by Ivy Layne
Gage let out a sigh of defeat. “She’s your type, that’s for sure.”
“I don’t have a type,” I said.
“Really? So she’s not a carbon copy of Elizabeth?”
No one in my family had liked my first wife. If I tried to look at Violet objectively, I could see why Gage would say that. She had the same cool composure as Elizabeth, the same icy blonde hair, even the same elegant sense of style.
But Elizabeth had been cold to her core, something I wished I’d found out before I married her. Violet was an entirely different creature. I’d seen that hint of defiance, the way she’d raised her chin when she strode out of my office.
She was scared and against the ropes, but she wouldn’t give in.
Elizabeth was a stone sculpture, hard and frigid all the way through.
Not Violet.
I’d glimpsed the woman hiding behind the mask.
There was passion beneath that perfect exterior.
I was going to expose it.
And I wasn’t going to justify myself to anyone.
“She’s not Elizabeth, Gage,” I said with finality. “I’ve got this under control.”
“That’s what you say now.” He stood. “I’m keeping an eye out for complaints to HR. If this ends up in a lawsuit, I’m letting you swing.”
“It won’t,” I promised. “I’m giving her exactly what she wants. Me.”
Chapter Two
Violet
Crap.
Crap, crap, crap.
I strode out of Aiden Winters’s office, ignoring the curious glances of his executive assistants, and pressed the button for the elevator with a steady hand. No one watching would suspect that I was a breath away from completely freaking out. I stepped into the empty elevator and held the half smile on my lips until the door slid shut.
Then I collapsed into the corner, pressing my hot cheek to the cool metal wall, and tried not to hyperventilate.
He knew. There wasn’t a question in my mind. Aiden Winters knew I was there under false pretenses. He knew I was up to something. He probably knew my name wasn’t Violet Hartwell.
And he hadn’t fired me. Instead, he’d moved me to a position where he could keep an eye on me.
Crap.
As the elevator slid down, floor by floor, I wracked my brain for any reason Aiden might have for giving me such a coveted job. None of them were good.
He wanted to catch me in the act.
He wanted to figure out why I was there.
The elevator doors slid open and I fixed my customary, cool half smile on my face. Just because I was on the edge of a panic attack didn’t mean anyone else had to know. I made it down the hall and around the corner to my tiny office without anyone stopping me. I usually worked with my door open, but today I closed it firmly before dropping into my desk chair.
The only sensible choice was to quit.
I should pack up my desk, go home, and never come back. My plan had been a little crazy to begin with. This was so totally unlike me, I could hardly believe what I’d done when I’d applied for the job. And when Carlisle had hired me, I’d accepted before I could think better of it.
I’d just been so angry. Aiden Winters, and Winters Incorporated, had stolen Chase’s company. And they were going to give it back. I just had to figure out how to force Aiden’s hand. Somewhere around here there had to be something, some evidence of his misdeeds, proof of the kind of man he really was.
And when I had it, I’d use that proof to force Aiden to give Chase his company back.
I squeezed my eyes shut tight and rolled my head back. When I opened them, I was staring at the ceiling, squinting a little at the fluorescent light above and wondering how the hell I ever thought my plan was going to work. Had I imagined Aiden Winters would leave his diary laying out on his desk, open to a page about other companies he’d stolen or a confession that he’d cheated on his taxes?
No, I wasn’t that naïve. But I’d figured that once I got into his email I’d find something. No one was completely innocent. People were rarely what they seemed to be. If I’d had any illusions about the world of business, I’d lost them after my first job. Still, I hadn’t thought it would be this hard to dig up a little dirt on Aiden Winters.
I was running out of time. Chase would be home from his consulting job in a matter of weeks, and if he found out what I was up to…I wasn’t going to think about that.
If I were smart, I’d cut my losses and get the heck out of here. I’d been holding my own in Carlisle’s department, my inadequate skills in project management and data mining bolstered by the time I’d spent working for Chase before Winters, Inc. had cheated him out of his company.
This was not my dream job. I was a bookkeeper, and I liked it. I missed my smooth, clean columns of numbers, familiar software. I missed sorting receipts and tracking down errant payments and bills. I didn’t want to be a project manager, and I absolutely didn’t want to be Aiden Winters’s executive assistant.
I should quit. Go home and start putting out résumés for a real job. One I was qualified for. A job that didn’t have the potential to land me in jail if I got caught breaking into confidential files or hacking email.
A brisk knock sounded on my door and I let out a barely audible eep before pulling myself together and turning my chair to see my supervisor, Carlisle, in the open doorway.
“So, how did it go?” he asked.
“Mr. Winters offered me a position as his fifth executive assistant,” I said, smoothing my skirt over my knees. “He said you recommended me.”
“I did, though I have to admit I was hoping he’d pick someone else. You’ve been an asset to this department. We’ll be sorry to lose you.”
“Thank you. It’s going to be an adjustment.”
Carlisle gave a slow nod, and I didn’t miss the speculation in his eyes. I couldn’t tell him that I didn’t want to take the job, and he was too polite to point out that I wasn’t qualified for it in the first place.
I was sure he wanted to ask what was going on, but my stiff, formal demeanor held him back. I wasn’t friendly or easy-going. Not in general, and especially not in the office.
Friendliness was not a quality prized in our household when I was growing up. Composure was our highest ideal. Never reveal emotion. Never let anyone know what you’re thinking. Hide your flaws and show only perfection.
Carlisle was a nice guy from what I’d seen, and I wanted to confide in him. Not about my true reason for taking the job. I wasn’t an idiot. I wanted to tell him that I was intimidated by Aiden Winters and afraid I wouldn’t be up for the task, and that I’d really rather stay exactly where I was.
Except I couldn’t say any of that.
First of all, because that kind of confession was so far from my normal behavior I suspected if I opened my mouth to speak no sound would come out.
And second, because if I did manage to confide in my supervisor, and if he did feel sorry for me and intercede on my behalf, Aiden would tell him I was an imposter and kick me out on my ass.
I was on my own, and if I had any hope of succeeding at my task I had to keep cool and stay focused.
So Aiden wanted to keep an eye on me?
Let him.
I’d figure out a way to work around him.
No man with that much power, that much money, could truly be a good person. I’d met enough men like him to know the truth. He could be compromised. I just had to keep looking for a way in.
I let a detached, polite smile curve my mouth. “I have an appointment with HR in two hours, but before I leave I’ll make sure I put together a summary of my current projects so whoever steps in will be up to date.”
Carlisle’s eyes flicked away for a long moment before they met mine. “That would be helpful. I’m assuming he wants you to start tomorrow.”
“He does,” I confirmed.
“Violet,” Carlisle said. I raised my eyebrows and looked up at him expectantly. He opened his mouth
to speak, then snapped it shut. When he opened it again, he only said, “Stay on your toes with Winters. This is…unusual. You’ve been a hard worker and like I said, I’m sorry to lose you. Just stay alert, that’s all.”
“Is there something I should know?” I asked. I didn’t like his hesitation or his concern.
Carlisle let out a huff of air and shook his head. “Not exactly, it’s just that Winters’s assistants are known for being cutthroat. Territorial. I know you can take care of yourself, but just keep an eye out, okay?”
“Of course,” I said, coolly, my heart sinking.
Great.
Perfect.
So now I didn’t just have to deal with Aiden Winters, I’d also have to fend off his rabid pack of executive assistants.
“Good luck, Violet,” Carlisle said, before smacking his hand against my doorframe twice and shutting the door behind him.
Good luck.
I had a feeling I was going to need it.
The meeting with HR took over an hour. I signed papers and nodded along as I was updated on the changes to my salary, benefits, and title. By the time I got back to my desk, a headache was brewing behind my eyes. I ignored it and settled in to finish updating my project notes.
Again, I thought wistfully of my old job in the accounting department at CD4 Analytics, before Aiden Winters had cheated Chase out of his company and kicked him to the curb. Every single employee had been fired. Aiden had wanted Chase’s technology and his contracts. The rest—the people, the years Chase had spent building CD4—none of that had mattered to Aiden Winters.
I’d loved that job, but it was gone, and if I walked out of this office and looked for another one like it, I’d lose my chance to get Chase his company back. I owed him too much to give up now.
It was well past dinner when I finished wrapping up the details of my project management work. Before I left for the day, I decided to take another trip through Aiden’s emails. Maybe I’d get lucky and find something.
After an hour of scanning through endless communications about acquisitions, employee issues, budgets, and spreadsheets, my head was killing me, and I was no closer to finding dirt on Aiden Winters than I had been my first day on the job.
I knew his business emails were succinct, direct, and always on-topic. He didn’t share off-color jokes or make inappropriate comments. He didn’t forward questionable emails and when he received an email with any of the above, his reply promptly shut it down and brought the discussion back on track.
Only in his messages to his family did his professional composure fall away. There he never hesitated to joke, tease, or bust someone’s chops. It was clear that he loved his family, and despite the long hours he worked, they seemed close. If I’d hoped his banter with any of them would give me the smoking gun I needed, so far I’d been disappointed.
My stomach twisting with hunger, I retrieved the empty box I’d grabbed from the copy room and packed the meager personal contents of my desk. My favorite red stapler I brought with me to every job. My coffee mug. The cactus Chase had given me for my birthday the year before, saying it reminded him of me: prickly on the outside, protecting my soft insides.
Most people who knew me would laugh at that description. Not the prickly part. They’d tell you I was anything but soft. I’d been called a lot of names—ice queen, frigid, you can probably guess the rest. Never soft.
Only Chase really knew me and that was fine. I wasn’t looking to make friends. Especially not here. Not at this job.
I slung my purse over my shoulder, hefted the half-full box in my arms. The rest of the floor was deserted when I made my way to the elevator. I pressed the button, expecting a short wait. I stood there, staring up at the number ten illuminated above my head. The executive floor.
Maybe I should take the stairs.
I considered hiking my way down seven floors in these heels, carrying a box. It had been a long day. My head was killing me, I was dying for food, and the last thing I wanted was to negotiate seven flights of stairs in four-inch heels. I just wanted to go home, have a glass of wine with my leftover spaghetti, and binge watch some TV.
Before I had a chance to make a decision about the stairs, the whir of the elevator sounded through the closed doors. The light above moved from ten to nine to eight. Seven had barely illuminated when the doors slid open to reveal Aiden Winters, his arms crossed over his chest, leaning against the back wall. He didn’t look surprised to see me.
Chapter Three
Violet
Double crap.
I hadn’t liked dealing with Aiden before, with my shields up. I definitely didn’t want anything to do with him now when I was tired and hungry and exhausted. Pretending I was none of those things, I stepped into the elevator and lifted my chin in his direction.
“Mr. Winters,” I said, and looked to the number panel beside the door. P1 was lit. My parking spot was two floors below. I started to shift the box in my arms so I could hit the button when Aiden stepped in front of me and hit it for me. Of course, he knew where I parked. He probably knew my bra size.
At that thought, I swallowed. Hard. Based on the way his eyes had lingered on my breasts when he’d shaken my hand earlier, I had a feeling if he tried to guess my bra size he wouldn’t be far off.
“Looking forward to starting your new position tomorrow?” Aiden asked, back to leaning against the wall of the elevator, his brown eyes locked on my face. There was something lurking there, and I suspected it was a laugh. He had me cornered, and he knew it.
“Of course,” I said, raising my eyes to his. “I appreciate the opportunity.”
“Oh, I’m sure you do,” he said, not even trying to hide the amusement in his voice.
This was bad. I looked away, fixing my gaze on the closed door of the elevator, wishing it would move faster. How could we not be at P1 already?
The elevator stopped on two and the doors opened to admit two marketing executives I knew by face, but not name. They nodded to Aiden and me as they filed in. Aiden took the opportunity to step closer, giving them the side of the elevator he’d vacated. He stood beside me, the light wool of his suit coat brushing my arm.
There were layers of fabric between us, but I could feel the heat of his body. A warm, woodsy scent surrounded me. Not cologne. More like soap and man. He shouldn’t smell this good. I tried to ignore the way my heart thumped harder as I breathed him in.
I did not need this.
I did not need to be aware of Aiden Winters as a man. I had enough trouble as it was. Not that I would do anything about it.
Obviously.
That would be beyond foolish. While my plan was admittedly not the best idea I’d ever had, I wasn’t a fool.
I mean, I could see that Aiden was attractive. Objectively speaking, he was beautiful. Handsome. Smoking hot. Dark hair with hints of auburn. Warm, bittersweet chocolate eyes fringed by thick lashes. Strong cheekbones and luscious lips.
He was tall, I guessed 6’3” or 6’4”, with broad shoulders and a powerful build. I knew he worked late almost every night and was in early, but somewhere in his busy day, he had to find time to work out because there wasn’t a hint of anything soft about him. No padding under his chin or roundness to his belly. He was all lean strength and tightly coiled energy.
At 5’8” I was a little taller than average and still he loomed over me, even in my heels. Just standing beside him, I felt surrounded. The elevator came to a stop at P1 and the two marketing executives stepped off.
Aiden did not.
I gave no hint of the spike of panic in my chest or the way my empty stomach clenched tight. Why was he still in the elevator? All the executives parked on P1. What did he want from me?
Ugh, stupid question. He probably planned to stare me down until I collapsed in a quivering mass of guilt and nerves and confessed everything.
Good luck, Mr. Winters. Scarier men than him had tried to stare me down and failed.
I fell back on the cool
smile I’d perfected when I was under pressure and said, “Did you lose your car, Mr. Winters?”
“You can call me Aiden, Violet,” he said, turning a little to face me, his posture inviting me to do the same.
I ignored the offer of intimacy, noticing that he hadn’t asked permission to use my first name. Earlier he’d referred to me as Ms. Hartwell.
He was trying to unsettle me.
It was working.
“No thank you, Mr. Winters. I prefer formality in an office setting.”
I heard a low sound in his throat and couldn’t stop my eyes from flashing up to his. I almost took a step back at the heat I saw simmering there.
I wanted out of this elevator and away from Aiden Winters.
Suddenly, I wasn’t sure I could do this. Maybe there was another way we could get Chase his company back. We could sue, or…but we’d been through that already. I never would have jumped into a ridiculous scheme like this one if we hadn’t already exhausted all of our other options.
I just needed a little more time.
I wasn’t going to run scared until I’d gotten what I needed.
The doors opened on P3 and I stepped out, more than ready to leave Aiden Winters behind for the day. He followed, keeping pace beside me as I walked down the long row to my car.
“Are you stalking me, Mr. Winters? I know you didn’t park here.”
“Not stalking you, Violet,” he said, that laugh still lurking beneath his words. “Just walking you to your car.”
“Is that a service you offer all of your executive assistants?” I asked, tartly.
“On occasion, if necessary.”
“I was told the parking garage was secure. No dark corners here,” I said, raising my head to take in the abundance of LED lights in the ceiling. Much like the rest of the Winters, Inc. building, the parking garage was immaculate and brightly lit. It was probably safer than the gated parking behind the condo I lived in.