Wasn’t he the model employee. He was going to be a complication, because I had to advise Colette that his position was redundant, even irrelevant. From what I’d put together over the last week, there wasn’t anything he could possibly contribute that benefited the company—additionally, he was potentially a liability. I had no idea how she was going to react. Family loyalty was a tricky business, and considering my own parents were assholes, I had no personal experience to draw from.
“Meet me in the kitchen around 10:30.” She laughed. “We’ll get front row seats for the freak show.”
I nodded as she walked out, an extra swing in her step at our plans for a covert operation.
I was still typing my notes from the interviews when Colette knocked on my door then entered. As always, she caught my eye. Despite her lack of fashion sense, she was beautiful in an upper-class way I could never pull off. I was aware of my good looks, used them to my advantage more times than I could count, and I was sexy. There was a glint of dirty in every look I tried on.
“How did your first week go?” she asked, sitting in the same chair Marta had just vacated.
“Fantastic. I got everything I needed and will have a recommendation for you by the end of next week.”
“Cheap, smart, and fast.” She let her hand fall to the arm of the chair. “I knew I made the right decision hiring you.”
I sat back, reclining just a little. “Well, I won’t argue with that.” The better I worked for Colette, the more likely I was to get a referral when this was all said and done.
“The faster we can get a plan ready, the faster I can make changes. And believe me, this office needs some change. Over the last few months morale has really sunk, and I’m fully aware there are certain things contributing to…” She left her sentence hanging. Immediately, I wondered if her brother was the thought she couldn’t say out loud. She waved her hand in front of her, shaking off her thoughts. “Anyway, I want to move forward in a new direction with positive and happy people by my side.”
“By the time we’re done…” I pushed my keyboard away from me. “…you’ll have exactly the company you want.”
With a double-tap to the arm of the chair, my boss stood and made her way to the door.
“Colette?” I called out right before she breached the doorway. “I just want to thank you again for this opportunity. It wasn’t where I expected to be, but I’m glad you convinced me.”
“Me, too, Grace.” She rapped her knuckle on the doorframe. “Me, too.”
I continued writing up my report. I must have lost track of time because Marta appeared in my doorway out of nowhere. “Office Ass is in the building,” she said, out of breath and flushed. “I repeat, Office Ass is in the building.”
I giggled. Marta was unexpectedly funny, and I enjoyed her frivolity, especially considering this was an office and I had expected to be bored out of my mind.
I had to admit, I was more curious than I should have been, but with an introduction like the one Marta had given me, I couldn’t help but follow her to the kitchenette to get a coffee so that I could see the Office Ass—Scott—in action.
“How do you know he’ll come here?” I whispered.
I felt like I was in high school. Like Marta and I were hatching some sort of covert plan to catch a glimpse of the hottest, most popular boy in school. Although in this case it was the least popular, most disturbing guy in school.
“He does the same thing as soon as he gets in the office. He rinses his plastic cup in the sink and puts his second protein-shake-thing in the fridge.” She snorted. “As if he’s even remotely buff.”
I was seriously starting to feel like a visitor at the zoo waiting for the animals to finally show themselves behind the glass. I poured some half-and-half into my coffee, using a plastic stir stick until the liquid was a creamy beige.
“Here he comes,” Marta whispered as she paced behind me in the small kitchenette.
“Good morning, Marta.” I could tell with only three words that he’d given her a once-over. But when the male voice said, “Good morning, new girl,” I froze.
The hair on the back of my neck stood on end and a shiver raced down my spine. I was officially creeped out. His voice was mellow, cocky. And eerily familiar.
“Can I get to the sink, pleas
e?” His breath touched my neck, and now that his voice was closer, there was no mistaking it. I stepped away, turning my head to the right, letting my hair fall in front of my face.
This was my worst nightmare. Happening right now. In this kitchenette, at a place I had just admitted I loved working.
I turned my back to him, not wanting to confirm my suspicion.
“This is Grace Nolan,” Marta said. “Colette hired her for a special project.”
I appreciated Marta’s introduction, but I didn’t want to be introduced. I wanted to disappear. Yet I had nowhere to hide, and no choice but to turn around and face him. And when I did, I confirmed that I did in fact know that voice. I remembered it whispering in my ear. I remembered it taunting me. Belittling me. It was a voice I’d never forget.
Sadie and I, along with two other girls, had been hired to work a college party. Fifteen guys all ready and waiting to get with a hooker.