PRESENT
ELLA.
When Chloe texted me this morning to go in for the personal assistant job interview i applied 2 weeks ago, it caught me by surprise. I had applied, but i didn't expect to really get picked since i didn't have a lot of experience.
I have spent most of my adult life in and out of the hospital. I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of sixteen. Between my chemo treatments i haven't really had much time to gain experience. I have had only one job since graduation and it didn't last because shortly after i got sick and had to go in for another round of treatment.
Which means i have not also been to interviews before, but i need this job. The hospital bills have drained my trust fund and am broke. I put on the only skirt suit i own, with a white shirt and pair it up with black heels. I hold my hair back and put on some lipgloss.
I pushed through the revolving doors of Empire Enterprises lobby, ten minutes before nine. Wanting to make the best impression. I have been here several times before to see Chloe but today feels different.
Five floors later, i was exiting into the vestibule of Empire Logistics reception area. There was a gorgeous receptionist there.
"Hi," i greeted her as i admired her cranberry colored blouse. She was mixed race, with really pretty dark hair. Her lips were full and naturally pink. She was beautiful.
"Ella, right?my boss is expecting you." With a wave, she directed me down the hall to a huge empty room. I take a seat at the conference table, i grab a bottle of water from the table and take a sip to calm my nerves.
The door opens and a relatively handome young man enters the room. And the temperature rises, my hands are shaking and i keep them under the table trying to regain my composure.
The man gives me a small nod and sits at the head of the conference table.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice." He says looking at me directly in the face. " I am Jeremy, Manager of Empire Enterprises."
"Ofcourse, thanks for having me." i say trying to sound as confident as i possibly could.
Jeremy pulls folders out of his briefcase and slides them in front of me.
"I don't want to waste your time, so i will cut straight to the chase." Jeremy said without blinking. "My boss needs a personal assistant who will be handling all the important stuff at his office, he is mainly not around, so you will have to handle all the important documents, sometimes you will need to travel with him outside the country. You will also need to do housecalls when necessary take the documents to his house for him to go through. He does not want people to know he owns this company, he is a silent partner. So you will need to sign a non disclosure agreement."
"Who is your boss exactly sir?" i finally find the nerves to ask.
"You will need to sign the contract first before I can disclose that information to you. Read through it, everything is there including your payments." he said standing up, "i will be back in half an hour, so go through it, see if it's something you can work with." With that Jeremy left the room.
I immediately took out my phone and texted Chloe.
Am in the conference room, i need you. Emergency.
As i went through the contract, Chloe walked in,
" What's the emergency?"
I immediately handed her the contract. " I am supposed to sign that before i know who am going to work for. I thought you said Jeremy owned this company?"
"He does, but he has a silent partner no one knows of. He prefers to stay out of the company business so Jeremy just rans it."
"How am i supposed to just agree to work for someone i don't know, what if he is a murderer or worse?"
"You are overreacting Ella, there have been speculations over the years that he is some rich playboy, who literally has everything money can buy. So if you're going to be working for him it means, the pay is good babe. You can afford health insurance. You won't have to worry about money anymore."
"It will be nice not to worry about that for a while." i say smiling at the thought of that. "But what if i get sick on the job Chloe?"
"Ella, let's not think about that for now, okay?just focus on getting the job." Chloe said handing me back the papers. "Now i have to go back to work, will talk to you after so you can fill me in on who the mystery boss is."
"You do know of i sign the contract i can't tell you who it is right?"
"Am your best friend the contract doesn't count, now i will seee you later. Love you."
Chloe tiptoes out of the room and leaves me still looking at the contract. I pick up the pen and sign it hoping i don't get a boss from hell.
Ten minutes later Jeremy walks back into the conference room, i hand him the papers, he looks at them and then puts them back into a folder.
"We are going to meet the man you will be working for, and he can go over his schedule with you."
With that he stood up and started walking towards the elevators as i slowly followed behind.
****
His tie was silver, and his shirt brilliantly white. The stark of absence of color emphasizing those amazing blue irises. Standing there with his jacket open and his hands shoved casually into his pant's pockets, the sight of him was like running smack into a wall i hadn't known was there.
I jerked to a halt, my gaze riveted to the man who was even more striking than i had remembered. I had never seen hair that purely black. It was glossy and slightly long, the ends drifting over his collar. Awareness of him pricked across my skin. My breathing became as ragged as my heartbeat. I felt that inexplicable pull to him again, Jordan Baker was the man i had just signed to be working for.
The man i had a one night stand with six months ago was right in front of me. Was this a coincidence? I never told him my name, and i left his house before he woke up.
"Elle Washington , meet Mr Jordan Baker, your boss." Jeremy introduced us, as we entered into what seemed like his office.
Jordan looked at me, he adjusted his perfectly knotted tie, his arm brushing against mine as he did so. I sucked in a deep breath, trying to ignore my acute awareness of him by concentrating on the conversation taking place in front of us. It was impossible, he was just there standing there in his gorgeous suit. My thoughts ran away from me, as i started remembering what it felt like to be touched by him..
"Nice to meet you Ella" Jordan brought me back to reality when he stretched his hand towards me. Although he was looking at me, his face gave away nothing. He didn't seem to even remember me. Or if he did he chose to act like we have never actually seen each other naked. So i just shook his hand. A little bit dissapointed he didn't remember me. But how could he, he sleeps with a different woman every night, i was not special in any way. I just needed to concentrate on my job. But how was that possible when all my mind was thinking of was the best night od my life that i had with this man six months ago.
As he was talking to Jeremy, i took the opportunity to drink him in. He looked every inch the powerful magnate. So sensually handsome, my eyes burned just by looking at him. The rakish fall of black hair around his face made my fingers flex with the urge to touch it. And then he looked at me,... and my pulse leaped.
"Ella." He came towards me, his stride graceful and strong. His gaze was intensely hot, intensely focused. I was instantly aroused.
"Hi."
Amusement warmed his eyes. "Please have a seat." He said gesturing me to the chair across from his desk. He sank into the chair opposite from where i was seated as Jeremy excused himself and left.
"Can you work late?" he asked going through the contract without looking up.
" Yes, sure."
"I had hoped you will say that. Jeremy told me he pretty much told you what the job entailed. You will most of the time be working from ny home office. I come in only when necessary and my presence is required." He suddenly stopped going through the papers and put them on the desk. He then looked straight at me.
His lips pursed for a moment before he resumed speaking.“I also travel alot, and most of the time i will need you to come with, are you okay with that?”
“Yes. Am open for anything am very flexible sir.” I immediately regretted my choice of words, when he looked at me amused with a smile. “For work, of course.” i immediately tried to clarify bu that ship had already sailed. He was still smiling, and had that sexy grin on his face.
The air left my lungs in a rush, followed immediately by every bit of common sense i had left. God! How was i going to work for this man, when i was thrown off just by his smile. A rapid fire series of images went through my mind from our previous escaped six months ago.
“Okay then Miss Ella, i will see you tomorrow.” he said bringing me back to reality,the vibration of his voice making me ache all over. I flushed with embarrassment and desire, as i struggled to get up. It didn't help that all his attention was on me, his hard body radiating that arresting impression of powerful demand. I hurriedly left his office, feeling the need to be away from this man.
JORDAN. I looked towards the door, beyond Jeremy there she was. The woman i have tried to stop thinking about for the last six months. She looked nothing like she looked that night. She was paler, she looked like she had also lost some weight. She was wearing a simple black suit and her hair was held backwards. Pure unadultered lust flowed like fire in my veins.God. She was still sexy.I had tried to track her down since the morning i woke up to her nowhere to be seen,six months ago. There was nothing on her. It was like she was a ghost. Until one week ago when i came across her application for the assistant position. She was not qualified in any way for the position but i needed her, i needed to know what her deal was. She was the first woman i had been really interested in more than for the sex, since my fiance died six years ago. But for a woman who never wanted to be found, i needed to play her game. As much as i wanted her, craved her i needed to know what her deal was. She h
ELLA. I was paranoid about which bill to open up first. I still had balances from the previous month that i needed to clear. Tensing for a moment i forced herself to tear open the first envelope. How much was it this month? I scanned to the bottom of the invoice and located the total amount. Breath trickled from my lungs before it gusted out. Not horrible. I set the bill back on the table trying to calculate in my head how much money i will be left with after settling all the awaiting bills.For a moment i sat back on my couch and imagined how it would be like not to have so many bills. I would be free, it was good to imagine but i also knew that was just wishful thinking.As i padded through her cheap studio apartment to the bathroom, i shed my clothes to get in the shower to freshen up. Chloe was coming over. After the day i had, i needed her to talk me up and remind me why i needed this job. I cranked the shower head and waited for the water to turn warm and for the steam to clou
JORDAN Ella Washington distracted me.Distracted was a euphemism for what she was doing to me. Hell, i didn't know if i was coming or going with this woman. I couldn't fucking stop thinking about her. Her soft skin. That taunting mouth of hers. Those fuck me eyes, those legs, God, don't start me on those damn legs. This morning even with the distraction of Leila, all i could think of was Ella. The image of her in my t-shirt was still stuck in my head. Leila was a commercial model she was the most sought after model in New York, every woman wanted to be her and ever man wanted her. She was mine, but even her had nothing on what Miss Ella was doing to me. I knew if i went to Chicago alone, i would not be able to concentrate on any thing. So whe was coming with me, i would rather have her close to me if that helps with the day dreaming. I never go to6any of my business meetings with women, especially women i sleep with. I prefer not to mix business with pleasure. But i guess with Ella
ELLA. I have never brought a guy into my apartment before. Infact only Chloe has been to my house before. Because of my treatments and regular hospital stays, i never really had a social life so the out friend i had was chloe. But right now one of the richest men in New York city was in my house. My one bedroom cheap apartment.This entire day has been one bizzare moment after another. I open the door slowly making a quick scan of the apartment incase there's anything i need to hide. In doing so, i realize i just might have to hide everything and that's not possible with Jordan step behind me. When Jordan said we will pass by my place to pick up my stiff, I thought he was going to wait in the car while i pack. But he instead followed me up claiming women take forever to get ready, he needed to come up with me to make sure i hurry up. I step aside and allow him to enter my apartment. "Come in." i say. Jordan walks in after me, taking in my apartment with his curious eyes. Its a sm
Chapter seven. “Hey,” i said smiling at the receptionist. She was a tall brunette who didn't seem to like me very much. “Am here for Jordan,”“Do you have an appointment?” she asked me coldly. “Not officially, but he is expecting me.”“Well am not allowed to let anyone in without an appointment.” she said sitting back down. I took my phone out and dialed Jordan's number, but he was not picking up. I was about to go back down to the car, when Chloe called me. “Hey,” i answered the phone enthusiastically. “Hey baby girl how is Chicago treating you? Is it cold?”“I will catch you up on everything but i need your out of the box thinking right now.”“Ofcourse, what's going on?”“I am supposed to be in a meeting with Jordan but his receptionist won't let me in and he is not picking up his phone.” i said loudly for the receptionist who was looking at me like i was one of Jordan's sluts to hear. She just rolled her eyes. “Well that's easy, just walk right past her.” Chloe said giggling.
ELLA. It's almost past midnight. Jordan called an hour ago and said he wouldn't be coming back to the house. I didn't ask him questions i figured he was spending the night with the blonde from the party earlier. I cant sleep for some reason, on this particular lonely night it has me thinking about Alex, my son Kyle's father.I still never got him out of my head completely, though time made things better, sometimes I would see something that reminded me of him and it would put me in a funk. I remember the day i got the call, I was six months pregnant he died in war, he was in the military serving our country.On a particular lonely night when i was almost due, i went alone to a tattoo studio and had a a heart put in the spot he used kiss me. It's a tiny heart, about the size of a thumbprint. It's not fully closed i had it like that on purpose because it's how my heart feels every time i think about him. It just feels like a little hole in it, letting out all the air.I loved him, i st
Ella. I wore a sundress. Jordan cupped my face in his hands and brushed his mouth across mine with heartrending tenderness. His gaze remained haunted."Lunch?" i asked feeling the need to cling to the connection between us."I have a business lunch." he ran his fingers through my loose hair. "would you come with? Our driver can drop you off after""I would love to come along." his haze softened.Dressed in formal clothes he looked somber yet collected. I knew he was anything but. On the drive to the business lunch he cuddled me in his lap, i didn't speak more than a dozen words during the meal, which Jordan ordered for me.I sat quietly at his side, my left hand resting on his hard thigh beneath the table cloth. A wordless affirmation for my commitment to him or is it our contract. One of his hands rested warmly over mine as he diacussed a new property he was acquiring.With each hour that passed i felt the horror of the morning, i didn't know how to get him to talk to me or even ope
EllaI am watching friends eating peanut butter and bread on the bedChloe 's wild thing ring tone makes me grinas my phone screen lights up, as usual i answer with Bluetooth to avoid using my hands. "Hey Chloe, what's up" "i should ask you that girl, you are the one with a new boyfriend" "he is not my boyfriend and you know that" "well how is the man you're having all boyfriend benefits with doing" she says laughing"He is good, actually he is out right now with his ex wife" " what? He was married?" "Yap, so yes am home eating peanut watching friends, how are you guys" "We are all good, we miss you" "i miss you guys too, can't wait to get back home next week" i sat up tugging at the shorts i was wearing tugging them up "Girl, guess what am wearing" "How am i supposed to guess what you are wearing Ella, it could be anything" "But it's not, it's your Christmas gift to me" "Ofcourse you would wear them when no one is home" "because that's the intention no one will ever see