The Inheritance (Forever Bound #1)

by Bree Callahan

  ***

  Lily walked in his door. He looked up, giving her a curious way. “Yeah?” he asked.

  She tossed a resume down on his desk. “That seemed strange. I know you were on your way somewhere, but you barely paid attention to her. You’re not going to get anyone to take this job with that attitude.”

  He shrugged, looking up at her. “I’m not here to make friends. I have her resume, and I’ll call her if she’s a qualified fit.” He glanced down at the resume on his desk. The way he pushed her away had nothing to do with the fact that he felt something being around her the past few days. At least that’s what he needed to tell himself. He actually found himself in a position where he had to push her away. He didn’t want to be attracted to her.

  “You look swamped,” she replied, sarcasm heavy in her voice.

  He looked up. “I am.”

  “You should really get someone that can relieve you of all this work.”

  He sat back in his chair and stared at her. “There’s a hidden meaning there, and I’m sure you’ll tell me what it is.”

  “I don’t know…you tell me,” Lily said.

  “I don’t have the foggiest idea what you mean. Just because I can’t be bothered with another interview right now, doesn’t mean I have a hidden agenda.” She crossed her arms and didn’t hesitate to stare him down. “You’re so smart, Lily. Why do you think I discarded her so quickly, so I didn’t have to face discussing the job?”

  “I think it’s obvious. You don’t want to admit that this is real, and you need to find someone to replace me. You’re holding onto what’s comfortable to you and you hate change.”

  He laughed, realizing that she didn’t really know the real reason he was a jerk an hour earlier. “That isn’t it, Lily. I know that you’re leaving, and I will find someone to take your spot soon. I promise.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Brayton wants me there soon after he arrives and I don’t want to prolong it. Understand?” She held up her finger like she was scolding him on the school playground.

  “I got it.”

  She left his office, and he grabbed the resume that was staring him in the face. It was just like he thought it would be. She didn’t have any necessary qualifications, outside of she would be great at getting him coffee, but he didn’t exactly consider that one of the must haves in his assistant. His phone rang, breaking him from the resume. He tossed it on his desk and picked up the phone.

  “Mayor Worthington.”

  “It’s Calvin. I just wanted to let you know that I ran a search for death records and Marcus Bradshaw, with the wife of Victoria Bradshaw has passed away.”

  “When?” Derek asked.

  “Five months ago. I found an obituary and it did have Victoria’s name as a surviving wife and Jenna’s name as a surviving daughter. My next step is to locate Victoria. I just wanted to give you an update.”

  “Thanks, Cal. Keep me posted.” Derek hung up the phone without mentioning that he located Jenna’s phone number. He still wanted to keep that as a last resort. He now needed to find Victoria to get her permission to destroy the building. He went back to reviewing Charity’s resume, and the only thing that kept him from throwing it away was the fact that he felt bad for her. He wanted to help her out, but he didn’t know if he could help her out for the sake of the city. A lot rode on finding the perfect assistant, and he couldn’t take that chance.

  ***

  After work, Charity went home and tried to do anything to take her mind off the fact that Derek hadn’t called her for an interview. “A whole day hasn’t even passed yet,” she scolded herself, but it didn’t ease her mind. She thought it was rude how he handled her earlier. It was like she didn’t even have permission to breathe in his air.

  She grabbed out a dust rag from the closet and started dusting everything in sight, starting with the living room and heading through the house. When she was finished dusting, she grabbed the sweeper out of the closet and plugged it in. When she turned it on, she got a text message. She quickly shut it off and grabbed her phone from her pocket. She was disappointed to see it wasn’t from Derek, not that she expected him to text her a request for an interview, but she was shocked to find Damian’s name on her phone.

  Damian: Hey!

  That was all it said. The last time the talked at the grocery store, he didn’t seem all too pleased with her and hearing from him was the last thing she expected. She slipped her phone back into her pocket. She restarted the sweeper and slowly started to vacuum the living room. When that was done, she started on the hallway. She was nearly done with the hallway when another text sounded. She turned the sweeper off and withdrew her phone again, only to discover another message from him.

  Damian: I’m not a stalker, I swear, but I feel bad for the way things ended at the grocery store. If you

  don’t want to have sex or fool around or whatever, then that’s perfectly fine. I enjoy your company

  and a friendship would be nice. What do you say?

  She stared at the phone until the words ran together. She slipped her phone back into her pocket and started the vacuum back up, but she couldn’t stop thinking about his message. “Dammit,” she mumbled. She turned the vacuum off and fished her phone back out of her pocket. She didn’t want to want him, but she couldn’t lie to herself. She enjoyed his company.

  Charity: I don’t know what I can offer.

  She stared at her phone until another message came from him.

  Damian: You don’t have to offer a thing. Talking is the only thing expected.

  Charity: Well…I suppose that wouldn’t hurt.

  She added a smiley face and hit send. She smiled at her reply. The truth was, she did like talking to him, and if that’s the only thing to happen between them, then she would graciously accept it. Especially during the times, she needed a distraction. His reply soon appeared.

  Damian: How have you been?

  Charity: Good. Just applied for a position…wait for it, with Mayor Worthington. Can you believe it?

  Still waiting to hear from him to see if I’ll get an interview.

  Damian: You’ll so get an interview. I’d hire you if I owned my business.

  Charity: Right…hire me to do what? Have you tasted my cooking?

  Damian: lol. No, but is that an offer?

  Charity laughed. He was really asking for it.

  Charity: Only if you have a death wish.

  A winking emoji stared back at her as she finished off her flirtatious response.

  Damian: No one’s that bad.

  Charity: Again, you haven’t tasted my cooking.

  Things went back and forth in text messages as if they were really friends. Charity forgot about her vacuuming and went to the living room and sat down, just enjoying the conversation that was building. He was sweet and never crossed the line, and it felt like they’d known each other for years. The time drifted away from her, and she even missed supper time. By the time her stomach growled, showing her she was hungry, they’d been talking for two hours straight. She got up from the couch and headed into the kitchen. She threw a tv dinner into the microwave, as another text signaled.

  Damian: You probably think I’m pathetic.

  Charity: Pathetic?

  Damian: I clearly can’t take no for an answer. I pestered you to start talking to me again.

  Charity: If we’re going to be technical…I never really said no. I simply stated that I didn’t know I

  was expected to come to your beckon call whenever you needed sex.

  Damian: I believe you’re exact words were that you didn’t know we had mandatory sex. Are you

  saying that you weren’t officially calling this proposition off?

  Charity stared at the text before she quickly shot back a response.

  Charity: I’m saying that maybe we should have rules. Like…we can’t expect the other person to drop

  their personal life, just to please the other person. The sex only happens if
both parties agree to it,

  and we have to agree not to be angry if the other person isn’t available.

  Charity put the phone down on the countertop and waited for his response. Her heart raced as she removed her dinner from the microwave. When the phone chimed in, she anxiously picked it back up.

  Damian: I’m just impressed you aren’t turned off by my desperation.

  She laughed and wrote back her response.

  Charity: Desperation? Honestly…that parts sweet. It makes me feel pretty special that you needed

  me that badly. Ugh…did that sound too corny? Lol.

  Damian: Corny? Never!! You speak the truth. I did need you badly, and it was a real bummer when

  I couldn’t get my “needs” fulfilled, lol, but I like the new rules. BUT you know…rules are made to be

  broken.

  Charity laughed as she grabbed her silverware from the drawer. She carried it all to the kitchen table and sat down, before typing in her reply.

  Charity: Not these rules. I’m a very strict enforcer.

  She took a bite from her tv dinner and laughed as the thought hit her. Damian would freak out if he knew what she was having for supper. She typed up another message. She didn’t get the message sent, before his reply came through.

  Derek: Hmm…strict enforcer? Sounds kind of dirty.

  She nearly spat out the mashed potatoes from her TV dinner, as she read his reply. She laughed, covering her mouth with a napkin.

  Charity: Thanks a lot! I nearly spit out my gourmet meal I made after reading your message. LOL

  Damian: Gourmet meal? Is it Mac and Cheese?

  Charity: Close! I’m eating a tv dinner…chicken and mashed potatoes. Hmm…I bet you’re so jealous

  right now.

  Damian: Oh…you’re killing me. I’m going to have to prepare you a meal that’s fit for a Queen.

  Charity: Hm…are you offering?

  Damian: Anytime!

  Charity sighed, glancing back and forth between her food and phone. It wouldn’t hurt to have him prepare a meal for her. After all, it was his job.

  Charity: Friday night?

  Damian: Are you asking me out on a date?

  Charity: NO!! This is simply two friends having dinner together. Besides…you’re cooking.

  Damian: LOL!! Let me check my calendar. After all, if I’m not free I’ll have to take a raincheck.

  That’s what the rules state, right?

  Charity: Right, but no one said anything about sex on Friday. I’m coming for food.

  She continued to eat, chuckling as she waited for his reply. She finished her meal and was throwing it into the trash, when she contemplated if he took her text the wrong way. She nearly asked him, noting that it would make her look like the pathetic one, but she didn’t have to send him another message, because he finally did answer back.

  Damian: Well, I’m free Friday night, but I must confess I thought maybe Friday night you would

  be in the mood for food and sex.

  Charity: Well…maybe we’ll have to see how good the food is first.

  Damian: You drive a hard bargain, but I’ll have to go with it. Allergic to anything? Any preferences on cuisine?

  Charity: No allergies and surprise me!

  She put the phone down and took in a deep breath. It’s just two friends having a night in. There was nothing complicated with that.

  ***

  Derek loaded up his briefcase with some papers from work and started to get up from his desk when he heard a knock on his door. He groaned. “Jesse…what a surprise!” He smiled, standing up.

  “I saw the lights on and was checking up on you. Do you know what time it is?” Jesse asked.

  Derek glanced at his watch. “Almost seven thirty. Why are you still here?”

  “I had a deposition to write.”

  “Well, I was getting ready to leave,” Derek commented. Jesse fidgeted, while standing in the doorway. He didn’t attempt to move out of the way, so Derek pointed to the door. “Are you going to stay there all night, or allow me to leave my office?”

  “I was just wondering if you’ve looked over Charity’s resume.”

  Derek nodded. “I have, but you’re not going to want to hear what I have to say.”

  Jesse tilted his head. “What?” he asked.

  Derek put his briefcase down on the desk and heaved a sigh. “She has no experience in this line of work. She doesn’t have an education, outside of a year of school. I’m sorry, but I have higher expectations for the person I hire.”

  “I thought you guys got along over the weekend. You seemed to be having a great time. What happened?”

  Derek laughed. “Nothing happened. This isn’t personal. She seems like a very nice lady, but come on…she’s never been an assistant to anyone. I need to be able to rely on her.”

  “Can I tell you something?” Jesse asked.

  “Don’t you always?” Derek asked.

  Jesse smiled. “True!” Then Jesse started telling Derek the story of Charity’s background. “She was forced to grow up at a young age. She had to quit school because her parents were killed in a house fire. Her sister was left here alone…all of their belongings gone. She didn’t even look back. A year ago she was going to get married, and her fiancé left her a week before the wedding.” Derek had not heard any of this before, and it did pull at his heartstrings a little. He knew all about getting your heart broke, but that didn’t change the fact that she didn’t have the skills.

  “I get that, and I do feel sorry for her, but that doesn’t change that she doesn’t have the knowledge of being an assistant.”

  “She doesn’t want sympathy, Derek. She isn’t that kind of a woman and if she knew I told you what Ana told me, then she wouldn’t be pleased. She needs a job. Come on, Derek. You said it yourself, you haven’t found anyone that’s lived up to your expectations. Being your assistant is something that can be taught. She’s a quick learner.”

  Derek crossed his arms. “I thought you just met her. How do you know she’s a quick learner?”

  Jesse sheepishly smiled. “She’d have to be to have to grow up so fast…right?” Derek rolled his eyes, but allowed Jesse to continued. “It’s not like you have candidates coming out of the woodwork. What harm would it do to interview her? If you walk away saying ‘oh my gosh, that was a complete waste of my time’ then you just don’t hire her. No harm, no foul.”

  Derek wanted to just be done with Jesse’s argument, so he finally threw up his hands and said he would give her an interview. “Are you satisfied?” Derek asked.

  Jesse smiled. “I’m pleased. Thank you!”

  Derek laughed as Jesse stepped back from the opening. “I’ll call her tomorrow, but I don’t promise anything.”

  “Of course not!” Jesse said. They walked out of the office together. Jesse continued talking, but Derek slowly zoned him out. He was exhausted and just wanted to get home and crash. He was going to have another busy day ahead of him.

  Chapter 10

  Charity finished applying the finishing touches on her makeup when she heard her phone ringing from her bedroom. She hurried into the bedroom and glanced down at the phone number. She didn’t know the number, and usually, she let those go to voicemail, but hope welled up inside of her, and she wanted to believe it was Derek’s number.

  She answered it. “Hello?”

  “Hello…Charity?”

  “Yes, this is Charity.”

  “Hi, this is Derek Worthington.”

  She could’ve jumped for joy, as her voice turned slightly shake. “Yes, Mayor Worthington. Thank you for calling me!” She didn’t want to sound too cheerful.

  “Of course. I was hoping you would be interested in coming in for an interview this afternoon.”

  She glanced at the clock on her nightstand. She was to be at work in thirty minutes and scheduled until six o’clock. Her mind raced. She couldn’t pass up the opportunity. “What time?” she asked.

>   “Anytime after one o’clock. I have meetings this morning, but I’m pretty open after that.”

  “How about two?” she asked.

  “That will work. I will put you down. I look forward to seeing you then. Goodbye!”

  “Goodbye, Mayor Worthington.” She hung the call-up. He was definitely more pleasant than he was the day before. She went back into the bathroom to finish getting ready for work. She would have to worry about the details later.

  When she was on her way to work, she dialed up several co-workers numbers. When she got to Stella, she explained in very little detail that she needed off the afternoon. She was relieved when Stella agreed to come in at noon.

  “I will never be able to repay you,” she said, eagerly.

  Stella laughed. “It’s alright dear. I hope you’re doing something fun.”

  She again kept it very vague, thanked Stella, and happily drove the rest of the way to work. When she got into the Diner, she made her way to Bill’s office. He didn’t mind when people switched as long as two conditions fell into the line. They told him, if possible, and they had the position covered.

  He looked up when she got to his office. “Hey, Charity.”

  “Hey. I have something going on this afternoon and Stella said she would cover. Just checking with you.”

  For a moment he paused, and she wondered if he would say she couldn’t have it off. She then would have to make a decision. Pretend to be sick or just say she has no choice and walk out. She had never been the rebellious type so option two wouldn’t come easy. When he voiced his concern, she wasn’t surprised in the least. He was like a father figure to many of them, and it was only fitting he would be curious. “You can have it off, but I’m a little confused.”