Chapter 4 Allie
ALLIE
My fist pauses in mid-air before it can connect with the heavy wooden door. He’s my boss. Ashton Tyler is my fucking boss. I almost made it out unscathed, but then he was right there in my face, accusing me of running away just because something didn’t go my way.
Fuck. That.
I don’t run away from hard shit. Okay, maybe I did that one time. But not this. This I’m going to face head-on like the boss bitch I am. The truth is I couldn’t run away from this job even if I wanted to.
I need the money.
She needs the money.
For all her flaws, my mother did her best when I was growing up. She didn’t deserve the hand she was dealt, but she always kept food in the fridge and a roof over our heads. Now she needs help, and I have to be there for her. It’s not a choice. I will be there for her.
I bring my fist down on the door in a featherlight knock. I doubt he even heard it, but then I hear a muffled voice utter a half-hearted “Come in.”
Ashton is furiously typing on his laptop when I enter.
His white dress shirt sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, the veins in his forearms popping, his muscles flexing with each keystroke.
His slightly wavy ‘new money’ brunette hair sits perfectly on his head, a single wave dropping in front of his honey eyes, which dart back and forth on the screen as he types.
And those damn freckles. They’re barely noticeable from far away, but up close, you can clearly see the smattering of light brown spots that cover his nose and spill out onto his cheekbones.
Space Buns was right. The man is fine. Not just fine—he’s damn near perfect.
His face looks like it was sculpted with purpose rather than randomly assigned at birth.
“Have a seat,” he orders, not even looking up from his computer. My appreciation for his physical appearance dies a quick death and is replaced by irritation. The nerve of this guy.
Keep it together, Allie.
I slide into the one chair that sits opposite his desk. The same chair I sat in three days ago, but it wasn’t his desk then.
“All done,” he chirps, hitting the last key on his laptop with finality.
“Oh good, Alexandra,” he says as if he just noticed I’m sitting right in front of him.
He flashes that godforsaken cocky smile again.
“I see you’re still here. I wasn’t sure you would be.
You know, since you’re such a flight risk and all. Anyway—”
“How do you even know that’s my full name?” I spit out, ignoring his dig. “It could be Allison or Alexis.”
“I didn’t.” He chuckles to himself. “Until now.” He holds up a manila folder in his hand.
“I enjoyed reading your resume, Alexandra. Although I must say I’m a little concerned by your lack of experience working in a team setting.
” He flips open the file and pretends to peruse the contents.
“In fact, it looks like you have only ever worked for yourself.”
I narrow my eyes. “Yeah, well not everyone got handed a corporate six-figure job at their family’s company right after graduation. Some of us had to make our own way.”
The pride expanding in my chest at my comeback withers when I see his face is not at all hurt but amused. Oh, shit. He knows I’ve looked into him. He never told me that. We talked that night…or more like I word-vomited all over him. His job never came up, though.
“Sure,” he drawls, sitting back in his swivel chair and resting the side of his leg on his knee. “Hey, let me see your contract. I want to check something.”
“My contract?”
“Yes, the contract Skylar sent you over the weekend, which you should have signed and brought in today.”
“Oh, I—”
He laughs again. Why does he keep doing that? What is so fucking funny?
“Damn, you must have done a number on Theo.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I cross my legs and lean back in my chair, mimicking his power stance.
“Oh, nothing. Just didn’t think Theo was one to get distracted by a pretty face. ”
“Are you—” I’m so livid, I can barely form words. “Are you insinuating that Theo hired me for something other than my merits and his confidence that I’m good at what I do?” I stand and place both hands on the desk, leaning forward.
Ashton drops his leg and leans forward in his chair. “Now why would I suggest something like that? Unless you feel like you were hired for the wrong reasons?”
I hold in the scream building at the back of my throat.
Keep. It. Together.
I take a deep breath and sit back down, folding my hands sweetly in my lap. “What do you want?” I ask with as much deference as I can muster.
“Not much. An Aston Martin. A villa on a secluded island. Maybe a dog. I have always wanted a puppy…”
“I mean from me,” I cut in.
Ashton’s smirk turns dark for a moment.
“I’m going to cut to the chase, Alexandra. You are a new hire—our only new hire in the past few months. That means you are in a probationary period and therefore can only write one article per week.”
“Yes, I read the contract.”
“Then you know that your job, while you are in this period, can include other tasks not generally taken on by staff writers. Since you can only write one article per week, you will have a lot of extra time that is unaccounted for.”
“To learn standard practices and familiarize myself with daily operations,” I quote from the contract, just to stick it to him.
Did I get wasted the night before my first day of work and have to be driven to work by my overbearing friend, thus leaving my contract at home?
Yes. But I read through it before signing it.
“Yes, but there’s also a stipulation that you may be required to take on other tasks.”
“Why do you keep saying it like that?”
“Like what?”
“Emphasizing the word ‘other’ before saying ‘tasks.’”
Ashton shakes his head and rests his forehead in the palm of his hand for a moment before picking his head back up.
“The bottom line is that I need a personal assistant until the interns start in the spring. You are the only person on staff with the extra time to do it.”
No. He’s not asking what I think he’s asking. He’s not asking at all because he’s telling me.
“Thanks, but no thanks,” I say anyway as I go to stand up.
“It wasn’t a question.”
“I will not be your personal assistant, Ashton. That’s not the job I accepted.”
“That’s cute.” His condescending tone makes me want to put his hand in the three-hole punch sitting on the side of his desk and clamp down until he begs for mercy.
“You’re right. It’s not the job you were offered by someone who does not currently work here.
It’s the job you’re being offered now. Half of your time will be spent working on your articles and getting to know the lay of the land.
The other half will be as my assistant. Take it or leave it.
Since you didn’t bring in your contract, you are under no obligation to be here.
At the same time, we are under no obligation to employ you. ”
“You can’t—”
“I can.” Ashton stands to his full height, and damn, why does he look taller than usual? “Now if you don’t mind…” he nods toward the door.
I keep my head held high as I slowly rise from the chair. Who the hell does he think he is? The condescending, smug little—
“Oh, and Allie?” His tone is practically vibrating. “If you do decide to leave, maybe give me a little heads-up this time so I can start looking for your replacement as soon as possible.” With that, he looks down and starts typing again.
As soon as I close the door, I see Skylar standing off to the side, staring at something on her phone.
“Hey,” she says cheerily as she looks up and notices me. When she takes in what I’m sure is utter defeat on my face, her smile falls. “I take it that didn’t go well?”
“He wants me to take your job—your old job,” I tell her.
“What?” she nearly shrieks, her eyebrows shooting up to her hairline. “You were hired as our food writer. Kaya is leaving next week. We can’t be without a food writer.”
“No, he wants me to have both jobs. In addition to my one article per week during my probationary period, he wants me to be his assistant.”
“Oh,” she says with a hint of relief.
“Oh? That’s all you have to say?” I’m not sure why, but there’s something about Skylar that makes me feel like she’s an old friend rather than someone I’ve known for all of two hours.
“I’m sorry, but it makes sense. He’s going to need all the help he can get and you’re the only—” Her eyes move back and forth over me and something flashes in them. Pity?
“Look, it’s obvious you two have some sort of history other than sharing a mutual friend.
If this is too awkward, I can figure something out.
I’ll keep the assistant duties until the interns start.
Or I can try to hire a temp…” Her eyebrows knit with worry, and now I’m the one who feels pity.
Skylar has so much going on right now. I may not know her, but she’s done nothing but try to help me since this morning.
“It’s okay,” I sigh, walking in the direction of my new desk in the pit. “I’ll do it.”
Her shoulders sag in relief as she follows me to my desk. “Okay, but let me know if you change your mind. I’ll figure something out.”
I nod my head. “Thank you.” She gives me a small smile and turns to leave, but something she said before finally registers. “Skylar,” I call to her, and she turns back. “We have a mutual friend. That’s all.”
She knowingly dips her head and keeps walking toward her new office.