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"Did you bring in your identification? You'll have to fill out the employee information forms and we'll get copies of your ID for the files."
"Oh, yes, I did." She started rummaging through her purse to get the required documents. I went to the front filing cabinet to pull out the necessary forms. I set them on her desk.
"So, why don't you take some time to fill all of this in and then come to my office when you're done?"
"Sounds good. Thanks." She hung up her light sweater on the hook and took a seat at her new desk. I walked back to my office.
"Damn it," I muttered under my breath as I sat at my desk and struggled to keep my eyes on the financial report in front of me. Even though I couldn't see her, it was like there was a magnetic presence in the office now. One that pulled me toward her office. Her presence was making it difficult for me to concentrate, and we had barely exchanged a few words. Every time I heard something from her office, I imagined what she might be doing. The faint scent of her perfume wafted through the air, and it took all my strength not to breathe it in deeply.
She came to my office door and leaned on the frame. "Can I interrupt you? I'm done the forms."
"Sure, come in." She walked toward me, her silky blouse taunting me as the open top buttons enabled it to flip open with the breeze, showing me a glimpse of her cleavage. She put the forms on the table and then leaned over my desk as I looked at the form and tried my best to keep my eyes from her cleavage. It was suddenly getting hot in here. My eyes glanced over the forms where I quickly took in her address and phone number, reminding me that I didn't have that basic information.
I chuckled. "I guess getting your phone number was as easy as just asking for it, hey?"
She laughed. "Yes, it definitely would have been. You can have it, by the way. Officially."
"Thank you." I was relieved because I'm not one to stalk someone's HR records.
"Is there anything I can help you with, Dominic?" Calla asked, clearly looking for something to do. The innocence in her question only made the situation worse.
"No, not this stuff yet," I stuttered, cursing myself for sounding like an inexperienced teenager. Clearing my throat, I forced myself to look her in the eye. "But, as your new boss, I should probably give you a proper orientation and get you started on some work."
"Sure, I'd appreciate that," she replied, giving me a small, encouraging smile. Her lips were so full and inviting that I had to clench my fists to avoid reaching out and brushing my thumb against them.
"Right," I began, taking a deep breath to steady myself. "As you know, Hugo, Logan, Austin and I are the physician-owners of this clinic. We've been working together since our residency days, so as you saw at the bar the other night, we don't always act professionally. But we come by it honestly. I oversee the day-to-day operations and my own patient care, while also managing most of the financial aspects. We have the clinic, but we also have an investment fund with an associated foundation called F2, which is why I'm glad you're here to help me out."
"Wow, sounds like you have a lot on your plate," she said sympathetically, her eyes softening as she regarded me with what seemed like genuine warmth. "I'll do my best not to add to your stress."
"Don't worry about it. I will take care of the F2 investment company myself, but I would welcome your help with the foundation part of it." She nodded her understanding. "I know that it will take some time before you get up to speed, so don't put too much pressure on yourself. Once you get rolling, I have no doubt you'll make a great addition to our team and end up making my work load a lot lighter, Calla. I know I'm really excited that you're here." The words left my mouth before I could stop them, and I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks as I realized how flirtatious they sounded.
"Thanks," she replied, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Let's just hope I don't screw it up, right?"
"Trust me, I have a good feeling about you," I assured her, trying to regain some semblance of professionalism. But deep down, I knew that working alongside Calla would be a constant test of my self-control and focus. And up until now, I was failing.
"Alright, let's get started," I said, pushing aside my thoughts and focusing on the task at hand. I led Calla through the office, going over her responsibilities. "You'll be in charge of managing our accounts receivable, keeping track of expenses, and preparing financial statements. You'll also work closely with our accountant to ensure everything is accurate and up-to-date. Finally, I'd like you to take the ordering of supplies off of Rachel's plate. She's really been holding down the fort since we are down a medical assistant. So, wherever you can help her out would be gratefully appreciated. We'll touch base to see what you feel comfortable with, but I'll leave it up to you to find how you can help Rachel."
"Sounds like a lot to handle, but I'm up for the challenge," Calla replied confidently, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "I may need your expertise from time to time, though, since you've been handling these tasks all this while."
"Of course," I said, trying to sound professional despite the warmth that spread through me at her words. "I'm more than happy to help. Just don't hesitate to ask."
"Is there anything else I should know?" she asked, raising an eyebrow as if daring me to reveal some hidden secret.
"Only that Austin tends to eat everyone's food from the break room fridge, so make sure to label your lunch," I joked, hoping to lighten the mood and ease some of the tension between us.
"Good to know. I'll make sure to bring some extra-spicy leftovers then," she quipped, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "That should teach him a lesson."
"Or he'll just complain about it for the rest of the day," I laughed, finding myself drawn to her sense of humor. "But seriously, if you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to ask any one of us in the office. We're here to support you in any way we can. Getting you up to speed and part of our team will only make all of our jobs easier."
"Thank you, Dominic. That means a lot," Calla said, her voice softening. For a moment, our eyes met, and I felt a jolt of electricity pass between us. I quickly looked away, cursing myself for allowing the attraction to distract me once again.
"Anyway," I continued, clearing my throat and focusing on the task at hand, "I'll let you get settled in and start going through the company electronic file structure. I'll be around if you need anything."
"Sounds good, boss," Calla replied with a teasing grin, her eyes lingering on mine for just a moment too long. I nodded, forcing a smile as I turned to leave her office, feeling the weight of her gaze on my back as I walked away.
As I returned to my office, I couldn't help but realize that even though she was now an extra burden to my day, it didn't feel like a burden. I loved that she was here and I could get to know her on more of a professional level. Maybe it would get us back to something more.
After we had worked separately and I tidied up one of my tasks, I went to find her again. She was really getting into the digital filing system, like I had asked. "Ready to learn about the next task?" She nodded as I sat down next to her. "Yeah, you're in the right place for the accounting files. Next up is organizing the patient files. Everything is electronic in this office so we just have to be mindful that we file all information in the right place," I explained, trying to maintain my train of thought as I could smell her sweet perfume even more now. "You'll need to make sure everything is up-to-date and easily accessible."
