by Lexi Wilson
“They must think I’m a ‘bad element’ or something, or that I don’t have ‘family values.’ Little do they know I’ve done everything I’ve done because of my little girl.”
I nodded. “And that’s a big part of why you’re here.”
She was intrigued. “Is that right?”
“Mhmm. It’s clear as day talking to you that you’d do anything for your little girl. And that kind of fire and commitment is exactly what I want from my employees. You’ve got passion and motivation.” I smiled. “Not to mention that the way you stood up for yourself to that jackass who touched you was pretty damn admirable. You’ve got to be tough in this business, whether you’re a secretary or you’re a CEO.”
She nodded, as if understanding my point. “But…you could hire anyone for this job. You could take your pick from the top secretaries in the country, right? Why me?”
“Because there’s one important lesson I’ve learned on my way to becoming CEO. You can have the most impressive resume in the world in front of you, but all the credentials in the world don’t even come close to the most important determinant of character there is.”
“And what’s that?” she asked, clearly intrigued.
I tapped my middle.
“Your…stomach? I don’t get it.”
“No, Amber – your gut. My gut, in this case. I’ve waded through a lot of talent in my time here at Horvath, and the hires I’ve made who’ve been the best additions to the team are ones I’ve always had a gut instinct about. And I’ve got a good one about you.”
“Really? Why?”
I shrugged. “That’s the thing about your gut – you can’t really explain it. But I wouldn’t be offering you this job to be a charity case or anything like that. I want you to be my secretary because I think you’d be great for it. Hell, I don’t think – I know you would.”
“Then…you’re not going to interview me or anything like that?”
“No need. Can you start tomorrow?”
“I mean, sure.”
“Can you work nine-to-six, sometimes a little more if I need you?”
“Sure. But I do have my little girl to worry about.”
“Of course. And Horvath offers comprehensive childcare options if you need it. And we’re pretty understanding when it comes to time off.”
She chewed her lower lip in indecision, which I couldn’t help but find irresistibly sexy.
“So, you want to hire me on the spot, and you want me to start tomorrow. There’s no catch, there’s no fine print.”
“Wow, you really are used to people doing you dirty. And no, there’s no catch. You come tomorrow and do the job and that’s all.”
“And what about salary?” she asked, sitting forward.
It was another point in her favor. Other people sitting where she sat might’ve been too nervous to ask about that, ready to take whatever I might offer, worried they might ruin a good thing.
So, I decided to give her a little test. I jotted down a number on a nearby piece of paper – a number that was much lower than I’d been planning on offering her.
I handed the piece of paper over and she quickly took it.
She looked over the number and chuckled.
“OK, what’s the real salary?”
And just like that, she’d passed the test.
“More than that. Wanted to see what you’d do if I low-balled you.”
She chuckled. “And what if I would’ve accepted it? Would you have just let me take a lower salary?”
“I knew I wouldn’t have to worry about that.”
I jotted down another number on another piece of paper and gave it to her.
This time, her eyes went wide.
“That’s…that’s really generous.”
“I believe in rewarding talent…not to mention making sure they don’t start getting big ideas about taking their skills somewhere else. As I said, you’ll also have comprehensive medical insurance, child care, vacation time…all the rest. I can email you details and you can have the night to look them over. Simply send me a text letting me know whether or not I can expect you in the morning.”
She folded the piece of paper and slipped it into her purse.
“I’ll…I’ll text you my email. And I’ll think about it.”
“Right – think about it. I look forward to hearing your answer. That will be all.”
Apprehensively, as if there still might be some catch that she didn’t know about, Amber got up.
“T…thanks.”
Then she was gone.
And I was left with the clear knowledge that I might’ve just made one of the best decisions of my life.
Or one of the worst mistakes.
Chapter 11
AMBER
After dinner with Mom and Jamie, I’d spent the rest of the evening looking over the job information Nick had sent me.
It all looked good. I’d be working as his secretary, making a steady salary that was far more than I’d made any of my years as a dancer. And on top of that, I wouldn’t need to take my clothes off for strange men.
But it all seemed too good to be true. Nick had told me he’d wanted me because of his gut.
Was that true? Or did he want something more from me?
Either way, I wasn’t in a position to turn down an offer like that. It was good money, good benefits, and steady hours. After spend a little more time debating the issue, I took out my phone and typed up a text.
“OK. I’ll do it. See you in the morning.”
But my thumb hovered over the “send” button. I knew that once I hit it, once I’d taken the job, everything would change.
I was ready. I pressed the button and the text went off.
Moments later was the response.
“Looking forward to it.”
The next morning, I got up bright and early to make sure I had plenty of time to both get ready, and to deal with Los Angeles rush-hour traffic. Mom took care of Jamie, and after I dropped her off it was time to get going.
Horvath HQ was a tall building of steel and glass that cut like a dagger into the Los Angeles sky. I couldn’t believe that the man I was going to be working for was in charge of it all, his office at the top point of the building looking out over the rest of the city.
I parked and headed in, the lobby enormous, packed with men and women in professional garb, a row of portraits to the far right that I hadn’t noticed the day before. The paintings were of all of the company’s CEOs, and sure enough, Nick was on the end.
It was all so surreal.
I checked in at the front desk and took the elevator up, the small space packed full, people trickling out with each floor until only I and a few executives remained. Then I stepped out, checking my watch to make sure I was on time.
Hell, I wasn’t just on time – I was early. It was a little after eight, and I wasn’t due in for another hour. I let one of the other secretaries know who I was, and she passed me a copy of a key card to Nick’s office. That in hand, I figured I could check out the space, get it cleaned up and ready to go for his day.
I swiped the key card in front of the door, the lock clicking open.
The view…I still couldn’t get over it. From Nick’s office one could see just about every bit of Los Angeles, the impossible sprawl of the city stretching out into forever.
It was hard to believe there were really people who lived like this. And now, I was working for one of them.
Nick’s office was mostly tidy and orderly. There was a long back desk, a pair of Macs on top. Off to the side a was a small circle of chairs, likely a meeting area. The walls were a deep orange the tile floor white. It was a modern office, through and through.
I went to the tidying, picking up a few folders here and there and stacking them neatly where I could. And the more I work, the more I realized I didn’t really have any idea what I was doing. I’d never been a secretary before. All of this was new.
In the corner was a small waste bin. Looking fo
r things to do, I stepped over to it and spotted a few crumpled-up pieces of paper inside. I bent over to picked up the garbage inside.
But before I could grab even a single one, I heard a throat clear behind me.
“A-hem.”
I turned, my ass still sticking into the air.
It was Nick.
He was at the entrance to the office, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed over his broad chest, a smirk on his face.
“Enjoying the view?” I asked, my face turning a deep red.
“Now, Amber, what kind of unprofessional boss to you think I am?”
I quickly stood up and turned around, smoothing the front of my dress.
“I was…I was just joking.” OK, so that’s what I said. But deep down, even in the heat of the moment, the idea of Nick looking at my ass was…kind of a turn-on. I had no idea if he’d actually be ogling me. If he had, I wouldn’t have minded one bit.
OK, Amber – he’s your freaking boss. No thoughts like that.
But I couldn’t help it. The man looked so good in his suit that it hurt. And more than that, he way he stood before me projected total power and confidence. He was a CEO, through and through.
“I know,” he said. “And so was I.”
Wait, was he joking about being professional? What was going on here?
“First order of business is to always keep the office door closed.” He shut it, and before he did I could see that the office was still mostly empty. Clearly, he was a first-in-last-out kind of guy – a hard worker all the way.
“Keep the door shut,” I repeated. “Why’s that?”
“Second order of business is that when I give you an order, you don’t second-guess it.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Oh, so this is going to be that kind of a working relationship?”
“I prefer you having a mind of your own – not interested in employing robots here. But things will go a hell of a lot more smoothly if you do as I say. Not to mention I’m not in the habit of explaining my decisions.”
There was a firmness to his voice, one I couldn’t help but respect. He wasn’t being a ball-buster – more like a man who knew what wanted and wasn’t afraid to say it.
“But it’s for privacy,” he said. “I like to have focus when I work. The business of an office can be a distraction.”
“Got it. Door shut.”
He looked around. “Third order of business is that you don’t touch my files. I’ve got a system with my organization, and you don’t need to interfere with it.”
“Sorry,” I said “Just got here early and didn’t know what else to do.”
“That’s fine. But you don’t need to clean my office – the maintenance staff will do that. I was here late last night so they didn’t get a chance. My files are for my eyes and my eyes alone.”
There wasn’t the slightest trace of humor to his voice. He regarded me with a stony expression, saying nothing. It was as though he were waiting for me to react.
“Fair enough,” I said. “But I didn’t really know what else to do.”
“Come with me.”
He opened the door to his office and stepped out. I followed him. Once there, he gestured to a small desk with a Mac.
“This is your desk. When you arrive in the morning you’ll go over my schedule for the day, providing a printout that I can look over. After that, you’ll go through my email and flag my incoming emails by importance. Every morning I want a neat printout on my desk of the morning’s affairs. Understand?”
“I understand.”
He nodded. “Good.”
Nick stepped into his office and I followed him once more. This time, I shut the door behind me as I entered.
“Very good – fast learner. It’ll do you some good, since I don’t like to have to repeat myself when I give instructions.”
He sat down on the edge of the desk again. I hated, hated to admit it, but Nick in that suit, so confident and in charge, giving me orders and not giving a damn if I objected or not…it was doing things to me.
“Sit,” he said, nodding toward one of the chairs.
I did as he asked.
“More than put my daily schedules together, you’re going to be my shadow here at Horvath. If I have meetings, you’ll be a part of them. You’ll take good, comprehensive notes, and make sure all information is neatly organized. Consider your job here that of reducing my mental workload. I’ve got plenty to juggle here on my own, and anything you can remember or keep track of for me will make my life a hell of a lot easier.”
“Got it,” I said. “Notes and organization.”
“That’s right. So, your first duty will be to get situated while I settle in for the day.” Then a quizzical expression formed on his face. “But first…stand up. Let me get a look at you.”
I was confused. “Wait, what?”
“I want to make sure you’re professionally dressed.”
I smirked. “Are you thinking that because of my…previous employment I might not know how to dress for work?”
He only gestured with his hand for me to rise. I shook my head, then did as he asked.
“Good. Nice, classy sense of style.” Then, his eyes locked onto a spot on my face, he stepped forward.
“What is it?”
“You’ve got something here. Hold on.” Nick got close to me, close enough that I could feel the heat from his body. A shiver ran up and down me, and without thinking, I bit my lip in tension.
He reached forward and quickly plucked something from my hair. Then he pulled it back and saw that it was a little clump of dust.
“One of the reasons why it’s not a good idea to be messing around with the garbage.”
I chuckled, taking a quick, nervous breath.
And Nick stayed right near me. We gazed into each other’s eyes, and I could feel the heat building between us by the moment.
What happened next happened so quickly I had no idea what to do. Our bodies, as if drawn by magnetic force, moved close to one another’s. Nick slipped his hand into my air, burned into my eyes hard with a stare.
Then he kissed me.
And I let him.
More than that, I fell into it. I wanted the kiss, and I didn’t want it to end.
What the hell was I thinking? I’d been on the job for less than an hour, and already I was doing things with my boss that I had no business doing.
But the kiss went on. Nick’s hand fell onto my ass, squeezing it through my skirt. I sighed, warmth and wetness spreading from between my legs.
At that moment, if he would’ve tried to take me, I probably would’ve let him.
We didn’t get the chance, however. A knock sounded at the door.
Me and Nick moved away from each other so quickly it was almost like a pair of giant hands had grabbed us and yanked me and him separate.
I smoothed out my hair, and he adjusted his tie to make sure he looked professional.
“Yes?”
“Mr. McQuaid? It’s Anthony Marx.”
“Come in.”
The door opened and a tall, trim man of around forty stepped into the office. He looked at me, then at Nick, obviously uncertain of what to make of the situation.
“My new secretary,” said Nick, gesturing to me. “I was, ah, showing her the ropes.”
That’s certainly one way to put it.
“Pleased to meet you, Ms….”
“Wax,” I said, sticking out my hand. “Amber Wax.”
“Anthony Marx,” he said.
There was a beat of silence, one long enough to make me wonder if h was suspecting that he’d nearly walked in on something.
“Um, I should get started with my day. Nice to meet you.”
Before he could get out a response I slipped past him, shutting the door behind me on the way out.
My heart was racing.
What the hell had I gotten myself into?
Chapter 12
NICK
What a fuc
king mistake.
I’d spent the rest of the morning trying to figure out what the hell was wrong with me.
Amber was hot as hell, sure. Beautiful, even. And I’d known that when I’d hired her.
But that didn’t mean it was a good idea to do what I’d done.
It hadn’t been a matter of “wanting,” however. It was more like I’d had a need, one that I couldn’t ignore.
One that made me do what I’d done without my conscious mind having any say in the matter.
To be honest, it scared the hell out of me.
I was a man used to being in control. I didn’t make a single decision that I hadn’t considered at great length.
With Amber, it was different. I’d…lost control. It was almost like I was outside of myself as I moved in to kiss her.
And now she was being distant. It was a little before lunch, and Amber hadn’t come in once to tell me anything, to ask me any questions about the job.
I needed to talk to her, to make sure I hadn’t crossed a line I couldn’t go back over.
Because if I had, I might be in a world of trouble.
Amber sent me an email at around ten, my schedule included. I looked over the work, noting how clear and concise the information was. All things considered, she seemed to be doing pretty damn good job so far.
My gut hadn’t steered me wrong with hiring her. But it might’ve with that kiss.
I saw that I had a lunch date with George Schwarz, a man high up in local government.
It was a big meeting, and I’d need Amber to come with me.
My gut tensed as I realized it was time to find out whether or not I’d royally screwed up. I pressed the button for the intercom.
“Amber?” I asked.
Part of me was certain I’d hear nothing in return, that she’d have fled the office, meeting with HR at that moment to figure out exactly how to deal with her horndog boss.
“Yes, Mr. McQuaid?” Her voice was crisp and professional – perfect for a secretary.
“Come in, I need to speak to you for a moment.”
“Of course.”
Moments later a knock sounded from the door.
“Enter.”
She did, stepping through and making sure to shut the door behind her.