Page 10 of Last First Date

Waverly crossed her arms, her gaze unwavering. "What kind of changes? Richard—I mean Mr. Williams—assured the team things would not change."

I smirked, finding her determination amusing. "We'll see about that."

She left my office with a determined stride, leaving me alone to contemplate the challenges ahead. The clash between the old ways and my vision for the company was inevitable, and Waverly seemed to embody the resistance I would face.

The day unfolded with a series of meetings, introductions, and the inevitable scrutiny from the existing staff. I felt eyes on me everywhere I went. The rumor mill was already churning, and I could sense skepticism about my capabilities. That was why I planned on proving to every one of them I was the best man for the job, even if I wasn't the old, charming man they were used to.

By the time the conference call with the board came around, I was mentally exhausted. Waverly had set up the video conference in my office. I joined the call, facing a grid of faces on the screen, each scrutinizing the new CEO.

"Good afternoon, everyone," I began the brief speech I had rehearsed. "I appreciate the opportunity to lead this company into a new era of success. There will be some changes, but I promise you they will make all of us more successful."

As I outlined my plans, I could feel the tension in the virtual room. It was clear that not everyone was on board with my vision. That was fine. They didn't have to like me, but they did have to follow me.

5

WAVERLY

Ifound myself taking a little more time with my makeup. Why? Why was I even trying to pretend a man that looked like Knox was ever going to look at me? It was so hard to be in the same room with him and not feel some kind of way. I was a woman with ovaries that came alive whenever Knox appeared. It was an overdose of pheromones. I didn’t want to be attracted to him. He was obnoxious. Arrogant, a little rude, and so not the kind of man I would ever willingly spend time with. Unfortunately, he was my boss. My job required I spend time with him.

He was undeniably one of the most handsome men I had ever seen up close and personal. His masculine appearance was striking. He was like Henry Cavill’s Superman with striking green eyes. I would not be surprised to find out he had a leotard with a giant S on under one of those polos he always wore. His chiseled features, confident stride, and an air of self-assurance left a huge mark on the office dynamics. Every woman seemed keenly aware of him, creating an atmosphere that I found entirely unprofessional.

Everyone was drooling over the man. It was gross. I hated that everywhere I went in the office, the ladies were talking about Knox. In our line of work, we tended to have a lot of women on staff. His arrival had been a disruption in my opinion. He was changing things, and not just the business side of things.

As I finished applying my mascara, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I was a professional woman and experienced in my job. I shouldn't be feeling this way about my boss, let alone someone like Knox. I straightened my blouse and put on my new black pumps. Working around someone as tall as Knox made me feel very short. I was five-five, but he made me feel like I was two-feet tall.

As I walked past Knox's office, I saw him through his open office door, talking animatedly on the phone. He was waving his hands as if he could physically move the person on the other end of his words, his green eyes flashing with anger that was intimidating and strangely captivating. I couldn't help but pause for a moment, watching him. Even in his anger, Knox was gorgeous.

I shook my head to clear my mind. This was wrong. I needed to stay focused on my job. I kept walking, ignoring the fluttering sensation in my stomach. I sat down and got to work on Knox's schedule, knowing he was going to make changes regardless of what I planned. He seemed to think of me as a coffee-fetcher and little else.

It was annoying.

"Waverly!"

I rolled my eyes and took a deep breath, biting back my temper. He insisted on shouting. I was ten feet away. I could hear him. The whole office could hear him. I got up from my desk and walked to his office, standing in the doorway. "Yes?"

"I need coffee," he barked. "Bring me extra cream."

I forced a smile. "Anything else?"

He looked at me with those green eyes that could melt panties. "A snack. One of those protein bars I asked you to add to the breakroom supplies."

"Be right back."

I tried not to stomp my feet as I headed to the breakroom to fetch His Royal Highness his coffee and snack. Who did he think he was, barking orders at me like I was his personal slave? Yes, I was his assistant, but he seemed to lack any kind of basic manners. I wasn't sure if he even had the words please or thank you in his vocabulary.

As I prepared his coffee with extra cream, just as Sir Knox desired, I fumed. The way he ordered me around, expecting me to jump at his every command, made my blood boil. Sure, he was the CEO, but that didn't give him the right to be rude. Someone clearly never told him he would attract more bees with honey than vinegar.

But he was a spoiled, entitled asshole. He'd been born with a silver spoon in his mouth and probably had a team of servants at his beck and call from his first breath. While I was searching for the protein bars I knew I ordered, a couple of women came in.

They were engaged in a lewd conversation about him. Despite my discomfort, I chose not to confront them. Bringing him coffee and snacks was part of my job, after all, even if his brusque manner left something to be desired.

Yet as I listened to the other women's crude conversation, I felt a pang of sympathy for the guy. It seemed Knox was objectified for his good looks, rather than seen as a complete person. Perhaps his curt exterior was a defense mechanism, a way to protect himself from being treated as merely a sex object.

I found the protein bars and snatched one, carrying everything back to his office. "Anything else?"

"No."

I left his office, not expecting a thanks or polite conversation. That wasn't how he operated. Before going back to my desk, I went to the ladies' room. On my way out of the bathroom, I bumped into Knox's back. It was an accident. I was adjusting my blouse and not paying attention. In my defense, I wasn't expecting the jolly green giant to be standing directly in front of the damn door.