Chapter 4
Rebecca watched with amazement as Leila began organizing their office. To say her new assistant was efficient was like saying Niagara Falls was a nice pond.
"Dr. Monroe, you have a 10:00 with Agent Hotchner and Chief Strauss; a 2:00 with the Director and a phone conference at 4:00 with General Simon at the Pentagon."
"Thank you, Leila. Is there any chance I can squeeze in lunch somewhere?" Rebecca was not about to go to a meeting with the Director of the FBI and have her stomach growl; especially since she'd skipped breakfast this morning.
Leila shook her head, "No ma'am, but I 'm having some sandwiches brought in. I thought we could have a working lunch and get a head start on your schedule for the rest of the week."
Rebecca looked at the itinerary Leila handed her. "Leila, are you happy here?"
Leila tried to hide her surprise, "Yes ma'am."
She looked at the young woman in front of her. Leila was pretty, but she hid her beauty with oversized clothing and thick rimmed glasses. Her auburn hair was pulled back in a tight bun and her pretty green eyes were overshadowed by thick, unruly eyebrows. Her nails were torn and jagged and Rebecca didn't even want to think about where one could buy such hideous shoe's.
"If you ever decide to leave the bureau, give me a call, I have a place for you at Magnolia Ridge." She smiled and watched the young girl beam at the compliment.
"Thank you..." she began and stopped suddenly as Dr. Spencer Reid rapped at the door.
"Sorry to interrupt, but Hotch asked me to bring these files and make sure your meeting is still on for today?" The young agent smiled and nodded at Leila. For a moment Rebecca thought her assistant would melt in a puddle. She obviously had a crush on the young man.
"Aaron is asking you to run errands?" Rebecca asked.
"Oh,,,,no...I was on the way to the break room and told him..." he began to stutter, "Hotch never,,,,I mean he..."
Rebecca reached for the file, "It's okay Dr. Reid. I've know Aaron for a long time and I guess that was my off-hand way of teasing." She watched him relax. He really was a handsome young man. No wonder her assistant went goggle-eyed when he walked in. "I'm Dr. Rebecca Monroe. I'll be handling your annual psychological review."
"Yes ma'am. I'm Spencer Reid. Doctor Spencer Reid." He shook her hand and smiled.
Rebecca gave the file to Leila, "Dr. Reid, do you know my assistant, Leila Matthews?"
Leila looked as if she would sink into the nearest hole she could find.
Spencer smiled, "Yes ma'am. Leila helps out when the BAU is short handed. Good assistants are hard to find."
Leila looked as if God himself had just given her a compliment. Rebecca almost laughed outright. It took every ounce of control she had to keep from grinning from ear to ear.
"Thank you," Leila managed a shy smile and turned to busy herself at her immaculate desk.
"Tell Aaron that I'll be there and thank you for the file, Dr. Reid."
Rebecca watched the young man move down the hall. Her information on Dr. Reid was puzzling. His mother was schizophrenic, he had been to several doctors in the DC area with complaints of migraines, he had been kidnapped and drugged, a habit she knew he had overcome but still attended meetings, and he had trust issues with some of the other agents.
She heard Leila sigh, and without looking in her directions, asked, "Does he know?'
No answer.
Rebecca turned and faced her, "I take that as a no."
No answer.
"Leila, I know it's none of my business but as one woman to another, if you want a man's attention you need to decorate."
Leila's head snapped up. "Decorate?"
Rebecca smiled. "Tell you what. Today during lunch, we're going to carve out some girl time."
"Girl time?"
Rebecca picked up the file she'd handed Leila. The only reason she'd relinquished it was to draw Spencer Reid's attention to Leila. She walked into her office, but before closing the door she winked at Leila. "Girl time. When I'm done with you – you're going to knock Dr. Spencer Reid's socks off. As we say in Georgia; there's more than one way to peel a peach."