Chapter 1

Eve looked at the clock on the wall behind the desk for the fifth time before looking at the immaculately dressed blonde woman sitting behind it. She cleared her throat, but the woman continued to ignore her.

“Excuse me,” Eve finally said, tapping on the desk with her nails. “My name is Eve Rolands, and I need some information.”

 The woman slowly looked up from the papers she’d been reading to look at her. A faint sneer crossed her face as she looked Eve over before composing her face back into the bored look she’d been wearing. 

 Eve briefly wondered if putting her long dark hair in a bun looked too matronly before mentally shaking her head. She knew she looked good in her blue jacket with the matching skirt and heels. Her upswept hair showed off her simple but tasteful necklace and earrings. 

 Looking down her nose at Eve, the woman asked in an equally bored voice, “How can I help you?”

 Eve flushed but didn’t let any other sign of embarrassment show. Tugging at the hem of her jacket, she straightened her shoulders. 

 “I’m looking for the office of Arec Lyons,” she said, glancing down at the sheaf of papers in her hand to be sure she’d gotten the name right. 

 “Do you have an appointment with Mr. Lyons?” the woman asked, her sniff indicating she thought Eve was below any meeting with him. 

 “As a matter of fact, I do,” Eve said, trying to sound as haughty as she could. “And I’ve been waiting to see him so I can start my new position as his administrative assistant. I doubt he’d appreciate you leaving me waiting.”

 Eve tried to imitate the other woman’s look but wasn’t sure she’d succeeded. 

 The woman stared at her for a moment longer before sighing and standing. 

 Walking out from behind the desk, she walked past Eve and said, “Follow me.”

 Without waiting to see if Eve had followed, the woman briskly walked toward the glass doors leading into the office area. Eve stared at her retreating back before shaking out of her stupor and hurrying after her. 

 She was thankful the hallway had carpet. Otherwise, the entire floor would hear her clomping after the other woman, who seemed to glide down the hallway. Eve slowed as she neared the other woman and tried to slow her breathing so the other woman wouldn’t hear her panting like a dog as she walked behind her. 

 Finally, after a couple of turns that Eve was sure would take forever to figure out how to get back to the entrance, the woman stopped in front of a door. 

 Knocking on it, she opened it without a response. 

 “Mr. Lyons? Your new administrative assistant is here,” she said as she walked through the door. 

 A handsome dark-haired man stood from his desk and fixed his tie before walking from behind it. 

Looking at the doorway, he stared at Eve, and Eve felt a spark run through her body. She felt her mouth drop open and tried to stop it, but was unable as she stared at him. 

 The other woman turned around to say something but stopped and smirked as she saw the look on Eve’s face. 

 Eve couldn’t take her eyes off Mr. Arec Lyons, the most handsome man she’d ever seen. 

 Staring at him, she took in his short, almost black hair, piercing blue-green eyes, and strong jawline with just a hint of stubble. He was taller than she, even with her heels, and had broad shoulders that filled out his suit jacket quite nicely. 

 She focused her gaze on his face again and swallowed hard. She saw a spark of amusement in his eyes and a hint of a smile on his luscious lips. Her mouth closed so fast that her teeth clicked together. 

 “Hello, and welcome to Lyons Industries,” Arec said, stepping toward her. “I’m afraid I didn’t catch your name.”

 He glanced at the blonde woman as he said this, causing her to frown and look down at the ground with pink cheeks. 

 She looked back up at him.

 Her face was neutral, and she said, “Mr. Lyons, this young woman tells me she is your new administrative assistant.”

 Turning to Eve, she said with a hint of a smirk, “I’m sorry. I didn’t catch your name.”

 “I don’t doubt that,” Eve said with a hint of a snarky smile. “You were too busy flipping through your magazine when I tried to get your attention.”

The woman’s mouth dropped open, and her eyes grew wide. She looked at Arec. 

 “I wasn’t…. I mean, she…,” the woman sputtered. 

 Before she could finish her sentence, Eve stepped forward, holding her hand out to him, and said, “Eve Rolands. I’m your new administrative assistant.”

 Arec looked at Eve’s outstretched hand before giving her a sultry smile and taking it. 

 Eve suppressed a gasp at the feeling of warmth flowing up her arm. The feeling spread throughout her body, igniting sparks wherever it went. She saw a brief flash in Arec’s eyes and wondered if he’d felt it too.

 All too soon, he dropped her hand and said, “Pleased to meet you, Ms. Rolands. I’m happy to see that you are punctual.”

 He glanced at the other woman, who pressed her lips together in a straight line. 

 Eve nodded, also glancing at the woman before looking back at Arec. 

 “I try to give myself at least a fifteen-minute head start to get wherever I need, in case of anything that might delay me,” she said. 

 Arec raised one eyebrow and nodded. 

 “That is smart thinking, Ms. Rolands,” he told her. “I wish everyone shared your same outlook. One thing I can’t stand is for someone to be late for an important meeting.”

 “I agree,” Eve said with a nod. “It seems like we’re on the same page.”

 The other woman cleared her throat, and Arec looked at her. 

 “Wass there something else you needed, Sabrina?” he asked. 

 Sabrina shook her head and said, “If you don’t need me for anything else, I’ll be on my way.”

 Arec nodded at her but remained silent. She looked from Arec to Eve and back again before nodding and turning to leave the room. Eve watched her walk out. 

 After Sabrina shut the door, Eve turned back to Arec, who seemed to be studying her. She frowned and glanced down at herself to check that she hadn’t spilled anything on her shirt on the way to the building. 

 Looking at Arec, she asked, “Is there something on me?”

 A slow smile spread over Arec’s face, and he shook his head. 

 “No, I was just thinking that you don’t look anything like an administrative assistant,” he said, shaking his head. 

 She frowned and asked, “And just what is an administrative assistant supposed to look like?”

 Chuckling, he said, “I’d always pictured someone who looked like my grandmother, if you want the truth. Gray hair, glasses, and a cardigan.”

 Still frowning, she asked, “Am I the first administrative assistant you’ve had? Surely there was someone before me.”

 He shook his head and said, “I’ve just started this position, so I’ve not had any need for one until now.”

 Turning back to his desk, he looked over his shoulder and added, “But I feel as if we’re going to get along just fine.”