Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Asher
Why the hell was I flirting with Emma? I couldn’t seem to help myself, and there was no company rule about dating another employee. Hell, look at Marcus and Cassie. But this was new for me. We would be working together, and she reported to me, but we both reported to the president, John Boyd.
Her dark hair was gathered and pinned up, and I wondered what would happen if I plucked those uncomfortable looking clips from her hair and let it fall down her back.
I’d probably get slapped and lose any chance of any kind of relationship with her, not to mention Miles and John would probably have my family jewels in a vise if Emma walked away.
Whoa. Mind out of the gutter, at least for now. I just met the woman, and today was the first time I’d spoken more than four words to her. Well, that’s not exactly true. I met her at some party a few months ago.
Did she remember? She ran into me, literally.
With that deer in the headlights look on her face, I had asked her if she was okay, but I got pulled away before I got anything more than a nod.
I felt the same invisible pull to her then as I did now.
It was more than her looks. Yes, she was a beautiful woman, but she was also very quiet—some would say shy.
Is that what drew me to her? It did surprise me she hadn’t researched Fantasies, Inc.
I wondered what type of company she thought we were.
She was going to have a rude awakening when we worked on the project together.
Together. My gut clenched. Like any developer, I hated having anyone else mess with my work.
I wasn’t super happy at first with having someone else here, but I was coming around to it.
I wanted to know why I couldn’t get her app to work with mine.
It should have been an easy job. But after a few weeks of trying to get the new software and my bridge app to handshake with no results, I had to admit defeat.
Not a good feeling.
Miles put the employment contract in front of Emma.
I’d read the contract; it was pretty standard.
I watched her as she read it over. Every so often, she’d hesitate, then continue, turning each page face down and placing it on the table, her expression neutral, controlled.
Then her brow furrowed just the slightest, and when she glanced at me I knew she’d reached the part that specified she would be working with me exclusively.
As she read the last two pages, the NDA, her hazel eyes widened and she tilted her head as she apparently read and reread the first page, then read the last lines on the second page.
The momentary surprise gave way to the neutral expression as she picked up the pages, initialed each one, signed both documents in the appropriate places, then neatly stacked the pages and handed them to Miles.
“Thank you.” He quickly signed as a witness and placed the contract and NDA in the folder. “If you have no questions, we’re all set,” Miles said. “If you have any issues with any employee”—Miles glanced at me—“come see me, and I’ll take care of it.”
“Thank you.”
I pushed back my chair and stood.
Emma followed suit.
“Shall I show you to your new work area?”
“That’s fine.”
“Asher, a minute please,” Miles said.
“I’ll wait outside.” Emma slipped out the door, and I turned to Miles.
“What’s up?”
“Do I need to remind you to keep your head on straight?”
What the…
“How…” I clamped my mouth shut.
“I can see the way you’re watching her. Like a nice juicy steak on Friday nights at Whistle Stop when you’ve been eating chicken all week.”
I laughed. “I promise. I’m all about consent.”
“Keep the lust out of the office.”
“Sure. Like Cassie and Marcus did?”
“Please.” Miles threw his hand up. “We all knew those two would eventually end up together. But Emma is a contractor and not technically an employee of Fantasies, Inc.”
“Consent and, if need be, a contract written up between us.” How would Emma take to a contract about a relationship between us? Why was Miles already going there? Emma and I didn’t even know each other…yet.
“Good.” Miles shook his head and moved back to his desk.
I left the room and found Emma standing at the window looking out at the Puget Sound. That was another nice thing about the building, the panorama of the Sound. “Enjoying the view?”
Emma jumped. “It’s nice.”
“Your workspace has a nice grouping of windows to look out.” I gestured for her to precede me to the elevator. I had a feeling she’d enjoy her new workspace. I would, too, but for the view of her.
Slow down, dude. You’re getting way ahead of yourself.
“We’re on the eleventh floor.” I tapped my card and pressed the button. “Or do you want the grand tour first?”
“Why don’t you tell me about the other floors?”
I regarded her for a moment, then started in. “Floor two is the employee lounge area, floors three and four are storage. Five is Customer Service. Six is HR. Seven through nine R other times, I work into the night and start late the next day. It depends on the project.”
“I see.” I understood. Sometimes, I’d stay late, but not a lot. “It’s important to have firm working hours. The company prefers it that way.”
Another shrug. “I can work with those hours.”
I nodded. “Your keycard has twenty-four-seven access, but you should be aware that HR gets a weekly report. If it’s shown you’re in the building more than nine hours a day, they’ll want an explanation.”
“How would they…oh, the elevators?”
“Yes, and for security reasons. That’s why you need to scan.”
“As you know, the café on the first floor has a seating area if you want to sit there to eat. It’s open nine until three. The coffee shop is open six to six. And the other card is the way you get your food.”
“Miles said that. I’ve never had a company pay for food.”
I grinned. “John Boyd, our president, feels employees work better when they don’t have to worry about paying for food and drinks. It’s a perk a lot of us like.” I put my hand on the table. “That’s not to say staff don’t visit local restaurants as well.”
Emma nodded, her gaze apparently focused on my hand. The urge to reach out, to touch her, startled me. I was reacting to Emma in a way that surprised me. Right now, I wanted to make her comfortable with me. We had a job to do, first and foremost.
“I mentioned the second floor is the employee lounge area.
“The entire floor?”
“Yes. There are sitting areas, some vending machines, plus lots of games to play.”
“Games?”
“Foosball, a pool table, puzzles, and lots of table games.”
“Interesting.”
“It helps with productivity. We also don’t have set lunch times. Sometimes, taking extra time playing games can help stimulate ideas.” I paused. “Did you drive in today?” I was curious how far her place was from the office.
“Yes. I live in Memorial. Not much in the way of public transportation.”
“True. I live in Zenith, just a little bit south of you.” Maybe once she was more comfortable, I’d ask her to commute with me. It would be nice to have company and save on gas. Right. That’s the reason. Wanting to get to know her better had nothing to do with it.
“That’s a nice area.”
I nodded. It was almost ten-thirty. “Did you park in the garage?” They had temporary parking spots for vendors and visitors.
“Yes, in visitor parking. Do I need to move?”
“You’ll be fine for today, but tomorrow, park on one of the other floors.
Be sure to pick up your parking pass before you leave today.
” I stood. Perfect time for a pause and coffee, and maybe a chance to talk about things other than work.
“I don’t know about you, but I could use some coffee and a snack.
Why don’t we go downstairs, and I can show you the café and coffee shop area. ”
Emma didn’t answer for a moment, and I thought she was about to decline and insist we get to work.
“Sounds good.” Yes! No way was I going to reveal any reaction other than calm and professional.
She slipped the lanyard with her keycards over her head and stood. “I could use some food. I was a little rushed this morning.”
“Let’s do it.”
In the elevator, I risked a couple of glances at Emma. She kept her gaze locked on the elevator doors. Her hands were in her pants pockets, and her shoulders weren’t as hunched and tight as when she first arrived. Progress.
When the doors slid open at the first floor, there were more people in the main area than had been earlier. Even with the number of people in the area, the sound of conversation was muted as staff and visitors made their way to elevators, the café and coffee shop, or to the various meeting areas.
“It’s a busy place,” Emma commented.
“Yes. Since it’s on the first floor, it’s open to the public, plus employees from our other two buildings come over here.
” As I guided her toward Daily Perks, I noticed that she seemed to shrink into herself, just as she had when I first saw her at the party all those months ago. Did crowds bug her?
We got in line, and when we arrived at the front, Amelia smiled. “Hi, and welcome to Daily Perks. Asher, your usual?”
“Yes, please. Emma, what would you like?”
She looked startled that I’d asked her. There it was again, now maybe more evident. That look of discomfort, like she wasn’t used to being noticed.
“A vanilla latte and a blueberry muffin, please.” Her voice was soft.
“You got it.” Amelia glanced between me and Emma.
I almost laughed at Amelia’s inquisitive glance. “Amelia, this is Emma; she’s on contract here. Emma, Amelia. She runs Daily Perks.”
“Cute name,” Emma said.
“I like it. Welcome to the company, Emma.” Amelia said, placed my black coffee on the counter in front of us and then a blueberry muffin, a chocolate donut, and a vanilla scone.
I scanned my card as Emma’s latte was set on the counter.
“Should I scan mine?” Emma asked quietly.
“I’ve got it.”
She smiled, and I smiled back as I handed her the latte and food, then picked up mine. “Do you want to sit down here or go up to the employee lounge?”
“Which is quieter?” She wasn’t anxious exactly, but she definitely wasn’t comfortable being around this large group of people.
“This time of day? The lounge.”
“There, please.”
“Okay.” What was with Emma? She seemed nervous and out of sorts, a mystery I was becoming more and more determined to solve.
Once on the second floor, I guided her down the hall to one of the quieter areas.
As soon as the door to the employee lounge closed, her—was it anxiety or just shyness?
—disappeared as she sat in one of the chairs at a small table.
I sat and put my drink, food, and napkins on the table. Emma tore open the paper bag holding her muffin, her demeanor now a bit more relaxed.
Had she been like this at the party? It definitely seemed that way. Did she remember me? She gave no indication that she did.
I’ve thought about that night quite a bit in the months since.
I’d been invited by a friend and had only intended to make an appearance and leave until I saw Emma standing alone, looking a little lost and more than a little uncomfortable.
Not unusual, especially at parties where they didn’t know anyone.
She’d radiated quiet elegance and style, even within the frenetic atmosphere created by a group of high intensity professionals letting off steam.
I made my way over to talk to her, and as I got closer, she turned and bumped into me before I could get a word out.
I barely had a chance to make sure she was okay when a friend tugged me away.
By the time I managed to detach myself from my friend, Emma was gone. I was disappointed, but that short encounter stayed with me. Now I understood better why she bolted.
In Daily Perks, she’d had the same look on her face as the night of the party: faraway and closed off, even anxious. As we sat in the quiet of the lounge, drank our coffee, and ate our pastries, her body appeared relaxed, but her gaze remained fixed on the table.
This woman was intriguing. Classy, elegant, shy, intelligent, a puzzle. And I never could resist solving a puzzle.