Chapter Fifteen
Elliot
I get to the office early, as I usually do.
There isn’t a single person here but the security guard in the downstairs lobby.
It’s best this way. Quiet and calm. I enjoy my job and the bustle of my day, but without some reprieve, I’d go insane from stress and over-stimulation.
Everything I do is worth it, but I know well enough to take care of myself or none of this would be worth a thing.
I’m especially eager for the day, as it’s Seraphine’s first official day.
I spoke with Michelle on Friday, giving her the good news of her promotion, raise, and duty changes.
She was thrilled and grateful. Although, that may change if she were to ever find out it only happened to make room for Seraphine.
Going through my usual routine, I make myself coffee, check emails and reports.
We are set to get the Vista Plaza project in motion today, meaning my week will be full of internal meetings.
It’ll be fast-paced, and I’ll surely be tired by the end of it, but it’ll be a good way for Seraphine to learn how the day-to-day goes.
Michelle will no longer do the meeting notes, as I want Seraphine by my side at all times. My body longs for her when she isn’t beside me, and the only way to remedy that is to make sure she is with me. Simple enough. I’m sure she could use the distraction, anyway.
I’d wanted her to wait another week to start, but she refused. Said she’s taken enough from me and isn’t a charity case. If only she knew I still have so much to give, and in many forms. Namely, my cock. But one thing at a time.
Time gets away from me, as it usually does when I’m thrown into work, and before I know it, there is a knock on my door.
“Come in!” I call out, my gaze on my computer screen as I read over the last of this proposal.
“Good morning, Mr. Caldwell.” I look up at that voice, my heart doing a flip in my chest.
“Good morning, Miss Sinclair,” I say, getting up from my seat. “Do come in.”
She nods, looking back at the door.
“I prefer it closed, but if you’re uncomfortable with that…”
She shakes her head. “Of course not.”
Shutting the door, she moves closer to my desk and looks around.
“You can leave your things in the closet there.” I gesture to the small door to the side of the coffee station. “I’ve yet to assign you a desk, as I’m not sure what will be best for this situation.”
“What do you mean?” she asks with her hand on the knob to the closet, reminding me of when she invited me over her house just last week and left me standing in the hall for an amount of time that was rude. Of course I didn’t care, I’d have stood out there all night if it’s what she wanted.
“Your position is new, and I’m not sure what will work best for us.”
“New? You made a new position for me?”
I give a small shrug. “Don’t make it more than it is.”
She sighs, pulling the door open. She hangs her purse on the hook and then her jacket on one of the hangers before sliding it on the bar beside my coat and spare suit.
Her clothing is resting so close to mine is the first step in bringing us closer together.
First it’s her jacket near mine in the office closet, next it’ll be her panties in my dresser. One could only hope.
She comes to sit in front of my desk, my gaze going to the skin showing from mid thigh all the way down to her ankles.
She’s dressed impeccably in a tight black and white plaid skirt, black turtleneck, and black heels.
I asked her not to wear bright colors, as it’s distracting during meetings.
It’s bad enough she will already be a distraction to all the men in here, but I’ll handle them if need be.
I force my gaze to meet hers, not ashamed of how I was looking at her, but not wanting her to be uncomfortable or call me out, either. She doesn’t say anything and looks almost excited to be under my rapt attention. Which is dangerous. Certainly not the fuel I need. I’m too weak a man to deny it.
She crosses her legs, resting her clasped hands on top of her knee.
“What shall I do first?”
Is that seduction in her tone? No, of course it isn’t. She wouldn’t do that.
Would she?
Oh, this woman is going to be trouble. The mixed signals are enough to have my head spinning.
It’s hard enough keeping myself in control.
How will I handle it if she starts coming on to me?
Staring at me the way she did when I was on that massage table, naked and so very hard for her?
She gave into me, then. Enjoyed how I begged her to touch me.
Maybe she just needs to know how badly I want her in order for her to give in?
I’ll give her all the attention she needs and then some.
I have no problems begging for what I want, not when it comes to her.
I take a moment to collect myself, not wanting to scare her off on day one.
I have no issues playing with her while at work, this is my company after all, and if anyone can hide something like this, it’s me.
But it’s her first day, she’s dealing with a lot, and I need to take it easy on her.
Besides, anticipation always makes the end result better.
“I thought it best you observe for today. See my routine and how I do things. I have a meeting in an hour. You will attend it with me and keep notes. You know how to do that, right?”
“Yes, of course. I completed all the online trainings you sent.”
“Good.” I leave off the girl at the end that I really wanted to tack on.
Too much, too soon. Take it easy on the young girl, Elliot.
One day, though. One day.
Pulling my attention from her, I bring it back to my computer screen.
From my peripheral, I see her watching me, and find I enjoy it.
I like that her attention is on me and only me.
Now and then, she switches the legs that are crossed or shifts in her seat, but she doesn’t say a word. So well-behaved.
When it’s time to leave for the meeting, I get up. Her eyes follow me as I walk toward the door.
“Are you ready for your first meeting?” I ask.
She gives me a bright smile, those green eyes lighting up. “Yes.”
I pull the door open, sweeping my hand out in front of me. “After you, Miss Sinclair.”
Seraphine gains too much attention in the meeting.
Each man who walks in gives her a glance, some linger for far too long.
Partially my fault, as I didn’t warn them I would have someone new with me.
Once everyone is seated around the table with a mix of questioning looks on their faces, I get to my feet.
“Good morning, gentlemen. This is Seraphine Sinclair. She is my new assistant. Before you ask, no, Michelle was not fired. She is still here, and quite happy with her promotion.”
“Good for her,” Peter says.
“Quite,” I add with a nod. “Miss Sinclair will be taking over the meeting notes, so she will attend all meetings until further notice. At this time, nothing should go through her until she is fully trained. Michelle will continue those duties.”
A glance around the room tells me everyone understands, so I take my seat and look at Jonathan.
“Right,” he starts. “I haven’t gotten much from the city yet, but I have a meeting with them on Thursday. I’ve already prepared my team, and I’m getting them ready to start immediately.”
“Wonderful,” I say, bringing my attention to Jack. “Jack, remind me when we’re signing contracts.”
“Tomorrow, Mr. Caldwell. Our meeting is at ten am.”
“Perfect.”
From the corner of my eye, I see Seraphine typing away on the brand-new laptop I purchased for her, keeping track of everything we’re talking about.
“Jim, will you be attending the meeting with Jonathan?” I question.
“Of course.”
“Well, it seems we have everything for this on track so far, so it’s a quick meeting this morning.
We can reconvene next week, after the meetings have taken place and we have more information.
But before we part ways, I just want to thank you all for your hard work and dedication to Caldwell Enterprises.
You truly do an amazing job and without you, I can’t say my company would be where it is right now. ”
I get to my feet once again, pulling envelopes from my jacket pocket and walking around the table to hand them out.
“Just a small token of my appreciation,” I add.
“You didn’t have to do this,” Jim says as he takes his envelope.
“Of course, but if I don’t give you bonuses now and again, another company may snatch you away.”
The guys chuckle, and Seraphine smiles at me from her spot in the corner. I wink at her just as I pass out the last envelope.
“If anyone speaks with Riley, don’t spoil the news. I’ve put his in the mail,” I explain.
The guys leave the conference room, going back to their offices.
“You’re very kind,” Seraphine says as she closes her laptop and gets to her feet, tucking it under her arm.
“I want my men to know they’re appreciated.” I move to her, stopping a foot from her.
“It seems they do. They like you.”
“I don’t care if they like me, I only care if they respect me.”
She narrows her eyes, chewing on the corner of her lip. I press my thumb to it, pulling it down to release it from her grip. She stares up at me with those big green eyes. My finger runs along the underneath of her bottom lip that parts, and she sucks in a sharp breath.
I smile, dropping my hand. “Let me show you around the office.”
“Good idea,” she says, the words coming out as a whisper, which I’m sure she did not intend—which only makes it all the more adorable, and sexy.