AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Serena.” Sylvie’s voice became serious. “Sit down and let me talk to you.”
Serena knew when to obey. She went back to her chair and waited for the lecture she knew was coming.
“And stop fiddling with your fork.” Sylvie slapped her hand and Serena pulled it back. “Now, young lady, it’s time to wake up and smell the coffee.” Sylvie gave her a stern look. “Your father…and I…have spoiled you rotten. You’re a sweet girl and no one can deny that. But what is also true is that your dad has always given you everything you wanted, and so have I. I agree with Richard. You’re a woman now. We can’t keep treating you like a child.” She reached over to take Serena’s hands in hers. “You have a lot to learn about life, Serena. And remember, you are Richard’s only heir. All your father is trying to do is to get you ready for life. You must understand that.”
Sylvie put her hand under Serena’s chin and lifted it so that their eyes met. “Do you promise me that you'll do what your father asks? Will you do this for me?”
Serena tried to look away but her grandmother’s stare was so intense that she felt transfixed. When Sylvie dropped her hand Serena heaved a sigh of resignation then nodded slowly. “Alright, I'll do it.” Then she set her mouth in a mutinous pout. “But if the old geezer I'm going to work for thinks I'm going to be his new gopher, he'd better think again. And he'd better be nice to me or else he'll wish he'd never met Serena Van Buren."
CHAPTER THREE
As Serena drove along Bay Street she was lost in thought. She was on her way to Steele Industries for her first day at work and she was not looking forward to it. In fact, she was busy thinking of ways to derail her father’s plans to make her a 'working woman'. Yes, she'd promised her grandmother she'd give it a try but she hadn't promised she'd be a model employee. Maybe she could get herself fired on day one. She bit her lip, giving it some thought. Was that a good idea, though? Effective today she would no longer receive a monthly allowance and would need to earn her own money. And she'd have to survive that way for the next six months. She shuddered at the thought. She had never felt so trapped in her life.
She found the place easily enough and pulled off the road and into the parking lot where she slid into the last empty spot. The sign said reserved but right then she didn't have time to be choosy. She reached over for her Hermes handbag then slid out of the SUV, the slim skirt of her Chanel suit making it impossible for her to hop down. She put on her sunglasses then slammed the door and walked briskly toward the main entrance, her stilettos tapping loudly on the pavement.
Serena entered the lobby and for a moment was taken aback by the magnificence of the main entrance. The lobby was huge with a high cathedral ceiling from which a massive chandelier hung. The black marble tiles on the floor glistened and as she looked down she saw herself reflected in their sheen. The walls were covered in the same dark marble but those were accentuated with gold trim. The company logo on the wall and the handles of all the doors were in gold. She had to admit the building was impressive.
She approached the massive receptionist desk and, putting on her most formal tone, she said to the woman sitting there, “Serena Van Buren, here to see Mr. Roman Steele.”
“Good morning.” The woman acknowledged her with a nod. “Do you have an appointment with Mr. Steele?”
“Uhh, yes,” Serena said quickly, too embarrassed to tell the woman that she was reporting for her first day at work. “He’s expecting me."
“I’ll have someone take you up.” She directed Serena to have a seat in one of the soft black leather chairs along the side of the wall.
She’d been sitting there for less than a minute when a statuesque woman with raven-black hair exited the elevator and approached her. She was impeccably dressed in a wine-colored suit and matching pumps. She had the body and gait of a model.
“Ms. Van Buren?” The woman’s voice was husky, almost as deep as a man’s. Serena tried to hide her surprise behind a bright smile. She stood up and took the woman’s outstretched hand.
“Yes, I’m Serena Van Buren.”
“Welcome,” the woman said then released her hand. “My name is Theresa Lederman. I’m Mr. Steele’s personal assistant.” Then her brows knitted. “Did you have a problem getting here? We were expecting you some fifteen minutes ago.” The disapproval was evident in her tone.
Serena immediately bristled and straightened to her full height, not that it made much difference since Theresa Lederman had a good four or five inches on her. She gave the woman a frosty look. “I’m not used to driving on Bay Street at this time of morning. I had no idea the traffic was so heavy.” Then she frowned, angry at herself for even responding. She’d never had to explain herself to anyone before. And who did this woman think she was to ask her about being late? She was nothing but a glorified secretary, after all.
The woman looked down at her and nodded. “Well, this is your first day so I can understand. But you will have to head out earlier tomorrow. Mr. Steele postponed a meeting specifically in order to meet you this morning and he’s already lost fifteen minutes.” She beckoned Serena toward the elevator. “Unfortunately, he’d wanted to spend at least an half an hour with you to get you started but now he’ll only have a few minutes.”
“I’m…sorry,” Serena said grudgingly, suddenly feeling guilty for her previous display. She was going to have to check her attitude. She gave an inaudible sigh. Being an employee was not going to be easy.
At the tenth floor Theresa punched in a code and the glass doors automatically slid open. They entered another beautiful lobby, a smaller, more intimate version of the one below. She strode down a hallway then stopped in front of a door and knocked. Serena heard nothing but apparently the woman did because she pushed it open then stepped aside to allow her to enter. “Ms. Van Buren,” was all she said by way of presentation then as Serena stepped into the room she pulled the door shut behind her.
Stepping hesitantly into the middle of the room Serena looked around at the expansive office, impressed with the elegance of its décor and the wide bay window with its impressive view of the city. A quick survey revealed that the long anticipated Roman Steele, the man who would hereafter control eight hours out of each of her weekdays, was nowhere to be seen.
Okay, now what? Stand here like an idiot or plop self into one of the chairs and wait? Where the heck was he, anyway?
As if in answer she heard the rustle of paper then a deep voice behind her. “Welcome, Miss Van Buren.”
Serena jumped. She turned toward the voice then stared in wide-eyed surprise at the startlingly handsome man who filled her vision. Tall and broad-shouldered, he towered over her five foot three inch frame in an immaculate suit the color of midnight. Ink-black hair framed a tanned, rugged face that spoke of strength, power and pride. Eyes the color of black diamonds bored into her, making her flush under his intense scrutiny. When his firm lips curled in what could only be amusement, she dropped her gaze and her eyes sought refuge in the rich crimson of his tie.
She’d been staring like a doe caught in headlights but she couldn’t help it. Roman Steele was so shockingly different from the middle-aged balding man she’d expected. Who could have known he’d look like he belonged on the cover of GQ? And why in heaven’s name was her heart racing like she’d just done a hundred-meter sprint?
Serena took a quick breath, trying desperately to steady her pulse. She lifted her face again. “Where did you come from?” she asked, then cursed herself for sounding so breathless.
He cocked an eyebrow then giving her a crooked smile he waved his hand in the direction of a door which stood slightly ajar. “I was pulling a file from the vault.” He seemed amused at having taken her by surprise. “Please. Have a seat.” He waved her to a chair then went and sat behind his massive desk of deep mahogany. “I’m glad you could finally join us.”
Serena felt her face redden at his sardonic tone. “I got caught in traffic,” she began then bit her lip, realizing how easily the man had intimidated her.
She’d had a plan to come into this office and, through either intimidation or charm, get herself out of this predicament. She’d planned to get her new employer on her side, get him to talk to her father, reason with him about how unnecessary the internship was. She could see that intimidation was not going to work here. This man was too bold, too sure of himself...and too darned handsome. Risky as it might be she would just have to try charm instead.
She looked at him with wide eyes. “I’m so sorry I was late this morning, I really tried to be on time. It won’t…” She paused, lowered her lashes and looked down at her hands. “It won’t happen again,” she said in a soft whisper.
Through the thickness of her lashes she peeped up at Roman and saw that he was taken aback by her response. She had to bite her lip to keep from smiling her satisfaction. Then his eyes narrowed and she quickly dropped her glance. She could not afford for him to read the true Serena. Not yet, anyway. Not if her plan was going to work.
