e demands of others."
"It is," I couldn't help but agree with her. Just like I couldn't help but think about what it would be like to get her to bend to me.
There was nothing about taking her to lunch that seemed to sway that thought. I spent the rest of my day distracted by her, but at least after a report from Amy, it was clear that she was going to do some work. She wasn't holding Amy back from doing her own assignments.
My cell phone vibrated in my pocket and I couldn't fathom who would be calling me at the end of the day. When Trevor's number lit up the screen, I couldn't help but smile as I answered it. "Geoff Hollister," I said as a form of greeting.
"Dad!" His tone didn't hide the sarcasm. "Get your head out of work, it's quitting time." Despite his tone, there wasn't anything disrespectful in it. The understanding I had with my son was so different from what Ross was dealing with.
"Can't, kid." I didn't bother holding back from him as I left the office for my car. "Work goes where I do." Thinking about that made me realize something. They were the same age. How could they be so different? "Did you need something?"
"What? I can't call in to check on the old man?" He laughed a little, but the jab managed to hurt. I shouldn't be fantasizing about a girl that should be with my son.
"You could," I kept up my pace to find the Audi in my parking spot. "But that wouldn't be you. Everything okay?"
"Yeah," he snorted as if he wasn't expecting anything different. "I had this idea for tech out here. I was hoping to pass it by you. I think it would be a good move for us to take."
"So, you're telling me to get my head out of work, but you're calling to talk about work." I paused to lean back against the car. "I'm curious, but is there any chance we can save it for Saturday?"
"I can wait," he agreed. "It's not dire as long as you're buying me dinner."
"Can do, kid," I grunted with a sinking feeling. All these thoughts I was having about this girl and I couldn't help but think she would be a better fit for him. "I'll see you then." I needed to get her out of my head.
Chapter 3
Missy
Last night, ugh. It was a mistake. I sat up and tried to stifle the urge to hurl. I picked up my phone to glance at the time. "Shit!" I had to rush to get ready. I was so late and the longer I took the later I would be. By the time I was running downstairs it was already eight.
Shit shit shit!
"Missy," Dad barked from his office when he heard me clattering downstairs. "This is not how you keep a good impression,” he yelled. “Don't you get fired from this job or this is it!"
I didn't even bother to stop to argue. I didn't have time. All I could do was race down the highway and hope that I would dodge cops and not make things any worse. When I pulled into a free spot in the parking lot I was more than thirty minutes late. I was pushing an hour. I couldn't get fired, not that I was liking the boring desk work. Just the thought of not having something pretty to look at like Mr. Hollister would kill me.
Pretty, single Mr. Hollister. There was just too much going on and while I didn't know if he had a girlfriend or not, I only knew he was divorced. That made it all the better.
I tried my best to look as if I was coming back from running an errand. My only hope was that no one noticed I hadn't been in the office yet. I didn't get called out once when I got to my desk. I breathed a sigh of relief and settled into the monotony of being an assistant. My phone rang and I answered it thinking I had pulled one off. "Hollister Aviation."
"Ms. Hamilton." I hadn't noticed that it was an internal call. I thought it was coming from the outside. I was still so tired from my night out that I didn't see what color the flashing light was. "Please come to my office."
Shit. I hadn't gone unnoticed. I got up and went through the stylish double doors that led into his office. His office was simply furnished I noticed as I fought not to look at him and get distracted by just how hot he was. It was futile. "You wanted to see me, sir?"
"You are over an hour late," he stated plainly. "Do you have a good excuse?" He didn't look angry, but he didn't have the same cool demeanor that he had on my first day.
"I'm sorry." I tried to come up with a good excuse. "I overslept." It probably wouldn't be a good idea to tell him why.
"I understand what it's like to be in your shoes," he started as if he hadn't heard me. "What it's like trying to figure yourself out and having everyone around you trying to lead you down a path they think is best." His voice turned hard. "You can rebel against your parents, rebel against the world. But you won't do that here. You will arrive at work in a timely manner."
"Yes sir." I couldn't help but look down. It was bad enough that I felt awful for being caught, but the little lecture didn't help.
"Do you have a good excuse as to why you showed up late?"
"I overslept." I shot him a glare; I had said that before. "I had a long night out. You can stop giving me a lecture like it's something you didn't do at my age."
I didn’t know what happened after that. I know one minute I was standing at his desk and the next he grabbed my wrist and I was jerked over his lap. I gasped out a protest before I felt the solid slap of his hand across my ass.
Everything clenched and I couldn't help but cry out in surprise. Was I still asleep? Was I still drunk?