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“Security guy in PJs?” she whispered.
I could see the perplexed looks from the people behind the counter. They did not need to know about what I did in the building after hours. I cleared my throat, gesturing for Lola to follow me before anyone could ask questions. “This way.”
She had to pump her short legs to keep pace with me. “Are you like Mr. Stone’s assistant or something? His people getter?” She was already breathless when we stopped in front of my elevator.
“I’m Christian Stone. I conducted your interview last night. You’ll be starting today. My other assistants will get you up to speed on your job responsibilities.”
She swayed like a tree in the wind, even after the doors opened and I stepped inside.
“Miss Thorn,” I said, jerking my head for her to follow.
She just stood there, eyes glazed over and mouth hanging open. I couldn’t help taking another long, lingering look at her. I’d looked plenty in the early hours when she’d let herself into the building, but she hadn’t been put together then.
Now she had her blonde hair pulled back into a clean ponytail without a single stray strand. Her thick hair billowed out from the band in the back, too wild to be completely contained despite her best efforts. Her big brown eyes were full of innocence and energy. Freckles dotted her upturned nose, and she had a wide forehead, broad cheeks, and a narrow chin beneath her full, pouty lips.
A less professional man would’ve noted that she was distractingly attractive. Thankfully, I was a professional, so I didn’t notice. I didn’t even notice the shapely curves barely concealed beneath her dress and cardigan.
I did wonder what the hell I was doing hiring a woman like this. She looked like trouble. But unlike Miss Thorn, I was actually good at reading people. My read on her was that she didn’t have a dishonest bone in her body. I already had a small army of assistants and employees for my every need. What I didn’t have was someone I could trust. That was what I truly cared about.
The elevator let us out on the fifty-fourth floor.
“Isn’t your office on the fifty-fifth?” she asked.
“Yes. But you don’t need to see my office yet. You’ll primarily be working on the fifty-fourth with my other assistants.” It was mostly true, at least. I didn’t need to tell her yet that the real reason I hired her was waiting in my personal quarters on the sixtieth floor as we spoke.
The doors opened and she made no sign of moving. Without thinking, I put my palm on the small of her back and gave her a slight push out into the room.
She stumbled into the room and turned to look at me, eyes wide and confused as the doors closed.
I let out a breath I hadn’t known I was holding as soon as I was alone again. “Christ,” I muttered, looking at my hand. I made a mental note to keep my hands as far from her as possible moving forward. Touching her had felt… complicated. She’d felt warm under the soft fabric of her dress. Firm and soft at the same time. I could practically imagine how it would feel to have both my hands around her narrow waist and feel her squirming against me, seeking friction as–
I pinched the bridge of my nose and gave my head a quick shake.
I didn’t need complicated, especially not right now.
If I was going to clean up the mess my brothers had started, I needed simplicity. I needed to keep my eyes firmly forward and focus on the task at hand. I definitely needed to stop acting reckless and doing things like hiring women that a less professional man would’ve considered highly attractive.
I ran my hand down my face and let out another long breath. Get your shit together, Christian.
4
LOLA
The fifty-fourth floor was like one of those open office plans tech companies liked to build for their engineers. Desks were strewn about the wide space in random places. Little colorful beanbags and floating chairs were placed near windows. There was a ping pong table and even a VR set at the far end of the room where a group of three guys were laughing and playing.
What the hell?
I took a cautious step into the room. Nobody had noticed me yet. The closest person was a man with his sleeves rolled up and a trendy hairstyle. He had on thick, clear-framed glasses. When he looked up and smiled at me, I realized he was definitely cute.
“Hi,” he said, stepping away from his standing desk and reaching to shake my hand. “I just got a memo that you’d be coming. Lola, right? I’m Chase.”
I smiled, feeling relieved. This was finally somewhat normal. Everything until now had been chaotic and crazy. But meeting a smiling, friendly co-worker? That, I could do. I smiled back and shook his hand enthusiastically as I sighed with relief. “It’s really nice to meet you too.”
