Chapter 5
Chapter
Five
Emily
My shoulders slumped as I walked into the break room.
The entire interaction hadn’t felt like I’d gotten off to a good start.
It seemed as if they already didn’t like me from the moment I walked in.
I was sure I didn’t fit in. They were so elegant in their designer clothes, shiny hair, and pencil-thin high heels.
I paused in my thoughts. I was sure that the dress I was wearing was every bit as expensive as theirs.
My shoes were expensive, too. My hair wasn’t sleek and shiny, but it was nicely put up.
They were no better than I was, and I needed to get over whatever hang-up I had about myself.
I thought about what Mrs. Gunter had said the night before.
I didn’t need to change for anybody; I was perfect the way I was.
With that thought in my head, I squared back my shoulders.
Walking over to the cabinet above the coffee pot, which seemed a little more elaborate than what I was used to and was definitely intimidating, I opened the doors and studied the array of coffee cups.
There were many to choose from in different styles and colors, but there, on the top shelf, I did see a dark blue coffee mug.
It seemed strange that the man would want that specific mug when there were so many other ones.
Why did it have to be kept separate from all the others?
I shook my head. CEOs could be weird, I guess.
Maybe all that power goes to their heads?
With that thought in mind, I reached as far as I could on my tiptoes, but I could barely reach the bottom wood planking of the shelf. There was no way I could get the cup.
With a sigh, I dropped back to my heels and glanced around. For a break room, it was pretty bare. There were no tables and chairs, just a small fridge. The countertop, the coffee pot, the drawers, and the cabinets. That was it. Nothing to stand on. No stepstool.
With a groan, I hitched up my dress and hopped up onto the counter onto my butt.
Then, in a move I hadn’t done since I was a young child, I carefully maneuvered until I was sitting on my knees, and then, using my grip on the shelves, hoping that they were strong and sturdy and wouldn’t come loose if I put my weight on them, I pulled myself until I was kneeling and could reach the cup.
“This is so ridiculous,” I muttered to myself. “I am not leaving this cup up here. If his majesty doesn’t like having his cup further down, then he’s just going to have to get over it or get his own damn coffee.”
“Just what the hell do you think you’re doing?” a gruff voice demanded behind me.
With the startled gasp, I began to jerk around out of instinct. Just as the world came perilously close to turning upside down, strong arms caught me before I could topple over backwards.
“This is the second time I’ve caught you in my arms. I think you may need a keeper. Perhaps you need to be tied up just to be kept safe.”
The words were deep and velvety, rumbled into my ear, and I could have sworn I felt his nose drag against the back of my neck. He took a deep inhale. My heart was racing out of control, and it was due to far more than just the near fall.
“Can you put me down, please?” I squeaked out.
“I don’t know,” he said, his arms tightening around me even further. “I like the way you feel my arms.”
“Sir!” I gasped, my head spinning.
“I like the way that sounds, too. What were you doing anyway?” he asked, finally loosening his hold but not letting go completely.
“I was getting Mr. Lane his coffee cup,” I said, unsure why I was explaining anything to this man who was crude, but also made my heart race.
“His coffee cup?
“Yes. The blue one.”
“The blue coffee cup.”
“Yes,” I said, exasperation beginning to leak into my tone. “The one that Veronica told me to get.”
“Veronica told you to get the blue coffee cup off the top shelf?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Is that right?”
“Yes!” Why was he repeating everything I said?
“Isn’t that interesting?” he hummed in my ear, sending shivers racing over my skin that I did my best to pretend weren’t there.
He certainly seemed far more interested in the entire situation than I would have thought a virtual stranger needed to be.
Maybe he was another security guard and was going to chastise me for doing something dangerous, like climbing the counters.
Well, he needn’t worry. It wasn’t something I would ever be doing again if I had a say in it.
He gently set me down, his hands not leaving me until my feet were flat on the ground and I was steady.
I set the coffee cup under the pot and began to study the buttons, trying to figure out what to do next.
A hand reached over my shoulder and started pressing the buttons in a specific order.
Still, I couldn’t bring myself to pay attention.
I was too busy studying the beauty of the male hand that had saved me from falling. Apparently twice now.
It was large and masculine with thick veins. Neatly groomed fingernails tipped long fingers. Those fingers disappeared all too soon, and hot, fragrant coffee began to disperse into the damn blue mug, catching my attention. It smelled delicious, and I decided right then that I needed my own cup.
“Thank you so much for all your help.” I turned around, but he was already gone, the room empty behind me.
The man was something else. Yesterday, he had glared at me; today, he yelled at me.
Even though he had rescued me from falling and possibly seriously hurting myself, he was the cause of danger in the first place!
And the things that he said to me. Nope. I wasn’t going to think about it.
As soon as the coffee stopped dripping, I found the cream and sugar, dressed the coffee, and stirred it.
Then I grabbed a napkin so I could carry the cup without burning my hand and carried it back down the hall and over to the desk where Veronica was sitting again in front of the computer screen.
As soon as she saw me holding the cup, she gave me a tight smile.
“Did you have any issues?”
I nodded and then shook my head. “No. A nice man helped me. Though I’ll probably keep the cup on the lower shelf for now on, just so I don’t have to climb the counters to get it next time.”
“That’s good. Here, I’ll take it.”
Before I could say anything or react in any way, Veronica had already snatched the hot cup out of my hand and was striding towards the door across from the desk with the gold plaque reading CEO Mr. Lane.
She gave a quick knock, then opened the door before disappearing inside, leaving the door cracked behind her.
I just stood there, staring after her with my mouth hanging open in surprise at her sudden behavior.
It was as if a switch had been flipped on her personality.
Her tone changed as soon as she entered the room, sounding much sweeter than any that she’d used with me so far.
“Mr. Lane, I have your coffee for you.”
“Where is Miss Fontaine?” A voice smooth and rich like honey came from further inside the room and sent shivers down my neck.
It was just as delicious as the voice that had rumbled into my ear just moments ago.
I paused and tilted my head as I listened for a second, then shook it.
It was nearly identical and gave me the same goosebumps that the other voice had given me.
“She finally arrived. I have her at the desk so I can start teaching her the computer systems. Would you like me to start taking notes?”
“No,” the voice snapped, a little less smooth, obviously growing irritated.
“I need Miss Fontaine. That’s her job now, Ms. Tate.
I understand that you’ve been doing this job on and off for months now, but you are aware that you are no longer acting as a personal assistant.
Your new duties, as of this morning, are only to train Miss Fontaine on the computer systems and teach her the daily tasks of her job.
When it comes to meetings, notes, and any personal duties, that is no longer your job.
When I need notes, that will only be done by Miss Fontaine. Is that understood?”
“Yes, Mr. Lane.” Veronica’s tone was subdued, but I could hear the curtness and knew she’d gotten her feelings hurt by the rejection.
“I need you back in the legal department as soon as possible.” His tone softened slightly as he continued.
“You’re aware that we appreciate all that you’ve done and your flexibility with working in both departments.
We hope that the generous raise you received last month reflected that appreciation.
But, going forward, you will no longer be needed in this capacity.
So please send in Miss Fontaine. Thank you, Miss Tate. You may go now.”
“Yes, Sir. Thank you, Mr. Lane.”
There was the sound of heels clicking on the wood floor.
Before I could think to move and pretend that I had been doing literally anything other than obviously eavesdropping, the door was swinging open.
Veronica stepped through, and as soon as she saw me standing there wringing my hands in front of my pink dress, her eyes darted to the floor.
“Mr. Lane would like to see you now.” She ran a hand over her hair as if to smooth the already perfectly smooth strands down. She hadn’t provided the warmest welcome to me, but I felt kind of bad for her. Nobody liked getting a stern talking-to from their boss.
“Thank you, Veronica,” I said softly, not wanting to cause her any further embarrassment. I stepped around her as she walked to the desk and swallowed as I pushed open the door and took my first step into Mr. Lane’s office.