by Ella Miles
Cole’s eyes rake up and down my body. “I’m glad you and Knight seem to be getting along.”
I frown, realizing now why Knight ensured I would show up in this outfit. To make Cole think Knight fucked me. Bastard. Knight wants to claim me without really claiming me.
“I still can’t believe you and Knight get along well enough to work together.”
“We get along better than that. We are best friends.”
I stop, not believing him. “What?” I snap.
“I’ve known him since high school. He’s my best friend. I would die for him.”
I doubt that. I follow Cole and watch as he limps. Scars still cover his arms and face. Knight has healed faster than Cole.
“Here’s your office,” Cole says holding a door open to a small room.
A door! I’ve never had an office before. Most people here don’t have an office; they have cubicles.
“Why do I get an office? I figured I’d be stuck in a cubicle somewhere. I’m only Knight’s assistant.”
Cole bites his lip like he wants to say more, but can’t.
I step inside and run my hand over the bookshelf covered with books. Over the white desk that looks like it was designed for a woman. I look out the large windows that have a view of the mountains. I could work here forever. I’m not even sure I want to be a nurse again if the pay is this good and I get a view like this.
“So what is the name of this company? What does it do?”
Cole eyes me like he can’t believe Knight hasn’t told me already. We were a little busy not fucking.
I sit behind the desk and drink the last drop of coffee. Cole walks over to where a coffee maker sits in the corner of my office. He pours me a fresh cup and hands it to me. “You have your own coffee maker so you can make coffee at any time, but there is also a coffee shop two floors down that your employee card will get you access to for free coffee.”
I sip the coffee that tastes even better than the cup Gallagher got me. I don’t think I’ll ever need to leave this office.
“The company is called Perfect Match. We help match people up.”
“Doesn’t that already exist? Tinder, Match, Ok Cupid?”
Cole frowns. “Yes, those exist, but that isn’t the goal of Perfect Match. We’re not just a dating site, although some of the users are on the app to find dates. Most people are looking for more than dates. They are looking for companionship. They are looking for people to go to baseball games, people to share a room, people to start a company, travel the world or work on saving elephants. You get the idea. The app has you answer questions about your life, and then it matches you to people it thinks you need in your life. You may not even realize you care about saving the elephants, but the app will realize you do and match you with a similar person who also cares about elephants so you can go save the world.”
“Huh, I’ve never heard of it.”
“Not surprising since it looks like your phone barely functions as is.” He glances at the phone on my desk.
I grab it and throw it in the top drawer of my desk.
“So what does Knight do here?”
Cole’s lips curl up. “Knight—”
“Needs you in his office,” Knight says standing in the doorway.
I stand nervously looking Knight up and down. He’s wearing a suit that fits like a second skin to his muscles and is far more expensive than the suit Cole is wearing from the look of it. Knight’s suit is tailored to fit him, while Cole’s is nice, but doesn’t fit quite as well.
“I’ll let you two talk. It appears you have a lot to talk about,” Cole says turning to walk out. “If I could be a fly on the wall,” he mumbles and then disappears.
“My office. Now.”
I jump to my feet at his harsh words and then chase him the two feet to his neighboring office.
He takes a seat at his sizable black desk.
“Shut the door.”
I jump again but shut the door behind me. I’m taken aback by his voice and his outfit. I’m baffled. If I were to look at him now, I’d say he is the opposite of a bad boy.
“I need you to move my nine o’clock meeting with Jacob to ten. I don’t care what he says, make sure it’s ten. I need you to schedule a meeting with Catherine Scully for one this afternoon. Check over the rest of my schedule and confirm with my driver we can travel to the one o’clock meeting in time. I need you to drop off my dry cleaning at the building on Anaheim and have it picked up by seven tonight. Order lunch to be delivered from Tony’s at one sharp.”
“I thought you had a meeting at one.”
Knight smirks. “You are listening. It didn’t appear that you were since you aren’t writing anything I’m saying down.”
I blink. “I have a perfect memory.”
“I doubt that.”
I sigh. “Nine o’clock with Jacob move to ten, no matter what. Meeting with Catherine Scully for one this afternoon. Confirm schedule with Gallagher. Drop off dry cleaning on Anaheim and make sure it’s ready by seven. Lunch from Tony’s at one although you have a meeting then so I’m not sure if it’s a lunch meeting or a mistake.”
He smiles. “I knew I chose well.”
I nod. “I didn’t realize you were serious in needing an assistant. Who was your assistant before?”
He doesn’t answer. Another secret.
“The lunch order isn’t a mistake. I will eat while he talks.”
I nod.
“Shall I continue?”
I sigh as he continues spouting about meetings, emails, and errands he needs me to run. I’m barely listening. He frowns the whole time, assuming I’m not listening. But if I hear it, I won’t forget it. It’s a blessing and a curse. Every time he thinks I’m not listening to him, I repeat the last few sentences, and he growls before continuing.
That’s when I spot it. His nameplate. Ace Knight, Founder and CEO.
Holy shit!
“Wait, you own Perfect Match?”
Knight stands up and walks around to the front of his desk.
“Yes.”
My mouth gapes open. “Do you own the strip club?”
“No, Cole does. I’m a minor investor, mainly because I’m his friend, nothing more.”
“You own Perfect Match, not a strip club?”
He nods again.
I cock my head to the side like I’m seeing him for the first time. Maybe I am? How could I have gotten the men so wrong?
“You’re still an asshole.” I cross my arms and stomp my foot to accent my point.
“You still have a smart mouth.”
I glare. “When do I get paid? I don’t have any money to afford rent. Can I get an advance?”
“Add meeting with HR to your agenda today. I’ll cover your living expenses while you are working here, and I’ll make sure you get an advance on your paycheck. You will get your checks in regular increments until you are finished, with a bonus in the end.” When he asks me to do the thing that will cause me to hate him, and possibly myself.
I nod.
“You’re dismissed, Mila.”
I bite my lip to hold my tongue. I want him to use a nickname. I don’t like him calling me Mila. It’s like he’s scolding a child.
I turn and walk out of his office and return to mine. I won’t think about Knight. He’s a dick. I don’t think about figuring out whatever task he really hired me for either. I have a job that is going to pay me six figures in less than six months. I have a job that will keep my mind occupied and ensure I never have to worry about money again when I get back to finishing my nursing degree.
Just as I open the shiny laptop on my desk, the phone on my desk rings.
I hesitantly pick up, “Hello?”
“That’s not how you answer your phone. You are the voice of Perfect Match. The first voice anyone hears when they call our offices. Try again,” Knight snaps.
I sigh. “Hello, you’ve reached Perfect Match, Mila Burns speaking. How can I help you?”
“Better, but don’t speak like you are having phone sex.”
“I don’t talk like—”
“I have more tasks for you.”
Shit. I listen as he rambles a dozen more tasks. I don’t know what my hours are, but there is no way I will get all of this finished by seven when I’m supposed to pick up his dry cleaning and when I assumed our day would be done. I’ll be lucky to get everything done in time to sleep at all tonight.
I hate Knight more than I thought was possible.
He’s yelled at me more today than I’ve ever been yelled at before. And my siblings like to chastise me, a lot.
I got yelled at when his lunch was two minutes late. I got yelled at when Jacob didn’t show up for his meeting. I got yelled at when I took a pee break and missed Odette’s call. I’m beginning to think whoever had my job before me didn’t last long. I don’t care how much it pays; if I weren’t desperate, I would have quit already.
And more than anything, I’ve realized Knight has a split personality. I think I prefer when he wears the tattoos and biker outfit. That version of him isn’t dangerous. He’s nice, kind even, compared to the jerk in a suit sitting in his office.
“How are you holding up?” Cole flashes me a knowing grin as he steps into my office without knocking.
I smile, happy he’s not Knight. I’m not sure I can handle another demand from him. If he asks me to do one more thing for him, I’m likely to quit.
I bite my lip when Cole approaches me. It’s hard not to show my appreciation for the man that looks like dessert in a suit. Although I no longer want Cole, I can still appreciate his charming smile, his tight ass, and the warmth he brings with him when he enters a room.
My phone rings and I pick it up and slam it back down without answering, already knowing it’s Knight. If he wants to talk to me, he can get off his ass and come to my office to have the conversation face to face. I won’t deal with his scolding over the phone.
“That bad, huh?”
The phone rings again, and I again pick it up and slam it down.
I shrug. “It could be worse I guess. I could be working as a stripper in your club.”
Cole walks behind my desk, and I turn in my comfy executive chair to face him. Cole’s eyes drop to me, and he turns me toward the desk as he steps behind me and starts massaging my shoulders.
“Mmm.”
“If you worked at my club, you would be treated like royalty, not like a dog who constantly disobeys.”
I close my eyes and lean into his hands. I didn’t realize how tense I was until Cole’s hands touched me. If I’m going to survive five months at this job, I’m going to need to hire a masseuse to make it through.
“I didn’t realize Knight could be more of an ass than he already was.”
Cole chuckles. “He’s been going easy on you. It’s going to get worse from here.”
I sit up, and Cole drops his hands. “What? How can it get worse?”
Cole rubs his neck like he’s trying to decide what to tell me and what to keep private. “Knight is intense. He cares a lot about this business as much as he pretends not to. His first assistant was amazing. She had the same level of passion he did. He didn’t have to ask her to work crazy, ridiculous hours, she just did. She was the other half of his brain. They were able to communicate without speaking. They were a perfect team.”
“Why did she leave then if she was so perfect?”
Cole looks out the window instead of looking at me. “She fell in love.”
I nod, realizing who he is talking about. Abri. Knight’s first assistant became his wife. Then his ex. There is no way I’ll be able to live up to whatever he had with her. I can’t fuck him in his office when he’s upset like she could.
I sigh and kick my feet up on my desk. I have five minutes until I need to leave to pick up Knight’s dry cleaning.
“It will get easier. Knight will realize what he has with you. He’ll realize that you are different than Abri. In a way, you are exactly what he needs right now.”
“Knight told me the same thing. That I’m perfect for him. I’m exactly what he needs, but I don’t understand. I’m anything but perfect, and I haven’t met this Abri yet, but she sounds like his perfect match. I’m just here because Knight thinks I can help him hurt her.”
Cole frowns and tugs my hand, forcing me to my feet. I sigh, silently cursing my heels as I stand up. Tomorrow, I will not be wearing heels.
“You’re not perfect for Knight because you can help him hurt Abri, although I have no doubt that is why you are here. You are perfect for Knight because you challenge everything in his life. Abri made his life easier; you will make it harder. She fell into his lap, but he will fight for you.”
I blink several times, not understanding, but then his wet lips press against mine, and I’m even more confused. I thought he was done kissing me after the last time. And as much as I might like Cole, I’m not sure I can trust him after he kisses me.
I push him off me as I hear a familiar creak in the door. Cole’s hands are wrapped around my waist despite me attempting to push him off me, and Knight is standing in the doorway to my office.
Knight looks at me like he hates me. And I thought he was supposed to be making me hate him, not the other way around.
I have nothing to apologize for. I didn’t kiss Cole. He kissed me. If anything, I could file sexual harassment charges against Cole. And Knight and I are nothing more than boss and employee. He made that clear last night.
“The deal is off,” Knight says as he turns to leave. I’m not sure if he’s talking about his deal with me or if he has a deal with Cole.
Cole chuckles. “No, it’s not.”
Apparently, Cole thinks Knight is talking about him. Knight stops walking and then storms back into my office, punching Cole in the face on the same spot that he punched him before. Then, he turns to me.
“Don’t talk to Cole again, or you’re fired.”
He’s gone in an instant while I’m left gasping for air.
Finally, I regain my breath and glare at Cole. “What was that for?”
“Don’t worry; I didn’t kiss you because I like you, although you are hot as hell. I kissed you to help you both.”
I narrow my eyes not understanding.
“How the hell does kissing me and almost getting me fired help me?”
“Because it reminds you how much Knight wants you. I’ve never seen him punch anyone. I’ve kissed countless of his girlfriends and dates before. He never cared that I kissed them. He just ended the relationship. He wants you, even though he will never admit it because he has an ulterior motive. And he thinks fucking you will get in the way of that.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I think him fucking you is exactly what you both need. He needs to forget about his past and find his future.”
Cole adjusts his tie and touches the side of his cheek where a bruise is forming. I don’t know whether to thank Cole or punch him.
So I slap him across the cheek.
“Jesus, woman. What was that for?”
I storm toward my door. “For kissing me. Don’t do it again. Ever. Or I’ll do a lot more than slap you.”
“Fine, no more kissing.”
I pause in the doorway. “And for the record, I can fight my own battles. I can decide if I want Knight to fuck me or not. Knight might need to get laid, but it’s not what I need. I need the money. I need to finish my degree. Graduate and get a real job where I take care of myself. I don’t need a man to help me with that.”
I leave my office. My body shakes to my core. I’m furious. And turned on. Not because of Cole’s lackluster kiss, but because of the look in Knight’s eyes when he saw what happened. I’m a fucking mess, and all I’ve done is kiss Knight.
I meant everything I said to Cole. I can’t fuck Knight. I’m here to get paid and then move on with my life. That’s the plan I’m sticking to. No matter how charming, or good-
looking he is. No matter what naughty words are whispered in my ear. I won’t give in. I’ve let one bad boy ruin my life before. I won’t do it again.
10
Knight
Why does Mila keep fucking kissing Cole?
He’s not that good-looking, he has the personality of a sloth, and he’s the ringleader of bad boys. The opposite of everything Mila claims to want.
I stare at my computer screen, angrily scrolling through my various emails and appointments for today. I can’t work, not when I can’t get the image of Mila and Cole kissing out of my head.
My door opens without a knock. I don’t look up. I don’t care if it’s Cole or Mila coming to beg for my forgiveness. I don’t want to see either of them right now.
“I updated your schedule so you can fit in the Thompson meeting tomorrow at nine between your eight-thirty and ten o’clock meetings,” Mila says.
I don’t look up. I’m sure my devil eyes would scare her off if she saw what was going through my head right now.
“I also want to assure you that I’m a professional. I will keep my private life private from now on. It was unacceptable what happened, and it won’t happen again.”
I shake my head but keep my mouth shut.
“Knight?”
I can’t take it anymore. I look up and see her standing across the desk from me glowing. I haven’t called her into my office for the last three hours because every time she leaves it, clearing her body from my mind takes twice as long as her voice to leave my head when I talk to her on the phone. I can’t have my productivity hampered that much.
“I’m on my way to pick up your dry cleaning. Is there anything else you need before I go and then head out for the night? I talked with HR, and they said you would write me a check for my advance so I can get an apartment.”
“Yes,” I hiss. “There are some things I need you to do for me before you are done for the night.”
She sucks in a breath but otherwise doesn’t flinch.
“I need you to generate July’s P&L, prepare an update for our investors, read the ten articles that were submitted to be included in the company newsletter, give me summaries of the spreadsheets Daniel sent me, find a place to host the fall party and finish answering my emails.”