I felt so nervous starting my first day at the office – I had been in the building several times with my father before, so I knew my way around, but I’d never done anything with any of the equipment or programs. My father had insisted I enroll in several of the computer courses in school, and I now felt glad that he did. Normally, Knox would require anyone working on the software in his company to have at least a bachelor’s degree before they were even allowed to touch any of his computers, and here I was, getting ready to learn with nothing more than high school.
“Stef here will teach you all the basics, but if you have any questions, feel free to go to just about anyone in here. I like to keep everyone on the top floor here on the same page with things…it makes decisions a lot less confusing that way,” Knox explained to me as he showed me around.
Stef was the woman who had been playing the role of both personal assistant as well as web design, and I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy when I saw her.
She was beautiful, and the way she acted with Knox was so natural, I hated to see how close they were. But I quickly reminded myself that she was leaving this position, and I would be the one who would be taking over. I could prove myself to be more indispensable and better able to handle anything than she could.
“Well, if you think you’re ready to handle it, then I’ll see you at home,” my father said.
He had told me he wanted to give me a ride on my first day, but I got the feeling it was more of an excuse to get to see Knox than it was to make sure I made it to work safely. After all, I was an adult now I didn’t need Daddy bringing me to work like it was my first day of school.
“I told you I could have managed getting here myself,” I said with a smile. I was only half-kidding with the look I gave him, but I could see he only took the humor out of it. I rolled my eyes as he turned his attention back to Knox, and I decided it best to focus on what would soon by my personal workspace.
Within a few moments, Knox had returned. He crossed his arms and gave me a mockingly critical look.
I smiled at him teasingly.
“Well, who would have thought one day, Joseph Thompkins’ daughter would be working for me?” He shook his head, pretending to be amazed.
I crossed my arms back at him, drawing myself up to my full height. “Who would have thought that the day would come when I would choose to work for Knox Grayson, media billionaire?” I raised my eyebrows at him with a playfully challenging look.
He laughed as he dropped his arms to his side. “As I said, you’re going to get the gist of what you have to do from Stef…wherever she went and if there is anything else you need, don’t hesitate to ask.” He winked at me as he walked back toward his office.
I could feel my cheeks flushing pink. I was glad I wore enough blush to take away the stark contrast the heat would have shown on my pale cheeks, but I still hoped he didn’t notice.
“First day with a real job I take it?”
A voice behind me interrupted my thoughts, and I turned with a whirl to see Stef. I had briefly met her with my father, and though I did feel jealous of the relationship she had with Knox, I had to admit, I hoped she would like me as well. “I guess you could say that. My father always thought I would go right from school into Harvard, so he wasn’t too keen on me wasting my time with jobs that wouldn’t work for me long term.” I knew this was partially a lie, but I didn’t care. Anything that would get this woman to not judge me would make me happy.
“Daddy’s little girl, huh?” she asked with a slight raise of her eyebrows as she walked over and leaned over the desk, clicking away at the computer. “Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. Just remember that you’re in a whole new world now, and there’s a whole new meaning to that phrase,” Stef said as she looked over her shoulder at me.
I felt uncomfortable and I hoped my nervousness wouldn’t show. I shifted from one foot to another, then I tossed my high ponytail over my shoulder, protesting my ignorance. “I think I can handle it,” I said with far more confidence than I really felt.
She gave me a light smile, then she shook her head. “I remember when I was just like you…keep up that attitude, and you aren’t going to have to worry about a thing.” She winked at me then pulled out the chair, motioning for me to take a seat.
I obeyed, and did what I could to focus on the screen in front of me, though I couldn’t shake the feeling that Knox had left his door partially open for a reason. I had no idea if he usually kept his door open or if it was some kind of an accident, but the fact that I could see the edge of his desk kept driving me crazy.
I wished he had opened it all the way and I could see what he was doing in there – or confirm whether he was really watching me like I hoped he was. But with the door closed as much as it was, I could only see scraps of movement inside the room from the corner of my eye, and I would have to be happy with that.
“Now, it’s your turn,” Stef said suddenly.
I gulped as I put my hands on the keyboard, silently praying that I’d been paying attention enough to what she said, so I would be able to do the same thing. I’d better stop daydreaming and do my job.
“Take a deep breath and show me that confidence,” she encouraged.
I smiled. Suddenly, it didn’t matter how close this woman had been with Knox in the past. I liked her and I intended to show her I could handle myself even in this kind of environment. I was beautiful, bold, and strong…a grown woman now and one who knew what she wanted in life. I wanted Knox and this was a fact I couldn’t deny either. I’d wanted him for a long time.
A grown woman who knew what she wanted —and how to get it.