Prologue – Meghan #2
From my research this week, I know that Mr. Jackson is Cooper Jackson, the Managing Partner I would work for if I get this job. He’s one of the most respected attorneys in New York City and is one of the youngest managing partners at the firm his dad started.
The pictures online didn’t do him justice. He looked untouchable, typically dressed in a tuxedo, with a serious look on his face, his hair short and styled and his jaw clean shaven. Right now he looks more approachable, although still as… severe, I guess.
His hair looks to be free from product, with his curls messy and free, begging to have fingers run through them. A light dusting of stubble coats his chin and his blue eyes are intense as they bore into me.
As I look into his sparkling eyes, the sounds coming through the still open door seem to fade away and he becomes all I see as we stare at each other for what feels like an eternity. I’m vaguely aware of Maria still being in the room.
My breath catches in my throat as he holds my gaze captive. I want to move my hand to my racing heart, but my limbs are frozen. I’ve never been this caught off guard by a man and I’m sure that if I could tear my gaze away from his hypnotic stare, everything would be moving in slow motion.
What is going on?
Blissful silence surrounds us. I’m hyper aware of the cool air from the air conditioning blowing across my skin, causing goosebumps, and the sounds of my labored breathing.
He breaks the silence, shaking his head and diverting his gaze as he seems to snap himself out of the trance moments before me. “Good morning, Miss Taylor. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He stands from his seat and makes his way around the table before extending his hand as he stops in front of me.
I place my hand into his palm and a current of electricity jolts through me, causing me to jerk away. Maria clears her throat, penetrating the bubble around us, and I blink up at him before taking a step back.
Did I move toward him ?
I’ve never had this reaction to someone before and it’s really throwing me off of my game.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Mr. Jackson,” I murmur, praying he hasn’t noticed my reaction to him. The slight narrowing of his eyes and furrowing of his brow however, tells me he most likely did, but that I wasn’t the only one affected.
“Please, take a seat.” Maria smiles up at me before directing a frown and then a glare at Mr. Jackson.
Pulling out the seat in front of me, I keep my eyes focused on the large table as he moves around the room to his seat. He clears his throat, and the sound causes my eyes to dart to his own before I drag them away and over to Maria.
She’s much safer to look at.
“Thank you for coming in today, Ms. Taylor.” Maria soothes, and I will my rapidly beating heart to slow down. “Let’s not keep you too long and get straight into the interview.”
“Sounds good to me.” I smile nervously, my gaze still trained on Maria.
“Why do you think you’re the right person for this role?” The deep rumble of his voice fills the room and I barely resist the urge to close my eyes at the feeling it stirs within me.
Clearing my throat, I turn to him and give the answer I practiced in front of the bathroom mirror last night.
“Although I don’t have experience as an assistant, I have many positive attributes that I believe would be an asset to the role.
I am highly organized, I have great attention to detail and I am incredibly flexible, to name a few.
” At that, his right brow lifts and I feel my cheeks heat with a blush at the implication of my words.
My gaze goes back to Maria and she offers me a reassuring smile before asking me the next question.
For the next hour I try to avoid his gaze and when he asks me questions, I keep my eyes locked over his shoulder, not willing to give into the distraction his proximity seems to cause me.
I leave the interview feeling like there’s not a chance in hell that I’m getting the job. How can I, when the entire time I could feel his blue eyes boring into me and I wasn’t able to look back? He’d be my boss and as it stands, I wouldn’t be able to look him in the eye because he puts me on edge.
Resolute that I’m not going to be offered the role, I go about my day, doing the chores I put off yesterday in favor of prepping for my interview.
It’s as I’m doing laundry and constantly refreshing my emails that afternoon in the hopes of having secured another interview that Maria’s name pops up in my inbox.
My eyes scan over the message and I drop the pants I’d been folding back into the basket when it registers that they’re offering me the role. With a ridiculously good salary–considering my lack of experience–and a start date of the next day.
I sit on the edge of my bed, replaying the interview over and over in my mind, trying to understand why I’d be the best candidate for them. I’m not quite sure how I’ve managed to land this role and even though I’m happy that I have, I still need to seriously consider if I can work for Mr. Jackson.
I need to pay my bills, yes, but should I take the job when I’ll have to work so closely with the man who makes me feel things I’ve never felt before?
I need a job.
Picking up my phone, I pull up the email, reading it over again.
I hesitate for a moment before typing out a reply, accepting the offer.
I don’t send it immediately. Instead, I fold the rest of the laundry, throwing glances at my phone and praying for some sort of sign.
When the clothes are folded, put away, and no sign has been sent, I press send on the email.
I guess time will tell if I made a mistake .