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This is going to be a lot tougher than I thought. Maybe I can lighten the mood.
“In that case, I'm glad I didn't bring my circus clowns to the office today. Might have clashed with your high standards of professionalism.”
I wait for a laugh, a smile, heck, even a smirk. But all I get is an icy stare. His eyes are colder than winter in Alaska.
"Good to know, Maya." His voice is dripping with sarcasm. "But here, we focus on work. Let's keep it that way."
Hunter stands up and walks around the desk toward me. He's towering over me now, and my heart starts beating faster than a hummingbird's wings.
“Of course," I mumble, trying to keep myself from blushing. My breathing intensifies as he leans down close to my ear.
"Let me be clear, Maya... I'm not one for games or jokes in the office. But if you work hard and meet my expectations, I can guarantee you a lot of perks."
As he sits back down,my eyes drift over his broad shoulders, to the tailor-made shirt that fits him like a glove.
Perks? What kind of perks is he talking about?
My mind starts wandering down a path it really shouldn't - him bending me over his desk, his hands firmly gripping my hips. I can almost feel the cool surface of the mahogany against my skin, my body arching in response to his. I imagine his touch, strong and demanding, the weight of him pressing me into the desk. I clench my thighs together, trying to suppress the heat that's rising within me.
Those kinds of perks?
Get a grip, Maya. He is your boss. Kaitlyn's dad.
I suppress my imagination and look at him. My heart is racing as I look up into his deep green eyes. The intensity between us is strong. We're both standing in silence for a few moments before he finally pulls away and I take a deep breath.
I don't know how this is all going to turn out, but what I do know is that I like a good challenge. I'll prove myself to him.
* * *
The next fewdays at work are a grueling test of my endurance. Each task feels like a dance between perfection and disaster as I try to do everything exactly how Hunter wants it done. Somehow, I’m managing to never get it exactly right.
Hunter calls me into his office. As I walk in, I see him sitting at his desk, his piercing green eyes fixated on a document in his hands.
"Maya, have a seat." His voice, colder than an iceberg, sends shivers down my spine.
I sit across from him, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. He throws the document on the table.
"What is this? I asked for a breakdown report of our quarterly financial performance, not a summary of last week's transactions."
I swallow hard. "I thought the transactions were a reflective context for the report."
His icy stare fixes on me. "Maya, this is not a university project. We are dealing with real money and real investors. I expect you to do exactly what is asked of you."
Heat floods my cheeks.
Uh oh. I know this feeling all too well.
The feeling of disappointing him. Of not being good enough in his eyes. I start to think back to my childhood. My parents were never satisfied with anything I did. No matter how hard I tried, it was never enough.
I feelmy attitude about to burst through my chest.
I’m not a child anymore. I need to stand up for myself.
I take a deep breath and look Hunter straight in the eye.
"Fair point, Mr. Holmes... but last time I checked, 'real investors' appreciate a holistic perspective. You know, understanding the 'why' behind the numbers. But hey, what do I know? I'll just stick to coloring within the lines." I flash him a faint, sarcastic smile as I lean down to collect the document from his desk.
He stares at me for a few seconds, not saying anything. I get nervous as flashbacks of the time I was fired as I wait for him to say something.
