by Jordan Bates
He stopped mid-stride when he caught my eye. The smile that crept along his face was swoon-worthy and nowhere near as innocent as it seemed. I had seen that look in my own husband’s eyes once upon a time. Max owned the room and he knew it, but he waited for the introduction.
“This is Alexa.” Lilly piped up. His stance changed immediately as he straightened himself up. One hand went to the back of his neck, and the other combed through his hair. I felt like I had seen this move a hundred times on TV. He seemed curiously more aware of me and I didn’t know how much I liked that. “And Alexa, this is Max.”
I didn’t have time to moved towards him for a handshake, before his words boomed through the office and stopped me in my tracks.
“Nice to finally meet you, Alexa.” His eyes never left mine. Never wavered to anyone else. I was his only priority at that moment. Even with the introduction, I felt that he knew exactly who I was, by more than just my name. Just like Lilly had said, it seemed he had seen me coming from a mile away. The look in his eyes was one of a hunter and I was his prey. “Did you like the roses?”
I stood there silent for a few minutes with Max’s eyes on me. I didn’t know what to say. This man in front of me sent shivers down to my toes that I didn’t want to acknowledge. There was a power to him that was intriguing and frightening at the same time.
“I hate flowers.” The words came out of my mouth before I could think of how rude they were. I simply didn’t know what else to say. Max seemed taken aback by the comment as snickers started to fill the room. Lilly pulled me away quickly, and Erica wasn’t far behind. Max was left standing alone in a room full of people, but my eyes never left his until the elevator doors shut. He didn’t look happy. His brow was creased, scrunching his eyes together, mouth in a thin line, not able to say anything more. When we finally reached the sidewalk in front of the building, Lilly stopped Erica and me.
“I can’t believe you just did that.” Lilly voice was too mellow and the look on her face didn’t reveal if she was proud or upset with me. “No one has ever talked to him like that.”
She clapped her hands together, sending herself into a giggle fit. My shoulders slumped with relief that she wasn’t mad at me for embarrassing our boss in front of everyone. I was confused. How did other girls react to him? Did they all fall for him so easily?
“Yes, they do.” It was Erica who responded to me and caught my attention. I didn’t know I had asked the question aloud. But the look on her face showed that she hadn’t realized she answered. She sealed her lips as fast as she had opened them. I hadn’t pegged her for a shy one, after greeting me so warmly in the office.
“Well, I’m not one of those girls who fall for men like that.” We quickly headed over to the sandwich shop but decided not to come back to the office to finish eating. We all needed a break from what seemed to be a crazy-ass Monday. I checked my phone again. I had a missed message from Adam.
Have a good day at work.
I slumped back into the chair I was sitting in. I was so used to being able to talk to Adam at least three times a day, even when we didn’t see each other. The transition, I think, was difficult for both of us.
“So, what does your husband do?” I looked to Erica, assuming Lilly had told her about Adam. She had half of her sandwich in her mouth, but didn’t seem to care. I was still trying to figure her out, but either way, I already knew us three together was going to be perfect.
“He’s a physician’s assistant. He’ll be at Emory University Hospital.” If there was anything that described my husband, it was his dedication to his job.
“Don’t let her sell you short.” Lilly went to throw away her trash; clearly the fruit hadn’t done its job this morning. Erica and I packed up our leftovers for later. Lunch never seemed like a long enough time, no matter what business you were in. “He’s almost a doctor. Just one more year of residency with his current work.”
Lilly opened the door to the building for us, and the girls tried to get me to the stairs, but I forced them towards the elevator. It was only day one and we were all already glued at the hip. With what Lilly had said, it was crazy to think my husband’s life was moving in fast-forward mode and I was just starting out with a new company. I always tried to support him, even if it meant not getting to live my dream until now.
We rounded the corner to my desk, and there sat another gift. This time it was directly on my keyboard. The black box was small with a white ribbon wrapped around it. My two favorite colors.
“Who is that from?” Erica and Lilly both asked at the same time. They stopped at my cubicle before going to theirs and watched as I opened the box. A note fell onto the desk. Lilly picked it up as I took the engraved bookmark out of the box.
“Max.” Lilly’s word came out as a snort. I snatched the note from her to see what it said.
“Hope this is better than the flowers.” I stared long at the note and then back to the bookmark. “A Well-Read Woman is a Dangerous Creature.”
“Appropriate for you, don’t you think?” I smiled down at the bookmark. Lilly was only teasing me, but I couldn’t help but think the same thing. I had only met this man once, said three words to him, and he was already trying to make up the awkward meeting to me. I may be working at a publishing company, but this was almost too perfect. No one here but Lilly knew that I was a book nerd.
As the day went on, the box sat neatly put back together on the desk. I wasn’t too keen on keeping it, because with a man like Max, I wasn’t sure what accepting a gift like this meant. I wanted Max to see it the next time he came by so that he knew I wasn’t some new employee who could be bought.
Erica bee-lined for the bathroom when the end of the day came upon us. I loved this part of the workday, especially when it meant I could call Adam before he went in for the night. Lilly stepped into the elevator first; I still wasn’t up for using the stairs just yet. Erica was going to meet us at the apartment later tonight after she went home to change. I wasn’t quick enough to the elevator though. The doors started to close almost immediately, but before I could stop them to get in, a hand grabbed my wrist and pulled me back. I thought it was Erica, because she was the only one left on the floor, but when I was turned around, I was facing Max’s chest. His fingers brushed against the inside of my wrist.
“You didn’t like the bookmark.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement. He held the box in his other hand. He had been waiting for the end of the day just to see what I thought of the gift. I couldn’t believe this was happening. I almost swooned, and I couldn’t even begin to understand why.
I was his new employee. I didn’t think a boss would want to impress someone so new, unless I had everything wrong. Was he trying to impress me in a romantic way?
I slipped my hand from his and crossed my arms in front of me, placing my left hand in view and blocking him from coming any closer. The shimmer from my ring could be seen out of the corner of my eye, but all I could focus on were Max’s eyes searching mine. He loomed over me from where he was standing. A part of me felt almost excited. Adam and I hadn’t had this kind of tension in years, and it was making me yearn to have more. I looked at Max’s face, and my breath caught. Up close he was more intense. It seemed like Max was a completely different kind of man, one that I wasn’t used to, and definitely one I wasn’t prepared for.
No words came from me this time. I didn’t know what to say to him. He seemed to be the kind of man who always got what he wanted, and I just couldn’t give that to him, whatever it was he wanted. For all I knew, he was trying to be a nice boss. Then again, the stares and his stance told me something different.
“I want to know you.” My eyes grew wide at his bold remark, and despite my effort to block him, he took a step closer to me. I stepped back from him, trying to build a gap. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Erica coming towards us. Her eyes moved between the two of us, and her steps almost doubled to get to us faster.
“Let me walk you home, Alexa.�
�� Erica’s words rang in the quiet office, and she didn’t wait for Max to move away before she ushered me towards the stairs, and I didn’t complain. It made it so that Max couldn’t interfere with my second attempt at an exit. When we reached the lobby, Lilly was pacing back and forth in front of the elevator.
“What happened to you? I saw Max grab for you just before the door closed, and then you never came down after the elevator went back up.” We all moved outside to the twilight that was engulfing the sky.
“He wanted to know if I liked the bookmark or not. Erica was there to walk me out of the office.” It was nice to think that I could have another good friend in Georgia, especially when I only knew one person so far. But as I thought about Erica saving me from Max, I remembered his hand grabbing me and how my first instinct wasn’t to pull away. His touch felt safe and secure, even if he was coming on strong. That wasn’t something I had felt in a long time. I shook my head. I had no idea where these thoughts were coming from. Adam and I had been happily married for years. Yes, we had each had our crushes throughout the years, from celebrities to friends from college, but they were just that, crushes, and I knew that’s all that Max would ever be.
“I say we make it a night of chick flicks and ice cream to celebrate your first day, Alexa.” Lilly sang out, as she led the way back to the apartment.
Erica ended up staying for a few hours and left after the first movie. She lived outside of downtown Atlanta and needed to be back early to work in the morning, just like us.
I had tried to call Adam when we had gotten home but ended up leaving a message, knowing he would get back to me when he could. He must have gone in early. He seemed to do that more lately, now that I wasn’t home. Working every day, almost all day long. His job had put a slight struggle on our relationship, ever since we found out that he was going to be transferring to Georgia, but it also made me work harder to make sure we would have time together. If we worked hard now, we wouldn’t have to once we got our own apartment. My phone chimed, Adam.
I love you. Goodnight, beautiful.
I made my way into my room. Lilly had a two-bedroom apartment supplied by our company, and it came in handy when I had to start working before Adam. I laid myself down, closed my eyes and tried to think about how my first day of this new life had been. It definitely was one for the books, but it was the smile on my face that made it hard for me to sleep. I looked back to the text one more time before clutching the phone to my chest and falling asleep.
Chapter 2
Tea in hand, I sat down at my desk the next morning. The bookmark that Max had given me was out of the box, staring up at me. I tried to move it out of the way, but it caught the sunlight that flooded in. Even if I wasn’t prone to accepting gifts, this one made my heart flutter. Not because of who gave it to me, but because Max seemed to know me better than he thought.
I pulled out one of the books I had in my bag and placed the bookmark in it. I smiled to myself; I never used quitter strips, but for once, it was nice to have one. Just in case.
I opened my personal email first and saw something from Adam. It was a listing for a house, down in the outskirts of Atlanta. Two bedrooms, two baths. Just what we needed to start our lives here. Something permanent. I scrolled through the email, looking for pricing, but only the basics were listed. Adam had a new job, but I just didn’t know if we had enough to be able to afford a house like this.
“Mornin’.” I looked up to see Greg. He was leaning against my desk but refused to make eye contact.
“Morning.” I drew out the word, trying to figure out what he needed. Adam had used this same tactic when he wanted something from me.
“So…” Greg was fidgeting now, and for some reason it amused me. “I have a favor to ask.”
Now I was intrigued. This was only my second day, and my boss was asking for a favor. It made me think that Lilly had told him about my reputation as a teacher’s pet. I could see her through the glass separating our desks, and the smirk on her face. Yup, she had ratted me out.
“Since you started out so well yesterday, I thought you could help me with a project.” I had positioned myself to look directly at Greg now, forcing him to make eye contact with me. He seemed tense, almost unsure if I would help him, but he also looked desperate.
“Absolutely!” He slumped forward, looking immediately relieved. “What would I be helping with?”
“Max set me up with a book a month ago.” And there was the ball dropping. Max. I knew he owned the company, but it felt like he was at every turn. “The proposal is due tomorrow, and I haven’t even started it yet. Max is a little ticked, so I need your help.”
I released a breath I didn’t know I was holding, realizing that Greg really did need the help, and it wasn’t just some ploy. Right then I knew I needed to say yes, and it wasn’t because I needed to impress anyone. I couldn’t avoid Max, that much I knew, but if I made it known that I was here strictly for the job, it might make a difference to the attention I was receiving.
“No problem. I can help you get through it all today.” There was shock on his face, and I realized that no one here knew I was a speed reader.
“That’s exactly what I need! I can order lunch for us if you want to finish up with what you’re working on.” He pulled out his phone and I could see he was checking what was in the area. “How about I order Chinese, and then you can meet me in my office.”
“Orange chicken with no veggies and extra orange sauce and you have me sold.”
“Done.” He walked away without another word. I turned back to my computer, sending the last email I needed to confirm the offer for the last client on my list. I picked the opportune time to look up. I was going to move over to Lilly’s desk when I saw Max across the room. He lifted his hand for a small wave. I didn’t know what else to do but wave back. He ducked into Greg’s office with a bounce in his step.
I didn’t normally have anxiety, but it struck me fast that I was stepping into a role that I only barely knew.
“I have no idea what I am doing.” I slumped the words out, and moved to sit on Lilly’s desk. She maneuvered towards me, resting her arms and head on my thighs.
“You know you’ve got this,” Lilly reassured me. I took three breaths, trying to slow my heart rate. “Just think of the opportunity, because don’t think I don’t know you want to go into editing and publishing.”
A knowing smile spread across her face, as she looked up at me. I had been working on editing romance novels, but Adam hadn’t seen it as a practical job, constantly saying that it wasn’t something I needed to be doing. I was so excited when Lilly was able to get me an interview with the financing department at The Ink Well. I would still be able to work in the world I had fallen in love with.
“Thank you,” I whispered. Lilly knew me all too well. A hand landed on my shoulder, and Erica sat next to me. She didn’t have to say a word for me to know that she was there for me just like Lilly was. It had only been two days, but I knew there was no separating us now.
“Girls.” Max walked by the moment our heads lifted. He didn’t look at anyone but me, didn’t stop either, as he headed towards the elevator. The edge in his demeanor from yesterday was gone. Maybe everything that happened yesterday was all in my head. Maybe Max being so intimidating was just my imagination. Maybe it was me wanting that initial spark again in my life.
Regret filled my heart.
I immediately pulled out my phone, sending off a text to Adam.
I love you.
I took another deep breath and removed myself from Lilly’s desk.
“Make sure you don’t do all the work!” Lilly yelled to me as I walked to Greg’s office. I chuckled to myself because we both knew that wasn’t going to be the case, and not because I had any idea how Greg worked, but because we both knew I was a workaholic who took charge. Sometimes I couldn’t trust people to do the work I knew I could get done in such a short period of time.
I knocked on his door b
efore opening it.
“Shit. I wasn’t expecting you so soon.” Greg’s question surprised me. So soon? Hadn’t he just asked me to help him? He shuffled papers around on his desk, trying to make some order out of the chaos.
“Sorry. I’d finished all the clients on my list from yesterday.” His eyebrows shot up. I seemed to just kept surprising him. “Where do you need me to start?”
He motioned for me to sit in the chair in front of his desk. There was a stack of papers there, maybe 100 pages. If this was what I was going to be working with, I questioned how Greg hadn’t finished it yet.
“I was supposed to coordinate a chart for the royalties for this a while ago, but I hadn’t had the time to sit down and read the book yet.” He handed me the pages I had been eyeing. “The client has asked to be kept anonymous, so we have to be precise with the numbers or we could lose the deal completely.” I started looking through the book to see if there were any notes already. Greg made sure to order food for us so it would be here in time for lunch.
“You know, normally this isn’t even something I do, but Max asked me personally. I may be doing this last minute, but goddamn, we’ll get this done.” Greg seemed determined in his actions as he started to pull out some sticky notes and pens after ordering lunch. I was glad he was including me in helping out with his business. I had been working all day yesterday with royalties and no substance, so it was nice to be able to read the book and then work it out.
“I’m glad I’m here to help, then.”
I grabbed a pen off Greg’s desk.
“I was surprised to see Max on the floor here yesterday.” Greg’s words stopped me at the first word on the page. I looked up at him while he was scrolling through his computer, like what he just said hadn’t mattered in the slightest.