A few days had passed, and I was feeling better. I was still curled up watching Netflix, but with my laptop in my lap as I researched furniture stores. I was making a list of stores to visit, looking at their reviews and quality as I narrowed it down. Gavin had said money wasn’t something to worry about, so I tried to curb my discount ways to look for the higher-end furniture that would suit our very expensive home.
Just as I scratched a name off my list, noting beside it the lack of quality, my phone rang. It’d been silent for days, and when I looked at my phone, it wasn’t a number I recognized.
I hit the green button to answer. “Hello?”
“Hi, may I please speak with Emma?”
“This is she.”
“Hi, Emma, my name is Amy from the HR department of the Cates Corporation, and I’m calling about your resume.”
I sat straight up, my hand frantically maneuvering the remote to pause the show. Inside I was freaking out because I knew they were calling for an interview.
“Yes, hello, so good to hear from you.” I tried to sound casual and hide my excitement.
“We wanted to see if we could set up a time for you to come in for an interview,” she said.
“I am available whenever you are.”
There was a pause. “Hmm . . . it looks like the hiring manager has an opening tomorrow at one.”
I wasted no time in agreeing. “I’ll take it.”
“Oh, wait, I’m sorry, that’s today.”
“I’ll still take it if it’s available.” I glanced at the clock. It gave me just over an hour to get ready.
“Hold on a moment, let me check with her.”
While on hold, I stood up and ran to my room, shifting through my closet for something to wear. Unfortunately, my suits for Cameo really were the best interview attire I had.
“Emma?” Amy’s voice came back on the line.
“Here.”
“She said that was fine. Do you know where we are?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. When you get here, go up to the eighteenth floor. I’ll be waiting to take you to her.”
“Thank you so much. I’ll see you soon.”
“See you.”
I hung up, was naked, and in the shower in less than thirty seconds. I didn’t even let the water warm up before I started scrubbing. Luckily my hair didn’t need to be washed, but it did need to be dried and styled. That alone would take thirty minutes.
“Shit,” I hissed, suddenly regretting getting my hair wet.
Too late to worry about it.
An hour of drying and primping, and I was out of time. One last look, and I headed out.
When I arrived at the building, I waited for the elevators, which were crowded with everyone coming back from their lunch breaks. I hoped I wouldn’t run into Gavin, so I kept a sharp eye out. When I got to the eighteenth floor, a short brunette was waiting in front of a reception desk with the Cates Corporation logo behind her. She smiled as I stepped forward.
“Emma?”
“Amy?”
She nodded, then gestured back to the elevators. “We need to go up to twenty.”
Another elevator ride, then through an ID-locked glass door and into what I could best describe as a cube farm. Row after row of cubes filled the space, the outer wall lined by individual offices. We stopped in front of one, and Amy knocked.
“I have your one o’clock,” she said.
“Thanks, Amy.”
“Good luck,” Amy said before moving aside to let me in, then closing the door behind me.
A beautiful blonde walked around her desk and held out her hand. “Hi, I’m Julianne Landon.”
I took her hand and smiled. “Pleased to meet you. Emma Addison.”
“Are you nervous?” she asked as she sat down and motioned to the chair opposite her.
I let out a small chuckle. “I’d be lying if I said no.”
She smiled at me. “Good answer. Okay, so let’s see. You have a BA in accounting and an MBA, but you’ve never worked in finance or accounting?”
I nodded. “That’s correct. In order to be able to go to school and have a place to live, I had to keep a job that paid more. Most of what I was finding in my field was unpaid full-time internships. I know this hurts my experience.”
“Some things experience can’t teach you. Like sensibility. You took the economically rational route. I see that as a path.” She looked back down to the stack of papers in front of her. “I see here you work at the Cameo Hotel. Tell me about that,” Julianne requested.
I squirmed in my seat, my lips forming a thin line. “Well, as of a few days ago, I am no longer employed with the Cameo Hotel.”
Her brows shot up in surprise. “Okay, could you please elaborate for me?”
“I was . . . let go.”
She nodded. “Fired?”
“Fired,” I relented.
“All right,” she began, giving a small sigh before leaning forward, her arms crossing on the table. “By the look on your face, I have to hear this story.”
“My boyfriend was a guest there.”
Her brow scrunched. “So?”
“Well, he’d been staying there for a while, and that is where I met him,” I explained. “Fraternization between current guests and employees is prohibited.”
“Fraternization, huh?” She smirked at me. “Well, that’s not an issue here unless one of the parties is a direct superior.”
I laughed with her, partially at my secret.
“Besides your relationship with a guest, tell me what you did.”
I went into my past with the hotel, my grades, my work ethic, and so many more questions. Before I knew it, an hour had passed.
“Oh, shoot, it’s already two,” Julianne said suddenly. “I am so sorry. I’m going to have to cut this short, though it was actually quite long.”
“No problem.” I was a bit stunned by the abruptness.
“I really am sorry.” She stood and grabbed a stack of files and waved at me to follow her. “I have a financial meeting with the vice president in two minutes, and he really doesn’t appreciate lateness.”
“I completely understand.” She had no idea how much I understood how demanding Gavin was.
We walked back through the cube farm to the elevators. “Thank you so much for coming today. I really enjoyed talking with you, Emma.”
“Thank you so much for seeing me today.”
“Oh, one last thing. I’m looking to have all the interviews done by the end of the week.”
“Hopefully I’ll hear from you.”
I decided I wasn’t going to tell Gavin about the interview. If I got the position, it was going to be because I earned it.
An hour after I returned home, I heard the key in the door before it popped open. Voices flooded up from down the stairs. Mrs. Carrow was once again complaining. I jumped up to meet Gavin at the doorway.
“I don’t care, woman! Go back into your home,” Gavin grumbled as he stepped in.
A giggled slipped out. “Hey, love stud.”
Gavin’s frown twitched up into a lopsided smile. “I’m about to throw you on that bed and show you my studliness.”
“Just to rile her up more?” I asked as I stood and wrapped my arms around his shoulders to pull him closer. “Hi.”
“Hi.” He leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine, igniting the fire that burned every time he was close.
“How was your day?” I asked as I reluctantly pulled away.
“Productive. Yours? Any new interviews?”
“No. I did apply for a few more positions,” I lied as I heaved a sigh. It was a small lie, just until I heard something. “I stayed at the hotel because it paid the bills, but it may have hurt me in the long run.”
“Emma, all you have to do is—”
I pressed his lips shut with my fingers. “Don’t finish that sentence. I love you, Gavin, but I need to do this on my own.”
He leaned forward and pushed his lips that were still trapped by my fingers against my own. It made me laugh and let go.
“I love that you are independent, even though it drives me crazy sometimes.”
“What? You want to swoop in and save me?” I asked.
“Yes.” He nodded. “Isn’t that what all knights do? Save the damsel in distress?”
I shook my head. “You get brownie points for the sentiment.”
“I think I can deal with that, but can I add something to it?”
I tilted my head. “What?”
His eyes locked onto mine. “If you don’t find anything by the time we move out of here, you let me help.”
We still had a month, and it worried me that I might not be able to do it on my own with the previous experience requirement many companies were looking for. It was hard to do, but with a sigh, I agreed.
“Okay.”
“I just want you happy, baby.” He ran his hands up and down my back as he held me close. “And every day you’re stuck in this tiny apartment, I see you get more and more down.”
“I know. It doesn’t help that I’ve got some weird depression from being fired. I’ve never been fired before, and it hurts more than I thought it would.” It stung a lot, even though I knew I broke the rules and that what they did was what they should have done.
“You gave them many good years. Put up with assholes like me. Then you had to go and fall for my nefarious advances.”
I quirked a brow at him. “Nefarious?”
“Yes. Didn’t you know it was all some evil plot to get some extra-special, happy-ending service? I was just going to leave after that,” he joked.
I smacked his chest and glared at him. “Not funny.”
“No, but that is what the men who fired you thought. And instead, here I am, sharing this tiny, dingy apartment with you instead of living the life of luxury, having fun making their lives miserable.”
“You’re horrible.”
“I get what I want,” he said. It took no effort for those few words to exude every bit of confidence the man had.
I tilted my head as I looked up at him. “What if I didn’t fall for you? I mean, you were very mean to me.”
“You would have, because you can’t help it.”
“Why is that?”
The back of his fingers lightly caressed my cheek. “Because soulmates are drawn to each other. We may fight against it, try and disbelieve it, but you can’t win against it.”
“Soulmates? You think?”
“I know.”
His lips were soft against mine, sensual. There was no rush when his lips parted, his tongue lapping against mine. Low moans, slow gropes, and his hard length pressed against me.
“You know,” I said as I pulled back. “I love the take-your-time sex, but I have to admit, sometimes I miss the quickies.”
“The quickies?”
I pinched my bottom lip between my teeth while I ran his tie between my fingers. “When I would come into your room and you would bend me over and fuck me like your life depended on it.”
“Are you suggesting I’ve gone soft?”
“Soft? Not at all.” I shook my head and looked up at him through my lashes.
His eyes darkened as his hands moved to my waist. “According to your neighbor, I’ve been fucking you pretty hard.”
“And you do. But there’s a difference between taking our time and the desperation you had to get inside me.”
“Ms. Addison, do you not feel desired? Is that what you’re saying?”
I shook my head. “What I’m saying, Mr. Grayson, is I want you to bend me over the couch, pull my pants down, pull your cock out, and fuck me.”
A growl left him as he spun me around. He pushed hard on my back, forcing me over with one hand while the other yanked at my waistband.
It was exactly what I wanted, what I needed. That primal energy.
I barely heard his zipper before he slammed into me, filling me.
I cried out, my eyes rolling back as every nerve exploded. He pulled out, then thrust back in, bottoming out. Another loud moan crawled out of me. Only two thrusts, and I was on edge.
His hand wound in my hair, then pulled back, his breath hot against my ear. “Is this what you wanted, Emma?”
“Yes,” I cried as he pulled out again and began a hard, steady pace.
Every thought left me, consumed by the pleasure of each thrust. I was lost, completely drunk on him.
“Fuck, baby,” he groaned. “So tight, so fucking wet.”
Every muscle tightened with each hit, and a whimpering sound filled my ears, turning into a high-pitched cry. I was shaking, spasms wracking my body, and I was barely able to hold myself up as my orgasm washed through me.
“Baby . . . fuck, baby.” He continued on as I rode it out, my walls pulsing around him. “Shit,” he hissed. He released my hair and pulled out.
Grunts and groans filled the air, sending shivers through me. Warm droplets fell against my skin, a few shooting up into my hair.
Harsh breaths sounded behind me, but I didn’t have the strength to look back at him. The sudden sting of his hand against my ass made me jump.
“Feel better?”
A smile formed on my face as I nodded. “Yes, sir. Very much.”
The weekend came and went, and I continued on my furniture quest. By Wednesday I was losing hope that Cates would call back, but at just after five, my phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Emma?”
“Yes?”
“Hi, this is Amy from Cates.”
My heart slammed in my chest, eyes wide. “Hi, Amy!” I said a little too cheerfully.
“I am calling because you made a good impression on Julianne, and she would like you to come join her team.”
It felt like I was on cloud nine. I was so excited that tears pooled in my eyes.
“Oh my God, that is so great.”
“It pays sixty-five thousand dollars a year, with full benefits after thirty days, including two weeks of vacation.”
I nearly choked, frozen as the amount sunk in. In my position at the hotel, I made pretty good money, but I could actually do things with the extra fifteen grand Cates paid.
“Emma?”
“Yes. Here. Sorry. Where do I sign?”
There was a chuckle on the other line. “Can you come down Friday afternoon to fill out some paperwork? She’d like you to start on Monday, if that’s possible.”
“Definitely. I would love to start Monday. Thank you so much, Amy.”
“Welcome to the Cates Corporation. See you soon!”
“Thank you!” My hands were shaking as I hit the button to end the call.
I had a job. I had a job at Gavin’s company, and I had done it without his help.
I began bounding around the room, unable to contain my jubilation. The handle to the door jiggled, and in stepped Gavin.
“Baby, I’m home,” he called out. His eyes widened when he took me in his sight. “Hello, madwoman, have you seen my girlfriend around? Looks a bit like you, only she’s been a bit sulky lately.”
“I got a job!” I cried out.
A smile broke out on his face as he rushed forward and scooped me up in his arms, his lips crashing to mine. “I’m so happy for you, baby. Where at?”
I bit my lip and studied his expression, a bit unsure of his reaction. “Cates Corporation.”
He blinked at me for a moment. “You applied at Cates?” he asked. I nodded in response. His expression became somewhat hurt. “You applied at Cates and didn’t tell me? Why?”
I sighed. “Because I know how you are, Gavin. You like to throw your weight around, and I wanted to get this job because I deserved it, not because I’m the vice president’s girlfriend.”
He mulled that over for a moment and nodded. “Solid point. I can very much understand and appreciate that.”
My brow hitched. “You do, do you?”
“You worked hard for it. You deserve it.” He leaned down to press his lips to mine. “And you are correct in thinking that I would have thrown my weight around if you had told me.”
“I’m getting to understand you a great deal, Mr. Grayson.”
“How should we celebrate this momentous occasion?”
“Ninety Nine?”
He shook his head. “You love that place.”
“Duh! Buffalo dip.”
He nodded. “Buffalo dip.”
“I’ve been craving it for a week.”
We moved into the bedroom to change clothes. Another reason to go to Ninety Nine was Gavin in jeans. It was a place we could relax.
“Can we . . . keep us on the down low for a few weeks?” I asked as I stripped out of my shorts and tank.
He quirked a brow. “The ‘down low,’ Emma? Why ever for?”
“I want to come across as a credible hire.”
With his suit hung up, he worked on undoing the buttons. It made me wish I’d asked for a strip tease.
“But I didn’t help,” he argued.
“I know that, you know that, but they don’t know that.”
“Then tell them.”
I shook my head. “They won’t believe me.”
“I’m tired of creeping around, hiding my love for you,” he said with a sigh.
After pulling on some jeans, I stepped over to him and wrapped my arms around his waist. “Just a few weeks to prove myself. Please, Gavin?” I begged, reaching up to kiss down the length of his jaw.
He let out a hum in response. “A few weeks. Then I’m sending out a company announcement.”
I sat back with wide eyes. No, he wouldn’t.
His face was completely serious before a smile cracked, breaking out into full out laughing. I swatted his arm. “Not funny!”
“So funny.”
I shook my head. “Not.”
“Yes.”
“No!”
“Si!”
“No, no, no!” I cried.
Suddenly he grabbed my waist and backed me up until I fell onto the bed with him hovering above me, pinning my arms above my head.
I gasped at the look in his eyes, my whole body lighting up, bursting into flames. “Hello, Mr. Grayson.”
“Emma, you’re being naughty.”
I smiled. “Yes, sir.”
He dipped down and took my exposed nipple into his mouth. I drew in a breath, my back arching.
“Naughty girls get punished.”
I moaned. “Yes, sir.”
My stomach chose that moment to rumble, breaking up our sexually charged moment.
A huge sigh left him. “But first, food.”
With great reluctance, he pulled away and we continued getting dressed. I couldn’t help loving the routine we’d fallen into as a couple.
Even though the space was tight, I loved living with him.