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But how long can I put both of them off? Chloe isn’t going to magically disappear, and Ella has no reason to just give up on this when I’d promised her friend a job. I’m going to have to deal with this somehow, and I might as well get it over with. The only way to do that is to give Chloe a chance to try–and fail–at my company.
"Call Chloe Stevens and tell her to start tomorrow at seven am. If she’s so much as a second past seven, she’s fired." I hung up without waiting for a response from my HR manager.
It’s going to be hard working with Chloe. I’ll have to be in the same room with her, sometimes working late, sometimes traveling for business. All of that without touching her, without bending her over my desk every time I see her and–
Stop it, Jeremy!I scold myself, clenching my fist as though I’m ready to hit something. I glare at the wall and decide that wouldn’t feel good, then drop my hands to my sides. How I’m going to survive working in the same office with her, especially with her alluring scent that constantly turns me on, I don’t know. I only know that I’ll have to manage it somehow.
Later, after she actually starts working for me, I understand what a terrible mistake this was. Chloe is beautiful in an innocent and provocative way all at once. I notice everything about her, I can’t help it. I think about sending her to another department because she’s deadly to have around. Her beauty, her charm, and her brilliance are all a lethal poison that will drag down the next hapless victim who takes a fancy to her. Her venom is designed to make any man lose his mind.
But not me. No matter how much I want her, I won’t go for her. I can’t take the risk of falling for her.
It’s been five days now since Chloe started working for me. I’ve managed to maintain the façade of indifference. I’ve probably been harder on her than I have with any other employee. To her credit, she’s been the ultimate professional, too.
I lift my phone and press the button that connects me to her and she answers immediately. "Get me the file I gave you to work on."
"I’m sorry, Mr. Aaron, but I’m not done with it yet."
"I gave it to you three hours ago. Are you going to spend an entire day going through one file? Finish it up by eleven, then get me my lunch as well." I hang up without waiting for her to respond. I look through the enormous glass wall that separates her smaller office from mine. I can see her as she clenches one of her fists tightly, her knuckles turning white. She looks up and glares at me, then averts her eyes when she sees me looking at her.
The door to her office opens suddenly and Damien walks in wearing a sly grin. He looks over in my direction to see if I’m watching, then he winks. That jerk actually winks. I give him a look, telling him to back off, but the idiot ignores me and walks in, smiling at Chloe.
"Hello, beautiful," Damien says loudly as he extends his hand for her to shake. I’m already headed their way as she lifts her hand unsurely and reaches for his. I jerk Damien backward just enough to keep them from touching. Chloe seems confused about what’s going on.
"Jeremy, you’re being rude. I heard you had a new assistant and I just came to say hello. I want to welcome her to the company," Damien says, smiling as he emphasizes the word welcome. It takes all my focus no to punch him.
"When did you start caring about my assistant?" I ask, trying to keep my tone light. The twat ignores me and faces Chloe.
"I’m Damien Adler, Jeremy's best friend and business partner. It’s nice to meet you. His last assistant also had a beautiful smile and long, toned legs, but he never wanted to go to lunch with me."
Chloe giggles quietly at Damien’s joke. He grins in her direction and stretches out his hand to her again, but I push Damien out of her office.
"My lunch now," I order her over my shoulder.
"But I’m not through with the file. I thought you said–"
"My lunch. Now."
If Damien wasn’t my best friend, he’d be bleeding right now. As it is, I’m still tempted to overlook that part and just punch him.
"Why did you do that?"
"Do what?" he feigns innocence, searching behind him.
"Don’t mess with me," he smirks.
"I didn’t do anything other than introduce myself to your new assistant. I have been away and I haven’t had the time to meet her."
"Stay out of this," I warn but the idiot only smiles.
"Which is it, you still want her or you are afraid that she is going to pick me over you if I get close enough?" a sly smile grazes his lips.
"Go to hell Damien, because that is never going to happen."
6
CHLOE
"Good morning, Mr. Aaron."
