Chapter 4

Lisa got out of her car and gave the keys the valet, she was driving a CRV nothing fancy, she just needed to be mobile and she hated the thought of having to wait for a driving to take her anywhere. 

She was in front of Remington Atlantic, she m sighed at the positively gorgeous weather. The wind ruffled her hair, hinting at the little chill was inevitable. The days were getting cooler than usual.

She hurried into the high-rise building and dug out her security pass. To get by the turnstile leading to the elevators. She been given the pass when given a tour of offices when it newly opened a few years earlier, but she hadn’t had to use it very often since she was usually with Chris when she visited. 

She checked her watch when she got on the elevator. It was five minutes to Eleven, and she hated being late. Not that she was—at least not yet—but she was one of those people who was always early. Being late made her anxious, especially with the encounter she was about to have. 

She would be seeing Mason any minute now, there’d been something in his voice that had made her wary and if she were honest, she was eager to know why he’d summoned her. She had hoped she looked ok, she picked out a Cami top and an oversized, cut-off T-shirt that bared one shoulder. It was short in the waist and bared the tiniest portion of

Her midriff, especially when she moved just right. Her long hair was curled and some of the layers were left out to result in a messier wild look. 

At exactly one minute to ten, she escaped the elevator and hurried into the reception sitting area. Abigail, the receptionist, smiled and greeted Lisa as she approached. 

“I’m supposed to see Mason at ten,” she said breathlessly. 

“I’ll let him know you’re here,” Abigail said as she picked up the phone.

Lisa was unsure of whether he would come get her or if she would just walk in. Whenever she came with Chris, she always just walked in. There was no waiting as if she had an appointment.

“You can go in,” Abigail called.

Mia quickly turned and then nodded, taking a deep breath and heading down the hallway to the end where Mason’s spacious corner office was situated. She paused at the doorway and stared down at her polished toes that peeked from the sexy heels she wore.

She suddenly felt like the world’s biggest idiot. Whatever had come over Mason’s at last night’s party was probably hugely misinterpreted by her. And she’d come dressed way too sexily. She should turn, run and walk away from all this. 

She was just about to turn around and go back to the elevator as fast as those heels would take her when the door swung open and Mason Remington stood there staring intently at her.

“I was wondering if you had probably changed your mind,” he said.

“I’m here,” she said bravely, notching up her chin to stare back at him. He took a step back and swept his arm past him. “Come in.”

She sucked in her breath and entered the room. She’d seen his office once before, years ago when Chris had taken her on a tour of the floor but she’d been excited and now it’s all a blur. This time she studied the interior of Mason’s office with keen interest.

It screamed classy and expensive. Rich mahogany wood, polished marble floor, an elegant oriental rug. The furniture was clearly an antique. Paintings adorned the walls while the last wall was all built-in bookcases filled with loads and loads of books. 

Mason loved to read. She admired that about him, while he had given her the necklace and earrings she’d worn to the party the night before, she’d given him a signed first edition of a Sidney Sheldon first edition novel for his birthday that same year. 

“You look nervous,” Mason said, breaking her thoughts. “I won’t bite, not yet at least.”

Her eyebrows lifted then he pulled a chair out and put his hand to her back as he guided her into it. She shivered at his touch, and he let his hand linger a moment even after she’d taken her seat. He then walked back around his desk to take his seat across from her. For a long moment he stared at her until heat crawled up her neck and to her cheeks. He stared at her. He made her feel devoured by his gaze.

“You wanted to see me,” she said in a low voice.

The corner of his mouth crooked upward. “I want to do more than see you. If I had only wanted to see you, I would have spent more time with you last night.”

Her breath stuttered a bit. She then licked her lips and ran her tongue over her bottom lip in agitation.

“For God’s sake, Lisa!”

Her eyes widened. “What?”

His hands curled into fists on top of his desk. “I want you to come to work for me.”

Of all the things she thought he might say, that hadn’t been one of them. She stared in astonishment at him as she tried to process the fact that he’d just offered her a job. So that’s all he really ever wanted, she’d been well on her way to making a giant ass of herself. 

“I don’t need a job, you know that.” She spoke with her a higher tone.

He smirked a bit, putting his head down and up again to look into her eyes. 

“It’s not a job worthy of your capabilities and education and you know it. She flushed and dropped her gaze briefly. Why in the hell couldn’t she speak? 

“So, I give you 3 days, think, prepare and come to work for me. He leaned back, staring intently at her as he awaited her response.

“What exactly is the job you’re offering me?”

“You’d be my personal assistant.” Just the way he said the words sent a shiver down her spine. 

“So, you don’t already have a personal assistant?” she asked. 

“It’s true, you’d be my first in a long while. I trust that you’d prove a very capable employee. It was her turn to study him. 

“Why?” she asked bluntly. “What is it you want, Mason? And while you’re at it, explain last night. Because I really don’t understand.”

His smile was slow and deliciously arrogant. “You will in time, love.”

Love?   She didn’t miss the significance of that little word. “Don’t toy with me. Something else is going on here. Why the fuck do you want me to come to work for you?”

“Because I fucking want you, Lisa.” 

Silence fell, cloaking the room. If a pin dropped at that moment, you’d definitely hear it. They stared deeply at each other now. 

“I d-don’t understand.” He smiled then, a predatory smile that seemed to affect all of her body in an instant. “Oh, I think you do.”

Her stomach flipped; this wasn’t happening. It had to be a dream.

“What you suggest isn’t possible,” she said. “If I work for you…we can’t…”

“And why the hell not?” he asked mockingly. He leaned farther back into his chair, confident as he turned to the side to cross his long legs.  “The purpose of your working for me is so you’d be at my side at all times. And I’d have you when I want and how I want.”

Heat infused her entire body. She fidgeted in her chair, her hands twisting together. She was utterly speechless. She knew there was more to this than his words. 

“Come here, Lisa.”