He laughed. “In that case, I think I’ll take one in gray and one in black.”
“Great, let’s ring you up and we’ll schedule your fitting,” I told him, going up to the counter.
It was then the manager noticed me. He jumped off the stool he was lounging on, his eyes wide and full of fear. I shot him a look before turning back to my customer. I quickly rang him up and scheduled his fitting. He thanked me and left. I waited until he was out of the store before I turned to face the manager that was staring at me with a slack jaw.
“Sir, I didn’t know you were coming today.”
“Update your resume,” I told him.
“What?”
I turned to see another younger guy, probably a college kid hovering near the door that led to the office. He looked terrified.
“Did you just get here?” I asked.
He nodded. “Yes, sir.”
I checked my watch. It was eight forty-five. Either he was late or early. The answer to my next question would determine whether he still had a job. “What time are you supposed to start?”
“Nine, sir.”
I smiled. “Congratulations, you’re the acting manager. Can you do that?”
The kid’s eyes brightened. “Really?”
“Can you do it?” I snapped.
“Absolutely.” He grinned, the shock wearing off.
“Good,” I said before spinning back to face the manager staring at me with a horrified expression.
“You can’t fire me!”
“I can and I have. I pay you to help customers, not sit there and ogle your phone like it was a naked woman.”
The man scoffed. “Guys like him never buy anything. They come in, waste my time, and leave without buying anything.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Guys like him? Please clarify that.”
“Old guys!” he shouted.
I looked at him. He was probably in his thirties. I was thirty-four. The man I had just sold two rather expensive suits to was likely late forties, early fifties.
“Old guys,” I repeated. “I suddenly feel like I should make you pay me back for all the money you’ve cost me. My merchandise has no age limits. That man is going to feel like a million dollars when he gets to wear one of the suits I’ve sold him. His old friends are going to see it and the confidence he feels, and they are going to want to buy some of their own. You don’t belong here. Get out. Now. Don’t bother listing this job as a reference. I will make sure HR knows you are ineligible for rehire.”
“I’ve worked here for a year! I’ve worked my ass off with no thanks from you.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’ve sat your ass off. Get out of my shop. I never want to see you in here again.”
He called me a few choice names before walking out, throwing the door open wide as he went. I turned to face the kid. Instead of looking scared, he looked like he had won the lottery. “I won’t let you down Mr. Wolfe. I can sell the shit out of the suits.”
Both my brows shot up at his colorful language. “Great. I will be checking in, and if I see anything like I just witnessed, I will run this place myself and fire your ass as well.”
He nodded. “You won’t see that from me. That guy was a loser. He was always on his phone. I did all the work anyway.”
That took me by surprise. “Why didn’t you report it?”
He shrugged. “To who? He was the manager.”
He was right. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a business card. “If you see or hear anything that doesn’t look like it would make me happy, call me. I’m serious. I’m going to be popping in here. If I find out you’re not selling the shit out of my suits, you will be on the street.”
He grinned. “I’m not worried.”
“You should be,” I said and walked out.
I pulled out my phone and called Kyle. It was a crisis that needed to be dealt with. If that kind of behavior was happening in that shop, one of my favorite ones, what the hell was happening in the other shops? Kyle’s phone when straight to voicemail.
Then I remembered I couldn’t depend on Kyle anymore. I was on the hook to deal with the problem on my own. Everything had just gotten a lot more serious. It was just me. I was the guy, the only guy. I had a company that was growing by the quarter and was in seriously short supply of competent people to help me.
I winced, thinking about the person I just fired. I was two for two for the week. I had better slow down or I was going to be manning the whole place myself. When Kyle left, I was going to be in a rough spot. I pushed the thought aside. I would not let it defeat me. I would figure out a way to rise up. I had been doing it all my life, fighting one challenge after another and coming out on top.
I tried Kyle one more time and once again got his voicemail. I hopped in another cab and headed for the office. My HR department, which was just two people, were not going to be thrilled with me. I knew I would get a lecture from Bonnie. I would remind her I had lost three people in a matter of two days. One more wouldn’t kill me.
Chapter 6
Willow
I barely made it on time to the interview. Jake was having a hell of a morning and had put up quite a fight about going to school. He hated school. I hated that he hated it. I hated that he was unhappy. I had done some research into the school Lilly had told me about and was very interested in taking her up on her offer. Something had to change, and if that meant sending Jake to a private school with smaller class sizes and a more structured environment, so be it.
“Hello,” I greeted the man I had met at the café. I had been escorted to a conference room by a pretty young lady out front.
“Hi,” he greeted. “Kyle, in case you forgot.”
I smiled. “I didn’t forget. Trust me. It isn’t every day a hero comes along.”
“Hero? Me? I’m flattered.”
“I need a job, and here you are, offering me a job. I’m sorry. That was presumptuous. Offering me an interview for a job.”
“Have a seat.”
I sat down and looked around the room. There were poster-sized prints of men modeling various suits hung on the walls.
“Is it just you or will your friend be joining us?” I asked, a little anxious to be in the same room as the grumpy Gus again.
“It will just be me.”
I nodded. “Great.”
He sat down across from me, a single sheet of paper on the table in front of him. It felt a little strange to be interviewing for a position I didn’t apply for.
“How about we start with your name?” he said.
I burst into laughter. “Gee, I guess that would help, if I want to receive a paycheck and all.”
He smiled. “Yes, it would.”
“I’m Willow, like the tree, Patting. I have nothing cute to say about the last name.”
“Hello, Willow. Like I told you yesterday, I’m Kyle, and the man you would be working for is Ashton Wolfe, founder and I guess you could call him the CEO of Wolfe Tailored Suits.”
“There’s a creative name.” I smirked before realizing I sounded horrible. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t called for.”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “It’s fine. I had the same thought. Can you tell me a little about yourself?”
I had been to more interviews than I could count. The questions were always the same. “I’m thirty, although you should never ask a woman her age. I am a hard worker. I’ve had a little experience working as a secretary about a million years ago. I show up on time and I can learn just about anything.”
He nodded. “Have you worked with computers and what not?”
I laughed again. “Does playing Oregon Trail count?”
He blinked. “Playing what?”
“Sorry, old game. I probably just dated myself.”
“You already told me how old you are,” he reminded me.
“Oh geez, now I really sound old.”
He looked amused. “Have you worked in an office like this?”
I cri
nged. “Um, when you say like this, do you mean with phones and computers?”
He nodded. “I suppose so.”
“I’m sorry. I know I sound like a total imbecile. I swear I’m a lot smarter than I sound. I try not to make light of everything, but I suppose it’s my nature. I do know how to be serious, not as serious as your friend. I would need surgery to remove the stick—”
He held up a hand, stopping me from finishing my sentence. I realized I had probably just shot myself in the foot. I hated my runaway mouth.
“Don’t you have any questions?” he asked.
“Questions?”
“About the job? About the pay? About the benefits?”
I blinked. “Oh, uh, well, I assume it pays and that’s really all I can ask for.”
He studied me closely. “You’re a single mom.”
My mouth dropped open. “What?”
“You don’t have to hide it from me.”
I sighed. There was no point in lying. “I am. How did you know?”
“Because you are desperate for a job, desperate enough to approach two men and boldly ask for a job. Because you’re here, willing to take a job without knowing how much it pays. Because I have only ever seen that willingness in someone that is fighting for a child. You have that spark in your eyes.”
I hated being so obvious. “I guess I should have been honest. It’s just, I’ve been rejected from many jobs because I’m a single mom. I’ll admit there are times when I do have to call in sick or leave in the middle of the day for minor emergencies. I promise I can make up for any time lost. My son is nine, and there are less emergencies, and there is after-school daycare. Things are far more settled now than they were when he was little.”
“I get it. My mom struggled to raise me. She often had to leave work to take me to the doctor. Sometimes, she just couldn’t do it all and I spent more time alone than I probably should have, but it taught me responsibility. I don’t think I’m any worse for wear. She did the best she could. I love her for it.”
I smiled, appreciating his kindness. “Is that why you offered me the interview? You took pity on me.”
He chuckled. “No, not at all. I want you in this position because of who you are. I need you to be who you are.”
“You don’t know me, not really.”
“No, but I got a pretty good read on you, and you are the kind of woman who doesn’t back down. That’s exactly what the job needs. It’s what he needs. He needs someone he can’t intimidate.”
I scoffed. “I don’t know if that’s the case.”
He shook his head. “I think it is the case. You have that single-mom, tough thing going. You know what has to be done and just barrel forward. He’ll put up a fuss, but I’m guessing you must have a boy. You have that no-nonsense, you’ve seen it all, heard it all thing my mom had. When I would get sassy, she would shut me down without batting an eye. That’s why I want you in the job.”
“Thank you, I think. Would I be a secretary for the company? Is the young lady out front leaving?”
“No, you would be Ashton’s personal secretary.”
I grimaced. “Oh.”
He laughed. “It’s not that bad. Well, that’s not true. He needs someone like you. Someone he can’t intimidate.”
“I don’t know if I’m quite as brave as you are making me out to be. I certainly don’t feel brave. It’s more like I’m used to temper tantrums and grumbling and have learned to tune it out.”
He was nodding. “That’s exactly what I mean. I think you’ll do well. I expect there will be a learning curve. I’m sure he’s going to put up a fuss. Just remember, you are right for the job.”
“Thank you. I’m nervous.”
“Don’t be. You’ll start on Monday. Nine sharp. I don’t want you to start on the wrong foot.”
I wanted to whoop and shout with excitement. “I will be here. Thank you. I’m going to try my hardest not to disappoint him. Or you. I appreciate you taking the chance to hire a lady with no real skills.”
“You still haven’t asked about the pay,” he said with a smile.
I laughed. “I expect you’ll be fair. Although if it’s as bad as you say, should I expect hazard pay?”
He chuckled. “You might want to demand it.”
I got to my feet, not wanting to take any more of his time. “Thanks so much. I’ll see you Monday.”
He didn’t say anything more. I let myself out, only to nearly run smack into the center of the very tall Mr. Wolfe’s chest. “Sorry,” I muttered.
He didn’t stop moving. I wasn’t even sure he saw me. He had his cell phone to his ear and was walking fast. I stepped to the side and headed for the door. For a brief second, I allowed myself to second guess the idea of working for a man like him. Kyle had made it seem rather dire. I had a feeling he wasn’t exaggerating. In fact, I worried he may have underplayed the difficulty of the job.
It didn’t matter. I had a job. I needed to check my closet and see what I had that would be suitable to wear in an office. I was likely going to have to make a run to Goodwill. I hated the idea of buying myself clothes when Jake was growing out of his. I promised myself I would buy him new clothes from the store with my first paycheck.
I called Lilly to tell her the good news. “I got it!” I squealed when she picked up the call.
“Yes! That is awesome! Congratulations!”
“Thank you. I’m excited.”
“Did you get to talk to Ashton Wolfe? Is he as sexy as he appears in the magazines? I’ve never actually gotten to meet him. I’ve heard he’s difficult. I have a friend that went on one date with him but refused to ever go on another with him.”
“I did not talk to him. I saw him, but it’s hard to see sexy through the scowl he constantly wears.”
She laughed. “Then I guess he is exactly like his reputation says.”
“I don’t care. It’s a job. A job that doesn’t require me to smile at assholes that don’t like the way their food is made or listen to screaming, unruly kids that parents let run wild. I don’t have to shake my ass to get a couple of extra dollars. I get to sit down at a desk, and I think—I hope—the job will be a lot less stressful. I hate going home after a hard day and being cranky with Jake. I know it’s silly, but I’m putting a lot of stock in this job. I expect it to change my life.”
“Damn, you don’t want much at all,” she teased.
“I know, I know, and I hope it doesn’t blow up in my face.”
“Did you think about the school thing any more?” she asked.
I blew out a breath. “I think it will be good, but I do want to talk to Jake about it. He was in no mood to listen to anything yesterday.”
“That’s cool. I don’t think they start enrolling for next year for another week or so. There is a waiting list. Don’t put it off too long.”
“I won’t. Thank you for doing it for me. For us.”
“You’re welcome.”
We chatted a little longer before I hung up and stopped at my favorite thrift store. I was thrilled to find it was fifty percent off on dresses. I picked through the racks until I was confident I had enough to create outfits that didn’t look secondhand. I had seen the way Kyle was dressed and his partner, Ashton. I didn’t want to look like a ragamuffin.
By the time I made it home, I felt like my life had taken a turn for the better. Jake and I had struggled for so long. It was about time we caught a break. I didn’t want to let myself dream too big, but I envisioned moving into a bigger place. Maybe I could buy a house one day. A house with a nice backyard for Jake to play in.
He had been asking for a dog forever. If I owned a house, I could finally get him a dog. It would be a friend for him. My poor boy needed a friend. For whatever reason, he struggled to find friends. When I saw his unhappiness, it ripped at my heart. I couldn’t help but feel like I was failing him. I felt like I had deprived him of his right to have a father. It wasn’t like I could change any of it.
&nb
sp; All I could do was try to be better.
Chapter 7
Ashton
I checked the time and rushed out of my office in a harried state. I hated feeling rushed. I hated feeling like I was untidy. I looked down at myself as I walked toward the front door of the law firm. I smoothed out the jacket of my suit, picking at lint that wasn’t there. I usually kept a lint brush in my desk. I had been so rushed, I hadn’t time to use it.
With the lack of a secretary and Kyle, I felt like I was severely crippled at work. I had been ridiculous to think I could manage on my own. I promised myself I would dig into the resumes HR had sent over. I had been too busy to look, which was pretty ironic considering the reason I was too busy was because I hadn’t looked.
That was a conundrum to deal with later. The more pressing matter was in front of me. It was a day I had been dreading since Kyle had dropped his bombshell on Monday. I could have dragged it out. I could have been a pain in the ass and made it difficult to leave the company. I wasn’t going to be petty. Kyle had put up with me long enough. He deserved better than that.
I was immediately shown into the office. My worry that I was late was all for naught. Kyle was running late, leaving me alone with the rambling lawyer.
I stared at the lawyer, his shock of white hair slicked over the bald spot in the middle of his head. I had been staring at the hair for so long, it blurred before my very eyes. He was still talking. It was an incessant droning sound. I had come to the meeting in his office with the purpose of talking business, and instead, I was sure he was describing how to build a business from the ground up. Why? I already had a business.
“I’ve heard you are thinking about expanding into the New York market,” he said.
That caught my attention.
I looked at him, seeing him for the first time in a good ten minutes. “I am. I have someone scouting some locations right now.”
“Seems like an odd time for a partner to jump ship. I’ve reviewed the financials and things are looking very well. Your business is booming. It just doesn’t make sense for a partner to want to give up right when things are on an upward turn. Why would he want to go to work for another company after he put in all the hard work?”
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