When I getto the office Monday morning, it’s with a little extra pep in my step. I made sure to get in thirty minutes earlier than normal because Quinn O’Doul is starting today. It wasn’t hard to notice that Coach O’Doul’s daughter came in last week less than thrilled at being here for the interview. But by the end of her interview, she seemed slightly more interested. Lucky for her, she only showed interest in the job. I don’t know if this is something she’ll be doing for the long term, but Max offered her the job, and she accepted.
Either way, I can’t hide my excitement that soon I’ll be able to focus solely on Start A Revolution, even though I’m a tiny bit bothered that I won’t be Max’s assistant anymore. I feel like we just found our groove.
Okay, so maybe that’s a lie. We still haven’t found our groove. But while I like the idea of starting my new job, I kinda hate the idea of a beautiful woman doing my old job.
And Quinn O’Doul is gorgeous.
I’ve known her for a few years. She’s got the whole fiery, sexy red-head thing going on. And I’m not too proud to admit I’d hoped his new assistant would be ugly. I mean, maybe not hideous, but less than stunning would have been nice.
But when I sit down at my desk, I quickly realize my things are gone. The picture I keep on my desk of my grandfather with his arm wrapped around my mom, who’s holding me. My Revolution mug. My hands begin shaking as I open my drawers to find nothing inside.
Oh my God.
Have we been robbed?
Have I been fired?
Has my father come in and taken away everything from my work life the way he threw away everything from my home? My monitors are still here, but there’s already a laptop hooked up to them, and I brought mine home with me last week so I could work over the weekend.
What the hell?
I pop right back up from my chair and hurry to Max’s office.
His door is open, but the room is empty.
Okay, am I in some weird Twilight Zone episode or something? I never beat him into the office.
“Daphne.” The deep timbre of his rough voice tickles my spine, and I spin around. Max stands in the doorway of the empty office between Coach O’Doul’s and his, holding it closed behind him. His dark navy-blue suit matches his eyes. The crisp, white shirt is unbuttoned at the collar, and his silver tie hangs loosely around his neck. He looks absolutely delicious, and I’m drawn to him like a moth to a flame.
I run my hands nervously down the front of my box-pleated black-and-white-striped skirt. His eyes follow the movement, then travel back up my body, lingering on my hips for a moment too long.
The bow of my sleeveless, white-collared shirt ties around my waist and just meets the thick waistband of the skirt. I tug at it, making sure it didn’t ride up and isn’t showing any unwanted skin. Then I snap out of the trance he’s already lulled me into. “Good morning. Do you know what happened to my things? They’re not at my desk.”
He pushes the door open and smiles.
And oh my, that smile.
“I had them moved into your new office, Miss Brenner.” He steps aside for me to walk into the office. My office. There hasn’t been furniture in here for as long as I can remember, but it’s fully furnished now. And instead of the sleek dark wood in Max and Coach’s offices, there’s a lovely white wooden desk with matching cabinets behind it. And on those cabinets sits the picture of the three of us. My grandfather, my mom, and me. All in our matching Revolution jerseys. I was around two years old, and we’d just won the division title. There’s a huge bouquet of green and white hydrangeas sitting on the corner of the desk and a basket of pears are placed on the table centered between two chairs on the opposite wall.
“Pears?” The question slips before I think better of it. “I meant thank you so much. I really wasn’t expecting to get my own office.” I turn my back to Max and run my hand over the surface of my desk, admiring my new surroundings.
The skin on my neck prickles as he brushes my hair from my back and drags his lips along my earlobe. “Pears. Because I’ll never smell a pear again without wanting to fuck you, Daphne.” His teeth tug my ear gently. Then he’s gone, leaving cool air in his place.
I turn my head to look over my shoulder and watch him adjust his suit coat.
“The office is because you’ve earned it, Miss Brenner.” He turns quickly and walks out of the office.
My office.
I pick up the picture and stare at my mother.
Knowing she’d be so proud of me. They both would.
* * *
Thank goodness, I’ve never had any desire to go into teaching.
I seriously suck at showing other people what to do.