She smiled, and the elevator doors opened. She stepped into a lavish lobby, the red G prominently displayed at the back of a semicircular reception area. She expected to find a swarm of computers, and dozens of people taking orders and rushing around to make sure they filled their next-day-delivery promise. She reminded herself that this was the corporate office, not the warehouses, which were scattered all over the world. This was the home of the company’s founder. His personal office.

“You must be Lauren,” came a gruff voice. She knew who he was before he introduced himself. “I’m John; most people just call me Mr. G.”

“Mr. G, it’s an honor to meet you.” She shook his hand. He was tall and built well for a man his age. His skin was tanned in a natural way, he had a full head of white hair, and when he smiled, she saw the resemblance to John.

“Come on back here, and let’s get to know one another.”

“Of course,” she said, walking beside him. She didn’t want to cower behind, that would not make a good impression. She’d read enough self-help books to know that. “Confidence,” Angela had said. “Always show your confidence in yourself without being too overconfident.”

Two hours ago, that would have been impossible.

They walked down a long, carpeted hall and stopped when they reached a pair of wooden double doors. Lauren wasn’t sure what kind of wood, but it was striking.

“I like to stay away from the other offices; it keeps me out of trouble,” he said, opening the door for her.

Lauren stepped inside, expecting his office to be as lavish as his airplane, but it wasn’t. Though luxurious, it wasn’t an in-your-face kind of luxury. Gray, black, and, of course, the company’s signature red could be seen throughout. A gray sofa, gray lounge chairs, shiny black tables, the red G embossed in the tabletops, but not in a distasteful manner. It was a professional office and nothing more. Mr. G’s desk was quite large and was centered in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows that faced the Space Needle.

He must have seen where her eyes traveled because he said, “Don’t need a lot of extra décor with that as a backdrop.” He nodded in the direction of the Space Needle.

“This is perfect,” she said, and meant it.

“Thanks. I hear you met Derek, and in the worst way. Please allow me to tell you how sorry I am. I’ve suspended him for a few days, the old cuss. He means well.”

“It was quite an experience,” she said, wanting to forget that it ever happened. She was just grateful he hadn’t witnessed her embarrassment.

“John called me last night,” he said.

Oh no. Not a good way to start. Surely, he hadn’t spilled the beans, or whatever one called it these days.