It checked all the boxes. It was unlike anything I’d done this far, something I had very little experience in. I’m literally going from a project engineer in the industrial construction side of the world, to a personal assistant for the CEO of a sports magazine. Like I said, very different.
Once I accepted the position, there was a month until I started, so I immediately put in my two weeks’ notice at work and booked the trip for the day after my last. I said my goodbyes, put everything from my cubicle in a box, and left for the airport.
From there, I spent two weeks really finding out that this world is so much fucking bigger and better than I ever imagined. People, places, food, cultures… It really opened my eyes to all that I was missing. All the time I wasted sitting on my ass andhoping for more. When I got back, though, it was straight back into reality. I had a couple of days to shop for some new clothes and get my head back on straight, and then first thing this Monday morning, I’m inside the big ass building that is Williams Weekly, ready to take on this new adventure with renewed energy.
My feet are suddenly glued to the floor, though, taking in the news that the CEO I was hired on to be a personal assistant for is suddenly no longer in the seat?
“Oh yes, it really is quite tragic. But I can assure you, the board chose a very good replacement. We were all quite relieved when Mr. Williams, the son, agreed to take over.”
If this was a cartoon, my gulp would be audible. I’m kind of wishing I would have just done all the research about this place and these people, but I guess it’s a little late for that now.
“Oh, yes. That is quite sad. Uh, so, he has a son? Is he, uh, nice?”
“Yes,” she says, chuckling, covering her face to try to hide her wide smile, “and he’s quite handsome, if I do say so myself.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, and I’d have to say he’s about your age. What are you? Mid-thirties?”
“Yeah, right on, actually. Thirty-five.”
“Oh! Then this’ll be even better! He’s the same age as you!”
I think the receptionist meant this to be a nice thing, but my stomach flips with anticipation. Nothing has changed since college. I still don’t care to have a big friend group, and I find that if they’re older than me, they tend to be easier to get along with. Someone in a position like this though is bound to not try to small-talk though, right? We can just work with the employee-boss dynamic and not have to shoot the shit?
Regardless, I need this job, and I’m dedicated to new things, so with some mental coaxing, I follow her to my new workingarea. There’s a set of double doors with a deep oak handle. There’s fogged glass giving enough visibility to see shadows of things inside, but I’m not able to tell exactly what is what.
She leans into the door, pushing one side open, and that’s when I get my first real view of the room. I haven’t been in here yet; all the interviews took place inside a more formal conference room, but this is where I would assume quite a bit of time would be spent.
“Mr. Williams? Your new assistant is here.”
His back is to me, and I can appreciate the way his suit fits him. It’s a dark grey, complimenting the tanned skin peeking out from around the collar. It fits snug across his back, gripping his forearms in a way that showcases how much muscle is hiding beneath what I bet is a very expensive suit. His pants accentuate his curves, showing off a bubble butt I could bounce a quarter off. I can’t see much of his other features, since he’s still facing the opposite direction while he looks out the wall of windows lining the other end of the room. It shows off the Seattle skyline and allows for a ton of natural light.
“That’ll be all, Becca.”
She nods, despite him still not looking at us, and backs away, letting the door close as she exits. I’m left standing in the entry way, looking stupid as shit.
“Have a seat.” His baritone is deep, making my stomach flip—only one voice has ever had the same effect on me.
There’s no fucking way, right? What was his last name? The guy from that one night?
My eyebrows pull together as I do as I’m told, sitting in a big, brown leather chair across from his desk as he mumbles into his earpiece.
“Ya, no. No. I don’t know. Look, we’ll figure it out. My new hire is here. I have to go.”
He reaches up to click out of the call, and the movement pulls his shirt down his arm, revealing tattoos scrawled across his skin.
There’s no fucking way,I think just as he turns and reveals himself.
I have to quickly revert towell, there apparently is a fucking way.
CHAPTER NINE
KAI
Those green eyesbore into me as I turn around, the sun making them more gold, but still beautiful, nonetheless. His hair is still kept longer, just as black as I remember. He’s lean—not in a straggly type of way, but more muscular. Honestly, not much has changed except instead of him wearing a crop top and jeans, he’s wearing a suit and sitting in my office.
Yes, I’m now considering this office space my own. The prognosis for my dad isn’t looking good after the stroke; even if he makes it out of this alive, I don’t see him coming back to work. He’s currently into a medically-induced coma, but I’m just being realistic. As much as I hate to admit it, he’d also want me to step up and look to the future of the company. This just so happens to be the best way that I can see to do that. It’s also a not-so-healthy distraction from the entire ordeal that I’ll happily take.