Chapter Three
PIPER
It’s the tall, dark, and handsome man from the bar.
A pang of nervousness hits me the second he steps out of his office, with the charming, confident strut I found so alluring last night. The sternness of his green eyes makes a pit of anxiety grow in my stomach.
Sometimes it feels as if God’s having fun at my expense, and this situation isn’t any different. What are the chances? How can one person be so unlucky?
A night of loneliness would’ve been much better than this morning of awkwardness.
What do I do here? How do I handle this? My first thought is to make a joke, but I can’t do that. Not yet; not while Beth Seville is standing between us. If I’m lucky, he won’t recognize me. Both the bar and the stock room were dim and dingy.
Sure, let’s go with that. He’s the owner of a multi-billion-dollar corporation. His memory isn’t going to linger on one person and a night of drunken passion.
“Mr. Callahan, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” I say with as much confidence as I can muster before I extend a hand toward him.
He takes it in a limp-fish grip. “And you.” He turns to Beth, expectantly.
“Mr. Callahan, this is Piper Beckett,” Beth introduces me. “After multiple rounds of interviews and discussions, we believe she’s the best fit for your company. I’ll be doing her orientation until Friday.”
Alfie nods. “Wonderful. Piper, if you’d come with me for further introductions in my office.” He gestures back toward his office.
“Of course, Mr. Callahan.” I start walking, and he follows behind me.
A thought creeps into my mind that he’s going to cut me out before I’ve even started here. That this is just some spiel he’s playing at, to make it look like we’re having introductions before he announces I’m not the right person for the job.
How could I be so foolish as to believe I was going to get away from my past and start life anew? I found a dream job, working for a rich, powerful titan of industry, and I managed to throw it away in an instant by following him into a bar’s stockroom.
“It’s this one,” Alfie says. I turn into the room, and he shuts the door behind us.
His corner office is enormous. It’s double the size of my bedroom at home, with half the furnishings.
His desk sits at an angle in the middle, with a view of the sprawling green expanse surrounding the building.
Against one of the walls, a display case holds various trinkets, including pictures of Alfie with famous people, and signed memorabilia.
Opposite, a knee-high cupboard has a record player and mini-fridge.
“When I said you’ll have to come back and see me again, I didn’t mean at work,” he says. His tone is calm, confident, almost as if he’s trying to tell a joke. “What are you doing here, Miss Beckett?”
“Your company placed an ad, saying you’re looking for a secretary. Someone to take your calls, schedule your meetings, and keep track of daily life beyond work,” I reply. Keep it professional. I’m not here to rehash what happened last night. I’m here to get the job and progress.
His enormous, blocky frame suits the presidential, black-leather chair he’s sitting in.
His chiseled jaw tenses at my response and the corner of his lip tugs upward.
He’s clean-shaven this morning, unlike the weekend-stubbled look he sported yesterday.
His hair, however, is exactly the same; salt and pepper, perfectly coiffed in a slicked-back style.
“If I was a paranoid man, I’d think you were following me.” He walks towards his desk. When he gets behind it, he points toward one of the visitor’s chairs with a flat palm.
Alfie’s eyes scan the length of my body as I approach and take a seat. The same desire I saw last night burns brightly in his emerald eyes.
He shut me down, but not entirely. He wanted me to come back, to find him again so we could continue our shenanigans. I would’ve too. It was the only thing I could think about while I drifted off to sleep last night. The mysterious stranger, eager to see me, eager to please me…
What’s that going to mean for our workplace relationship?
“Mr. Callahan, last night was…”
Hot, steamy, and amazing? You blew my mind and drove me crazy?
“Last night isn’t a show of what I’m after.
I wanted to blow off steam before I started a new path.
How things ended, it seems you were after the same.
I’m here for the job, and I’m going to do it to the best of my ability.
It might be best if we get this out of the way early, so as not to muddle our dealings. ”
Alfie regards me coolly, with steepled fingers that make him look like a supervillain readying to tell me some grand evil scheme. One brow raises over his striking green eyes, while he contemplates my words.
And as suddenly as it came, the serious look fades. “Wonderful, we’ve gotten that out of the way early.” He eases back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other.
He’s not getting rid of me on the spot? That’s got to count for something. The bundle of nerves in the pit of my belly instantly loosens.
“So, tell me about yourself, Piper. What brings you to the fast-paced world of CEO secretary-ing?” he asks.
To get away from my parents and the horrible life they live. A constantly high mother and a drunk, criminal father. I want to leave behind the horror and torment, for a chance at the big time.
“The pay’s good.” Did that really just leave my mouth? Alfie laughs, which seems like a good sign. “I mean, I’m here to—“
“It’s all about the bottom dollar, right?” He cuts me off. “You don’t have to justify it any further. With a mindset like that, you’ll make it damned far in this world.”
His words make me smile.
“I want you to know that this job isn’t going to be an easy ride, Piper. I’m notoriously hard on my support staff.”
Is this an intimidation tactic, maybe? A way for me to feel threatened by his presence, so he can get another semblance of control over the situation? I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the case, especially after what we’ve already done.
“I expect the best because I deliver the best. Excellence comes with a high price tag. Most women don’t make it through their first month under me…”
A rather unfortunate choice of words, I think immediately. I try not to let a smile spoil the professional line of my lips.
“Mr. Callahan,” I say, rising from my seat.
Alfie’s eyes linger on my black blouse as I stand.
The deep V-neck is showing off more than I probably should’ve for my first day at a new office, but I thought it’d turn a few heads.
Now, I know it has. “I’m not afraid of what you’re going to throw at me, because I know I can handle it. ”
“I do hope so,” he says. “I’m sure it’s going to be a pleasure working with you.”
“I should get to orientation. Can’t be an A-class secretary if I don’t know how things work around here.” I turn away from Alfie and start walking for the door.
It’s my feeble attempt at strength and confidence, taking charge and walking out of here without dismissal. Alfie doesn’t stop me, but with the way he gawked at me, I don’t think this is going to jeopardize my new position.
When I get to the door, I turn around. One last look at him, just to see if he’s doing what I think he’s doing.
I’m not disappointed. Alfie’s chewing on the inside of his cheek, his eyes pinned where my ass would’ve been. He cranes his neck to meet my eyes, with the look of a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
I fight the growing smile on my face, again.
No matter the complications that came with last night’s adventure, this is going to be fun.