5. Chapter Five
chapter five
. . .
Olivia
I woke up with a start, my mind already racing. This was my first official day as Carter Cassidy's assistant.
I rolled over and reached for my phone on the nightstand, my fingers clumsy as I silenced the alarm. 6 a.m. Plenty of time to get ready.
Pete stirred beside me, his tail beating lazily against the comforter. I scratched behind his ears, drinking in his warm, solid presence. “Wish me luck, buddy.” I pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “I’m going to need it.”
After taking Pete out to do his business, I headed to the bathroom myself, wincing as the cool tile met my bare feet. I looked at myself in the mirror—sleep-tousled hair and shadows beneath my eyes.
I can do this. I have to do this. For myself, for my future, for the chance to rebuild my shattered life on my own terms.
An hour later, I was showered, dressed, and as ready as I was going to get. I'd chosen comfy but stylish black dress pants and tucked a silky teal blouse into them. The stretch of the fabric was a necessity with the day’s achiness. I twisted my hair into a neat chignon, applied subtle makeup, and finished things off with a spritz of my favorite perfume—vanilla and jasmine, warm and inviting.
I grabbed my leather tote and headed for the door, pausing to give Pete one last cuddle. “Be good, sweet boy,” I whispered, pressing my face into his silky fur. “I'll be home before you know it.”
The drive to Carter's house was a blur, my mind churning with scenarios and strategies. I'd done my research, poring over every scrap of available information about the enigmatic architect. His reputation preceded him—brilliant, driven, and notoriously difficult to work for. But beneath the accolades and the icy exterior, I sensed something else. Something that made me want to uncover the man behind the mask. I wanted to prove I could be more than merely an assistant. This community project was visionary. I wanted to help him bring that vision to life.
I smoothed my dress for the hundredth time as I stood outside Carter Cassidy's front door. First day jitters twisted my stomach into knots. You've got this, Olivia. Just be yourself. Or a slightly more polished, professional version of yourself.
I raised my hand to knock then hesitated. What if this was all a huge mistake? What if I couldn’t cut it in the high-powered world of architecture and business?
Before I could spiral further, the door swung open. Carter loomed in the doorway, his stormy gray eyes sweeping over me critically.
I forced a bright smile. “Good morning, Mr. Cassidy! ”
He grunted noncommittally. “You're early.”
My heart sank a little at his brusque tone, but I refused to let it show. “I brought you a cappuccino. I wasn't sure what you liked, so I figured it’d be a safe choice.” I held out the paper cup.
Carter eyed my offering with obvious disdain. “Coffee. Black. There's a pot in the kitchen.” He stepped aside to let me enter the foyer.
“Coming right up! I'll just toss this, unless you have any other staff who might enjoy it?” I kept my tone light, determined not to let his gruffness rattle me.
He waved my words away. “You can have it.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Oh, I don't drink coffee.”
One dark brow arched. “So this sunny disposition is all natural then?”
A laugh bubbled up from my chest. “I drink sugar-free Sunkist. Usually orange pop doesn't have caffeine, but this one does. See?” I fished the bright white can from my tote, giving it a little shake.
“Sunkist?”
I grinned, emboldened by the hint of amusement in his tone. “Yep.”
“Of course. Very fitting.” Carter shook his head. “Next time, come to the back door. You don't need to knock. I'll be too busy to let you in, anyway.”
“Sure thing, Mr. Cassidy!” I chirped.
As he turned on his heel and strode down the hallway, I allowed myself a tiny, triumphant smile. I'd made it through the first round unscathed—and seemingly cracked a tiny piece of that crusty shell.
Carter sat behind the massive desk in his office, gesturing for me to take a seat across from him. “Let's get started. I have a lot to cover and very little patience for hand-holding.”
And we were off to the races. For the next two hours, he rapid-fired information at me—everything from his exacting filing system to his preferred coffee order—black, in a ceramic mug, never paper—. My head spun as I scribbled furiously in my notebook, determined not to miss a single detail.
“Any questions?”
About a million. But I didn't want to seem incompetent on my first day. “No, I think I've got it.”
His lips twitched, like he was fighting a smirk. “We'll see.”
Arrogant prick.
As I settled in at my new desk outside Carter's office, I felt a glimmer of pride. I'd survived the initial onslaught. Now I just had to prove I could hack it in his cutthroat world.
I unpacked the few personal items I'd brought—a small potted succulent, a framed photo of Pete, and my favorite pen. As I arranged them on my desk, Carter emerged from his office.
His gaze landed on the photo, his brow furrowing. “What's that?”
“Oh, that's my dog, Pete.” I smiled fondly at the image of my furry best friend. “He's a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.”
Carter's frown deepened. “I see.”
He gave a curt nod and swept past me towards the kitchen. As soon as he was out of sight, I slumped in my chair.
Crap. What have I gotten myself into?
The rest of the day passed in a blur of phone calls, emails, and frantic Googling as I tried to keep up with Carter's demanding pace. By the time five o’clock rolled around, I felt like I'd been put through a meat grinder.
I trudged to my car, every muscle aching. As I navigated the evening traffic, doubt gnawed at me. Maybe I wasn't cut out for this. I should quit now before I make an even bigger fool of myself.
But the thought of admitting defeat made my chest tighten with panic. No. I refused to give up that easily. I'd faced worse challenges than a grumpy boss. I can do this.
I pulled into my driveway, managing a tired smile as I spotted Amelia pruning her rose bushes—again. She waved cheerfully, setting down her shears.
“Well, look who it is! How was the first day, kiddo?”
I hesitated, not wanting to burden her with my problems. But Amelia's kind eyes and genuine interest broke through my defenses.
“It was... intense,” I admitted, crossing over to lean against her white picket fence. “My new boss is brilliant, but he's also...”
“A royal pain in the ass?”
A surprised laugh burst out of me. “You could say that.”
“Honey, I've dealt with more than my fair share of difficult men in my day. Want to come over for a glass of wine and some sage advice from your wise old neighbor?”
The offer was tempting, but exhaustion pulled at my limbs. “Rain check? I'm beat. But I'd love to take you up on that soon. ”
“You got it, sweetheart. Don't let the bastard grind you down, you hear me?”
I nodded, feeling a surge of affection for this feisty woman who'd become such a steadying presence in my life. Before Ethan left, we’d barely exchanged a handful of words over the course of years. Now, a day didn’t go by when we didn’t at least offer each other a wave. “Thanks, Amelia. I'll do my best.”
Inside, I was greeted by Pete's exuberant wiggling. I scooped him up, burying my face in his fur. “Hey buddy. At least someone's always happy to see me.”
After a quick walk and dinner for both of us, I collapsed on the couch and Pete curled up beside me. I pulled out my phone and dialed a familiar number.
“Hey.” Wick's deep voice rumbled through the speaker. “How'd it go today?”
I sighed, absently stroking Pete's ears. “It was... a lot. Carter's not exactly the warm and fuzzy type.”
Wick chuckled. “Yeah, he takes some getting used to. But he's a good guy underneath all that grunting and scowling. Just give it time.”
“I hope you're right. Because right now, I’m barely keeping my head above water.”
“You've got this, Liv. You're tougher than you give yourself credit for. And if Carter gives you too much shit, I'll kick his ass.”
I laughed, some of the tension easing from my shoulders. “My hero. Thanks, Wick. I needed that.”
After we hung up, I dragged myself through a hot shower and into bed. As I drifted off, I made a silent vow. I wouldn't let Carter Cassidy defeat me. I’d melt that icy demeanor with endless rays of obnoxiously wholesome sunshine.