I hadn’t gotten the promotion I was vying for. I’d been promoted several levels above that and when they’d seen the product of my work, I’d risen again. I was in a position I’d only dreamed of right now, and I knew deep in my heart that it was because of hishelp. Sure, I’d excelled because I had the skills and intelligence to make it, but he’d been the one to open that door in the first place.
I’d gotten a new office on a different floor far away from those I used to work for, as well as a massive salary bump too. I wanted for nothing except for one single thing.
Him.
I swallowed and grasped at my coffee mug. I took a long sip of the mocha latte and sighed. There was a knock at my door, and I looked up to see my young assistant’s smiling face. I’d hired her only a week ago, but she’d already proven to be indispensable in organizing my schedule and planning meetings between organizations that I’d been trying to nail down for months.
Her pretty blue eyes sparkled, and I grinned in her direction.
“There’s a call for you on line one. Sounded pretty important so I figured I’d come in and tell you myself,” she explained.
“Thank you, Jenny. I appreciate it,” I grinned.
“Need any more coffee? I can go out and pick lunch up for you too if you’re getting hungry,” she offered.
“No coffee. I’m still working on this delicious latte you made this morning, but lunch sounds fantastic. I’ve been thinking about that chicken curry and rice from that Chinese place down the block,” I murmured, drilling my fingers against the heavy wooden surface of my desk.
“Right on it, boss,” she grinned.
“Keep up the good work,” I winked, and she smiled even wider.
“I will. I’ll leave you to that call now,” she replied.
I turned my eyes to the blinking phone in front of me and picked up the receiver. I cleared my throat and pressed on line one.
“Keri Esposito speaking. How may I help you?” I began.
“Keri…” a male voice sounded on the other line and my blood ran cold.
I knew that voice. I hated that voice with every fiber of my being.
It was my father.
“It’s nice to hear your voice again,” he drawled, and my stomach roiled with nausea. I sat back and tore my eyes to the calendar. It was the year he was first eligible for parole. He’d done eight years of hard time before the possibility of getting out was granted to him and as I listened to the silence on the other end of the line, a cold fear started rising from the tips of my toes at the likelihood that he could or would get out.
“I’ve been reading all about you in the newspapers for years now, my girl,” he continued.
I wasn’t his girl. I was no one’s girl.
“Have you now?” I ventured carefully. I cocked the phone against my ear and leaned back in my chair. I did everything in my power to remain professional even though his voice struck a chord of hatred deep inside me that refused to go away.
“I’ve heard all about your fancy new office from your pretty little assistant, Jenny,” he said boldly, and I froze.
“What do you mean?” I asked as my eyes flashed to the blonde head flouncing into the elevator. Her eyes met mine once more and she grinned knowingly.
Fucking hell.
“Oh, Jenny? She works for me. She’s done you a few favors now, hasn’t she? She got you that meeting with Harris Realty so you could build a fancy new school in the middle of Manhattan. Not only that, but with that ritzy group that wants to sponsor education for the poor and needy kids, right?” he pushed.
My blood ran even colder.
“You didn’t think she was doing that on her own, did you?” he accused.
Fuck him.
“What do you want?” I asked coldly.
“I scratch your back, Keri, you scratch mine. I called in a few favors for you and now you’ll call in a few for me,” he demanded.
