She handled the computer situation then went back to her office to hide for a bit and look over the weekly numbers. She still was most comfortable by herself in her office, but she knew she had to get over that and make a real effort to be out and about, visible with both staff and guests. But she did have some reporting to do, so was happy to spend the next few hours surrounded by numbers. She was just finishing up for the day when David poked his head in her office.

“Am I interrupting?” They’d only seen each other in passing so far that day. He was working on a project for her grandfather and Paula had been making her rounds earlier.

“Not at all. I just finished up what I was working on. What are you up to?”

“I just met your cousin. I thought she was quite charming, and we chatted for about ten minutes or so. But then I brought up your name, and well, I saw a different side of her. She’s not too happy with you at the moment.”

Paula sighed. “I know. She blames me for her losing her job. She probably thinks I manipulated Grandfather into doing it. She should know me better than that, but she doesn’t take the time to really see things as they are.”

“I tried to explain to her that you had nothing to do with it. That your grandfather had reached out to me and I suggested he do the same thing. Not that he choose you, necessarily, as I didn’t know you, but just that it seemed time for Andrea to move to a different role.”

“How’d she take that?”

David chuckled. “Well, she stopped flirting with me pretty quick.”

Paula laughed. “That’s Andrea for you. I do hope she likes the new job, though.”

“She seemed to be. She was chatting away with an older couple and gave them some good restaurant suggestions. She can be quite engaging.”

“When she wants to be, yes. She’s probably the most social of all of us. She’s always up for going out.”

“And you’re not?”

“Oh, I like to go out, sometimes. I am kind of a homebody, though. After a long day, I love to relax and unwind at home usually. What about you?”

“Kind of in the middle, I guess. I like to grab a drink after work occasionally. Do people do that much here? Other than Andrea?” He raised his eyebrows and Paula laughed again.

“My brother Nick is always up for going out after work. You should go with them sometimes. More often than not, they get a drink here. Outside if the weather is nice. That’s my favorite bar here, too. We have some good entertainment on the patio Thursday through Sunday nights.”

“I’ll have to check that out. We should all do after work drinks one of these days.”