7. Mason
Chapter seven
Holy shit, it’s her. It’s the girl for The Wayside.
She’s been creeping around the edge of my thoughts all week, but fuck, now that I’m seeing her in daylight, my memories didn’t do her justice.
Her cheeks have this perfect apple shape that I’d bet money on is naturally that pretty shade of pink. And her eyes are so blue, like the ocean in the middle of summer.
“Assistant?” I stammer, looking over at Steven and Beth. The former of which eyes me wearily, the latter, on the other hand, looks at me with an expression that reads, What the fuck did you do now?
“Yep.” Callie pops the p and, with a cautious approach, places her hand against mine in greeting.
Callie. I like the way it sounds in my head. Callie. Callie.
Her hand is so small and soft as it wraps around mine in a gentle but confident shake. My stomach starts swirling. Am I getting sick? What’s happening right now?
“We were just about to go through her qualifications,” Steven says. “Can I get you a drink first, Mase?”
“No, thank you,” I say, still wrapping my head around Callie’s unexpected appearance.
I let go of her hand, even though I kind of don’t want to, and round the table, taking a seat beside Beth.
Wait. Fuck. She’s here to be my assistant.
This is new.
I saw her. I wanted her. And now I can’t have her.
When I’m at work, the boss, I’ve never mixed business with pleasure, and I’ll be damned if I do that now, no matter how pretty the blue-eyed brunette sitting across from me is. I assured Lee I had a job for her, and another thing I’ve never done is let down a friend.
Okay, deep breath, Mason. Sure, she’s gorgeous, and casting my mind back to the confident, daring way she spoke to me Saturday night is weirdly making my heart race, but she’s nothing more than another attractive woman.
You can resist her. Besides, if the look on her face is anything to go by, she’s not remotely interested. She’s not even looking in my direction.
“Thank you for sending over your resume the other day.” Steven smiles as he flips open a file in front of him. “We see you’ve had a lot of admin experience, particularly in calendar management. That’s going to be very helpful.”
Callie nods, her eyes flicking to me for a moment before they refocus on Steven. “Thank you. I know I’ve not been a personal assistant before, but I’ve always found myself to be adaptable, a good problem solver, and a quick learner.”
“And what hours are you able to accommodate?” Steven asks.
She crosses her hands on top of each other on the table. There’s a small streak of blue paint on the side of her hand, and I’m more curious about what she’s been up to than her next answer. “Ideally, I’d like to do seven ’til three. I already found a daycare close by that has availability.”
Daycare? I try to manage my outside reaction while on the inside, I’m reeling.
Lee told me she was a new mum. It didn’t bother me.
As long as she was able to do the job, I was perfectly capable of being flexible.
Especially if it meant I could avoid more pointless interviews and help out a friend of a friend instead.
That knowledge seemed to escape me when I laid eyes on Callie again.
She has a kid? Is that why she brushed me off over the weekend?
That makes more sense. Actually, this works out great.
If she’s unavailable, she’s not tempting. Phew. Glad we got that sorted.
I settle back into my chair, feeling more optimistic.
“I think that’s workable.” Steven looks at me and I give him a nod. “On occasion, there are events at night or on weekends requiring your attendance. Is that something you’ll be able to accommodate? There is a bonus payment whenever these events occur.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem.” She smiles.
“Mason… any questions from you?” Beth prompts.
Several, but none to do with the job. I shake my head as Beth narrows her eyes, but I go back to staring at Callie. No, not staring, respectfully giving her my attention.
“Does Monday work for you to start?” Steven asks. “I’d like to get training started as soon as possible.”
Callie nods. “I’ll stop in at the daycare on my way home to get Navie sorted.”
Navie. That’s cute.
“Perfect.” Beth stands, prompting Callie and Steven to follow. “We’ll see you then.”
They shake hands, then all heads turn to me. I smile, standing from my chair, eager to prove to myself that I can be professional. “I’ll walk you out.”
I pull the door open and wave a hand to usher Callie forward. She gives me the briefest flick of her eyes and a thin smile as she passes me, making her way to the elevator with me following.
My fingers tap against my thigh as I think of something to fill the silence until the doors open and we step inside.
The air feels even thicker once they close. I shove my hands in my pockets, rocking back on my heels.
“Did you like the margaritas?” What are you doing, you idiot?! Anything other than that would have been better.
I don’t dare look at her, but I see her reflection in the elevator doors as her head slowly twists my way.
“Yes,” she says, matter-of-factly. “Thank you again. Did you enjoy the rest of your night?”
My heart stops pounding against my ribs, snatching my breath, and I’m curious about why she’d ask.
“I don’t kiss and tell.”
She snorts, and it’s cute as fuck. Women are always so perfect around me, but in that fake, manicured way. Callie has no such filter.
“Did your husband pick you up later that night?” Yeah, I’m fishing for information. What of it? Doesn’t mean anything. I’m just getting to know the woman who’s going to be my new assistant. Who I’ll see five times a week. I don’t think I thought this through properly.
“I don’t have a husband.”
“Boyfriend?”
“Nope.”
My brows pinch. Where’s her kid’s dad? Are they separated? Maybe she had it with a friend, or it was a one-night stand? Either way, I guess it makes sense now why she turned me down cos women don’t ordinarily do that to me.
Callie sighs, pilfering my rogue and random thoughts.
“I really hoped this would have gone without saying, but I think if this is going to work—” She gestures her hand between the two of us.
“We need to maintain a professional relationship. We don’t need to know each other’s dating history.
And I’m certain you agree that the office is for work activities only. ”
Work activities? I pop my hands on my hips with a scoff. “Are you suggesting I’d be anything less than professional in my own office?”
She folds her arms over her chest, stepping closer into me. “I’m suggesting I don’t know you. I only know that guy from the club, and I need this job, and it sounds like you need an assistant just as bad.”
We’re locked in a stare-off. I couldn’t properly gauge her height at The Wayside since I was sitting down the whole time while she stood. The top of her head falls just below my eyes. That same salted caramel scent that I detected then rises between us.
“I don’t fuck in the workplace.”
Her eyes flare, and her chest heaves, slow and deep. I could choke on the tension, and it almost feels as if we’re drawing closer when the elevator dings and the doors open.
We jump apart, and Callie hitches her handbag higher on her shoulder as she steps out, marching to the front doors.
She stops just before she reaches the exit, turning to face me. I’m not expecting it, and we end up much closer than we should. She clears her throat as I step back to a safer distance. “I’d like to start over, if you still want me for the job.”
I’m becoming increasingly aware that I can’t keep looking at her the way I did that night if she’s going to work for me. Like she’s the most beautiful girl I’d ever laid eyes on. I need to figure out how to get her back behind the off-limits line, and quickly.
Callie raises her eyebrows, waiting for my answer. She said she really needs this job. Steven’s impending leave date is only drawing closer.
So, I thought she was hot. What’s the big deal? I find a lot of women hot. But I also have a lot of experience with keeping things platonic. I mean, I usually fuck them first, and then I can turn off the attraction, but this is fine. I can get a handle on it.
I really need to break my dry spell before she starts, though. This girl is proving hard to think around, and that can only bring trouble.
“I still want you,” I say, holding my palm out to shake hers, and she rolls her eyes with a huff. “For the job.” I wink, though I can feel my cheeks heating with the slip of insinuation.
She takes my hand firmly, giving it one tight pump before she pulls away. “Great. Then I’ll see you Monday, Mr Heart.”
“Just Mason,” I call to her retreating back.
She throws a thumbs-up over her shoulder but keeps on walking, leaving me chuckling as I continue to watch her.
“If you’ve slept with her—”
“Arghhh.” I clutch my aching chest as my sister stands unimpressed beside me, tapping her toes against the tiles.
“I swear to fucking God, Mason.”
“I haven’t!”
I don’t know what my face gives away, but my sister knows something is up. “You’ve met her. You know her somehow! Spill.”
I sigh, moving back through the reception area and over to the elevators to return to our floor. “She was at The Wayside on the weekend, okay?” I push the button, and the doors open instantly.
“That’s the girl?!” she shrieks. “The one who rejected you, and you kept going on and on about it?”
“I didn’t go on and on about it.” I fold my arms over my chest as I lean back against the elevator walls. I only mentioned it that night… multiple times.
“Are you sure you only talked? The way you carried on—”
“I didn’t carry on.” I can’t say it directly to her face, but, whatever. “Jeez, you wanted me to tell you I haven’t hooked up with her, and I’m telling you I haven’t.”
“Fine,” she says as we reach our floor. Stepping out together and following the path around to my side of the third floor. “So what are you gonna do about Callie? Can you keep it professional, or should Steven arrange more interviews?”
I would rather pluck my leg hairs than suffer through more interviews.
“I told Lee I had a job for her.”
“I’m sure we could find another admin role for her with the designers if that’s what you’re worried about.
It’s not like she was looking for full-time hours, because she has a newborn.
” Beth’s eyes widen. “She has a newborn, Mase. Does she have a partner? Oh my god, were you hitting on a taken woman? Was she flirting with you?”
I shake my head so quickly I think I hurt my neck. “No.” She wasn’t flirting with me, but I was definitely hitting on her. “Wait, her kid’s really young?”
Beth nods, eyes wide and lips pursed as we reach my office. “Four months.”
Shit. And she’s single? She’s doing it all on her own. The way she fought for the job despite our less-than-stellar first meeting makes more sense.
“I promised Lee she could have the assistant job. It pays well, and I can be flexible for her and her daughter. I haven’t had luck finding anyone else, and Steven leaves soon.”
Beth slaps a hand to my shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “Well, at least one of us is optimistic this isn’t going to be an epic disaster.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”