by Katie Fox
“So, what?” My gaze flicked back to his. “I'm supposed to drop everything and take your offer as if—”
He started toward me, and my thought dissipated in thin air as I backed away from his closeness, my ass hitting the door and pushing it shut the rest of the way as he towered over me. His arm rested above my head, and he leaned in closer—to intimidate me or make a point? I had no idea.
Our breaths mingled, and I held my next one high in my chest as intense green eyes consumed mine.
“Let me make something very clear. I am not here to beg. There are forty-eight other qualified candidates who are anxiously awaiting my call and who I can guarantee are more than willing to accept my offer. The choice is yours. My office. Tomorrow. Eight a.m. And if you do decide to get off your high horse and actually show up, make sure it doesn't look like you've gotten into a fight with the coffee machine. Think you can manage that?”
The last of his words danced across my collarbone as a series of shivers, and as he pushed himself away from the door, grabbed the handle, and disappeared out of it, my lungs deflated like a pinprick deflated a balloon.
Jerk.
Who the hell did he think he was?
FOR THE SECOND time in two days, I found myself pacing the space between my desk and windows, my mind focused on everything but what it should be. It was five minutes to eight, and there was still no sign of her. Perhaps I had it wrong. Maybe I had misread the hope in her eyes and what I’d thought was a fierce display of determination.
Turning around, I glanced down at the days’ worth of work resting on my desk. A stack of reports sat perched on one corner waiting to be evaluated, and an even bigger pile of manuscripts sat beside it needing to be reviewed. Bowing my head and dropping my palms against the smooth gloss finish, I blew out a confused sigh. Was it possible she enjoyed her job at the library more, or was her absence merely a way of saying “fuck you?” I hadn’t exactly been sunshine and rainbows, but to be fair, I hadn’t treated her any differently than any of the other potentials. An unfounded level of impatience and what I was afraid to define as disappointment warred through me, and I leaned forward, pressing the small gray button on my phone’s receiver.
“Yes, my dear?” Millie's voice came through the line as if she was anticipating my call.
“Any sign of her?”
“Not since you checked five minutes ago.”
Five minutes. Had it really only been five minutes? I was sure it was much longer than that. “Can you just let me know when—”
“If she arrives?” she corrected. “Yes, dear. I will call you the moment she steps off the elevator.”
“Thank you.”
A click and a dial tone later, I was once again left in the silence of my office. Dropping myself down in my chair, I stared at the ceiling and tapped two fingers together. Why was I allowing this to bother me? Until Millie had suggested I hire someone who could assist me with my workload, the idea hadn't even crossed my mind. This woman wasn’t even qualified, for crying out loud, but there had been something about her, this feeling in my chest that told me maybe I needed her as much as she seemed to need this job. And so, I had sought her out. I had given her what I thought she wanted.
Deciding to put all thoughts of her aside and turn my mind to work, I grabbed the first manuscript from the pile. My eyes scanned over the words, not processing one of them, and I groaned in frustration. Most days, my distractions were a result of skull-pounding headaches or the exhaustion from my lack of sleep, but this…this was new. Sliding open the top drawer of my desk, I fished out my keys. Perhaps a quick ride around the city would clear my head. I’d grab a coffee, allow the wind to whip across my face, and hope I could return with my mind less clouded.
Ignoring all my responsibilities, I headed straight for my office door, and as I turned the knob and yanked it open, I halted.
My heart stuttered.
Standing in the doorway, her arm raised and her hand hovering in the air as if she was getting ready to knock, was the woman I’d spent the better part of my morning thinking about. Unlike the day before, her hair was blown dry, the smooth blonde strands framing her face and filling the air with a subtle hint of lavender and mint. Her black blouse clung to her petite frame, as did the gray knee-length skirt hugging her hips and thighs. Black flats made her several inches shorter than I but ensured no possibility of broken heels. She was stunningly beautiful, and for a few beats, I remained completely speechless.
Her gaze ran the length of me, and when our eyes collided, my words finally formed. “You’re here.” So much for Millie calling me the moment she stepped off the elevator.
She lowered her arm and licked her lips. “Yeah. Millie was in the middle of a phone call and told me to come straight to your office.” She pointed at the set of keys dangling from my fingers, her brows narrowing in confusion. “Did I catch you at a bad time. You said to be here at eight a.m.”
I shook my head, slipping them into my pocket. “No. I forgot something in my car and was going to run down and get it, but it can wait.” Stepping back into my office, I held my arm out for her to enter. “Seeing as though you are now on a first-name basis with Millie, I'll give you a quick rundown, and then we have a board meeting in approximately twenty minutes.”
I watched as she walked and stood in the center of the floor, her fingers clenched around the handle of her briefcase and her eyes locked on the windows. Her time spent here yesterday had been brief, and I assumed she hadn’t had the chance to take in the magnificence of the skyline.
She glanced over her shoulder at me, a fascinated smile on her lips and a look of awe painted across her pretty face. “The view up here is absolutely stunning.”
That it is.
My eyes remained on her, gliding down the gentle curve of her neck and settling on the exposed portion of her collarbone. Strands of her hair brushed against her pale ivory skin, and it took me a few concentrated moments to snap myself out of the trance she’d drawn me into.
“Until your office space is cleared out, you'll be doing your work in here. I haven’t called maintenance to bring your desk up yet because, to be honest, I didn’t think you were going to show up.”
Her gaze wandered around the mostly bare space, furnished with only the necessities: my desk, two leather chairs, several filing cabinets, and a wall full of bookshelves lined with new releases and early editions of the classics.
“I didn’t think I was either,” she admitted, and I winced at her unexpected truthfulness.
“Why did you?” The question was given a voice before I could stop it, and the second it reached her ears, she whipped her head around to look at me.
The smile on her face vanished. “Because I want this job more than I want to protect my stubborn pride.”
Her honest confession caused the corners of my mouth to twitch, and any remaining apprehension I felt regarding my decision to hire her melted away. I had no idea what I'd have her do in terms of actual work. It wasn't something I’d spent a lot of time thinking about. All I knew was that having her here felt right.
“I’ll make sure Jack has a work area set up for you by the time our meeting is over.” She nodded, and after holding her gaze for a few minutes longer than I probably should have, I glanced down to the time on my watch. “We should go. This way I can introduce you to the editorial staff before the meeting begins.”
One hand still clutching her briefcase, she walked toward me, and I lifted my chin, nodding down to it.
“You can leave that. You’re not going to need it.”
“Okay.” Setting it on the floor beside her feet, she hurried out of my office, and I followed her steps, closing the door carefully behind us. We continued down the hallway to the elevators, where Millie stood waiting with a folder in her hands, the meeting’s itinerary housed inside.
She flashed me a beaming smile as I freed it from her grip, and her eyes moved to Elle. “I see you found him okay.”
“Y
ou were supposed to call me,” I interjected, stealing Elle’s chance to respond. My voice carried an undertone of agitation, one that didn’t go unnoticed by Millie.
She shrugged, unfazed by it. The woman was all too familiar with my moods—the good, the bad, and the ones that had taken a drastic dive straight down the shit slide over the last couple of months.
“I was in the middle of a phone call. I didn’t think it was a big deal.”
Ignoring her, I pinched the bridge of my nose. The usual tension began to gather between my temples, and I closed my eyes in search of a bit of relief. “Can you call Jack in maintenance, please? Make sure he has a desk set up for Ms. Callihan before the meeting is over. Also, find out how long it’s going to take to clear out Martin’s old office. I’d like her to be able to move into it by the end of the week.”
My head pounded with an oncoming headache, and Millie looked at me, concern in her eyes and her bottom lip worried between her teeth. “Owen.”
“I’m fine, Mill. Please do what I’ve asked.”
“Very well.”
Without saying anything else, we carried on past her, riding the elevator two floors down. Bodies shuffled about the corridors, coming and going, their hands occupied with styrofoam cups of coffee and leather folders full of paperwork. Eyes wandered and heads formed questions as Elle fell in step beside me, and I had no doubt the brewing of this afternoon’s gossip was already starting to stir. Working in an office building was worse than being in high school. Whispers down the alley traveled faster than the speed of light, and other than dishing out copies of the employee handbook and highlighting the section that clearly outlined the no-tolerance policy when it came to workplace gossip, there was not much else that could be done. Infractions hardly resulted in any affirmative action.
Reaching the meeting room, I held the door open for her, resisting the urge to follow the sway of her hips as they sashayed across the threshold. Her body, and the sweet smell of her perfume, brushed against me, and I clenched down on my back teeth. Every one of my senses stood on high alert, awakened and completely aware of the wanton effect her mere presence had on me.
Martin’s old office needed to be cleaned out this week. No excuses. There was no way I'd be able to focus on my work with her desk a few feet beside mine.
Standing with her arms by her sides and her fingers curled into her palms, Elle looked at me with a hesitancy in her expression. She was nervous, and the human side of me that was fully capable of feeling and dealing with emotion wanted to reach out, place my hands on her shoulders, and assure her everything would be fine, but it wasn't my job to make her feel relaxed. I wasn't there to hold her hand as she waded through this sea of unknown, searching to find her footing. No. It wasn't my job to be anything other than what I was: her boss.
She needed to earn her position here as everyone else had.
Keep reminding yourself of that, Owen.
Leaving her standing there, I made my way to the front of the large, oval table, already filled with the people whose faces I saw daily. Their gazes bounced between me and the pretty blonde who remained by the door, looking like a stunning, permanent new fixture in the otherwise modest room.
“Everyone, this is our newest member of staff, Elle Callihan.” I slapped the folder down on the table and waved my hand in her direction before dragging it back again. “Elle, this is everyone.”
So much for a proper introduction, but we had more pertinent shit to discuss.
Elle flashed them a friendly smile and, after a brief exchange of waves and nods, glanced around the space. Her eyes searched for a place to sit. Every high-back leather chair surrounding the table was occupied, leaving her with no other choice than the hard plastic seat in the far back corner. She padded tentatively across the floor, stopping only at the sound of my voice.
“Before you make yourself comfortable, head down to the cafeteria and grab everyone a fresh cup of coffee, would you? It’s three floors down. We have a lot to go over, and I don’t need any unnecessary interruptions.” I didn't bother waiting for her reaction. Instead, I flipped through the meeting notes, mentally organizing what needed addressing first and what was of most importance. Deadlines were fast approaching as was the quarterly audit—all things that sent stress levels running high, not only for me but for everyone.
“Coffee.” The two-syllable word sounded more like a question as it reverberated against the walls, the voice carrying it laced with confusion. The light chatter taking place around us seized. “You want me to go get coffee?”
I lifted my gaze to Elle’s puzzled one. Did I not make myself clear? Had I spoken a different language? “Yes, coffee. Is that a problem?”
“But I thought—”
Cocking my head and raising a brow, I straightened myself. “You thought what, Ms. Callihan?” I knew exactly what she thought. She thought she’d be more than my lowly assistant, that I’d give her more responsibility than what we assigned our entry-level interns. The job listing she’d originally applied for was for an assistant editor, after all.
“Nothing.” Her shoulders dropped a fraction, and she smiled tightly, masking the disappointment bleeding onto her face. “Cream and sugar?”
“That would be great. Think you can make sure you don’t end up wearing it this time?” As soon as I said the words, I wanted to take them back.
That was low, Owen. Really low.
Full of hurt, her eyes continued to hold mine as she walked to the door, and I waited for her to speak up. I almost wanted her to put me in my place like she’d done every time I had seen her, but she didn't. She disappeared out of the room, returning several minutes later with two large coffee pots in hand. Her counterfeit smile remained in place as she walked the perimeter of the table, quietly filling everyone's cups.
It was an asshole move. I realized that as I watched her finish and then stand by the door because the chair she’d originally moved to sit in had since been occupied.
Carrying on with the meeting, I did my best to ignore her presence, acting as if she wasn't in the room. I didn't look at her—didn't acknowledge the fact she seemed to be making an effort to be a part of the discussion or mentally taking notes about all that was being addressed. Honest truth, Elle Callihan was a distraction—one hell of a distraction that my head nor my heart had the capacity to entertain.
Definitely not my heart.
Which was why I was questioning why I’d even hired her. There were so many other applicants who were far more qualified, but there was something about her that told me I needed to give her a chance. There was a voice telling me to not let this woman go.
Once the meeting ended, I gathered all my paperwork, stuffing it back into the folder. Jill, our senior editor, stood from the table and walked straight over to Elle, introducing herself in the way I should have, and guilt stung my chest.
“Where did you find that fine little piece.” The whisper that wasn't exactly a whisper traveled down the table, and I flicked my gaze up, looking at the individual it belonged to. Kyle Lawson, our lead designer and grade-A douchebag, was pushing out of his seat. “Perhaps when you're finished with her, you can send her to my office. I'm sure I can find a few things she's capable of doing.” He gave me a wink, and I wanted to lunge forward and grab the asshole by the throat. It took everything in me not to.
Refraining, I glanced over at Elle, who had ended her conversation with Jill and was now fully capable of overhearing every word being exchanged between the pair of us.
“Watch it, Lawson.” I glared at him. “I mean it.” There was a sharp, bitter edge to my tone, and as he walked toward Elle and the door, he laughed.
“Chill, Caldwell. I'm only joking.”
He whispered something under his breath I didn't quite catch, and I shook it off, returning to collect my stuff.
“Is this some kind of joke to you? A means of humiliating me?”
My head jumped up, my eyes connecting with a furious Elle. She stood with
her hands planted firm on her hips and a red blush tinging the skin on her neck and the tips of her ears.
“Excuse me?”
“What’s the real reason you hired me, huh? Because I’ve got news for you, if it’s to fetch your stupid coffee or tend to your personal needs, think again. I may not have much experience, but I’m not some...” She didn't even finish her sentence. Frustrated, she shook her head and turned. Without allowing me so much as a word, she stormed out of the meeting room, shoulders squared and her entire frame defiant.
“Elle!” My call went unanswered. Her blonde hair swayed fiercely from side to side as she disappeared down the hall and out of my direct line of sight.
Damn it. Day one and Owen Caldwell had already managed to fuck this up.
Why was this not surprising?
I closed my eyes, feeling my blood pulse and my head ache. Leaving the paperwork sitting there, I hurried after her. The elevator doors closed as I reached them, and I punched the up-arrow button with my thumb, not-so-patiently waiting as the floor numbers illuminated.
By the time I made it to my floor and into my office, Elle was picking up her briefcase and once again strutting for the door. She barreled past me, and I reached out, gently hooking my fingers around her upper arm. The force of her strides caused her entire body to jerk in motion, and as it collided with mine—her back melding to my front—a lungful of air punched from her chest. Heaven. Her soft skin felt like heaven beneath my fingertips, and the warmth of it almost caused me to lose my train of thought.
I gritted my teeth and spun her around. “Where do you think you’re going?”
She stared at me with fire in her eyes, spitting her words in my face as she yanked herself forcefully from my grip. “I told you, I’m not here to be some personal servant, and I’m sure as hell not here for anyone’s sexual pleasure. Find someone else to do your mindless bidding.”
My brows narrowed. “You’re quitting?”
“Yes. Yes, I am.” She said it so matter-of-factly. So proud and sure. There may have even been a hint of a cocky smirk tugging at her lips as she turned her haughty chin upward.