Guarding His Heart

“I know what you thought.” I grinned. “You thought I didn’t know anything. You think I took this job knowing nothing. I might be the boss’s son. And I might have taken the job you’re also qualified for, but I do know my shit, Hannah Will. My dad’s a successful businessman. Trust me, he never would have hired me if I didn’t know my shit.” I watched Hannah’s shoulders deflate slightly as she realized that I wasn’t a complete dumbass. I’m sure she realized now that as chagrined as she had been, she couldn’t say that someone not as qualified as her had taken the job. I knew my shit. I’d grown up with a dad obsessed with business. I’d been reading the Financial Times and Wall Street Journal since I was a kid. Yeah, I preferred surfing and I liked playing my guitar, but that didn’t mean I didn’t know my bonds from my stocks. That didn’t mean I didn’t look at the Nasdaq and the Dow every morning with my coffee. I didn’t want to pull rank on Hannah and I truly liked her, but she had to realize and remember who was boss. At the end of the day, I needed her to do a job and I needed her to respect me.

“Yes Sir.” She nodded her head. “Is there anything else you need from me before the meeting?”

“I need your cellphone number and personal email address.”

“My personal email address?” She frowned. “Why not my business email address?”

“Because everything I have to say can’t be viewed by HR.” I winked at her and watched as she left the room in a huff and a small smile. Just because it would be unprofessional to sleep with her didn’t mean I couldn’t still flirt. I’d try to not let it get out of hand, but she was going to make it very difficult for me to keep my hands to myself, if she kept giving me those ‘I want you to f**k me eyes’.

Chapter Four

Hannah

“Are you ready for our trip tomorrow?” Leo walked up next to my desk and nearly made me jump out of my seat.

“Don’t scare me like that.” I glared at him, looking so calm and relaxed. It was so unfair that he could look so cool, calm and collected while I was pretty sure I looked a frazzled mess every time he was around. I was annoyed at my body for betraying me every time he was near. I wasn’t sure how it was possible, but every time I saw him, he looked hotter and hotter.

“I didn’t mean to scare you.” He rubbed my shoulder briefly and my body nearly went into convulsions.

“Did you need anything in particular, Leo?” I’d quickly gotten into the habit of calling him Leo instead of Mr. Maxwell. I’d felt like a fool addressing him so formally in front of the other members of staff.

“I’d ask you for a coffee, but I know that’s not your strong point.”

“I can get you a coffee if you want.” I stood up and grabbed my bag, eager to be away from him. “What do you want?”

“I’d take a cafe latte with one sugar, if you’re going and you promise not to drink from it first.”

“I won’t drink from it.” I promised, still feeling embarrassed at how badly I’d behaved the first day I’d gotten him coffee. “Anything else?”

“Yeah, why don’t you dress up as a nurse this time?” He winked at me. “I’ve always had a thing for nurses.”

“Excuse me?”

“You know - last time you were a waitress, this time you can wear a nurse’s outfit. Keep things spicy.” He laughed as I glared at him and quickly left the office.

“I should put on a nurse’s outfit.” I muttered to myself as I walked into the elevator. “That would show him.” I pressed the ground floor button and grinned to myself as I thought about him. He’d be shocked if I showed up in the outfit. He thought he was making me uncomfortable by calling my bluff, but I’d show him. I’d show up in the sexiest nurse’s outfit I could find and have him so turned on, he wouldn’t even be able to work. Then I thought about all the other people in office. If they saw me in a nurse’s outfit, I’d be out on my ear. There was no way I’d get a promotion then.

I exited the elevator feeling peeved. Then it hit me. I’d take a nurse’s outfit with me to New York and show up in his room on the last night and tease him with it. I grinned again. He wouldn’t know what to do or say then. I’d have the upper hand. I’d show him that his silly little comments weren’t getting the better of me. I’d turn the tables on him. I pulled my phone out and quickly called Lisa.

“Hey, what’s up?” She asked me sounding surprisingly happy for a work day.

“Why are you answering the phone?” I asked suspiciously. “I thought you couldn’t take calls while you were on the floor?”

“Why are you calling me if you thought I couldn’t answer?”

“I was going to leave you a voicemail.” I said and then continued. “You are at work right.”

Silence filled the other side of the phone.

“Lisa?” I said her name accusingly.

“I took a sick day.” She responded finally. “It’s not a crime.”

“You don’t sound sick.”

“I’m not sick.” She giggled. “Only dumb people use sick days when they’re actually sick. I just needed the day off. My boss is riding my ass and I needed some free time.”

“Lisa!” I sighed. “You can’t just call in sick when you’re not sick. What happens when you really get sick and then you have no time off left to take?”