He chewed remarkably fast and swallowed. “I always forget they’re there. Which means I always forget how great their pizza is.” Seth was a tall string bean of a man who always seemed to be eating.

“You think all pizza is great.” She felt her point was somehow proven by the crumbs in his copper mustache.

He bobbed his head from side to side as he chewed another large bite. “Oh, cool,” he said, pointing his greasy crust at Jax’s monitor, “are you working on the summer fest flyers?”

Jax turned back to her screen. “Yeah. I’ve been working on it for a few hours now. I’ll probably have the first set of proofs ready to go within a day or two.” She looked over the fonts and graphics. Summertime was months away, but plans were already in full swing.

“It’s looking good already.” He tore the crust in half, small crumbs raining down on the floor.

Jax followed the trail and tried her best not to let the mess annoy her. “Thanks. What are you working on?”

“The new golf place in Oakhurst.”

“I’m doing the new golf place in Oakhurst.”

Seth paused with the last bit of crust between his lips. “Did Randy not cc you on the email?” He widened his eyes when Jax shook her head. “He’s such a dick sometimes.”

“Sometimes?” She stood and started for Randy’s office.

“Wait.” Seth reached out and grabbed her arm. Jax looked at his hand on her. They were friendly, but not that friendly. He let go immediately and put his hands up. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

“You’re very muscular.”

“Why did you stop me, Seth?”

He pursed his lips, fanning his mustache out slightly. “It’s not worth it. And I’m not saying that as the coworker that got your account. I’m saying it as the coworker that has heard quite a bit about what you’ve been going through.”

She racked her brain for a time when she’d confided in anyone at work.

“Word travels,” Seth said before she could even question him. “Randy has been fair to you, but in the most unfair way, if that makes any sense. He’s giving you the time you need, but also punishing you.”

She never suspected that anyone in the office ever noticed the way she was treated. “He’s always been this way with me.”

“He has, and I have no idea why. Maybe it’s because you look the way you do or maybe it’s because you don’t kiss his ass.”

“I hate that guy.”

“We all do.” Seth laughed. “But if you want my theory, I think it’s because you’re very good at your job, and Randy hates that.”

One thing that killed Jax’s artistic spirit was office politics. “That makes zero sense.”