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Otherwise, I am pretty much nonexistent at the company. The woman who is technically my supervisor in Accounting doesn’t even remember my name half the time. She either called me “Charity,” or “You there,” instead of Chastity. I’m basically just killing time until the semester is over. It’s just something I have to finish if I want to move onto the next step of my degree.
But, I am confused when I find my desk missing. The place where I usually park my things for another boring day of secretly texting Vicki or playing computer games, is just... gone. I look around, finally locking eyes with the lady who I think is called Linda. Or is it Lena? Since no one in the department really has introduced themselves to me, I don’t know for sure.
Swallowing the lump in my throat and ignoring the pinch of nerves in my stomach, I plaster on what I hope is not a weird-looking smile. “Hey, do you know what happened to my desk?”
She looks up from her computer screen, and almost as soon as her gaze locks with mine, she returns to her work. “I don’t know. I’m on a deadline here. Sorry.”
Nodding my head, I turn to look around the room in search of a familiar face. I’m not even expecting friendly. But, that’s what I get when I see Madeleine standing in the doorway, smiling at me.
“Hi,” I say, shocked.
“Hello, Chastity. I’m here to take you to your new assignment.”
I frown. “But I’m an accounting major, so isn’t my internship with accounting?”
“Not anymore. Andrea tells me your talents are wasted here.”
Andrea is my direct supervisor, the one who can barely remember my name, so I highly doubt she said anything of the sort. More confused than ever, I shrug. “What’s my new assignment?”
“You’re shadowing Liam Hayden today. Come with me.”
A flutter of nerves, more intense than ever, in my stomach. For a moment, I think I might puke. “What am I supposed to do with Liam Hayden?” I refuse to allow any thoughts of what I’d like to do with him to form in my mind.
“Whatever Liam says, I suppose.” The thought scares me and gives me a shiver of delight at the same time. Madeleine beckons and I have no choice but to follow. I fall into step behind her, and she leads me to the elevator. She presses the top floor, which I’ve never visited. I’m more nervous than anything when the elevator seem to skyrocket up the shaft, bringing me to the Hayden brother that much faster.
Why the CEO would want an intern to shadow him, I have no clue. I should probably be grateful for the opportunity, but I’m more concerned with holding back the urge to puke from stress as I follow Madeleine out of the elevator and down the hallway.
There’s a stream of sunlight coming in through the office windows. It’s similar in size to Blair’s, but differently decorated. Blair has a couple of nature for photographs up on the wall, kind of like a token to making people comfortable. Liam hasn’t bothered with such niceties. Instead, awards decorate the shelf behind him, and his pictures are of artistically rendered naked women and modern photographs.
He nods to Madeleine, and she nods at me in turn before stepping out of the office. And then it’s just the two of us. I stand frozen like a deer in headlights as he approaches. I’m telling my feet that I should cross room to meet him halfway, to at least give the appearance of being confident, or even just make him think I’m not a stuttering fool. Instead, I breathlessly stand there and wait.
He moves with the grace of a jungle cat, all clean edges and sharp curves, much like the sports car I saw him driving a couple of weeks ago. It’s like he’s stalking his prey as he approaches. Instead of feeling the urge to flee, I find myself wanting to move toward him, wondering what it would be like to be caught by such a fierce predator -- to surrender to him.
He stops a shade closer than would be professionally polite, and his fingers hold onto mine a moment longer than necessary -- once I finally remember to hold out my hand to shake his. When he finally lets go, I can still feel the touch of his hand on mine, and I curl my fingers against my thigh and press deeply into my flesh, doing anything I can to focus on his words instead of the incredibly dangerous fantasies flaring to life behind my eyes.
“Thank you for joining me today, Chastity.”
I tremble slightly before getting
myself under control. “Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Hayden.” I actually manage to complete and full sentence. Of course, I’d been staring at his chin at the time instead of his eyes. That helps.
“I hadn’t planned to invite you to shadow me. I’ve been trying not to think about you at all.”
“But, why?”
His grin doesn’t look happy. “Do the words forbidden fruit mean anything to you, Chastity?”
I deliberately shy away. “I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do for you, Mr. Hayden.”
“Call me Liam.” He moves closer a step closer, and his hands settled on my upper arm. “You’re just supposed to follow me.”
I look up at him, my cheeks flushed with heat. “I’m certain you have a lot to teach me, Liam.” His name feels strange on my tongue, since I haven’t ever dared to say it aloud. I’ve been doing my best not to think about him or Blair for the past two weeks, despite trying to catch a glimpse of him each time I ventured from accounting. Or a glimpse of Blair. Or... both.
He chuckles, and his hand moves from my shoulder to mid back as he sweeps me forward to fall in step beside him. “Yes, I’m certain I could teach you all kinds of things. Where should we begin?”
I shrug. “I don’t know, sir. I’ve never done this before.” On one level, we’re talking about business, but I am convinced that there’s another, hidden meaning. My nipples tighten, and I shiver.
His knowing gaze drops briefly to my chest, and I’m certain my nipples must be hard enough to give me away. I wish I’d worn the jacket I borrowed from my mother that morning, instead of this silky white blouse.
