Ram Rebel (Aries Cursed #3)

CHAPTER ONE

Penelope Walton did her best to keep her composure and not break into a happy dance in the middle of the hall of Goldman Corp. She had just smashed her interview with Richard Goldman, and her fingers were shaking as she took out her phone to call her mother.

“Tell me everything,” the woman said instead of “hi”.

Penny could tell from the tremble in her tone she had been watching her phone like an eagle, waiting for her call.

“I got the job! Mom, you’re now talking to Rick Goldman’s personal assistant.

” She lowered her voice and stole a quick glance around her.

The middle-aged secretary working at the desk by the window didn’t seem to have heard or noticed her.

Good. She had to get used to calling her new boss Mr. Goldman, otherwise, people would think she got the job just because her parents were family friends with the Goldmans.

“I knew you could do it, honey!” Her mother sighed in relief. “You deserve it. You’re so smart, so bright… You’re ready for this. You’re going to do great.”

“Thanks, mom.” She heard her father’s voice through the phone. “Oh my God, dad’s there? Wasn’t he supposed to be at the office?”

Her mother laughed. “He’s leaving now. Lazy old man… Wanted to know the result first, he says, but I know him better.”

“What are you talking about, woman?” The warm, deeply masculine voice made Penny giggle. “I had to know if I should drop by the bakery and grab a cake to celebrate with the team, didn’t I?”

“That’s what you do at work? You eat cake?”

Penny laughed wholeheartedly. Leave it to her dad to make a fuss about her interview and promise the employees at his small law firm he’d bring them cake if she got the job.

She liked how her dad was more than a boss to them, and she hoped Richard Goldman would be the same to her.

However, looking at the austere offices and the silent, rigid employees typing away at their computers and exchanging less than five words when they met by the coffee makers, she wasn’t so sure.

Maybe it was just an impression. Now, she was part of the team.

She’d get to see things from the inside, and she was sure they were different and the people here were actually very warm and friendly.

“I have to go now. I’ll drop by tonight and tell you all the details, okay?”

“Red wine?”

“Mmm… that sounds great. And how about that divine roast chicken of yours? If it’s not too much to ask…”

“Anything for my little girl. Roast chicken and wine it is.”

“Thanks mom. Tell dad I love him. Bye!”

She hung up just as a tall, young brunette stopped in front of her. She was holding a stack of files and had a pleasant smile on her pretty face.

“Miss Walton?”

“Yes.”

“Hi! I’m Jenny. Mr. Goldman asked me to show you to your office and get you up to speed.”

They shook hands, and Penny was impressed by how professional, confident, and drop dead gorgeous the woman was.

Jenny’s suit was more expensive and chicer than hers, but Penny couldn’t hold it against her.

Soon, she’d afford better clothes and that Gucci handbag she’d been dreaming of for the past two months.

If anything, she could learn from Jenny, and maybe ask her where she’d bought her stilettos.

Penelope wasn’t ashamed of her own look, either.

Her long, blonde, curly hair was tied up in a neat, high ponytail, and her make-up was flawless – nude eyeshadow, perfect eyeliner, natural contouring, and a pinkish lipstick that complimented her full, plump lips.

The black pencil skirt stopped right under her knees, and the corset she wore underneath her white shirt gave her body a delicious hourglass shape.

In fact, Penny was very proud of her ability to combine garments and accessories in a clever way, and on a budget.

“Follow me, please.”

“Sure. Oh, and… call me Penny.”

The brunette giggled. “Jenny and Penny. I like that.”

“Will we be working together?”

Jenny led her across the hall, opened the door to a spacious, white office, and invited her in.

“We’ll see each other around. Your job will be a bit different than mine, as you’ll take care of Mr. Goldman’s more personal affairs. I envy you, really. He must trust you a lot.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that.” Penny blushed to the tips of her ears. Everyone already knew she had practically grown up with Goldman’s four children. “I’ll do my best.”

“Of course. Well, this is it.” She motioned toward the immaculate desk, the perfect, empty walls, and the large windows.

“This… This is my office? This… whole room?”

“Yes.”

Penelope blinked in disbelief. She walked to the window and gasped.

The view was incredible. She could see a good part of 7th Avenue, and Central Park in the distance.

No wonder she’d never wanted to live anywhere else in the world.

Even though she hadn’t traveled much, she doubted any other city could convince her to leave New York.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Jenny cocked a perfectly drawn eyebrow. “What for?”

Penny turned to her and shook her head slowly. “I’m sorry. I guess I was just talking to myself.”

“If you want, you’re free to hang some art on the walls. I’ll admit they’re a bit cold and boring right now.”

“Are you sure this is my office, though? I mean… I’m just a personal assistant. This looks more like the office of a CEO, if you ask me.”

Jenny laughed. “You’re funny. I like you.

Now, let’s go over your tasks for this week.

Starting tomorrow, you and Mr. Goldman will work very closely, but if you have any questions, you can count on me.

He told me to help you with whatever you need until you get used to this place.

Later, I’ll show you the shared office space, introduce you to our colleagues, we’ll check out the kitchen, and the terrace.

If you smoke, you’ll find me there most of the time. ”

“I… I don’t smoke.”

“Cool.”

They sat down, and Jenny placed the stack of files in front of Penelope.

“Take some time to study these, but the first task is a priority.”

Penny opened the file on top. It contained around fifteen teacher resumes. English, Math’s, Science…

“I’m confused. What is this?”

“You’ll have to go through each resume and choose the candidates for the interviews.

You’ll conduct them yourself. This is a small list, as I didn’t have time to do a lot of research, and then Mr. Goldman decided his new personal assistant would be better fit for the job.

So, if you don’t find these people satisfactory, you’ll have to look for others. ”

“Err… okay, but…”

She was beyond confused. Why would Richard need her to interview teachers? From what she could tell at first glance, all the resumes mentioned homeschooling experience. But, Richard’s kids were all in their twenties.

“Yes.” Jenny placed her palms flat on the table. “Ask me anything you need.”

Just as Penny was getting ready to do that, Richard Goldman knocked on the door and entered without waiting to be invited in.

“Miss Shields, I’ll take it from here. Thank you for your time.”

Jenny stood up, nodded, and was out of the office in a matter of seconds.

Penelope straightened her back and watched her new boss as he closed the door behind the brunette, then crossed his hands behind his back and walked over to the window.

For a long while, there was complete silence between them, and Penny didn’t know whether she was supposed to break it.

It was strange. She had known this man since she was little, yet she sensed his energy was different from what he displayed at home.

When the Goldmans and the Waltons met for tea or spent a weekend golfing while the ladies sunbathed by the pool, Rick was warm, funny, and even a bit of a joker.

Now, Penelope almost felt like she didn’t know the man.

On the other hand, she figured it was normal for someone who was running such a huge investment company to put on a mask when he was at work.

“Do you like your office?”

“Yes. Definitely. I didn’t expect it to be this spacious. The view is breathtaking.”

“I’m glad.”

He made a long pause, as if he was trying very hard to formulate his next sentence in an appropriate way. It was as if something was weighing on his shoulders, and he knew he was supposed to pass it on to his new personal assistant but wasn’t sure how.

“Thank you for giving me this opportunity, Mr. Goldman. I won’t disappoint you.”

She had said it before, at the end of the interview. Even though she didn’t like repeating herself, she had nothing else to say.

He nodded and finally turned to her. His dark, thick eyebrows were furrowed.

At sixty-three, Rick Goldman was still strong and well built.

He made sure to work out every day, he maintained a clean diet, and when he wasn’t at the gym, he could only be seen in an elegant, expensive suit. It was as if he was born in an Armani.

“Penelope, I need you to come with me at the house.” What he called “the house” was actually more of a palace.

“The work you’ll do for me is going to be a bit different from what you might have expected, but I want you to know it’s very important.

More important than what Jenny does. Or my secretary.

I see you’re confused now, but it will all make sense very soon. I just need you to meet someone first.”

“Alright. Of course, whatever you need, sir.”

He smiled, and his features relaxed.

“We’ll take my car.”

She followed him down the hall and inside the elevator, where he made a quick call. When he said they’d take his car, he didn’t mean he’d be the one driving. He had a driver at his disposal twenty-four seven, so they only had to step outside of the building and get into the black Mercedes.