Olivia

 

I can’t believe that I’m at the office this late. I gaze as Mr. White’s mouth curves while he speaks. He’s so damn hot. Every woman here wants a taste of him. I overheard them at lunch talking about him, as they have done every day I’ve worked here. It’s as if they have no other work, but to talk about him. Even — especially — when he’s not in the office. They never invite me to sit with them. Why should they? I’m only a temp who was hired to work for one month, but it’s coming to an end as his real secretary, Joanne is coming back to work early.

“Will that be all, Mr. White?”

He’s distracted as he looks at his phone. He turns pale white as he shouts out, “Fuck!”

I’m taken aback by his abruptness at the best of times. I’m not a stranger to cursing. My dad used to do it all the time; getting away from him is the reason that I’m in the city.

“Sorry Olivia, it’s just that I’ve got a party to go to and I don’t want to fucking go. I forgot all about it, and the reminder just came up on my phone.”

I sigh, “Well, if that’s all Mr. White, then I’m going home now. Don’t forget that this is my last day and Joanne will be back on Monday.”

Home. It feels like a joke saying it out loud, but it’s where I lay my head each night. Or try to at the best of times, but with the coming and goings of the other girls in the room, sometimes it’s a bit difficult.

“Oh?”

He raises an eyebrow, and even with his upset expression, he’s still as sexy as hell.

“Yeah, remember she had minor surgery on her ankle, the doctors said that she should take a month off work. She’s been resting it at home, but I think she’s bored and desperate to get back. She’s coming back earlier than originally planned, this is why it's my last day.”

He nods, “I see. Do you have anything lined up for when you leave here?”

I hate to admit it.

“No.”

I don’t even know what I’m going to do. I’m nineteen with no experience, and as the agency politely put it, ‘You were lucky to get this job.’

I stand up and I’m trying not to think about it. I’m staying in a seedy room that I share with three other girls. We all have the same fate; we’re on the run from something. None of us talk about it, but it’s the only reason we share a room. It’s not a luxury — it’s the only option for those of us in our situation to have anywhere to sleep. None of us talk to each other, we're not friends. Maybe the odd hello or something like that, but there's no conversation about our past, let alone what we're doing every night. I have a feeling that a couple of them work the street, that’s their business and as long as we don’t interfere in each other’s lives then it suits me fine. For now.

“Okay, so how about tonight?”

“Excuse me, Mr. White,” I say, thinking that he has the wrong idea about me. I may be blonde, have ample size breasts and a matching sized butt, but that doesn’t make me a piece of ass that he can play with for the night.

“I think that it’s not a good idea.” I smile thinking that I wish I wasn’t so honest at times. Because, after all, I have nothing to do tonight. There’s no way that I’ll get a job on Monday morning, and I need the money.

I don’t even want to think about what’s going to happen next. He stands up, and has a presence like no one I’ve ever known before. The type that’s not to be messed with and the one thing I want to do is rub him the wrong way. I have no prospects, and if I play my cards right then this dark-haired, matching eyes and olive skinned hunk may be able to refer me to another department, or company or something.

Shoot. I should have listened to what he had in mind, before telling him no.

“This is the problem, Olivia. My ex is holding a party,” he sits down on the edge of his desk and looks me directly in the eye, “I think that she thinks we’ll get back together. I see her as my ex. She sees us on break. Do you understand?”

I wince. “Sort of, but if you don’t want to be with her why don’t you just tell her?”

He crosses his strong arms, but his legs are wide open. I try and imagine if he’s as big as they say he is. The girls. The ones that love to gossip and never invite me.

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

I slant my head to the side. “No.”

“Partner?”

“No.”

“Had a long relationship?”

“I’m only nineteen.”

How old does he think I am?

“Ah, so young,” then he smirks, “if she saw me with someone then she’ll probably move on. Most likely... I’ve told her so fucking many times that it’s not working. We weren’t even dating. We were…” He nods his head as if he’s trying to convince himself, “Anyway, it doesn’t matter. If you come and she thinks that I’m with someone else, then it’ll be a relief.”

He sighs as he gets up. I’m sitting and staring at him. I’ve never been around a man like him before. The guys in the office are cocky, slightly arrogant, but there’s something about Mr. White — as soon as he walks into the room he commands everyone’s attention. Then again, he is the boss. He’s supposed to have that effect on everyone.

“Sorry, I just got the wrong idea. I thought that you had something else in mind.”

His eyes just stare at me. He says nothing, and it should make me feel uncomfortable, but it has the complete opposite effect. I feel as if he’s trying to get me to please him and that’s exactly what I intend to do right now.

“Can I just go home and change?”

Into what I have no idea. He may not have noticed because he was out on a business trip for most of the two weeks that I’ve been working here. He just sent me the odd email about my duties. Joanne spent more time checking everything I do. I can tell that she’s bored at home, or she’s too dedicated to her job? Even when she’s on sick leave, she wants to be in control of what happens in the office.

He turns around and says, “No need. Grab your stuff, and we can get something on the way.”

I’m so relieved when he says that, because apart from the suit that I’m wearing and the shirts that I rotate through every three days, I don’t have anything to wear to a party. Well, not his type of party anyway. I bet they’ll be people like him there.

Rich. Sophisticated. And most likely they'll have so many educational certificates that they could decorate a wall with them.

“Sure. Right away.”

I stand up to leave and quicker than my heels can get me to the door when he blurts out, “Olivia.”

No, he’s changed his mind.

“Thanks.”

My heart skips a beat when he called me right now. Mr. White’s so out of my league, but I’m flattered that he would consider going out with someone like me.

Even if it’s not real.

Even if it’s only for one night.