Chapter Four
Raina
The offices of Powers Investment Group were located in a sleek, modern building in the heart of Manhattan.
My palms were damp as I walked through the lobby, a leather bag over one shoulder and a plastic container clutched in my other hand—chocolate chip cookies I’d baked at two in the morning because I couldn’t sleep.
When Kurt called yesterday to tell me he’d found me a job, I wasn’t sure whether to feel grateful or mortified.
I’d never met Simon Powers, but I knew he and my brother had been close since college.
They went way back, which meant Kurt had almost certainly leveraged that friendship to push Simon into hiring me without so much as an interview.
The man didn’t even have a copy of my résumé.
I felt like a charity case. Like I hadn’t earned this.
But I wasn’t about to refuse the job offer.
I’d gotten nowhere on my own in the past six months, and I couldn’t let pride stand between me and a paycheck.
I just needed to prove myself—to Simon, and to myself—and then I’d feel better about all of it.
The cookies were meant to break the ice. Kurt mentioned Simon had a sweet tooth, and showing up with a homemade gift seemed like a harmless way to start things on the right foot.
After checking in with the security guard at the lobby desk, I rode the elevator up, watching the numbers climb.
When the doors finally opened, my first thought was how bright everything was.
Natural light poured through floor-to-ceiling windows, spilling across white oak flooring.
The walls were a soft champagne color, and the furniture matched the light, airy aesthetic.
To my right, a conference room with glass walls held an oval table and a massive screen for video calls. A side table waited with an empty water pitcher and glasses, the whole space pristine and unused, ready for important people to fill it with important business discussions.
Directly ahead, a short hallway lined with abstract art branched in two directions. Kurt had given me the general layout and mentioned Simon’s office was to the right. I headed that way, my heels clicking softly against the polished floor, until the hallway opened into a wider space.
A casual seating area occupied one corner, two leather couches flanking a low coffee table where magazines like Forbes and The Economist were neatly fanned out.
Across from that and out in the open was a desk with clean, modern lines.
Nothing on its surface but a computer. My workspace. It had to be.
I set my bag in the ergonomic chair behind the desk, then turned toward the door beside it. A nameplate gleamed on the front with the name Simon Powers.
The door was closed, not exactly an invitation, but I didn’t mind because it gave me a moment to prepare myself to meet my new boss. I drew a deep breath, straightened my spine, and pulled my shoulders back. My grip tightened around the plastic container of cookies.
You’ve got this. You’ll be great at this job. Just show him what you’re capable of.
I fixed a warm, confident smile on my face and knocked.
“Come in.” The voice was low and gruff, carrying an undercurrent of impatience.
I pushed open the door and stepped inside.
The office matched the rest of the floor—modern, bright, clearly designed to project innovation and success.
The man himself sat behind a large desk, his back to the windows overlooking New York City.
Even seated, I could tell he was a big guy.
Broad shoulders strained against the fabric of his white button-up, and a solid chest tapered to what I suspected was a narrow waist. His suit jacket hung on the back of his chair, and he’d rolled his sleeves up to his elbows, exposing forearms that were…
distracting. Roped with muscle. Dusted with dark hair.
The kind of forearms that made you wonder what it would feel like to have them wrapped around you.
My pulse skipped a little at that thought, and I forced my gaze upward.
That change in scenery didn’t help. Kurt hadn’t mentioned that Simon was attractive. Not that I’d expect my brother to notice or comment on another man’s looks, but still, a warning would have been nice. Because I was staring, and I couldn’t seem to stop.
His dark brown hair was thick, swept back from his face in a way that looked effortlessly professional. But a single lock had escaped, falling across his forehead, and that small imperfection made him seem more human. More approachable.
My eyes traced the sharp line of his jaw, following it down to his mouth. His bottom lip was fuller than the top, and before I could stop myself, my tongue darted out to wet my own.
I’m not thinking about what it would be like to kiss this man. Absolutely not.
That would be inappropriate on a level that bordered on reckless. I was here to work, to rebuild my career, not to fantasize about my new boss’s mouth and what it was capable of.
I dragged my attention to his eyes and felt the temperature in the room shift.
They were green, a deep, mossy shade that might have been warm under different circumstances.
Right now, they were cool. Assessing. Fixed on me with an intensity that made me feel like I was being measured against some invisible standard I’d already failed to meet.
“Hello,” I said, injecting brightness into my voice as I crossed the room toward his desk.
“I’m Raina. Thanks so much for giving me this opportunity.
I don’t know how much Kurt told you about my background, but I’ve worked as an executive assistant before, and I’m really looking forward to getting back to it. ”
I was talking too fast, my nerves getting the better of me. A voice in my head screamed at me to slow down, to stop, but Simon hadn’t said a word yet and the silence felt unbearable. “Whatever you need from me, I’ll make it happen. I think we’re going to make a great team.”
Still nothing. His expression hadn’t changed.
“I baked cookies,” I added, setting the container on his immaculate desk.
“Just a small thank-you. Hopefully we can start things off on the right foot.” I gestured toward the container with what I hoped was a charming smile.
“Chocolate chip. My own recipe. I don’t mean to brag, but they’re pretty amazing. ”
I waited, smile still fixed in place, watching for any reaction.
His gaze dropped to the cookies and I had to hold back a flinch as the corners of his mouth turned down for just a moment. Definitely not impressed.
Maybe the cookies were a mistake.
Without commenting on the baked goods or anything I’d said, Simon stood.
I’d been right about his size. He was tall, well over six feet, with the kind of build that suggested he spent serious time in a gym.
His shoulders seemed even broader now that he was upright, and I felt suddenly, acutely aware of how much space he took up.
How much air he seemed to displace just by existing.
My chest fluttered again, and a reckless, traitorous warmth spread through my belly.
This man could pin me against a wall without breaking a sweat.
And there were those unprofessional thoughts again. What was wrong with me? It had been a while since I’d been with anyone, but I didn’t usually fantasize about men I’d just met. Especially men who were about to become my boss.
“Nice to meet you, Raina,” Simon said in a professional tone, extending his hand.
I slipped my hand in his and that initial contact sent a jolt through me—not static electricity, but pure, undiluted awareness that started where his palm pressed against mine, traveled up my arm, and lodged somewhere behind my ribs.
His hand was warm, his grip firm without being aggressive, and I had the sudden, vivid thought of what those hands might feel like elsewhere.
I bit my lip and pulled away, maybe a little too quickly.
I kept my features neutral, refusing to let him see the effect that simple handshake had on my nervous system. For his part, Simon gave no indication that he’d felt anything at all. His expression remained impassive, almost bored.
He also hadn’t smiled. Not once since I walked through the door.
“Why don’t you have a seat?” He gestured to one of the chairs facing his desk. “We can go over your duties and my expectations.”
“Oh—should I grab a notebook first?”
He waved a dismissive hand. “No need. I’ve already sent you an email with everything outlined in detail.”
I lowered myself into the chair, folding my hands in my lap as he began to speak. His voice was firm, clipped, heavy with an undercurrent of dissatisfaction—as if he was already anticipating my failure before I’d had a chance to prove myself.
“You’ll manage my calendar and filter email communications.
You’ll conduct research on potential investments and help maintain our database of portfolio companies.
You’ll assist in screening incoming pitch decks and ensure we’re fully prepared for all meetings.
” He paused, barely long enough to breathe before continuing.
“You’ll also arrange any necessary travel, though I don’t go on the road as often as Liam, who is my brother and my business partner, so that won’t be a significant part of your responsibilities. ”
I nodded along, absorbing not just his words but everything about Simon—the tension in his shoulders, the tightness around his jaw, the way he seemed so controlled, like he was holding back something he didn’t want me to see.
This man wasn’t happy. I just couldn’t tell if that was his baseline state or if my presence specifically was the problem. How hard had Kurt pushed to get Simon to agree to this?
He continued outlining expectations—record keeping, expense management, networking support. Most of it was familiar territory from my years at the advertising firm, but every job had its own learning curve, its own particular rhythms and demands.
And something told me Simon Powers wasn’t going to be patient while I found my footing. I needed to master this job fast. Faster than I’d ever learned anything before.
Which meant I needed to forget about this inconvenient attraction. The flutter in my chest when he looked at me. The heat that had sparked when our hands touched. None of that mattered. It couldn’t matter.
This job was my chance to get my life back on track, and I refused to let anything—especially not a pair of gorgeous green eyes and a set of distracting forearms—blow it for me.