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I give myself a once over in the mirror before heading to the kitchen to make coffee. I pour some into a travel cup, grab my purse off the counter, and head out the door.
King Technologies is in downtown Seattle, and my apartment is in Queen Anne, so I have about a fifteen-minute drive—as long as the traffic isn’t terrible.
I hop into my trustworthy Subaru and head off. It’s the car I’ve had since college and has definitely seen better days, but I’ve grown an attachment to it. Besides, it’s not like I have extra cash lying around for a new car.
Especially considering … everything.
I try not to think about Dad if I can help it. The subject is still raw and often just brings me to tears. But it’s hard when it’s all coming to a head.
When he passed away four months ago, I thought the whole world was ending. And in a way, it was. After battling cancer for three years, it wasn’t a surprise. But somehow, even when you know it’s coming, you’re never ready for it.
And I definitely wasn’t.
I took a week off work and didn’t leave my house. Courtney tried calling and stopping by, but I refused to speak to anyone.
After Mom and my sister Hailey died in a freak car accident when I was fourteen, Dad was the only family I had. We were it for each other. It’s probably why we’re as close as we are.
Were.
Fuck, I keep forgetting he’s actually gone.
All his assets went to me—which wasn’t a lot considering so much of it was eaten up in medical bills. The only thing worth something—and worth sentimental value to me—is the house. A gorgeous three-bedroom on Queen Anne hill.
It’s the house I grew up in. I played with Hailey in the backyard as kids. Mom and Dad would cook dinner together in the evenings, drinking glasses of wine and listening to music. And after Mom and Hailey passed, it’s where Dad and I comforted each other and spent our days rebuilding our lives.
With everyone gone, it’s the only thing I have left of them. Literally. The only thing that matters.
The only problem is, that with Dad’s medical bills, the house isn’t quite mine. Not yet. Not until I pay off the balance. Apparently, all of Dad’s assets need to be liquified to pay off his debt, and then anything leftover goes to me. And since his other funds weren’t enough … the house has to go.
Unless I can pay off the difference.
It’s surprisingly not an enormous amount, but also not an amount I happen to have on hand. Big enough to be intimidating but small enough to be achievable. With some luck, at least.
It’s part of why I started looking for new jobs. Why I jumped at this opportunity at King Technologies. With the salary I’ll be making, I should be able to pay off the medical debt in six months or so. As long as I basically live off of ramen noodles and turn off my electricity. But it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.
I make my way downtown, past the fancy restaurants, hotels, and companies. I even see the bar Courtney and I were at last night, and I smile to myself, thinking of Mystery Man. God, the sex was good. Courtney had texted me this morning asking how it went, and I’d told her we’d need to get together and catch up.
I see King Technologies come into view, and I see the parking garage for their company. I’d been emailed a temporary parking pass until I get my ID, so I pull up, showing the pass on my phone to the man at the gate, and he ushers me in.
I park quickly, gathering my things and heading to the elevator. King Tech is on the top floor, so I wait patiently as the elevator hums its way upward.
When the doors open to King Tech’s lobby, I step out to see a brightly lit, minimalistic workspace. A large wall, about ten feet wide, sits right behind the receptionist desk, separating the lobby from the main workspace. I can see clusters of desks beyond it. A kind-looking receptionist sits behind the front desk and looks up when I enter.
“Hi,” I say with a smile, stepping forward. “I’m Olivia Reilly. I’m Asher King’s new personal assistant.”
Asher King. The CEO of King Tech. From what I gathered in my quick Google search of the company, he and his two brothers started it five or so years ago. His father also owns some tech company that’s been around for ages. King Tech is a frontrunner in virtual reality—less focused on the gaming aspect and more on how it could help advance medical science. They’re well known for their applications to help doctors practice complicated surgeries in VR before performing them in real life.
“Yes,” the woman says. “Follow me, I’ll show you to your desk.” She gets up, motioning for me to follow her as she turns and walks past reception and into the main workspace.
We pass clusters of desks, all arranged in little work pods.
“I’m Melinda,” the woman says over her shoulder with a smile.
“Nice to meet you,” I say.
Finally, we reach a cluster of two desks near the back, one of them empty. “This is your desk,” she says. “And this is Ben.” She motions to a young man sitting in the opposite desk. He smiles warmly at me. “He’s Aiden’s personal assistant.”
“Aiden?” I ask.
