Chapter One

You can do this. Walk in there with confidence. Who cares if this family is worth more than Bill Gates and Donald Trump combined? You were hired for this position, and you need this job. They obviously see something in you, so keep your head held high.

Amy was giving herself a lecture on her long elevator ride up to the twenty-fifth floor of the Anderson Corporation. Her stomach was in knots as she began her journey into the corporate world.

She brushed a few strands of escaped golden hair from her face, more out of nervousness than necessity. She considered herself to be of average looks and tried to downplay the assets she’d been given. She wanted to be respected, not lusted after, like her mother. She had long hair she couldn’t find the will to cut off, although when out, she always placed it in an unflattering bun.

She tended to hide her curves from the world. She was well endowed in what an ex-boyfriend had called “all the right places,” and she was self-conscious of the fact. She also didn’t like the fact that her green eyes gave away every emotion she was feeling, and that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t manage to fix it.

She still couldn’t believe she’d been hired as executive secretary for Lucas Anderson. Anyone who lived within a thousand miles of Seattle, Washington, knew who the Andersons were. Their corporation had a variety of divisions, which required a large staff. They dealt with everything from construction and farming to high-end corporate takeovers. Although their headquarters was in the U.S., they did business around the world, and she was excited to be a part of it.

Her job was in the corporate headquarters, working for the fairly new president, Lucas Anderson. All she really knew was that he’d taken over his father’s position about a year ago.

Though she’d graduated with honors, she was still fresh out of college and felt a little bit overwhelmed at the prospect of working for such a powerful man. She hadn’t actually met Lucas yet, just his father.

She’d first met Joseph at a college job fair toward the end of her senior year. He’d given her his card and told her to call after graduation, telling her he was impressed with her college transcript. She’d called the day after her commencement ceremony, and he’d gotten her in for an interview faster than she’d dared to even hope for.

As she continued the long ascent in the elevator, she let her thoughts drift back to the previous week when she’d interviewed for the job.

Amy took a fortifying breath as she stepped from the cab, looking up at the huge fortress of a home in front of her. Before she could blink, the yellow car pulled away, leaving her frozen at the bottom of the large cement staircase. There was no turning back now.

She slowly climbed the steps and approached the door, which was big enough to fit a large truck through. It seemed Mr. Anderson liked to do things on a much larger scale than the average person.

She rang the doorbell, though he must know she was already there as he’d opened the gates at the bottom of the driveway.

Within seconds, the door was opened by an older gentleman who, thankfully, was smiling.

“Hello, I’m Amy Harper. I have an appointment with Mr. Anderson.”

“Good morning, Ms. Harper. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Please follow me to the sitting room, where Mr. Anderson will join you shortly,” the man said.

Amy nodded, then followed his quick steps as he led her through the overwhelming home. She couldn’t help but look around as her steps echoed off the walls.

The home screamed luxury, from the gorgeous marble floors to the priceless pieces of artwork adorning the walls. The longer they walked, the more out of place she felt. She couldn’t figure out what had ever made her think she could handle such a prestigious job as to work for the head of a multibillion-dollar corporation.

They walked through a set of oversized double doors and Amy looked around the warm room as her shoulders relaxed. A fireplace, so large she could literally walk inside of it, was burning what smelled like cedar, giving the room a comforting quality. Though the room was well lit, the light was soft, making the space incredibly inviting.

“Would you like something to drink while you wait?”

Amy shook her head and gave the man a small smile. She didn’t want to appear rude.

“Go ahead and make yourself comfortable. I’ll let Mr. Anderson know you’ve arrived.”

Before Amy could respond, he exited, leaving her standing near the entrance. Eventually, she was able to make her feet respond to her brain and walked over to the comfortable-looking sofa. She sank onto the soft leather and leaned back. She wasn’t kept waiting long before a rumbling voice startled her, causing her to sit straight up. She was thankful she hadn’t accepted the drink or she would’ve spilled it all over herself.

“Good morning, Ms. Harper. I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. Sometimes it’s difficult to get off the phone,” Joseph said.

“I haven’t been waiting long at all, Mr. Anderson. Thank you for getting me in for an interview so quickly. I really appreciate it.” Amy jumped to her feet and moved forward to shake his hand.

“The pleasure’s all mine. Now, let’s get the formality out of the way. Call me Joseph, please,” he said as he held out his hand.

Amy felt like she was caught before an oncoming train. She didn’t know how to react. She couldn’t be rude, but she was uncomfortable calling him by his first name. She took his hand as she shifted on her feet.

“Thank you. You can call me Amy,” she finally replied, deciding to just not call him by any name.

“Now, let’s sit down and chat. Have you been offered something to drink?”

“Yes, but I don’t need anything.” She didn’t think she’d be able to swallow past the nervous lump in her throat.

Joseph indicated for her to sit back down on the sofa, which she quickly did, grateful to get off her shaky legs. He took the chair opposite her, then trained his light blue eyes on her face. The man was quite intimidating, standing well over six feet tall, with the broadest shoulders she could ever remember seeing.

He had snow white hair, just starting to thin a bit, and a neatly trimmed white mustache and beard. He was quite handsome for a man who must be in his early fifties at least.

“I was impressed with your résumé during the job fair at your school. If I remember correctly, you’ve held regular jobs since you were fourteen, then full-time work all throughout your schooling, correct? How did you manage to regulate your time to keep such impressive grades?”

“I’ve always believed in a strong work ethic. I made sure not to overschedule myself, and I took my classes a little later in the morning so I could work the swing shifts at my jobs. I didn’t want to graduate with a lot of debt,” Amy replied, happy in knowing she’d done exactly that and was pretty much debt free.

“Very impressive, Amy. Your résumé says you graduated with a degree in business finance with a minor in public relations. What are your future plans?”

“I haven’t had a lot of time to think about where I want to go in ten years, but my goal has always been to get my foot in the door of a great corporation, such as yours, and work my way up. I know it’s not an easy task, but I learn very quickly, and I’m not afraid of hard work or long hours. I’ll do whatever it takes to learn all I need to in order to be a real asset to your company.”

“What about marriage and babies?” he asked, never taking his gaze from her eyes.

Amy felt her cheeks heat at his question. She knew a lot of higher-up companies were afraid to hire young women because they’d sometimes get married, then need time off for having children and such. She didn’t want to lie, but she knew her answer could lose her the job.

“I’m not involved with anyone right now, but I’d be lying to you if I said I don’t want that to happen. I eventually want children, whether I do so in the traditional way or I adopt. I’ve always wanted to be a mother, but I can guarantee you I wouldn’t let anything affect my job performance. I know the value of secure employment, and I can’t be a great mother without first having a solid home for my child,” she answered. She knew he didn’t know her, but she could obtain letters of recommendation. She’d never once taken a sick day from work, and her school assignments had always been on time, if not early.

Joseph continued watching her for so long, it made her want to fidget in her seat. With sheer will, she remained still as she waited for his response.

“Do you have family or friends close by who’d be willing to help you?”

Amy was surprised by his questions. She’d never before had an interview with so many personal questions. It was throwing her off balance. She had all the answers to typical interview questions, but not the stuff he was asking her. She didn’t want anyone to know the true circumstances of her personal life.

“I have a few friends, but no family here,” she finally answered, feeling safe in her choice of wording. The reality was that she didn’t have any family, period.

Joseph then switched back to asking a few more work-related questions and she relaxed, secure in her knowledge of the business world. She’d studied hard and spent the scarce free time she had researching large corporations, knowing she wanted a high salary job when she graduated.

Her real goals included working nonstop for several years while saving every extra dime she could so she’d be able to have a family. She’d been alone since she was a child, and she didn’t want to die that way.

What Amy didn’t know was that Joseph had already run a full background check on her, knew she was an orphan, and had much bigger ideas in mind than just an executive assistant position. He was looking for a potential daughter-in-law.

“Amy, it’s been a true pleasure talking with you today. As you were my last interview, I can safely tell you that the position is yours if you’d like it.”

Amy stared back at Joseph in shock. She hadn’t expected to hear anything about the job for at least a week and found herself speechless as his words sank in. He smiled as he waited for her to compose herself.

“Um…thank you, Mr. Anderson. I…of course, I’ll take the job,” she finally stuttered, completely forgetting about his request to call him by his first name.

“That’s wonderful. Welcome to the Anderson family corporation…”

The elevator sounding her arrival snapped Amy back to the present. Do not blow this job, Amy. If it all works out, you could be completely secure within a couple of years. With her final words of encouragement to herself, she took a deep breath and waited for the doors to open.

As she stepped onto the twenty-fifth floor, she was momentarily paralyzed with fear. It was the most beautiful office she’d ever seen. The doors opened up to a massive lobby, a round cherry wood desk strategically placed for easy guest access. Behind the desk was a stunning blonde who looked more efficient than Amy ever hoped to be. White marble columns flanked the entryway, leading to where Amy assumed the offices were located. Exquisite paintings hung on the walls, adding a depth of warm color. In the corner, a seating area offered soft leather furniture and an antique coffee table with a priceless chandelier overhead. She felt increasingly frumpy and inadequate as she stepped forward in her second-hand business suit and three-year-old heels.

“Can I help you?” the woman asked.

Amy snapped out of her temporary daze. “Yes, I’m Amy Harper, the new executive secretary for Mr. Anderson,” she said with as much confidence as she could rally.

The woman looked at her blankly for a moment before slowly reaching for her phone. “Mr. Anderson, I have Amy Harper here who says she’s your new executive secretary.” She paused for a few moments. “Okay … Yes, sir.”

She hung up the phone and turned back to Amy. “Mr. Anderson says he already has an executive secretary and has hired no one new. He also said that if you’re a reporter trying for another story about his family, all his answers are no comment.” The woman looked dismissively at Amy before adding, “Have a nice day, Ms. Harper.”

She didn’t give Amy another glance as she turned back to her computer. As far as she was concerned, Amy was dismissed.

“Um, excuse me ... Shelly,” Amy said, looking at the secretary’s nameplate. “ I was interviewed last week by Mr. Anderson. He told me to be in the office at eight a.m. sharp, so you may want to check again,” she said a bit more forcefully. Shelly glanced up, as if shocked that the disturbing woman was still there.

Before Shelly had a chance to reply, the elevator chimed and in walked an older woman with smiling blue eyes. “You must be Amy Harper. I’m sorry I’m late but I got stuck behind a car accident,” the woman said. “I’m Esther Lyon and I’ll be working with you this week getting you trained for the new position. I was so happy when Joseph called to let me know he’d found my replacement,” she said warmly.

Relief flooded through Amy, knowing the job was really hers, for better or worse. “It’s so good to meet you, Esther. I was a bit nervous when Shelly said there wasn’t a job,” she said.

Esther looked over at the woman in question. “We haven’t yet announced I’m retiring, though it’s been in the works for some time. Shelly wasn’t made aware of the situation. I’m sorry about any lack of communication.

“Walk with me, and I’ll show you your new office as I talk a little about the history of this wonderful company. The original building was created a little over one hundred years ago, but in this growing city, many updates have been added since then. Joseph’s grandfather, Benjamin, started Anderson Corporation with little more than a prayer and a few dollars. As I’m sure you know, his hard work paid off. We’re now global, with offices all across the United States and the world. Joseph was the next elected CEO after Benjamin’s passing, but his son, Lucas, took over last year, and is certainly following in his relatives’ footsteps. He’s a brilliant man, and I’m sure you’ll love working for him.”

“I have to be honest,” Amy said with awe. “This is all a little overwhelming. I mean, the history of this wealthy family, the amount of business to keep track of, even the building itself. I don’t know how one man keeps track of it all.”

“Oh, it takes a whole team, sweetie, believe me. Don’t let yourself get worked up over nothing. The way to keep sane in this chaotic place is simply to do one task at a time. Look at the smaller picture, and before you know it, the day is done and you’ve accomplished far more than you ever imagined,” Esther reassured her.

They walked down the hallway and through a large oak doorway into a huge office. Was everything in the building done on a much grander scale than your average place? In the middle of the room was a huge three-sided desk. On the surface sat a top-of-the-line computer and an overflowing in and out box. Two chairs were placed in front of the desk and one large chair behind it.

A bookshelf took up most of one wall, its shelves lined from top to bottom with many titles. Amy hoped she wasn’t expected to read them all in a short time. Hopefully, they were only there for either decoration, or for when she needed a specific answer, though with the Internet, it was much faster to search online for whatever a person needed nowadays.

Natural light flooded the room from the floor-to-ceiling windows lined up on the back wall behind the desk. Amy was grateful for the uncovered windows, knowing if she got too stressed, she could take a minute to face the amazing city of Seattle while her stress had a chance to diminish. It really was an ideal office.

“Come in and have a seat. Make yourself comfortable while I show you what you need to get started. Before you know it, you’ll be excellent on your own, no longer needing my help at all,” Esther said kindly.

“I have my doubts about that, but I’m sure glad you’re the one training me. You seem very nice.”

“Thank you, Amy. Do you mind if I call you by your first name? I’ve never been huge on the formality thing. I feel that an office environment should be enjoyable, and really knowing who you’re working with makes a big difference in making it so. Joseph became a dear friend of mine, and so did his beautiful wife, Katherine. I’ve watched their children grow into fine young men and have been treated like a part of their family. It’s a good thing, too, because there are weeks you’ll see far more of this office than your own place. You need to have a healthy working relationship with your boss.”

“I’d love to keep it informal. Joseph said the same thing to me during the interview, and I didn’t know how to respond, but I’m beginning to see this place isn’t what I thought it would be. I was expecting a rigid staff and endless work,” Amy replied. As she realized what she said, she quickly tried to correct herself.

“I wasn’t trying to say hard work is bad, or being professional is a negative thing. I was just…”

“You don’t need to explain, Amy,” Esther said. “I understand exactly what you’re saying. Before I was fortunate enough to get a job with Joseph, I worked for a large developer on the other side of the city. He was rude to me and his clients, never smiled at anyone, and didn’t care about those who worked for him. He only cared about the bottom line. There are a lot of corporations like that, but this isn’t one of them. They expect a great deal from you, but they’re also willing to compensate you for your work. They treat their staff, from the lowest positions to the highest, with respect. The benefits are almost mind-boggling, but you’ll soon learn why they can do this. They save a lot of money by having an incredibly low turnover rate, and they never hurt for more business, because they have repeat business in all their divisions. Even in bad economic times, they not only survive, but thrive.”

Amy relaxed as she listened to Esther. The woman should be a recruiter for the corporation — not that it looked as though they needed to recruit. Before that moment, Amy hadn’t realized quite how lucky she was to have gotten her job. It didn’t matter, though. She’d work hard no matter what; she didn’t know any other way.

Amy felt slightly overwhelmed as the two women worked together the rest of the morning. By the afternoon, she was starting to pick up on some of the tasks, though, and she really enjoyed Esther’s company. They worked well together, and Amy wished she had more than one week of training with her. Amy had no mother and tended to enjoy the company of older women, especially when they were open and caring.

Esther put Amy on a project as she cleaned out her email. Amy was glad to find she was able to do the assigned task without asking for help. They sat in a comfortable silence as they worked for a few hours before they were interrupted.

“Esther, can you cancel my appointments for the rest of the day? I need to go to my father’s. Before I leave, I also need the Niles reports if you’ve finished them.”

Amy looked up as the most stunning man she’d ever glimpsed walked through a connecting door. He was looking at a piece of paper in his hand, which gave her a few moments to secretly observe him.

The first thing she noticed was his build. He had to be at least six foot four, with wide shoulders, a full chest, and a flat stomach. As his arm moved, stretching the obviously tailored dark business suit, she could easily guess he was solid muscle, not an ounce of fat daring to attach to his body. The white shirt clearly accentuated his golden tan. The outfit was complete with a loosened tie, making him look as if he’d just stepped out of a movie shoot rather than his office.

He ran his fingers through his dark brown hair, causing the short strands to stick out in a few places, making him even sexier, in her opinion. In the next moment he looked up, and his deep azure eyes met her startled green ones.

“I’m sorry, Esther. I didn’t realize you had a client in here.”

Amy was shocked by his words. Why was he calling her a client?

“Lucas Anderson,” he said as he held his hand out to her. I’m in trouble, big, big trouble, was her only thought as she looked at his hand as if it were a snake. Skin-to-skin contact would feel far too intimate, even though it was simply shaking hands, but when had she ever touched a man of this stunning caliber? She also knew full well she couldn’t refuse to shake her boss’s hand.

As she hesitated an awkward amount of time, she saw him raise his eyebrows at her questioningly. Her face turned a nice shade of red as she finally broke eye contact.

She snapped out of her trance, realizing he was waiting for her to introduce herself. Finally, she stood and gave him her hand. “Hello, I’m Amy Harper.”

Amy was rooted to the spot as his fingers closed around hers, her breath instantly held prisoner inside her lungs.