Damien's P.O.V.
Goodbye." I finally hung up and set my phone screen-down on my desk.
I rubbed my hands down my face and blew out a long breath. I had a day full of meetings and a business conference call with one of my most difficult clients ever based in Dubai. I don't need another rookie on my back just because he can't seem to secure the business deal with one of our clients...
You'd think managing this huge company is easy , when it's actually not especially when you have some worker who can't seem to do there job right."i sigh, picking up my phone I call the human resources department.
If Mr Miller fails to secure that business deal make sure to inform him that he'll be sacked , you all can explain me to settle every little thing when I pay you a huge amount "I say tersely, ending the call .
Am super stressed and top of all that, my new assistant just started today. Thanks having to do everything myself I had not properly introduced myself. There was no doubt in my mind that my just a hand up and quick glance had been nothing but rude.
But the new girl?
The one who'd been sitting behind the desk?
She seemed a bit familiar to me. Oddly so. I hadn't gotten a long enough look at her to be able to place where I've seen her, but I knew I'd seen her before. Recently, too.
Who the hell was she?" Not been able to place where I've seen her keeps bugging me.
I dropped my hands and looked at my desk. There was a stack of paper draped over my keyboard, and the first sheet had a bright blue Post-It note slapped in the middle of the page.
Pulling them toward me, I tugged at the yellow square and read Sage's immaculate, script handwriting.
Leslie Ruffle - your new assistant. Read this "Typical sage.
I grunted and balled the note up. Whatever!
What's the use of she won't last long . They never do, nobody did. I'd had three assistants since Sage had gone on maternity leave six months earlier.
Still, I sighed and picking up the resume she'd left for me to read. I scanned it. She was twenty-five and had recently lost her job when her previous company folded. She had lots of experience as an admin assistant, some waitressing, and one short stint in a call center. Lots of casual jobs, but no real direction, despite having a degree in business.
The only good thing I actually noticed here was the admin assistant experience and the fact that, excluding the call center job, she'd lasted a long time in each of her jobs.
Just reading her resume I knew one thing , she's damn hell resilient.
She had potential.
She was still looks familiar to me.
I put the paper down and stared at the wall. It was times like this I wish I'd put a glass panel in. Surely, if I stared at her long enough, I'd figure it out, wouldn't I?"Damn now I sound like a stalker.
Not that staring at your newest employee was the way to go. Despite my recent track record with personal assistants, I did actually like to keep my employees.
A knock rattled my door, and I took a deep breath as I said, "Come in."
The door creaked open to reveal sage holding a steaming mug of coffee. "I made coffee," she said unnecessarily, raising the cup like an offering to please a deity.
"Thanks." I waved her in. "How's the new girl doing?"I asked nonchalantly.
Sage clicked the door shut behind her. "Her name is Leslie."she says arching her eyebrows
Didn't you read the sheet I have you?"She asks, hands on her hips giving me a Stern look.
"Nope "I say feigning ignorance
She clicked her tongue like a mother reprimanding a child. "You're such a child."
"Then stop acting like my mom, I receive enough scolding from her" I grinned like a child, taking the coffee from her. This is what am going to miss about Sage she's more than just a Personal Assistant, she's like a mom and my big sister there's nobody who doesn't know about our childish banter.
"You'd be a nicer person if you actually listen, so it's my job to straighten you out like your babysitter" She rolled her eyes and tucked her skirt under her thighs and sat down.
"She's doing good, just overwhelmed but doing great"Sage says softly .
Who?"I ask, knowing she was referring to Leslie . "Leslie" such a sweet name.
Leslie you chuckle head"she says
Just be gentle on her, don't bombard her with too much work besides it's her first day and help her through somethings"Sage says .
I sighed. "I wish I could. I'm not here all afternoon. I have two meetings before lunch, then immediately after, you know the conference call I've been procrastinating with one of our huge and difficult client am doing it today. It's an hour each way, so she'll be gone by the time I leave."I say grimacing , the new secretary is a mystery tho .
Sage winced. "Damn it. She needs someone here who knows what they're doing."she says a bit too loudly.
"I pinched the bridge of my nose. "I know her from somewhere, Sage She looks familiar."I say .
"Did you sleep with her?"Sage says with a mischievous look on her face.
"Nah , you know me I'm a virgin."I say playfully.
"Yeah, me too. Ciara is actually baby Jesus, born by immaculate conception," she drawled, sarcasm tilting every syllable.
That's just like saying a didlo is a virgin when you and I know it's gone to place you can't imagine"she says smirking, hell am no rookie besides I like my women tall soft beautiful and sexy.
"so did you sleep with her"Sage asked .
I shook my head and looked over her head toward the wall where my new assistant was sitting-behind a few inches of brick.
"No. I haven't slept with her. I'd have remembered her name if I did."
"Yeah right, knowing you"she says.
"Shut up. Can you find out a little more about her? I don't have time to get to know her today."i say.
Sage grinned. Slowly, she leaned forward on my desk on her elbows, touching her fingertips together in an evil genius pose. "I already know how you know her."
I quirked an eyebrow. "You do?"
"Yup."
Before I could ask , the sound of my phone begin ringing as I picked up the call , sage leaves .
Few hours Later.......
Sage stormed in and slammed the door behind her. "so how did it go with Mr grumpy?"Sage asks , Mr grumpy is non other than our Dubai business partner.
"Ok , actually"
"So what's the problem , or who made you upset "I ask she looks like she could run me over.
"The problem?" she hissed. "You bailed before I could introduce you to Leslie so I had to ask my mom to look after Ciara until three!"And so I followed Casey out into the hall. The woman I assumed is Ciara was sitting behind the desk, looking up at her and nodding.
Dark brown hair fell in curls over her shoulders, and her attractive features gave her the perfect profile .Pouty lips, a button nose with just the right amount of curve on her nose, and a sleek jaw that was currently slightly dropped as she took in whatever Sage was telling her.
She nodded again, her hair bouncing as she did so, then paused. As if she could feel my eyes on her, she turned her head toward me and met my gaze.
She is so fucking beautiful.
Her dark-blue eyes widened, recognition and panic flashing in them, and her cheeks flushed pink in a wave that started at her neck and finished at the top of her high cheekbones.
Hell, I think it ended at her hairline-half of which was obscured by bangs that swept over her forehead in a style similar to Casey's.
Speaking of... My Sage's eyes flitted between us for a second before she stepped forward. "Damien this is your new assistant, Leslie Ruffle. Leslie, this is Mr. Damien Boyce."Sage says making the introduction.
The new girl stood slowly, her cheeks still flushed. It took her a good moment to meet my eyes again and hold my gaze. When she did, though, all hints of recognition and shyness were gone.
In their place was resolute determination.
She put her hand out in an offering. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Boyce."
I couldn't help the slight upturn of my lips as I took her hand in mine. She had a surprisingly firm handshake, but I couldn't tell if that was her actual handshake or her gripping onto me for dear life.
Either way, it was endearing.
"The pleasure is mine, Miss Ruffle. Or would I prefer that you prefer if i call you Leslie?"
"Ruffle is fine." Another blush colored her cheeks as she dropped her hand, but it seemed as though it didn't bother her. "Unless you'd prefer Miss Leslie?"Damn she's real beautiful up close.
It's nice meeting you Miss Leslie, if you'll excuse me."I say as I step right back in to my office.
How the fuck did I know her? I couldn't imagine a situation where I couldn't remember meeting her.
Rubbing my hands over my face once again, I pictured hers.
That dark hair that sat in loose curls around her face. Big, dark-blue eyes. Bee-stung, pouty lips slicked in red lipstick. Cheeks pink like red roses.
A knock sounded at my door, and I sat up straight, instinctively adjusting my tie. "Come in."
The door creaked open, and the epitome of my imagination peeked inside, holding a coffee mug in her hand. "Am I interrupting anything?"
Yes. Thinking about you."I thought to myself.
"Not at all," was what left my mouth.
She smiled, her entire face brightening with it. "I checked your schedule and saw that you're free. Caroline dalibara asked that you return her call as soon as you had a moment, if it was sooner than first thing tomorrow morning." She hid a laugh. "I thought I'd bring you a coffee before you tackled that conversation."
"I appreciate it, thank you." I moved the coffee cup from this morning so she could put the new one down. "I'm sorry she was one of your first conversations today."
"Oh, it's fine." Leslie took the mug without batting an eyes" She shot me a smile before pausing at the sound of the phone. "I should get that. Sorry."
She darted off, leaving my door ajar before I could ask her to close it.
Oddly enough, it was only at the sight of her leaving that I froze, my memory flashing with the events of two days prior.
A beautiful brunette woman, on her ass on the curb. Her Starbucks cup flattened on the sidewalk with the hot, fresh coffee splattered over the concrete, and big, dark-blue eyes staring up at me with pure embarrassment.
Holy shit.
The crazy woman who'd run in front of my car was my new assistant.
And, no matter what she'd said, after meeting her, I had no doubt in my mind that those ridiculously cute peguins panties had been hers.
There was only one word for this situation.
And that word was: Holy Smokes!
Leslie's P.O.V.I'd been staring at the clock for fifteen minutes, just waiting for the big hand to tick up to the twelve. The little hand had been firmly edging its way toward the five for far too long.I needed to get out of here. This new job is a freaking disaster and a tough roller coaster ride . Meeting my new boss Damien Boyce had been nothing short of utterly embarrassing. After Sage had introduced us, I wanted to run and hide in the bathroom and attempt an escape out of the window.He freaking saw my underwear, and am pretty sure when I did deny it. He knew I was the owner.Fuck!I may as well would have runaway if I'd had my purse with me.Thankfully, I'd been saved by the bell. The phone, if you wanted to be entirely specific. Just that Phone call had saved me from further embarrassment It'd pulled my attention away from the hottest man I'd ever met who'd almost run me over and was now my boss. Up close, he was even more handsome and looked real young.I mean, it wasn't
Leslie's P.O.V.So my morning had not started precisely how I'd thought it would. Apparently, when I'd set my new alarm for my new routine , I'd forgotten to set it for every day. YepTypical Leslie. I'm so bad at adulting myself but actually the best at being the older person for my parents imagine I couldn't even set the alarm correctly.Anyway. I'd woken up forty minutes late, meaning my hair that needed a wash was now pulled back into a sleek ponytail, and I'd dry shampooed the shit out of the pony in the hopes nobody would notice it . Can't afford to be late on my second day, oops am already late.All right, so it wasn't that dirty, but it probably wasn't that far off, either.If it couldn't get any worse, there was no coffee thanks to my mom's horrific hangover I told her not too drink too much but she won't listen and on the way to work, I'd stopped off at my usual coffee shop, I need caffeine in my system to get through my day.Completely forgetting that Mr Damien had asked
Leslie's P.O.V.Why is my life so damn messed up, nothing has really changed am still the same hurricane Leslie, one second I think maybe the universe has decided to favour me and not turn their back on me and the next something worse happens.There was a board meeting this morning and my stupid clumsy trait just had to present itself . I seriously can't believe I embarrassed myself infront of a Japanese investor, that's what you call worst timing .I seriously had to spill coffee , a whole mug " my life seriously can't get more exciting than it already is.It's okay , you don't need to blame yourself it was an accident"Damien says grimacing I'm pretty sure you've realized that am a klutz and you're going to fire me aren't you"I say , I mean I can't blame the guy . Spilling real hot coffee on someone you're trying to persuade to do business with you is not a good look .Don't think about it too much, beside Mr. Hideyoshi already accepted your apology and thankfully it didn't ruin bus
Leslie's P.O.V.Can my day seriously get any worse than this, it wasn't bad enough that I spilled hot steamy coffee on one of our potential important business associate but now I don't even have a place to sleep tonight.Yeah yeah , I know I stay with my parents I still can't comprehend that, which is why they just texted me that I shouldn't bother coming home , I mean is that a responsible thing any parent should ever say to their kids.Am pretty sure it's not. Well since my parents aren't even the slightest bit responsible neither are they like your everyday normal parents you see , I'll have to look for a place to spend the night maybe an hotelYou might want to ask why?Well here's the thrilling part, they are throwing what they call their once in a month Ruffle Orgy party . If you know what I mean which means they are going to have different people in the house tonight screwing everywhere both gays and lesbians that's just seriously shows how fucked up my family is if you know wh
Leslie's P.O.V.Seriously!!That's all you both could come up with"I screamed, pacing tiredly in the living room. The need to bolt out of the living room increased rapidly. With the sight of last night's party's aftermath, used condoms could be visible at all corners, used red cups infact the living room looked like it went through the gates of hell and am pretty sure the things done too cannot be unseen.Now is the time to voice out my thoughts on their child like behaviors and teenage lifestyle cause if I don't set them straight now no one will..."I thought to myself grimacing at how my life turned out into such a mess.Damn !God!Are you both so self centered!Can't you see me!" I say tiredlyAm seriously crumbling inside guys, but no instead you decide only to care about yourself . Why did you then bother to give birth to a child when you can't even behave like a grown up Huh...."I ask looking at mom dead in the eye. After the whole Ruffle Orgy night whatever it's called and with
Damien's P.O.V.Holy shit!Leslie's dark hair fell around her shoulders in loose beautiful curls. Her blue eyes seemed brighter than usual, thanks to the dark colors that were swept over her eyelids, and her full lips were painted a bright shade of red that perfectly matched her dress." Damn she looks good enough to eat.A dress that hugged her body from her breasts to her knees, revealing curves I didn't know she had hidden.I knew she was beautiful, but right now, she's downright sexy and breathtaking.And a part of me wanted to rip the dress right off her."I don't want to know," she said, fiddling with her dress.She peered up through long eyelashes, pausing when she saw me looking at her. "Hi." Her voice was a little squeakier than normal. "Do I look okay? Your Aunt was quiet vague on the details of the dress code, and honestly, I was too busy wondering how not to fall over in my heels when you told me. " She say breathlessly , looking quiet nervous and ready to bolt out of the ro
Leslie's P.O.V.There were a lot of people that attended the fundraiser tonight and when I mean a lot of people I mean lots of wealthy people. As in, they wore earrings that cost more than my entire wardrobe, and this dress was one I'd splurged on for special occasions. I've spent the last hour attached to Damien's side. In fact, he'd had one hand on me almost the entire evening, and I hated to admit that his hand on my back or my arm had made me feel a lot better than usual.He's obviously familiar with the people, and quite honestly, it was just about enough to make me have a good think about this weird little crush I was developing on him. This was a whole different world. Like a new dimension!Attending this social gathering just made it clear how we were definitely worlds apart." All I have going for me at this point is the fact that I haven't yet tripped over my own feet nor spilled a drink, or walked into anyone.Which is definitely a relief!It's all thanks to Damien anyway
Leslie's P.O.V."Hello?""Sorry to disturb u, I know it's a Sunday but am I'm in trouble and need your help."A familiar baritone voice says."Oh, It's you"Damn it , why did did he have to call.Does he want to apologise again for the kiss!I hate it when I overthink things."Yeah, it's me" He laughed softly. "Am kind of in a bind and need your assistance!I slumped onto my bed sighing out heavily. I guess he isn't affected by the kiss like I was. "What's the problem?"I slumply say."Am meeting a potential buyer and maybe shareholder if things go right. I totally forgot to bring some of the information and proposals which is quite important for this meeting. I don't have time to go to the office to get the information, Can you do me a huge favor and run by the office and bring them to my penthouse?" He rushed the words out. "I'm running stupidly fucking late because my alarm didn't go off, and I'm basically going to the airport to meet them, they changed the location of the meeting."U