. “Let’s hope so, Ms. James.”

Trish grabbed a pad and took fast notes as he gave her a list of names of people whose calls he would always take, along with his cell phone number.

“While I’m gone, you can get your desk arranged, then I’ve left a cost analysis to be typed up, as well as some other letters and documents that need revisions. If you have time, you can start studying what’s inside those file drawers. I’ll need the Mansfield papers when I get back.”

Trish wrote everything down, then smiled. “I’ll take care of everything, Mr. Duke. You won’t be sorry.”

With a look that said he was already sorry, he said, “Call me Adam.”

“And please call me Trish,” she said.

“Right.” He looked at her for a moment, his mouth set in a skeptical scowl.

She smiled expectantly.

“Don’t forget the Mansfield papers,” he said finally, then strolled out of the executive suite, leaving Trish more shaken than she wanted to admit.

“That went well,” Adam muttered in disgust as he pounded the elevator call button. “Knucklehead.”

As he contemplated the attractive brunette who was now assigned to be his interim assistant, three things bothered him. First, the woman had been able to sneak up on him without him even noticing, and that never happened. He attributed his lack of awareness to his angry reaction to the news that his formerly invaluable assistant had run off and left him in a bind.