Chapter 4
Troy
I woke up to the small sliver of morning light that came cascading through the curtains in my bedroom. Slowly, I opened my eyes and blinked a few times as they adjusted. I then remembered last night and felt around the bed, only to find it empty. I sat up and looked around. Sure enough, the woman from last night was gone. Monica. At least, I thought that was what her name was.
I ran my fingers through my hair and felt a strange cocktail of confusion, relief, and emptiness. I’d had one-night stands in the past, but I usually woke up from those trying to get the woman out of my place. This time, she did it on her own and I wasn’t entirely sure I liked it. Or that I had wanted her to leave. I lay back against the down pillows and let out a sigh as I thought about the night before.
Her eyes. Her mouth. Her body. Her surrounding me.
It was like a slideshow of her was playing in my head, flashing before me too quickly for me to get a grasp.
I shut my eyes and groaned. It had been mind-blowing sex. Quite possibly the best I had ever had. I would have gladly gone for round two this morning, but clearly I was the only one who had that sentiment because I lay here alone.
I rolled over and looked over at the clock. It was 9:45 a.m.
Shit. I was late for work.
I pulled the covers off me and padded to the bathroom, the cool wood floors nipping at the soles of my feet. I didn’t hear any sounds of life in my apartment, so she was truly gone. I turned on the shower and waited until the room filled with steam before stepping inside. Quickly, I washed and dried off, but swore I could still smell her on me. I wasn’t complaining. It was a sweet smell, like jasmine. One I wouldn’t mind waking up to again.
Hurriedly, I dressed for work, choosing a navy suit and a crisp white button-down. I would just have to have coffee and breakfast at work. I was already over an hour late, which really wasn’t that big of an issue because I owned the place. But I still liked to have a professional reputation. Plus, I was sure it would get back to my father and I would face another empty threat of him taking my firm away.
If Monica—if that’s what her name was—had stayed this morning, I would have gladly showed up three hours late to work, if not called out completely. Screw my dad. I smiled to myself as the night flashed before me once again. I only wished the lights had been on.
Out on the sidewalk, I hailed a cab and slid inside. I gave the driver the address and settled in for the short ride to work.
My father didn’t understand why I took cabs when I could easily afford a driver, but there was something about hailing a cab that got me. It was in true New York fashion, and I loved the city. Despite having millions to do with as I pleased, I wanted to stay grounded in some ways. Not many, but some.
Ten minutes later, the cab pulled up to the curb outside my building. The large, concrete and glass structure looked even more gray and dull than usual as the clouds rolled in. I let out a sigh as I paid the driver and walked up to the heavy doors of the entrance that were opened for me by two doormen. I gave them a nod of acknowledgment as my footsteps echoed through the large lobby. I hoped today would be less stressful than yesterday.
Up in my office, I sat down in my large leather desk chair and rubbed my eyes groggily. The lack of sleep from last night paired with one too many old fashioneds was getting to me. I needed coffee stat.
I was about to call in my personal assistant to go get me one when I remembered I didn’t have one. My previous assistant had moved back to Seattle to be closer to family, or at least that was her excuse after I ended our secret office fling. She left last week.
I scrolled through the morning’s emails and saw one from my office manager, Kathy.
Troy,
Just a reminder that your new personal assistant starts today. She will be in training for a good portion of the day, but I will be sure to introduce you two, since you haven’t actually met her yet, if time presents itself by the end of the work day.
Warm regards,
Kathy
I chuckled to myself over her email. Kathy had been scrambling to find me a new assistant, which wouldn’t have been hard if she would stop running everything by my father. I swore she and Jeremy were cut from the same cloth. Always running to my dad over every little thing.
I didn’t know what it was about my father, but everyone felt like they owed it to him to fill him in on every little thing in my life. I was sure Jeremy had already told him about me leaving the bar with a woman last night. Kathy had probably fretfully told him that I hired a personal assistant without her knowing.
Last night, I had texted her telling her the position was filled and that Daniel would be in touch with contact information. She tried calling a few times, but I ignored her calls and she eventually gave up.
I owed Daniel a favor, and I trusted the guy. He was one of the more admirable businessmen in the city and had built quite an empire for himself. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t envious that he had done it all on his own, without the help of his rich and successful father.
We were often compared to one another throughout the years. Both young billionaires in New York. One self-made and one under his father’s thumb. Both with reputations that preceded us in the papers. Well, at least he used to. Now he was married with a kid. No one ever thought the guy would settle down, but there he was proving everyone wrong. Now, I was the one the tabloids were after.
Despite all of that, we had managed to remain friendly acquaintances. He had helped me out with his AI software for my company. Like literally helped out. He didn’t send anyone to do it. He walked me through it himself. I could tell how passionate he was about it. And for good reason. His launch was splashed all over the papers and shown all over the news. It was his most successful yet, and his first deal overseas.
So yeah. I owed him a favor.
When he texted me last night about having a personal assistant in mind for me, I took him up on it without even really thinking. I was a bourbon deep and figured it would be one less stressor in my life to have it taken care of.
After all, at the end of the day, I was the head of the company and what I said went.
Except today, as the head of the company, I had to get my own coffee. I rode the elevators back down to the lobby and emerged out onto the sidewalk. I walked down the block to my favorite coffee shop and stood in the small line. Most everyone had already gotten their coffee because they were on time for work.
“Mr. Gunner. Good to see you,” said the young barista.
He must have been nineteen, and was here almost every time I came in. We would always make small talk. I could tell he was a hard worker just based on how seriously he took making a cup of coffee.
“Good to see you, too. How is school going?” I asked.
“Made dean’s list. Again.”
“Bravo,” I said, slapping the counter.
“Thank you. Just trying to follow in your footsteps. So, what can I get you? The usual?”
“Yes, please.”
“Iced Americano coming right up.”
“Can you add on a breakfast sandwich, too? The sausage and egg one?”
“Sure thing, Mr. Gunner.”
After I paid, a few minutes later, the barista called my name from the end of the counter and slid me my drink. I thanked him and left a generous tip on the counter. His eyes widened and before he could say thank you, I slipped out the door. I never wanted to make a big deal out of my wealth, but I wanted to help when I could.
Back in my office, I went through the rest of the morning’s emails. As stressful as yesterday was, today was the exact opposite. I was actually kind of bored. That was the thing with this job. It was either hair-tearing-out stressful or mindlessly boring. There was no in-between. But it was all I knew. All I had grown up around.
Thankfully, I had an afternoon meeting that would give my brain a little exercise. Unfortunately, it was with Jeremy.
There was a knock at the door, and Kathy led Jeremy inside.
“Troy, my man. Good to see you again. Heard you strolled in late today,” he said with a smirk and a shared look with Kathy. “Must have had a late night with that hot brunette last night.”
Kathy looked from Jeremy to me, annoyingly soaking in that little tidbit of information.
“Please, have a seat. Thank you, Kathy,” I said, dismissing her.
She closed the door behind her and I warded off any personal questions from Jeremy and just tried to focus on the meeting. He had an investor who was interested in potentially opening up a hedge fund, but lived overseas. He was using Jeremy as a liaison, which was irksome because I was more than capable of making the deal myself.
After an hour of video calls and using Jeremy as an unnecessary middleman, I finally closed the deal. Feeling triumphant, I thanked Jeremy for his time, even though I was sure he only did it to secure himself a favor. That’s how the business world worked. Nothing was for free. Everything was for you to gain something. That was how I wound up with a personal assistant I had never interviewed or even had a résumé from.
Once Jeremy left, it was nearing the end of the work day. I really had no reason to stay at the office. Sometimes I would leave early or wrap up work at my home office. But then I remembered I still had to meet my personal assistant. I groaned. Where was she?
I emailed Kathy:
Kathy,
Any update on the personal assistant? It’s nearly 4.
I hit send. A few minutes later, my email pinged.
Troy,
We will be there in five. And I thought the work day didn’t end until 5?
I rolled my eyes at her response.
Good. At least they would be here soon, so I could get this over with and head home. I was still tired from the night before. The Americano had helped a little, but had worn off by now. I planned on grabbing dinner on the way home and passing out early. No nightcap would be needed tonight.
A few minutes later, there was a knock at my door.
“Come in,” I said.
Kathy poked her head in.
“Your new assistant is here.”
“Bring her in,” I nodded.
Kathy opened the door and stepped inside, followed by a woman in a cream skirt suit that I immediately recognized. I stood up and swallowed hard as our eyes met.
Shit. Shit. Shit.