Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 20481 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 102(@200wpm)___ 82(@250wpm)___ 68(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20481 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 102(@200wpm)___ 82(@250wpm)___ 68(@300wpm)
I’m buzzing with excitement for my second day of work. I don’t know what to expect, or how my working relationship with Jude will be now after what happened last night, but I absolutely cannot wait to see him. But as the elevator doors ding and I make my way toward Jude’s office, I see Carlos pacing quickly toward me.
“You don’t want to go in there,” he tells me.
“What? Don’t I kind of have to go in there?”
Carlos looks legitimately worried. “He’s in one of those moods.”
“One of what moods?”
“One of those moods where girls end up losing their jobs,” he replies.
“Ah,” I reply with a heavy sigh and a glance toward the massive closed doors leading to Jude’s office. Surely he wouldn’t fire me after what happened between us though, right? But then again, how well do I really even know Jude?
Part of me just wants to throw caution to the wind and barge right in there, but the rest of me knows that while we may have had an incredible time last night, here at the office I am his secretary, and I do have a job to do.
“What’s his favorite kind of drink?” I ask Carlos. “Non-alcoholic.”
Carlos’ eyes light up. “He likes the double espressos from Big Bean’s, the little shop down the block!”
“Do you have the number?” I ask. “I’ll call ahead and order one and bring it with me when I see him. Maybe that will get Mr. Grouch out of his bad mood.”
Carlos snaps his fingers and grins as he texts me the shop’s contact information. “You’re a smart thinker, Ms. Johnson. Mr. Crown will be glad he hired you.”
As I turn and head back do the elevator, I smile to myself. “I hope he already is.”
I order Jude’s drink when I’m halfway down to the street. It’s a short walk to the store, and they have it ready when I get there. I pay and head back up to the office, praying that my little plan will work. This can’t be the day I’m let go. It just can’t be. Not after what happened between us. I pass Carlos in mid-conversation with someone as I’m heading toward Jude’s office. He flashes me the thumbs up, which I return. Then, my heart rate slightly elevated, I knock on Jude’s office door.
“Yes!” he barks from within.
“It…it’s me,” I reply timidly.
There’s no direct response, but I can hear him in a heated conversation with someone on the phone.
Executive decision time.
I can either stand out here and wait, which means Jude’s espresso could end up getting ice cold, or I could show some initiative and go right in, smile, and hand him his drink while he’s in the middle of his call. Neither seems like a great move, but I have to pick one. And seeing as how I don’t have much time to wait until this drink goes cold, I take a breath and open the door.
Just in time to see Jude spin and pitch a cell phone straight into the wall. It shatters, sending pieces of glass and plastic everywhere.
“Fucking idiots,” he curses under his breath. I’m just about to spin on my heels and head back the way I came when Jude turns and sets his eyes on me. They’re filled with rage, but instantly soften. “Hey, you.”
“Hey.” I smile. “I brought you a double espresso from Big Bean’s.”
Without waiting, I walk quickly over to him, swaying my hips to show off my new red dress I picked up this morning, and hand him his cup. A warmth rises in my chest as I notice his eyes are not on his coffee, but on my hips as he takes it from me.
“Look at you.” He grins. “Not just beautiful, but you already know how to take care of me too, huh?”
I feel myself blushing, but this time I don’t try to hide my face. “Well, that’s my job, isn’t it?”
I’ve never wanted to take care of a man before, but wow am I picturing myself doing everything for Jude: bringing him coffee, making him breakfast, doing his laundry, and setting his clothes out for him in the morning. All things that go above and beyond the duties of a secretary. The question is, will Jude let me do these things for him?
“Sorry you had to see that,” he sighs. “Someone inside the company messed up royally. Screwed up and lost us a big client in our management division.”
“Why don’t you sit down and relax?”
“Nah,” he replies. “I think I need to hit the gym. Work off some of this anger—”
“I really think you should sit,” I interrupt, placing two palms on his hard chest. Jude looks at me with surprise as I guide him gently but firmly back to his chair and push him down into it.