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.MaybeI could squeeze in some mornings beforework, or during a lunch break, orwhenever I could carve out an hour or twoafter work.Thankfully, my summer classwas an independent study, so as long as Iclocked four hours of studio time everyweek, I d pass the course.After double-checking the address onthe outside of the building with theaddress and suite number I had in myphone, I found a parking spot and headedto my first day on the job.I was always nervous on a first day ofanything, but this morning I was allbutterflies.I would have thought I d bemore chill, since I kind of knew Anton, butthat seemed to create the opposite effect.Maybe because he was India s brother,and I didn t want to put either of them inan awkward position if things didn t workout, or maybe I was nervous becauseadministrative assistant sounded like apretty professional job for a collegestudent.As I was heading through the revolvingdoor, my phone chimed.I slid it out of mypurse.I stopped in the middle of the foyerso I could admire the picture.Jude was inhis gym gear inside the locker room,extending a handful of roses.Red roses.The text read, sORRY I COULDN T BE THERETO HAND THESE TO YOU IN PERSON.Just like that, the nerves were gone.One picture and a handful of words fromJude and I was calm as calm could be.Before heading toward the elevator, Itexted back, I M ONE LUCKY BITCH.I was lucky for so many reasons.All ofthose reasons starting and ending withJude.Once inside the elevator, I couldn tresist checking out the picture again.WhenI looked away, a few of the people aroundme were staring at me like they couldn tpossibly imagine why I was beaming on aMonday morning.If only they knew.The doors whooshed open on the fifthfloor and I headed down the hall, stillrunning on grins and giddiness.When Icame to the door that read, XAVIERINDUSTRIES, I ran my hands down my skirt,rolled my shoulders back, and only once Iwas sure I looked what I felt like an adminassistant should did I open the door.The office wasn t huge, nor was itexceptionally welcoming, but it was how Ienvisioned a cubicle city type officewould appear.It smelled like copymachine, and there was even a rubber treeplant stuffed in the back corner where thewatercooler stood.It looked like I was thefirst one here, because I didn t see asingle top of a head over the maze ofcubicle walls, or any computers hummingto life.The lights were on, though, andsomeone had to have unlocked the door,so I couldn t be the lone ranger at XavierIndustries.Taking a few more stepsinside, I saw what I guessed would be mydesk, situated outside a large enclosedoffice.I didn t know this because of thenameplate in front that read, LUCY LARSON;nor did it have anything to do with thenameplate on the door behind the desk thatread, ANTON XAVIER.I knew it was myspace because there were a dozen vasesdotting the desk, brimming over with redroses.That beam that was starting to hurt mysmile muscles burst again as I reached forthe white envelope on one of thearrangements.So maybe I could kind ofbe there in person.The note was signedwith an, XXXO, Mr.Amazing.Talk about a great way to start a firstday at a new job.Plus Mom and Dad had left a voicemail for me on the drive over, wishing megood luck and a great first day. I wish I could say I d come up withthe idea, a voice sounded behind me.I spun around, my mouth dropping.Icould have been looking at a male India,only a couple inches taller, maybe a shadedarker.I would have mistaken Anton andIndia for twins if I didn t know Anton wasa few years older. What idea? I said, figuring that if hewasn t going to start off with a commongreeting, I didn t need to either. The flowers, Anton replied,gesturing at my desk. It s your first dayand your boss didn t think to orderflowers to welcome you.Good thingsomeone else did.I decided not to mention that if Antonhad thought to order flowers for me andJude ever found out, Anton would bespeaking an octave higher for the rest ofhis life. I wasn t sure what the dress codewas, so I hope I did all right, I said,looking down at my outfit.In contrast,Anton had on a stylish navy suit and amaroon pencil tie.I was definitelyunderdressed if this was the standard. You couldn t be more all right if I ddressed you myself, he replied with asmile. Oh, I said, diverting my attentionfrom him.He was staring at me in thatunblinking way, not sexually, but in asearching way that made meuncomfortable.I didn t want to beinspected.I wanted to clock in, make mymoney, and clock out. That s good.Anton came toward me and extendedhis hand. Nice to finally meet you inperson, Lucy Larson, he said, his smileso white and perfect it didn t seem real. And if I had known you were evenprettier in person than in a picture, I neverwould have hired you.I rolled my eyes.He was a flirt.Likebrother, like sister. Why s that, I shot back, realizing mysmart-ass self was going to fit in fine here, because you d no longer be in the officerunning for best-looking?Anton s head tipped back as helaughed.His laugh, like his voice, wasclear and almost musical. India warnedme you were a firecracker.For once, I mglad she was right about something, hesaid, his shoulders still shaking. But no,that s not the reason.At least, not the mainreason.My dad keeps one rule, and onerule only, in business.He says all the restyou can bend along the way if need be,save for one. He paused, studying meagain.I watched his pupils, and neveronce did they wander south of my face. What s that? I said, since he wasobviously not going to say any more until Iinquired. The fifty/fifty rule when hiring anadmin, he said, with a shrug like it wascommon knowledge. This ought to be good.Anton slid a hand into his pants pocket. Make sure she s over fifty and fiftypounds overweight. I didn t realize I was coming to workfor a chauvinist, I said, followed by anexaggerated sigh. Why s this the numberone rule?He mimicked my sigh.We d spoken afew sentences, but I had a feeling I hadmet my match. So there s no temptation,he said.Flashing my left hand in front of him, Iwaited for him to take note of the ring on acertain important finger. In case Indiaforgot to mention it, I m engaged.Sothere ll be no temptation whatsoever.Anton studied the ring for anothermoment before he smiled broadly. Forbidden fruit.Wanting what a mancan t have.I don t think that worked out sowell for Adam and the whole fall-of-manthing. His smile pulled higher as hewaited for me to reply.He was enjoyingthis banter [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]