"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "About everything I said. I said all those things in the fit of anger…and I'm really really sorry for that."
Her apology wasn't rushed or defensive. Austin could feel her honesty and sincerity in her words and see it on her face.
"And…I'm sorry about the contract threat. I shouldn't have said that either."
Relief flooded on her face.
"I guess we are both terrible when it comes to words," she said as she tried to smile.
"I agree."
Then he reached for the scattered papers agai k released, and she did the same. They gathered them in silence and stood up together.
"You're fired," he said.
"Huh?"
"From being my steward," he titled his face. "Because Harrington's back will miraculously recover by tomorrow."
She laughed.
"Also…," he added. "I prefer the chronological system. Inform Harrington that the alphabetical arrangement is no longer acceptable."
"Of course," she said, with a hint of pride in her voice.
