He laughed.
I didn’t know why that was funny. I was trying to be sincere. Smiling, I started to move off down the sidewalk, wishing I had on sneakers so I could get away faster.
His legs were longer than mine, and he wasn’t wearing stilettos, so catching up was a piece of cake. “Next time, you can buy,”
Glancing over at him, I asked, “Next time?”
“I stop there every morning on the way to the office. Maybe we’ll see each other again.”
“Maybe,” I answered, noncommittal. The large building that was Ansoft towered ahead, and relief made me take a breath. “Well, that’s me, so—”
He made a sound. “You work at Ansoft?”
“I’m the new summer intern.”
“No way,” he mused, chuckling.
“You work there, too?”
He nodded. “In the coding department. I’m on the third floor.”
Bobbing my head, I pretended to know where all the departments were located. The truth was, after seeing Carter yesterday, I was lucky I retained where the design department was located.
As we approached the large glass doors, the man jogged ahead, pulling one open and holding it.
I smiled, ducking my head a little when I went through ahead of him. “Thank you,” I said when he fell into step beside me once more.
“I’m Seth, by the way.”
“Nora,” I replied absentmindedly. My eyes were already roaming the lobby, scanning the security line, and checking every face in search of one in particular.
He’s the freaking CEO. He won’t be in the lobby! I yelled at myself.
He was down here yesterday.
A light touch on my elbow made me jump and teeter on my heels.
“Whoa,” Seth mused, reaching out to steady me.
“I’m okay,” I said, tugging back from his touch. “You just startled me.”
“You were saying what department you worked in.”
I was pretty sure I wasn’t telling him that. In fact, I’d all but forgotten he was there because I was too busy hoping I’d see Carter.
The last thing you need is to see Carter! You shouldn’t even be here!
“Badges,” the security guard called as we drew to the front of the line.
Inwardly, I groaned. I forgot to get my ID badge from HR yesterday.
Because everyone else in this building was a good employee and not completely and totally distracted by some guy, they all had badges hanging around their necks and passed through security in seconds.
Then there was me.
Lifting his eyebrows, the guard gave me a stare when he noted I was not wearing a badge, nor was I holding one out.
“I’m new,” I explained. “I don’t have my badge yet.”
“ID,” he instructed.
Nodding, I stuck a hand into my bag, searching around for my ID. When I didn’t find it immediately, I grew anxious and embarrassed.
Giving a sweet smile to the guard, I held out my coffee. “Can you hold this?”
He blinked, then reached for the coffee.
With both hands free, I went back to digging in my bag. It wasn’t even that big, yet it was suddenly like the Grand Canyon! A nervous laugh bubbled out of me, and I shifted on my feet. “It’s here somewhere…”
Oh my God, where is it? Why is this happening to me right now? I look like a complete and utter idiot on my second day of work.
“Ah!” I said, relief pouring through me when my fingers closed around a card. Ripping it out triumphantly, I held it out toward the guard.
He cleared his throat.
I looked down.
It was my bank card. Not my ID.
The scene in the coffee shop where all my things spilled out of my purse flashed through my mind, making me gasp. “I must have left it there!”
“Ma’am, if you don’t have ID—”
“I do!” I insisted. “I dropped it back there.” I pointed toward the doors behind me.
“I’m going to need to ask you to exit the building.”
“Whoa, wait a minute, Paul,” Seth said, materializing behind the guard. He’d already made it through security and stood on the other side. “She’s telling the truth. She—”
“No ID, no admittance,” Paul said, matter-of-fact.
My cheeks were flaming. “I’ll just go see if I can find my—”
“Let her through,” a new voice commanded.
A blanket of thick silence fell over everyone for the span of a few heartbeats. My body rotated around, automatically moving toward the voice.
My heart fluttered wildly, seeing Carter striding toward us, hands tucked into a pair of well-fitting white jeans and black leather sneakers, not making a sound across the shiny floor.
The black jacket he wore over a grey silk shirt fit him like a glove, accentuating the width of his shoulders and the narrowness of his waist.
Shiny, dark hair fell over his forehead and almost into his dark eyes, which locked on me like a missile acquiring a target.
“Mr. Anders,” the security guard greeted. “This woman here doesn’t have an ID.”
Carter’s eyes didn’t leave me. They glittered like black diamonds, making my throat constrict.
“I-I think I dropped it at the café down the street,” I explained, breathless.
I was well aware of the stares around us, prickling the back of my neck and burning my shoulder blades.
“Let her through,” Carter said again, authority clear in his tone.
The guard stepped aside immediately, sweeping his arm out in a gesture for me to pass.
I hesitated, feeling as if I were breaking the rules, like I was getting special treatment because Carter was standing here.
Carter didn’t care. When I didn’t move, he did, striding forward, wrapping his hand around my wrist, and tugging me onward.
My heels slapped against the floor as I scurried to his side, my bag bouncing against my hip as we went.
“Miss, your coffee!” Paul called out behind us.
Carter stopped walking, and so did I.
“I’ll take it,” Seth offered. Yes, he was still there.
I could almost taste the waves of displeasure emanating from Carter as Seth strode forward and held out the coffee for me to take.
“Didn’t you just tell me you were going to drink this entire thing?” Seth teased, holding it out.
I reached for it, but Carter was faster, taking the cup and holding it down at his side. “You two know each other?”
“We met at the coffee shop,” I explained.
“I can’t leave you alone for three seconds, can I?” Carter asked.
My eyes went wide. “What?”
Seth turned curious eyes to me. “You know our CEO?”
“She calls me Carter.”
Gasping, I was quick to try and refute him. “No! I—”
“C’mon, you’re going to be late.” Carter didn’t let me finish what I was trying to say and tugged me alongside him.
I tripped and stumbled. Carter released my wrist to put an arm around my waist.
“Let go of me!” I hissed. “People are watching.”
“If you don’t want me to help you walk, then you should wear more sensible shoes.”
The elevator dinged open the second he approached, as though it too obeyed his every command. Without stopping, he stepped inside, pulling me right along with him.
“I’ll see you tomorrow!” Seth called, and Carter’s security stepped in front of the doors as they began to close so he couldn’t try and get in the elevator with us.
The second they were shut, Carter let go of me and turned. His eyes were dark and bottomless as they intently stared down at me. “You will not see him tomorrow.”
“I need to go back to the coffee shop. I dropped my ID.”
“I’ll have someone go get it.”
“I’ll go,” I insisted.
One dark brow arched, disappearing behind the curtain of
hair on his head. “Are you defying a direct order from your CEO?”
Smiling sweetly, I pushed up onto my tiptoes. “But just downstairs, you said I called you Carter.”
The elevator jolted, making me pitch to the side. Teetering on my toes, I would have fallen, but he was there. Both arms shot out, catching me around the middle and keeping me from hitting the floor.
His face was close as he bent toward me. The scent of his cologne and leather jacket mingled, creating something intoxicating and unique. Fingertips digging into his sleeve, I clutched a little tighter than needed and drew in a deep breath.
The expression in his eyes left me spellbound. The man I’d filed away into my heart and head as a fantasy was suddenly standing right here… in my reality.
I didn’t know how to react or feel.
“You’re not supposed to be here,” I whispered, still clutching his arms.
“Where else would I be?” he whispered back.
There went my heart again, fluttering wildly and making it impossible to breathe.
The elevator slid to a stop, and the doors prepared to open. Carter righted me swiftly and stepped back.
Shuttering some of the heat in his gaze, he glanced away toward the opening doors. “Why are you wearing heels?”
“Because I’m at work.” Duh.
“This is a video game company. You can wear sneakers.”
“Heels make my legs look better,” I grumped, not necessarily speaking to him.
“No one is going to be looking at your legs,” he said, harsh.
A woman waiting outside the elevator giggled.
Embarrassed, I rushed past, leaving Carter in my wake. I made it maybe four steps when I realized I wasn’t even on the right floor. And I didn’t have my coffee.
Turning back, my belly dropped when I saw Carter standing there staring at me like he was just waiting for me to realize I was lost.
I felt my eyes narrow. “How much did you see downstairs?”
His lips pursed. “Don’t let him touch you again.”
I blinked. I wasn’t expecting that. “What?”
“I’ll fire him.” There wasn’t an ounce of humor in his tone.
My mouth dropped open. “Seth? He didn’t touch me.”
“He had his hand on your back.” Then, as if using it as evidence, Carter held up the coffee, which was already dripping with condensation. “He bought you this, didn’t he?”
I rushed right up in front of him to hiss, “Oh my God! Did you follow me to work this morning?”
His dark eyes rolled. “I didn’t have to follow you to see him drooling all over you.”
“How long were you going to let me embarrass myself in front of the guard before stepping in to say you knew me?” I demanded, surly.
He smirked. “Didn’t you tell me not to talk to you at work?”
I made a face. “Yet here we are,” I said, motioning between us. Straightening, I gazed around. “Where are we anyway?”
Carter tossed my iced coffee in a nearby trashcan.
“Hey!” I gasped. “I was drinking that!”
“C’mon, we’re getting your badge.” Taking hold of my wrist again, he dragged me forward.
“I didn’t even have breakfast! I need that coffee.”
His footsteps halted instantly. Turning around completely, his tall frame blocked everything else from sight. “Why didn’t you eat breakfast?”
“How can I do anything when you show up here and completely distract me?” The second I blurted out the truth, I realized what I’d done. Embarrassment burned by face, so I dipped my chin.
“That was yesterday morning.”
I didn’t say anything.
He shifted in front of me, arms wrapping over his chest. “You mean to tell me you haven’t eaten since you saw me?”
“Of course I have.” I lied. “You aren’t that distracting.”
Saying nothing, Carter unfolded his arms and reached inside his jacket to pull out his cell. My eyes lifted when he held it up to his ear and spoke into the line. “Nora lost her ID at the coffee place down the block. Go get it and bring back an iced coffee with cream and some kind of breakfast sandwich.”
I started to protest, but he silenced me with one swift look.
“I’m at HR,” he said into the phone, then made a sound. After a moment, he said, “I’ll be in my office.”
When the phone was put away, he motioned down the hall with his head. “Your ID.”
“I can get it myself,” I muttered.
“I told you to get it yesterday. You didn’t. I had to come all the way downstairs to get you this morning.”
How offensive. “I can take care of myself.”
His warm chuckle set my heart to bouncing again.
Damn him.
We rounded the corner into a large office space with a long white counter up front. The second Carter stepped under the archway, everyone in sight stood.
“Mr. Anders,” and, “CEO,” collectively echoed through the room.
Carter smiled, the curve of his lips transforming his face into something I wanted to stare at.
Fine.
Who was I kidding? I would stare at him even if he had a paper bag over his head.
“Good morning, everyone.” He spoke, friendly. “This is our new intern, Nora Williams. She needs her ID badge.”
“I have that right here,” one of the women said, rushing around her desk toward the long counter.
“Then I will leave her in your care.”
Carter started to walk away, but I grabbed his arm. “You’re leaving?”
A few whispers floated through the room behind us.
He glanced between where I grabbed him and my face.
Flustered, I pulled back.
A satisfied smile curved the corners of his lips. Leaning down beside my ear, he spoke softly so only I could hear. “Don’t worry, good girl. You’ll see me again later.”
My teeth sank into my lower lip, and I had to force myself not to watch as he slowly walked away.
Carter
“Bro,” Bryan announced, striding into my office. “Tongues are wagging.”
Glancing up, I noted Aaron appearing out of nowhere to close the office door so whatever was said between my partner and me would be confidential.
“And what is it that has our employees so entranced that they are gossiping instead of working?”
“You.”
Looking up from the monitor, I pointed to myself. “Me?”
“In the five years we’ve owned this company, you’ve been in the lobby… What? Three times?” He sat down across from my desk. “And two of those times have been in the last two days.”
“I wasn’t aware I needed permission to walk around my own damn company.”
Bryan raised both eyebrows. “You and the intern, huh?”
Picking up the mug of coffee at my elbow, I sipped it while regarding him. “Is that what people are saying?”
“You can’t really expect people wouldn’t notice when you—the most unsocial CEO in Miami—starts venturing off the top floor and dragging a mere intern around by her arm.”
“I don’t drag people anywhere.”
Bryan’s smile was swift. “Pardon me. What I meant was you held on to her while she ran behind you to keep up.”
Rolling my eyes, I set down the mug. “Is this what you came in here for?”
“I want details.”
“Seems like you already got them in the hallways.”
Cursing beneath his breath, Bryan sat forward. “Don’t play me like that, Anders. I’m just as shook as everyone else around here. You never show interest in anyone.”
Pressing my hand to my chest, I pretended to be affronted. “But, Bry, I thought you knew how I felt about you.”
He laughed. “Fess up.”
“There’s nothing to tell.” Well, maybe there was, but he didn’t need to know about our night back on the island.
“You
’re interested in her.”
“Yeah.” I confirmed.
“Is that why you hired her?”
“Partly,” I allowed. “But her work is good. Have you looked at it?”
He made a face. “Of course I did.” He sat back in the chair. “She’s got talent.”
“Then I guess it doesn’t matter if I’m interested or not.”
“Don’t be an ass, Anders.” Bryan called me out. “I don’t give a rat’s testicle if you do her in your office, because I know damn well you can handle the business. But everyone else in this building is a lot less forgiving.”
“Meaning?” I pressed, even though I knew what he was implying.
“Meaning that poor girl is going to get the shit end of the stick from everyone, and no one is going to take her seriously.”
The way she’d looked when she found out I owned this place flashed through my mind.
Don’t talk to me at work. People will think I slept with the boss to get my job.
I teased her when she said it, but deep down, I knew she was right. I put her in a shitty position because I couldn’t help myself. Because for the first time, I wanted something in my life besides work.
Pushing out of the chair, I went to the window to gaze out across Miami. “So what do you propose I do?” I asked my friend.
He made a rude sound. “Fuck if I know. I don’t mix business with pleasure. But you better figure out something, or the jealous bitches in this company will rip her apart.”
My hand clenched into a fist at my side. Bryan’s words brought forth a fury inside me that felt volatile and dangerous.
“It’s just a summer internship,” I muttered.
“So are you just scratching some kind of itch you got? In a few months, she’ll be out of your system and back to wherever she came from?”
I spun, pinning him with a look.
Holding up his hands, he shook his head. “I’m just asking. Do you really want to cause an uproar at the company because you got an itch?”
“She’s not an itch,” I growled.
“All right.” Bry relented. “Like I said, I don’t care. She’s talented. You’re the CEO. You can hire who you want. I’m just warning you of what I see and reminding you there’s already enough drama brewing.”
“Regal Tech still pissed?”
Mr. Fantasy: (A standalone romance) Page 8