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“Ah yes, the damsel not in distress. You’ll have some competition. She’s a firecracker. You’ll have to keep an eye out if you see her whittling a shiv at her desk.” Trey crosses his ankle over his knee.
“Perhaps. I can’t imagine she knows anything about whittling or shivs. But either way, when I get it, that’ll make the victory that much sweeter.”
Bennett rests his elbows on his desk. “Say you get it. You think she’ll stick around if you’re her boss?”
“Not my problem.” I lift a shoulder and let it drop. But my dick twitches at the thought of bossing her around. Well shit. That’s new.
Three
What can go wrong?
Parisa
When I return to my desk, Seth’s gone. I blow out a sigh of relief. No one can infuriate me more than him. Not even the guy who passes me in his car only to cut back into my lane and slows down. I hate that guy. And just thinking of Seth trumps that guy. Everything he does irritates me. Every morning it’s the same routine. He’ll click his pen and place it vertically next to his perfectly square mouse pad. Then he places his coffee mug directly above that and last but not least, he strategically places his mouse so it’s positioned at the best arm angle. Why bother? It’s just going to get messed up anyway.
Then I get an idea. I peer over my shoulder to make sure no one’s watching. When I see the coast is clear, I stand and round the corner into his cubicle. I slightly rotate his pen holder, move some papers to the other side of his desk, and remove all the staples from his stapler. A brushed silver picture frame perched on the side of his computer screen catches my attention. Without a second thought, I pick it up for a closer inspection. This picture must be from a few years back. Seth looks younger, and he’s not wearing a bow tie. I was convinced he was born wearing one. He’s standing next to an older couple who I assume are his parents from the uncanny resemblance. Next to them is an older guy and a younger girl. Maybe Seth’s siblings?
Voices from the other side of the room startle me. My heart rate spikes as I fumble to set the picture frame back down and scurry back to my desk. Just as I whirl my chair back toward my computer, two men stroll past me. When I look up, I flash them a tight smile as they walk by. My gaze lingers on them until they’re out of sight. That was a close one.
I wiggle my mouse and the computer screen comes to life. Clicking the mail icon, the email I’ve been waiting for sits at the very top of the list. Quickly, I read the email then read it a second time. This is exactly what I need for myself and my career. Opportunities like this don’t come around very often and I can’t let what happened at my last job hinder my chances. My desk phone rings and Olivia Ellis flashes on the screen. Picking up the receiver, I press it to my ear. Before I can get a word out, Olivia is speaking on the other end.
“Lunch time. Come down. We’ll get food.”
I glance at the time on my computer. No wonder I feel all out of sorts, it’s past noon. “I’ll be right down.” Hanging up, I stare at the email one more time as my lips pull into a smile before I set my computer to sleep.
When I arrive at the first floor, Olivia is already waiting for me with her purse slung over her shoulder, blonde locks cascading down her back as she talks with Charlie. Both Olivia and Charlie work reception at The Blue Stone Group. Olivia and I have been best friends since we started working here eighteen months ago and Charlie joined our girl gang when she started here almost a year ago.
“You guys won’t guess what just happened. I got the email!” I can’t fight the excitement in my voice. Both Olivia and Charlie shriek with excitement. “This is just the first step. I need to apply and then get the job. But I’ve been waiting for this moment.”
“No one deserves this position more than you.” Olivia pulls me in for a hug.
“So, you’ll probably be competing against Seth for the position?” Charlie asks.
My shoulders slump. There goes the wind in my sails. Just hearing his name makes me want to stab myself in the ear with a sharp object. “Yeah. As far as I know. From what I’ve heard around the office, we’re the only two internal candidates interested.” The Blue Stone Group has always prided itself on treating their employees fairly and wanting to promote from within. Opposed to my last job, who wouldn’t know what fair was even if it smacked them in the face.
After we’re done with our lunch, we quickly grab a coffee and walk back to the office. The fall breeze picks up and I tug my cardigan around me. I stop a few steps shy of the front door. Olivia pauses and turns back to me. “Everything alright?”
“I forgot my phone charger in my car. I’m going to run up to the parking garage really quick and grab it. I’ll chat with you later.”
Olivia gives me a wave before heading through the double glass doors. I turn around to enter the parking garage next door. While I ride the elevator up to the third floor, I mindlessly scroll through my social media, not caring about my battery’s slow death, since I’ll have my charger soon. When the doors open, I toss my phone into my black Kate Spade tote as I stroll to my car. As I approach, I press the key fob to unlock the doors. Crawling onto the driver's seat, I set my coffee in the cup holder and search for my charger, starting with the glove box, no charger. I open the center console, empty. I peer around the seat as I scan the backseat and the floor. Nothing. Shit. Where did it go? A white cord catches my attention on the passenger side floorboard. Stretching across the car, I reach for the cord. I tug, but it won’t budge. What the hell is it caught on?
Bending over farther, I use two hands and finally tug it free. If someone were behind me, I’m sure they would get a full view of my ass. Just as I sit up, victorious with the cord in my hand, a car horn blares, echoing off the cement, causing me to jump and smack the back of my head against the door frame. Son of a bitch. I rub the growing bump on the back of my head and grab my coffee, stepping out onto the cement. Slamming the car door closed, I lock it and throw my keys into my bag while I fish around for my phone. I swear this bag is like a black hole or something. While I continue to dig in my bag, I round the corner of the SUV parked next to me, but I’m immediately jolted back. That’s when I feel it. A warm liquid seeps through my white boho style blouse, hitting my cool skin. The plastic coffee lid and charging cord fall to the now wet cement.
“Ah shit. Sorry.”
My eyes pinch shut at the sound of his voice. When I slowly open my eyes, Seth is rising to the standing position, his fingers curled around my phone cord.
“Two run-ins in one day. The universe must be conspiring against us.” He holds the cord out to me, but as soon as I reach for it, he pulls it back. “Wait, maybe I shouldn’t give this back. You’ll probably try to strangle me with it.”
“The thought has crossed my mind.” I lunge for my cord and steal it from his grip like a ninja. At least I’m winning at something today. Then I remember my soaking wet shirt. Seth’s gaze follows mine as the brown wet spot clings to my skin. Pinching the fabric, I pull it away from my skin, hoping to avoid anything becoming see through. “Why weren’t you watching where you’re walking?”
“Well, I could say the same for you.” He takes a sip of his coffee, his hard stare on me over the rim of his reusable coffee cup. “Also, if you used something a little more durable than that flimsy plastic lid for your coffee, you wouldn’t have spilled it on yourself. Plus, reusable is much better for the environment.” He holds up his metal coffee mug and gives it a wiggle. He walks away, but stops and turns. “If you haven’t seen the email yet, Mr. Evans wants to chat with us later, so I suggest you get that,” he points to my stain, “cleaned up before the meeting. Don’t want to look like a slob.”
“How do you know that? We’ve both been away from our desks.”
“Email on my phone. I can get more done that way.”
“Overachiever,” I mumble under my breath.
