Monday morning met the end of Lilli's Zach drought. If seeing him made her do crazy things, not seeing him made her crazy. She arrived at work on time for once, after spending her weekend writing and getting to know Terry. He was fun to have around, and he treated Rhys like he was special. The three roommates were tight, so it was important the girls liked Rhys's new friend.

Lilli was thinking of the new couple when she stepped off the elevator. She had to stop short before she ran right into a broad chest waiting for the elevator. She didn't, thank God, because the contents of two coffees would have been down the front of his suit. Oh God! His suit! It was well tailored and impeccable. Suit coats were for meeting with authors. When Zach stepped into Ann's office in the morning, he usually had his shirt sleeves rolled up. She stared at his tie. It had little books on it. I love this tie.

Zach put his hands out to stop her. "Whoa."

She smiled, but her dry mouth prevented her from responding. She skirted around him and rushed to her office.

"Lilli, are you okay?" Zach followed behind her.

She looked over her shoulder as she slipped off her coat. She kicked off her boots and took her black pumps out of her bag. "Uh, huh. Just distracted. Sorry."

Zach studied her face too intently, making her wonder if she left toothpaste on her lip. "It's just you looked upset."

She turned as she used her finger as a shoe horn on the back of her ankle. His eyes followed her movements while she clumsily put on her shoes.

"Only because I almost spilled coffee down your nice suit. Do you have a meeting?"

He jumped and lifted his eyes away from her big feet.

Tall girl, big feet. If she was a guy, it would mean something good.

"I do." He spun around and rushed out of her office.

Lilli watched his retreating back before picking up Ann's coffee.

"Did I hear, Zach?" Lilli nodded, afraid to speak. "He's meeting with Ethan Cunningham this morning."

"Is he his agent?" Impressive, he was a best-selling author of crime novels.

"He's looking for a new agent based here in Boston."

She wanted to say he'd chose him, but Mr. Cunningham wasn't a sex deprived twenty-eight-year-old who drooled in Zachary Steele's presence.

Lilli smiled at her boss as she took her first sip. "Maybe he'll be celebrating soon, too."

"If you ask me, he should have borrowed you for the morning. The girl he has now could ruin the deal, besides you'll be his assistant soon."

Don't remind me!

"Lilli, go offer to help Zach."

Reluctantly, she stepped out of her office into reception. Zach was pacing in front of the elevator. His shoulders were slumped and then he stood taller and they immediately slumped again. He looked so unsure and vulnerable and human. Lilli had forgotten he was human months ago. In her mind, he was an untouchable god, too good for the likes of her to even talk to, but her boss had sent her to talk to him.

"Um... Zach..." He turned and looked at her and slouched once again with a sigh. Her mouth was not completely dry as she finished. "Ann sent me to see if you need my, um... assistance. You know because of the way..." She looked around Shania was watching them. "Um... that thing from Friday."

He nodded. "Could you greet him and bring him to my office? I sent Chelsea out for refreshments and she's not back and maybe you can help her serve and look good while it gets done."

She nodded, although she didn't know about looking good. She had to guess he meant competent, not attractive. Chelsea didn't need any help to be attractive.

She smiled and croaked. "Go."

It was no time to be nervous about Zach. Funny, unlike the man in question, famous authors didn't phase her. She met so many while working for Kendall, but she also wanted nothing from them. The authors needed her to either bring them refreshments or to complete their contracts.

She put her phone in her pocket after a quick glance at wiki and stood tall, waiting for the elevator, while wondering if Zach was pacing around his office. The elevator dinging and a middle-aged gentleman dressed in a wrinkled business casual stepped out.

Lilli stepped forward, extending her hand and made eye contact with the man close to her father's age. "Mr. Cunningham, I'm Lillian, an assistant here at Dwyer Mitchell. Let me take your coat."

The man slipped out of his parka, which Lilli draped over her arm. "This way, please. I know Mr. Steele is pleased to be meeting with you." She raised her voice slightly. "Mr. Steele's office is right through here."

"Thank you, Lillian."

She smiled. "Lillian's too formal. Please call me Lilli or you'll remind me of my father when I'm in trouble."

The older man laughed. "I think your father and I have something in common."

She winked. "You have more in common, because he enjoys your books. How old are your children?"

"Both are in college."

"Lovely." She smiled. In front of her, Zach smiled at their exchange, but out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Chelsea heading towards her. "Excuse me." Her voice trailed off, as thankfully, Zach stepped forward with his hand out.

She pivoted out of Chelsea's office and intersected her before she entered with a paper sack from Starbucks and a cardboard drink carrier. Lilli hissed. "Bring it to the kitchen." Her tenure with Kendall was hell, but the experience was invaluable. "Wait here."

The kitchen was hardly bigger than a closet. It contained a fridge, a counter with a microwave, a broken coffee machine, and some cabinets.

Chelsea looked at her with squinty eyes and puffed out lips. The entire look was unbecoming, like a four-year-old. Lilli returned to Zach's office to see what their visitor wanted. Thankfully, he said coffee, although Lilli kept a drawer in her credenza stocked with teas and hot cocoa packages for guests.

She poured both coffees into mugs. "How does Zach take his coffee?"

Chelsea looked at her like she asked for the scientific formula for bleach. It was sodium, chlorine, and oxygen. Another useless thing she remembered. It was from chemistry junior year and might be the only thing she learned.

"How do you not know? It's your job. Oh hell, go ask Ann."

Chelsea smiled. "Is she wearing her diamond?"

Lilli rolled her eyes and wondered if she was ever so clueless. Zach obviously hadn't told Chelsea about Ann's transfer. The girl thought he and Ann were engaged. She busied herself placing the pastries on a plate.

Chelsea returned, "Black."

"Did you get milk?"

The girl looked blank. Sighing, Lilli took the milk she kept on hand and fixed the other coffee. She always had cream, cow's milk, almond and often oat or coconut milk. Kendall expected it, except for the milk milk since she didn't drink it. Ann appreciated it. She hoped Zach would, too.

"Carry the tray and plates. I'll take the coffees."

Zach looked up at Lilli for an uncomfortable moment. Lilli put the coffees down, allowing Chelsea to glow from their overzealous thanks. The girl looked star struck, which surprised Lilli she even knew who Cunningham was.

When Lilli returned to her office, she collapsed in her chair.

Ann's voice sounded concerned. "Lilli is everything, okay?"

She sighed. "The girl didn't know how he drinks his coffee. Who trained her?"

Ann laughed. "Not Kendall. Now, do you wonder why Zach asked for you? No one is as professional as you. Do you think Dwyer would recognize me without your efforts? I'm going to use my influence to make sure you get your well-deserved recognition. Zach too."

Lilli felt flustered. It was obvious he needed her more than he knew. Unable to think of Zach needing her for another moment, she smiled. "Did Chelsea ask to see your ring?"

Ann laughed. "She barged in out of breath and asked how my boyfriend took his coffee."

"What was I to do? I couldn't ask Zach. We would have looked incompetent."

Ann chuckled. "Could you come and train my new assistant?"

"Seriously?"

She shook her head. "I wish, but the Manhattan office is bigger. They have an office manager to train staff and take care of the extra things you do."

"You mean like buy the milk?"

"Exactly."

Lilli settled down to work and was too busy to check on how Zach's meeting went. The growl within told her it was past lunchtime. Ann was still working.

She stood to ask her about lunch when she heard a commotion in reception. She looked out to see Chelsea with raccoon eyes. When their eyes met, she hollered and pointed at Lilli.

"You!"

Ann came out of her office. She was not the most senior agent in their office, but was highly respected. She approached Chelsea and spoke softly and turned to Shania, who stood and went to Chelsea's office to retrieve her coat.

Justin stood in the doorway to the office next to Lilli's. Both watched as Chelsea stepped onto the elevator and left.

Ann turned to Shania. "Please screen Mr. Steele's calls this afternoon. Chelsea will feel better in the morning."

Lilli bit her lip. Hungover, most likely.

Shania said, "What happened? Why was she upset?" The girl with the warm brown glow didn't hide her concern for her friend.

Ann looked around. Everyone was present except Austin, who Justin worked for. Even Zach had emerged from hiding and was leaning against the doorjamb, frowning.

Ann sighed. "You'll be receiving a memo stating I'm transferring to New York. Mr. Steele will move to my office and a colleague from Los Angeles will take Zach's office. Chelsea was apparently upset, because she just learned she will work for a new agent."

Ann walked into her office and Zach followed. Lilli stepped inside so they could enter just as Shania said, "What about the engagement?"

Zach looked at Lilli and laughed. Lilli froze with rubber legs. His smile was beautiful.

Ann sighed. "Lilli, close the door. I don't want them coming in."

Zach said, "Can we please order in?"

Lilli found her legs and picked up her binder of local menus, and handed it to Zach.

"Seriously, I wanted to kiss you when the pastries appeared on a real plate."

Lilli backed out as Ann said, "The girl didn't know how you took your coffee."

"I'd prefer sugar."

"I can't believe she didn't know how you take your coffee." She looked up and four eyes were on her. "Did I say that out loud?"

Zach laughed and nodded, while Ann was already busy on her laptop. Lilli wanted to hide, but she had to wait and order their lunch. They chose Chipotle.

As she placed the order on the app on her phone, Ann said, "Order something for yourself. I know it's your favorite and you deserve it."

Zach said, "I should buy your lunch."

Lilli shook her head and retreated to reception. She went to hide in the kitchen to put the dishes away from the coffee. She had expected to find them air drying, but they weren't or in the cupboard either. Sighing, she went to Zach's office to find the dirty dishes still on the coffee table. Each office had a sitting area with a couch. The couch was important in Office Secrets. She thought of Zach in his suit and then on the sofa. If she kept it up, she'd be damp all afternoon.

Frustrated with Chelsea. The other kind too. She sighed. The twit wouldn't last an hour with a boss like Kendall. Hopefully, the LA agent didn't have high expectations. She washed the dishes and waited for the Chipotle delivery. After it arrived, she carried the food to Ann's office.

Zach said, "Lilli, join us."

"I couldn't." She stepped backwards.

"But I wanted to hear your version of the story. Ann told me when she found you, you were a little abused puppy."

Feeling the heat in her checks, she said, "You must have heard her wrong. One thing I'm not is little."

She turned and went to her desk. Was she angry? Not really. She was embarrassed and felt uncomfortable. Although she and Ann had a rapport, they were not really friends. Lilli had thought she was dating Zach. She didn't know if Ann even dated. One thing she learned from Kendall was assistants and bosses didn't socialize. There was a class system, and she knew her place. Even if what she wrote contradicted it.

Maybe she was wounded. She knew Ann meant to insult Kendall and not Lilli. As if she could read Lilli's mind from blocks away, the phone rang.

"Good afternoon, Ann Fortier's office."

"Hi Lillian. It's Ashley. Kendall would like to speak to Ann."

Lilli shut her eyes, as she remembered Kendall yelling from her desk, Lillian, get Ann Fortier on the line. Blocking the memory, she said, "She's not available at the moment."

"Are you sure? Kendall told me not to hang up until I transferred her."

"Sorry, I need my line free. Tell her Ann will call her at three o'clock. Have a pleasant afternoon."

Lilli hung up. She may have been abused, but she survived. She got up and went over to Ann's doorway.

"Kendall insisted on speaking to you now. I told her you'd call at three."

"We'll make a good team. She scares the crap outta me. Guess who Cunningham's publisher is?"

"Did he sign?" Lilli had forgotten.

"I think we have a good chance. 'My father loves you.' 'How old are your children?' Lilli, my goal is to make you an agent."

"I don't want Chelsea. I'll hire Kendall's assistant."

Zach laughed. Lilli lost count on how many times he laughed at something she said. Her mouth wasn't dry.

Ann smiled. "Zach, when you sign Cunningham, celebrate with Olivia."

Pop! Lilli's bubble of happiness popped. Of course, her perfect man had a girlfriend.

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