That was the first time I met Blake James.
I wish I could say it was the last.
But five years later, he’d walk back into my life…
As my boss.
PRESENT DAY:
“Welcome to James Luxury Travel. Is it your first day?” a man with better eyebrows than me asks as I walk into the modern building. It’s all glass and white walls, with Mediterranean music playing softly in the background.
“Yes.” I smile, taking a deep breath. “I’m Danielle Vee.”
I’m twenty-three, and already I’d climbed the retail career ladder as high as I could, meaning I’d pushed myself and applied for the job of Retail Oversight Manager at the head office of James Luxury Travel.
And I’d gotten it.
“Great, welcome. Let me take you through security, and then you’ll be on your way.” The man smiles, tapping away on the computer. “Can I see your identification?”
I fumble around in my bag, cursing myself for not having it ready.
“Morning, Harvey,” Alec James, my new boss, booms. “Ah, good morning, Miss Vee. Good luck today; I’ve booked you on your induction with the other new hires, so you’ll have a nice easy start.”
Alec James is heavenly to look at, despite being an older man. He reminds me of David Gandy, but he’s such a sweetheart that I don’t feel weird for one second.
“Thank you, Mr. James.”
“Call me Alec.” Alec nods at me before disappearing though a frosted glass door to my right.
“Here you go,” Harvey announces, handing me a lanyard with my name printed in black ink. “I’ll just let you through, and the room you’re in today is on the second floor, the Dandelion Room. Have a great day.”
I take the lanyard with a grateful smile, walking through the open door, the scent of coconut filling my nostrils.
Clever.It makes you think of sunscreen and the beach.
I’d heard about the office environment being pretty wild here, and I’m here for it. I’ve been single ever since?—
No.This isn’t anything to do withhim; you’re just working for his father.
HimbeingBlakeJames, my ex and all-round arrogant prick. Also, the son of my boss of five minutes.
Anyway.
I’m looking forward to meeting new people. I make my way to the room Harvey had mentioned, passing bright posters framed on the wall of sunny, far-flung destinations, the buzz of the office around me steeped in laughter and animated conversation.
I feel overdressed in my trouser suit, especially when I see the other girls mainly wearing ripped skinny jeans and loose shirts revealing bronzed shoulders.
“Hey! Are you new?” a woman asks, struggling with a stack of brochures. Her hair is in pigtail braids, her nails each painted a different color. She has rosy cheeks and kind eyes, and despite having her hands full, she beams at me.
“Do you need any help with those?” I ask, reaching over to take half of the stack.
“Gee, thanks. I’m just taking them to Alec’s office.”
“Alec?” I echo, following her through the same frosted door Alec had disappeared through earlier, revealing a long corridor.
“Yeah, he doesn’t like being called Mr. James. Said it makes him feel old.” The woman laughs. “I’m Kiera, by the way.”
We reach an office with a glass door, and I see Alec James with his head down, scribbling away on a pad. I hand Kiera my half of the brochures, and she sighs.
