Chapter Two
This was the day. Everything had fallen into place, and all it had taken was a few game tickets to Mr. Coleman to convince him to send Sophia Cross here. He checked how he looked in his full-length mirror, satisfied that there wasn’t a crease or speck of dust on his suit. His hair had been cut and slicked back into place. He was excited, and he’d not felt this much pleasure since the first day he saw her.
Everything had been carefully organized, and the interview was for her to meet him.
His phone rang, and he answered it. The receptionist had been alerted that Miss Cross had entered the building. He accessed the security feed on his computer and zoomed in. Sophia was standing off to the entrance, looking through her bag. Just that one look at her was enough to calm him. Soon, she was going to be all his.
One year of careful managing, maneuvering, and she would be in his bed, with his ring on her finger, and his kid inside her.
He just had to be patient, and everything would be okay. Leaving his office, he made his way toward the stairs, and quickly rushed down toward the ground floor. Timed perfectly, he stood beside Sophia as pressed the button for the elevator. She had a letter in her hand, and she was tapping her foot.
The skirt she wore was rather conservative and went past her knees. The white blouse was tucked inside her skirt, and it showed off her curves to perfection. She was a size eighteen, with nice large tits, and he couldn’t wait to get his hands on her.
She sighed, and looked down at her letter, her floral scent teasing his senses.
“First day?” he asked.
She turned those deep brown eyes toward him, and nodded. He tried not to frown as she looked at him. There was no assessment. She didn’t look down at his suit, or appraise him, which wasn’t what he was used to.
“Yeah, it is. I’ve got an interview for something.”
He couldn’t help but smile. “You’ve got an interview and don’t know what it’s for?”
“Nope. My roommate and total best friend decided to arrange an interview. I know my student counselor arranged for my resume to come here. He’s worried that I will take my college degree and screw with it.” She shrugged. “Oh well.”
Her voice was magic, and it took every effort not to close his eyes to enjoy her talking. “Well, Brown Enterprise is a great company.”
“Yeah, I guess it is. Freya, my friend, she was raving about this place. I don’t know. I guess I’m just not ready to settle for a big company.”
The elevator arrived, and he waited for her to enter before standing beside her.
“Most students can’t wait to get a chance to work here.”
She nodded. “I know. I know. I’m … I’m confused to be honest. I’ve been warned that if I’m not careful my career will pick me out of desperation. I just find it hard to pick a life from a few choices. You know? I guess you don’t. I’m sorry. I’m not trying to sound ungrateful. I’m not, but I sound like it. Ignore me. I talk a lot when I’m nervous.”
Alfie smiled. Talking to her was a lot more enlightening than getting other people’s perspective of her. She was struggling with picking that one career she would have to do for a long time, the rest of her life. Other people didn’t see that. They just saw a way to survive, or their job was a way of getting a good house, a steady income, and the chance to play later in life.
Sophia was a hard worker, strong, and passionate. He’d read that in all of her books. The heroine just wanted to be free, yet everyone and everything always seemed intent on holding her down. Her parents were a good reason for her view on life. They’d married young, straight out of high school because they were pregnant with Sophia. Their work kept them close to town, they never vacationed, and only ever worked, taking vacations at their home town. She had a couple of brothers and sisters who she wasn’t close to. Freya, her best friend, was the only person she was close to.
“I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t be talking to you about this. I promised my friend I would try really hard for this interview. It’ll be great to have a job. It’s close to where I’ll be living once we move off campus, and everything is working together. If I can, you know, get this job, I can start saving.”
Even as she spoke, he heard the conformity in her voice, the way most students thought.
“Wow, I sound all grown up,” she said, chuckling. “I’m really sorry. I tend to ramble, and talk a lot when I’m nervous, and I’m really nervous. I suck at interviews, and it’s really bad. I’m a waitress right now in a really posh restaurant, and I got the job because they were busy one night, and I just got stuck in proving my worth. I’m not great at all. I ramble, and I bet you’re totally bored.”
Actually, he was totally charmed by her.
The elevator opened, and they stepped out. She kept on talking, and he stopped at his desk.
“You’re a charming woman, Sophia Cross.”
“Wait, how do you know my name?”
He held his hand out. “I’m Alfie Brown. I’ll be the one interviewing you.”
****
Freya was going to kill her and dispose of the body.
Sophia stared down at his hand, and tried not to show embarrassment even as heat started to work up her neck.
“Mr. Brown, a pleasure to meet you.” She didn’t have a clue what to say anymore. Words failed her. What could she say to the man who not only owned the company but whom she had been complaining to?
Her life sucked. There was no other word for it. All it seemed right now was that she did nothing but complain, and she hated that. She hated complaining, and sounding like a real pain in the ass. She never used to complain until everyone started telling her that she needed to figure out what she wanted, and get a life. It was all too much for her to think about at times.
She was more of a go with the flow kind of girl.
He chuckled. “Why don’t you go straight through to my office?”
Nodding her head, she tried to ignore the pounding of her heart. Entering his office, she went to the chair opposite the window, and hoped she didn’t make a complete fool of herself. “I’m really sorry about all of that back at the elevator. I never usually, you know, talk about everything.”
He smiled, and she noticed that he was a particularly handsome man with short, messy blond hair, green eyes, and his skin looked flawless. From how well the suit fit, she knew he was muscular, and big. He was much taller than she was, and as they had been standing in the elevator, she was struck how much bigger than her he actually was.
Still, she never succumbed to men. Just thinking about that little list was enough to turn her off, and she forced a smile to her lips, and waited.
“I found it utterly refreshing to hear your thoughts. You’ve graduated, right, and you’re packing up your dorm?”
“Yes, I am. I’m due to move into an apartment that is not too far from here. My roommate Freya said that this would be a good start for me.” She sucked in her lips. Stop being a brain-dead loser. This is your job interview, and your boss doesn’t want to know about your roommate.
“I have to ask, do you even know why you’re here?” he asked, leaning back, and pressing the tips of his fingers together. He looked totally relaxed, totally calm like nothing in the world ever seemed to bother him. She wondered what that would be like.
“For a job interview.”
“Relating to what?” he asked.
Holy shit!
She had no idea why she was here, and while trying not to cringe, she felt her palms getting a little sweaty, and her cheeks were heating. Glancing down at her lap, she just wanted the entire floor to open up and swallow her whole. She’d be happy with that any time now.
No one ever paid attention to her demands!
“I, erm, no, I really don’t.” She blew out a breath. “You know when you see a homeless woman on the corner in a few months’ time, that is going to be me because I totally suck at this kind of stuff.” Then she slapped her forehead. “Yeah, I have totally ruined this, haven’t I?”
Before she could hear him tell her to get out of his office, she stood up, and was making her way to the door. “I am so sorry to have wasted your time, Mr. Brown.”
“Sit down, Sophia,” he said. His voice was firm, hard, demanding. She instantly sat back down in her seat, tense. “Now, your position here is as a training PA, but I know you don’t have the skill yet. It will be more secretarial work. According to your student counselor, he believes you have real imagination and drive, and it just so happens, that I think I know the perfect fit. With the right guidance, I can help you with your current problem. Through secretarial work, and training as a PA, you’ll have access to many areas that could help you through this difficult time.”
“What’s my current problem?” Why was she asking this question? Why did he confuse her?
“You’re in a bit of a rut. You don’t know what you want to do with your life. You have real drive and ambition, but you are also afraid to commit to anything too serious. Believe it or not, I don’t consider that an age problem or a maturity problem. There hasn’t been anyone to nurture your many talents. I think I have the answer to that.”
“From one resume?” she asked, confused.
Mr. Brown smiled. “I have many ways of finding out if someone is worth my time. I believe you are, and I want to give you this chance. There are thousands of people, men and women, who would jump at the chance that I am offering you.”
“I don’t actually know what you’re offering me,” she said. This conversation, no interview, was confusing her. Biting her lip, she tried to think as he talked, but nothing was making sense.
“My company is vast and wide. What I offer you is six months, during that time, you will find the path that is suitable for you, and get you out of this rut.”
“Six months?”
“Maybe nine or ten will be even better. I think we will work well together, Miss Cross. You will be working here with me. I have an office set up and waiting, and I look forward to you being part of our team.” He pointed toward the office on his left. It was a small one, but she noticed it was also private, with a view. The windows were floor to ceiling, and looked across the city.
“Wait a minute. I thought this was an interview. Don’t you have other people to offer this?”
“You would really turn this down?”
“I’m considering it.”
He stepped out of his chair, and rounded the desk to move toward her. She watched as he leaned against the desk. His body looking too big for that large desk. She had no idea who this man, but something in her gut told her to be wary.
“How about I give you a promise, Sophia?”
“What promise?”
“If after one month you’re bored, I will compensate you, and you can do whatever your heart desires.”
“And if I do enjoy what I do?” she asked, feeling somewhat manipulated as she looked at the smile on Mr. Brown’s face. She couldn’t recall his first name at all.
“You agree to work for me indefinitely.”