AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Stay,” was all he said.
“I quit.” She rose to leave the room, determined that this time she would fight off the magnetic hold this terrible man had over her. Before Ethan could answer her, a knock on the glass door distracted them both.
Valentina turned, and through the glass she laid eyes on the most handsome man she’d ever seen in her life.Aside from the one standing in this office,her traitorous mind said, and she pushed the thought away.
“Ah, Bastian! Come on in!”
Ethan waved the man into his office, and Valentina noticed that her boss’s expression had transformed. Gone was the sneering disdain, replaced by a happy smile that made his eyes crinkle at the corners. She figured that this must be a good friend of his. It was strange to acknowledge that perhaps he was human, after all.
Bastian entered the room with a jolly “Bonjour!” and Ethan came around from the other side of his desk to give the man a warm, masculine hug. Valentina remembered that she was in the middle of flouncing out of the office, but she decided to stay for now; this was interesting.
"It's been too long, man," Ethan said as he released Bastian from his grip.
"I know, Rome is keeping our European office very busy. We must spend some time together this week, I have much to share with you." Bastian spoke with a soft French accent that almost made Valentina purr out loud. She stifled the noise with a small cough, which appeared to remind Ethan that she was present with them.
"Ah, now, speaking of sharing; Bastian DuPre, please meet my brand-new personal assistant, Valentina Sanderson." Ethan gestured toward Valentina with what looked like pride. She felt like a prize puppy at a dog show being paraded by its owner, but she didn't object to Bastian approaching her with a broad grin.
"Ma chérie! I've heard so much about you." The raven-haired Frenchman took Valentina's hand and planted a light kiss on her knuckles. She was surprised by the intimate gesture; there wasn't much kissing in the American corporate world.
"You have?"
"Mais oui. Ethan has been singing your praises for many months. I understand you are going to be a great asset to us."
Valentina gave a sideways look at Ethan, but he didn't appear concerned by this revelation. She decided to take advantage of the situation.
"Well, that's interesting. He's just told me that I'm only good enough to be his personal assistant. So, I quit!"
Her heart sank as Bastian merely laughed, jovially rather than unkindly, at her plight.
"Ah, yes, that does not surprise me. I suppose we all must pay our dues,non?"
Darn it. Valentina had felt sure that this dashing, charming man would come to her rescue. She hated herself for feeling the need to be rescued, but being denied felt even worse.
"You're dismissed, Miss Sanderson." Ethan's voice was steely again.
"B...Bu—"
"Dismissed. We'll see you tomorrow."
She turned on her heels and flung open the door. "Only in your dreams."
There wasn't a chance in hell she'd work another day for Ethan Daniels, even if Bastian DuPre was part of the deal.
* * *
“You’re home early,” Serena observed when Valentina stormed through the door. “I expected you to be burning the midnight oil on your first day.”
Valentina didn’t answer. She went into her room and neatly put away all her belongings.
“Bad day?” asked Valentina’s childhood friend, Alexis, when she reemerged. The stunning platinum blonde was sitting in the living room, sipping champagne with Serena, waiting to hear all about Valentina’s first day. She had brought a bottle of Boerl & Kroff Brüt Rose to celebrate.
“Ethan Daniels.”
Alexis offered her a glass of bubbly, but she elected for acai berry water from the fridge.
“Let’s go out tonight,” Serena suggested. “Forget about that ogre, Ethan Daniels.”
“Yes! Let’s just go have some fun,” agreed Alexis.
