by Dauphin, M.
She throws her pen at me and I dodge it, heading down the hall to the bathroom for a shower. I need to wash his smell off of me, then I need to go to sleep for the rest of the day. Not before eating my weight in whatever food we have in the kitchen, since I’m actually starving from not eating all day. Tomorrow I start a job I don’t want, in a company I never wanted to work for, earning the money I tried to stay away from my whole life.
***
The morning comes quickly, as I fell asleep right after my shower and slept all night. I wake up and frown at the night sky that’s laughing at me. The sun isn’t even up yet, I feel as if I’m going to have to get up this early, I should be getting up to go to a job that I really love. Not something that I’m settling for. Not that I’m ungrateful for my father’s help in keeping my income rolling in, but I can’t get over the fear that I’m not going to ever find a job that my degree supports.
I get to the office about a half hour before the rest of my employees are scheduled to show up, making sure that my office is all set up and I can look through the emails that were forwarded to me over the weekend. It’s all boring scheduling conflicts, driver requests, and even more conflicts of interest between drivers. Boring. This is what my life has become.
“Knock, knock.”
Joe’s standing in the doorway with coffee and a bag of something that smells amazing. I didn’t realize until right now that I totally forgot to eat breakfast due to my nerves, but now that I see the coffee and smell the food, I realize I’m starving.
“Hey you,” I smile at him, happy to see a familiar face. I’m sure today I’ll be surrounded with all kinds of people that are jealous and mad that someone from outside the company waltzed into this position, so I’m truly happy to see Joe.
“Glad to see you’re here today.”
“Why wouldn’t I be? It’s my first day, lots to do.”
“After the way things were left Saturday night, I wasn’t sure if you’d want to stay with the business.”
“What does Saturday night have to do with this business? It was an after hour call from a friend. Right?”
My eyes lock on his and I think I see a hint of regret there, but it’s quickly masked with a passive look.
“Right. And then you went home with him.” He walks towards me and sets the coffee and bag on my desk. “Just glad to see he didn’t eat you alive. He’s… just be careful with him, Ann.”
“I’m not ‘with’ him, Joe. Very far from it. We had our fun, but he’s not tied to me nor am I to him. I’d appreciate it if you kept this all under wraps.”
He smiles at me and his posture changes to a straighter, more confident stance.
“Sure, sure, anything for you, Annie.” He walks towards the door, but before he leaves he turns to me. “Be tough today. Some of your drivers are known to be assholes. Word’s already going around the grapevine that you don’t deserve this job. Make them realize you do.” He winks at me then leaves.
If I wasn’t rattled already by the kind gesture and the sexy as sin grin he gave me when he realized I wasn’t with Adam, I am now due to the wink he just gave me. He winked at me! Who does that? I smile at myself and the situation I’m in. This Joe thing is going to get me nowhere good, and fast.
By the time I finish my breakfast and coffee, the majority of the office has already settled in to their morning routine. Drivers can start moving any time after six am, special calls happen before then for certain clients, but this week we have nothing scheduled out of the seemingly ordinary routines. No one has stopped in to say hello yet, but maybe that’s because they're all busy getting their week started. I send out a group-wide email, calling for a short meeting at ten am, and prepare myself for my well-planned welcome speech. I don’t want to be their best friend, but I need them to respect me. I also want them to like me. That shouldn’t be on my list of things I want out of this job, but it’ll make my life a lot easier if I work with people I like and that like me.
When the meeting comes around, I’ve already sent out a few emails to clients introducing myself, and handled some HR paperwork that needed to be finished today. I head into the conference room that will hold all of my drivers, and wait for them to start trickling in. By quarter after they are all finally here and I’m already pissed that they have no sense of time management. What part of ten am meeting did they not understand?
“Thank you all for coming, I just want to introduce myself.”
“We know who you are,” a voice from the back of the group says. I can’t make out who said it, but it was a female voice, and I only have two female drivers.
“Right, I’m sure you all do. It’s no secret that—“
“You’re the boss’s daughter, handed this job on a silver platter,” the voice says again. Everyone else around me seems to be getting more and more uncomfortable.
“The only person I have to run my qualifications by is my boss, who happens to be my father, yes, but he wouldn’t put someone who isn’t qualified in this position. I’m sure he went through all of his employees before coming to me.” She doesn’t have a comeback, and I’m able to finish up my speech. “I know we’re all busy. I just wanted to say ‘hi’, and that I hope we have a good working environment. Come to me for anything you need.”
I had some smiles and nods, a few scheduling questions to take notes on, but all in all my employees seem to be on the same page as I am. It shouldn’t matter that I’m the boss’s daughter. What matters is that I can do this job. Everyone gets up to leave and I’m finally able to see the girl that was making all of the comments earlier. Skinny, fake boobs, bleach blonde hair, and smacking gum like a cheap whore. Great.
“Annaliese Ryder.” I put my hand out to shake hers, hoping for a more personal introduction, but she stares at me in disgust.
“I know.” She fakes a smile.
“And you are?”
“You’re the boss. Shouldn’t you already have that figured out?” She’s right. My mind scans through the notes I spent the morning reading, trying to put a face to a name, or match a profile picture to the woman standing in front of me when it clicks.
“Kayla Harris. Your hair is a different color than in your profile.” And she looks like a completely different person, but the scar on her cheek doesn’t lie.
“Ah, there’s a brain behind the beauty. That or it was a lucky guess. Either way, boss, I have things to do this morning before my route starts.” She stands and slides past me.
“Great. Nice meeting you, Kayla,” I say, trying to make my voice as happy as can be, when all I want to do is fire the bitch. I figured there’d be some people upset with the big change, but I didn’t think I’d have someone so openly hateful right at the start.
She doesn’t return the sentiment as she leaves me to an empty conference room, contemplating my next move with her. I’m not one to whine about things, so telling my dad about her behavior is not going to happen. I’d rather not be the boss that has it out for one of her employees so transferring her right off the bat isn’t happening either. It looks like I’m in need of a third option, but short of throwing her bitchy ass off a roof, I’m not thinking of anything else worthwhile.
The rest of the day is spent about like the first part of it. I’m bombarded with a whopping zero lunch invites as I sit in my office and watch groups of people leaving to grab lunch. The groups are small as we have a few drivers out and about on runs, but not one of them offered a smile or a goodbye as they leave me to an empty office.
What am I doing here? It’s not like this has anything to do with my degree. Sure, this is a means to be able to stay in the apartment with Gabby, but I’m sure there are jobs out there that I could have gotten that would pay enough for me to live there. Right? I hope this was the right choice, but each time I see Ms. Kayla glaring at me, my decision starts to make less and less sense in my head. I probably stole someone’s raise and promotion just because I am the boss’s daughter.
“What’s got you loo
king so down?” Joe’s voice comes from the doorway. I look up from my computer and smile. He always knows when to show up and make my day a little brighter. “Thought I’d take you out to lunch. First day lunch on me.” His smile warms parts of me that I’d rather it not. He works for my father so nothing between us can happen.
“Oh. Um….” If I tell him yes, he could get the wrong impression and think it’s a date. If I say no, word could get around the office that I’m a cold bitch, and I’d rather not have that happen. “Yes. A business lunch with a friend sounds great.” I smile at him and he holds his hand out for me to take it. Awkwardly, I hold on to his hand as he leads me out of the office.
When we reach the hallway, I pull my hand away from his warm embrace. He glances over and me but I look down and tuck my hair behind my ear. Being around Joe is starting to make me uncomfortable, simply for the fact that I’m insanely attracted to him. Now we work together at a company that my father owns. Even if I really wanted to see what develops with Joe, which the more time I spend with him the more I want to, I can’t act on it.
By the time we get to the sandwich shop across the street it’s a little after the lunch rush and we’re able to get a table right away. I sit down while he orders for us, that way we can hold a table while our food is being prepared. In Chicago, even if it isn’t rush time, places like this are always busy.
“So, how’s your first day going?” Joe asks taking a bite of his sandwich. I pick at my salad for moment and take a bite, contemplating my answer. I don’t want to be whiny, but I should have someone to vent to, right? That person shouldn’t be Joe, though. That person should be Gabby or someone else that doesn’t work in the company.
“Oh great. Really good, I’m learning a lot.”
“You just turned on your professional voice, Annie. What’s really going on?” His eyes are full of concern but I can’t tell him. I’m already disliked because of my father. I’d hate to add in that I’m chumming it up with the top driver, making him angry at everyone else.
“No, things are great.”
“I’m your friend, Annie. Not just another coworker.”
“I know, Joe. And I promise that if problems arise, I’ll come to you for your opinion.”
He looks at me and sighs, then takes another bite of his sandwich before changing the subject. We talk about our lives outside of work, his life inside of work and how he came to be the top driver in the entire company. Apparently, it all has to do with punctuality and professionalism. Two things that my entire crew lacks. I’ll be fixing that.
By the time lunch is over, it’s almost two in the afternoon and I really need to get back to the office. I thank Joe and we go our separate ways at the front door of the building. As good of a friend as he’s being today, I have the feeling he has something up his sleeve. And I can’t say that it worries me. He’s hot, smells amazing, and has a rock hard body. Any girl would be lucky to be with him Hell, part of me wishes I could be that girl. I can’t though, so I’ll take what I can get with him. If close friendship is all we can have, then close friendship it is. Anyway, I have a date with Mr. Chicago coming up. If he ever calls me that is. Considering my luck lately, I’m going to be sitting around for a long time waiting for him to call.
Chapter 10
Adam
It’s been a week since I’ve seen or spoken with her... a week of picking up the phone to call or text, just to put it back down again. Annaliese was dead set on leaving me the last time I saw her and couldn’t wait to get inside and away from me. Sure, she agreed to a dinner date, but what if that was just to shut me up so she could get inside? I’m sure she got a good laugh out of it, that, or she hates me now since I haven’t called for an entire week. What’s the rule nowadays anyway? Three days? Four? If I knew how she was feeling about this whole thing between her and me, I’d feel much better about calling her and asking her out on a real date. Why am I being such a vagina about this?
There’s a knock on my office door, bringing me out of my now hourly daydreaming about the girl that I can’t seem to stop thinking about.
“Come in!” I yell not looking up from my paperwork, trying to make myself look busy as opposed to a lust-struck fool.
“Hey, man, what’s up?” Benton asks strolling into the office. He sits on the sofa and reclines back, stretching his legs out and crossing his ankles. He hasn’t fought in two days and I can tell his muscles are starting to feel better than they did when he was fighting multiple nights in a row. Finally, he’s getting back to normal and I’m able to come through with my promise to him.
“I looked into the adoption thing for you,” I say, not able to look him in the eyes for fear of the emotion that will be radiating out of them soon. I love this man like he’s my own brother. I’d do anything for him. “I talked to a few people and they’re willing to help get your application pushed forward.”
“What?” he leans forward and puts his elbows on his knees. “How?”
“Money talks, B. Even people in the highest places will do things that aren’t exactly by the books for the right price.”
He smiles at me and nods, his jaw tight with emotion.
“Now, get the hell outta here before you turn into a pussy. Go tell Carly you guys should be expecting a call this week.”
“Shit, man, that….” he clears his throat, obviously full of emotions that he’s trying to hide from me. Good. I don’t want to see any of that shit. “Thank you.” That’s all he’s able to say before speeding out of my office, unable to keep his emotions in control.
I know how hard they’ve worked for a baby. It’s taken him years to come to terms with the fact that Carly’s body simply cannot carry a child. Once they accepted that, adoption was the very next best thing. Unfortunately, they’ve been at the bottom of the list for about a year now, seemingly not moving anywhere. All it took was a phone call to the woman they had been working with, a slight change in a little bit of funds, and their name was bumped to the top of the list for newborns. I try to be a good man to the people that I care about, but all the media only wants to portray me as is a ruthless businessman. There’s so much more to me than you see on the news channels, and only a few people in my life that know the real me.
These thoughts bring me back to Annaliese, and how I want her to be one of those people. She started seeing the real me the last time we were together. The me that practically grew up on a farm, helping his grandparents out because his own parents were too busy for him. The me that lost his virginity at the young age of sixteen to his first love in the back of his pickup truck. The me that no one knows, and I’m only willing to share with a few. I want her to know me, and the only way she’s going to do that is by spending time with me. Getting up the nerve, I pick up my phone and shoot her a text. This is easier. I’m able to control what I say and not put my foot in my mouth as easily as I do when speaking to her. I’m not sure why I do it, or that I even know I’m doing it until it’s too late, but I always seem to say something that knocks her off balance and sets us back a step or three.
Me: Hey you
I hit send before I’m able to chicken out, then laugh to myself that the thought of chickening out just crossed my mind. It’s happened multiple times in the last week, not that anyone knows. If word got out that I’ve gone soft over this girl, all hell would break loose. It’s ten minutes before I realize I’m staring at my phone, waiting for her to text back. I need to get my mind off of this girl. If she doesn’t want me, I’m okay with that. Right?
There’s a knock on my door and I yell for it to open, not even trying to put on the show that I was working. Whoever it is that’s barging in unannounced can go screw themself.
“Boss man.” One of Vick’s men walks in and shuts the door tightly behind him. He stalks to the desk and glares at me. “Where’s your money for the fight tomorrow?” he grinds out, obviously pissed that he had to make the trip down here.
“I’m holding off on the next few fights,” I s
ay calmly. No need to bother him with the details of why. “I’ll be returning to betting as soon as I get some shit figured out.”
“Ryder’s not gonna be happy.”
“I don’t care.”
“You should,” he growls. He actually growls at me. This man is about a foot shorter than me and a dirty grease-ball. The pudge sticking out from the bottom of his shirt tells me I could take his out of shape ass in no time.
“I don’t. Vick and I have no ties. That’s the way I see it. We owe each other nothing.” I’m trying to keep myself calm, but it’s not working.
“We’ll see what he has to say about that,” he says then storms out of my office, slamming the door behind him.
Shit.
All I need to do is figure out who keeps having the fights that I bet on rigged against me, take care of them, then I can get back to betting. Sure, I’ve always loved adventure and the thrill of gambling, but throwing money away isn’t something I enjoy doing.
I text Benton to meet me at the office later today to talk things over when I notice that I have a new text waiting for me. My heart beat speeds up and my stomach drops when I see her name with the number one in parentheses next to it on my message screen. She texted me back. She texted me back and I’m so nervous about what it says that my hands start to shake. Shit, Adam, get ahold of yourself! I touch her name and see the message load, smiling to myself absentmindedly when her words are displayed on my screen.
Annaliese: Hey you ;)
She winky-faced me. What the hell does that mean? Is she flirting with me? Should I flirt back? If I do and she wasn’t flirting with me, it’s going to make me seem like a creep. If I don’t and she was flirting with me, then I’ll seem like an asshole. Why are women so damn complicated? I need a cheat sheet for this shit.
There’s a knock on my door interrupting my minor meltdown.
“Mr. Callahan, there’s a woman on the phone that says she needs to speak with you. About the Meltourne account.” Reese is standing at my doorway waiting for an answer. “Sorry for interrupting but you weren’t answering the phone.” She was trying to call? I didn’t even hear the phone buzzing.