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Not that she planned to see him again. He was too tempting to allow herself that privilege. She hadn’t asked for his number, nor offered hers, and she had left in such a rush that morning there had been no time to make further plans—which she would have sidestepped anyway. About the only thing they’d had time for was a slow fuck, at least with a condom this time.
Thoughts of her impulsive one-night stand faded to the back of her mind as she battled her way through the crowds to the towering monolith housing WWJ Industries. She wasn’t the only drone running late, but the others seemed unconcerned by the fact it was already ten minutes past nine.
Gnashing her teeth helped keep her from screaming her annoyance, and she finally made it to the bank of elevators and squeezed in to the first car. The lifts were fast, soon depositing her on the top floor of the building, and briefly making her think of Jake’s penthouse apartment.
No, she didn’t have time to think about him right now, and it would be far healthier not to think about him at all. Or perhaps at night, as she touched herself, she could allow the small luxury of remembering her time with him.
Struggling to appear composed, Sondra entered the large communal workspace she had been in for five years until yesterday when Clevage had called her in to announce her promotion. She didn’t bother to stop to exchange pleasantries with some of the men and women whom she considered friendly acquaintances after working beside them for so long. There was no time today.
Her stomach dipped to her toes when she pushed open the door that led to the CEO’s inner sanctum. Eleanor’s desk guarded the entrance to Mr. Jacobi’s space, and Sondra’s new desk was situated several feet away from hers. She veered toward her desk, but froze when her supervisor’s icy voice cut through her.
“What an interesting choice you’ve made, Ms. Elliott, to begin your first day as my personal assistant by coming in late.”
She bit back a groan and forced herself to turn to Eleanor with a polite smile. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Clevage. It won’t happen again.”
After a moment, the cold blonde nodded. “See that it doesn’t. I do not like mistakes, Ms. Elliott, and I would hate having to reevaluate the decision to promote you above the others—some of whom have been here much longer than five years.”
“Yes, ma’am.” After a second, Eleanor bent her head back to her work, and Sondra darted to her desk. Relief filled her, and she collapsed heavily into her chair after stowing her bag in the bottom drawer. Clevage was renowned for her sharp tongue and exacting standards, so she considered it a lucky break to have gotten off so lightly.
There was a thick handbook on her desk that outlined the expectations and duties of her new position. Clevage had left a handwritten note on the front on a yellow Post-It stressing the importance of memorizing the contents and following the schedules. The other woman left her alone for the morning to study the handbook, and Sondra read through it multiple times, until she was certain she had most of the information burned into her brain.
Promptly at noon, Eleanor slid back from her desk. “I’m taking lunch. You will order in something for Mr. Jacobi, since he doesn’t have a lunch meeting. Please tell me what he likes from the canteen downstairs.”
Sondra was proud when she didn’t have to steal a glance at the binder. “On Wednesdays, he prefers special #2, the grilled salmon and vegetables.”
Eleanor nodded. “See to it please. Mr. Jacobi likes to eat right at twelve-thirty, and Morris will be expecting your call.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Sondra lifted the phone to call Morris, who worked in the canteen. That was a ridiculous name for the three-star eating establishment on the bottom floor of the building. Thanks to Mr. Jacobi’s generosity, his employees enjoyed free meals at the restaurant, but it wasn’t the typical employee cafeteria.
After placing his order, Sondra turned her attention to the phones and email system, dealing with myriad issues that cropped up while Clevage was out drinking someone’s blood—or more likely sucking on ice cubes to recharge her arctic core.
Two minutes before Mr. Jacobi’s scheduled meal, a uniformed waiter in black and white entered the office. She had seen him before, since he was usually the one to bring the meals, and wasn’t surprised to learn he was Morris when he introduced himself.
Sondra took the tray from him, smoothed her dark slacks over her hips and thighs, and braced herself to enter the inner office of Mr. Jacobi. In the five years she had worked there, she had never seen him, but that was hardly surprising. He had a separate entrance and elevator, along with a helicopter pad on the roof for those mornings when mingling with the masses during morning rush hour was simply too much bother.
Suppressing a giggle at her unkind thoughts, and reminding herself Mr. Jacobi offered employees a lot of perks, including free childcare and generous vacation packages, she schooled her expression, tapped on the door before opening it, and entered the office of the reclusive old gent who ran the company.
The office was well-lit, with huge windows that allowed the sunshine to pour in, illuminating the fact the CEO was definitely not an old gent. There was no mistaking the identity of her boss. She couldn’t blame poor lighting or faulty eyesight, since she had passed her recent eye exam just last month with flying colors.
In her shock, the tray slipped from her hands and tumbled to the floor, spilling grilled salmon and vegetables across the pristine black tile flecked with gold. Mouth agape, she stared at Jake as he got up and walked toward her.
Chapter Three
Shock left her glued to the spot, but it didn’t do anything to stifle the outrage flowing through her. “What is going on?” she demanded as her one-night stand stopped near her.
No, not her one-night stand. This man was completely different from Jake. In a sharply tailored dark suit, maroon silk tie, and expensive Italian shoes, he was a world away from the denim-and-cotton guy she’d met in the nightclub last night. She shook her head, not really believing what she was seeing. It had to be a hallucination. She prayed for a brain tumor, because at least then she could leave her job with dignity.
“Sondra, I know this is a surprise.”
She flinched at the way he said her name, so crisply professional, as though he hadn’t had that mouth between her legs this morning. The thought made her sway, and she took a step back. “Surprise?” she hissed.
He lifted a hand. “Let me explain.”
“Yes, why don’t you do that?” Clevage, the mistress of ice, couldn’t have delivered that line with more frigidity.
He ran a hand through his dark hair, disheveling it just enough to remind her how it felt to run her fingers through those silky locks. She clenched her hands into fists at her side and forbade her brain to recall even one more inappropriate memory of her boss.
“When I saw you last night, I was smitten.” He grimaced. “No, I was driven. I wanted you, and I couldn’t bring myself to stop when I realized you work for me.”
“I did. You’ll have my resignation within the hour.”
He frowned. “That’s unnecessary, Sondra. Don’t you think you’re overreacting?”
She gritted her teeth. “It’s not overreacting to realize I can’t work with you now, Jake.” Sondra glared at him. “Jake? That’s not even your real name.”
His mouth tightened. “Try wearing the moniker of Wallace Whitcomb Jacobi and see if you don’t shorten it.”
She lifted a shoulder. “I guess you didn’t lie about one thing then.”
He scowled. “I never lied to you, Sondra.”
She snorted. “Really? You told me you were in management. There were at least a couple of times you could have told me you ‘managed’ a multi-billion dollar corporation that employs me, Jake. You certainly could have told me you’re my boss!”
He winced and then nodded. “Yeah, you’re right, Sondra. I handled it badly, and my only defense was I really wanted to make love to you.”
“We fucked.” She rolled her eyes. “No fuck is worth me l
osing my job. I’ve worked really hard, and now I have to throw it all away.”
He sighed. “Please just calm down. There is no reason to do that. I don’t date employees, and I’ve never fraternized, but I’m sure we can keep us separate from here.”
Sondra sniffed. “There is no us, Jake. Last night was…it was an impulsive moment of fun that I shouldn’t have indulged.”
