Chapter 3
I walked over to my assistant’s desk outside my office door and let my eyes take in everything I saw.
“Oh, good. You’re finally here.” I set an envelope in front of him and headed back into my office.
“Read that and do what it says. When you’re done, get into my office and we can finally get started.
” I closed the door behind me and went to sit at my desk.
Damn . This wasn’t what I had been expecting at all.
I had known I was getting a man this time instead of a woman. Part of me hoped that, not only would he be excellent at his job, but that he would also be the kind of man who was nothing to write home about. Well. I got one of those wishes.
Ellis Baxter was amazing at his job. He was fast, he was efficient, he did exactly what he was asked when he was asked, he knew what he was doing, even on things the last assistant had taken a week to figure out, and I’m talking the most basic of shit. There was just one problem with Ellis.
The man was gorgeous.
And I don’t mean in an obvious pretty boy and he knows it kind of way.
This was a subtle beauty that came from a man who knew how to carry himself, who was confident of his position in the universe, who had lived, and probably lost, and knew how to make it through to the other side of that.
Yes, he had beautiful hazel eyes that I could, and probably would from time to time, get lost in.
Yes, he had a handsome face that was perfect in every way.
Yes, the boy could dress and dress well.
But there was something about him, something that came with a little maturity and life experience that shone from within.
I‘m fucked.
He came back in thirteen minutes later. Yes, I counted.
I couldn’t look up. I focused on the report in front of me, trying hard to look like I was marking up corrections and comments when, in reality, I wasn’t taking in a damn thing.
I rambled off my usual new PA speech. I had had that many of them in the last year, I could probably have repeated it in my sleep.
“Are we clear?” I finished, still not looking up.
“Clear as crystal. Anything I can get for you right now, Mr Munroe?”
His voice was melodic, a rich baritone, and I thought about it saying my name in other circumstances. Fuck.
I chimed off my usual order for Costa. It was just around the corner on Gresham Street, but most assistants managed to mess it up in some way.
They were late back, they got the wrong order, they just couldn’t find the place and went somewhere else.
Something always happened. I explained where he would find money while he was waiting for his company credit card.
Still, I didn’t look up at him even once.
“Okay. On my way.”
I could hear the smile in his voice, but the very subtle undertone wasn’t lost on my ears. He thought I was being rude. He was right. Fucking hell, I was being the most obnoxious cock I could possibly be.
My behaviour didn’t get any better either.
For the rest of the day, I either emailed him or called him.
I didn’t leave the office when he was at his desk, and I didn’t ask him to come in for anything either.
Jesus, I really was being a prized prick.
I watched the clock for the day to pass, and when six o’clock arrived, I emailed him again and told him he could go home.
Part of me was hoping he didn’t come back in the morning; that my behaviour was too much for him.
The other part of me hoped and prayed he’d back and that I hadn’t put him off.
Part of me wanted to see if he could actually handle my bullshit.
Curious to see if he was someone I could get involved with.
I scoffed at the stupidity of my own thoughts. As if.