THREE YEARS AGO

Staring up at the sleek, black building, I’m no more prepared to walk inside than I was five minutes ago when my feet first halted their forward progression. The smooth concrete path stretching out in front of me is only a handful of steps, but it might as well be a mile. Or a mountain. A mountain of expectations placed on me by my father and myself.

All ten stories of this rectangular structure were built on the foundation my grandfather laid down when he started this company forty years ago. My father took over as CEO when my grandfather retired and has held that position for fifteen years. So many of my childhood memories are centered around this place.

Having only graduated from Yale last week, this will be my first day on the job as a full-time employee at World Class Wrestling. As archaic as it may sound, this company is my birthright. I’ve been waiting for this day for twenty-two years and now that it’s here, I’m paralyzed with fear and can’t get my legs to move. My knees are locked up, muscles rigid with anxiety. At this precise moment, I’m teetering on the precipice of adulthood. Once I enter WCW Headquarters, I’m free falling, and there’s no going back.

What if working here isn’t all I hope it will be?

This has been my plan since I was a child. There’s never been another for me, no option B to fall back on. Just a single-minded focus to walk through the large glass door with the WCW logo on it daily, continuing the family tradition.

“Do you need help?” A deep voice tears me from my pathetic self-doubt laced thoughts. My head snaps around to see who spoke and my eyes land on a man’s chest. It’s so broad and defined under his white t-shirt, the word chest seems inadequate. Glorious pecs? Large display of muscular perfection?

“Do you need anything?” he questions again. My gaze makes a final sweep of the wide expanse, moving up to his handsome face. Finding his silvery-gray eyes intently studying me, I hope he didn’t notice my ogling.

I shake my head vigorously as if I can remove the memory of his muscles from my mind. Nope still there.

“No? You don’t need help?” He raises an eyebrow and looks confused.

I giggle at this awkward introduction and try to salvage it. “No, I’m fine. I was just getting my bearings.”

“It’s the WCW, not a firing squad. I’m sure you’ll walk away unscathed.” He winks.

“Oh, I don’t know about that. It’s my first day here and I know all about Mr. Turner,” I answer evasively. I’m not planning on announcing I’m the daughter of the CEO.

“Then you should know, his bark is worse than his bite.”

“What else should I know?” I ask, enjoying the easy conversation we’ve settled into.

“You look capable of handling whatever you need to.” His eyes gleam with admiration and I try not to blush like a shy schoolgirl. Five minutes ago, my stomach was tossing and turning from anxiety and now it’s fluttering excitedly from a little interaction with a gorgeous guy. I guess flirting is the “chicken soup” for my nerves.

“Thanks for your vote of confidence. I’ll have to see how I’ve fared at the end of the day.”

“Maybe we should get together for a drink and discuss it more in depth?” He grins.

“Hmm, maybe?” I don’t even know this guy’s name. As much as I want to say yes, my parents taught me from an early age to be cautious about strangers. Being a Turner comes with a price tag on our heads. I don’t want to be dramatic, but it’s why I grew up with a security team around whenever we attended a public event. And also, the reason I was sent to a high priced private school that caters to the uber wealthy and their various security demands.

“I’m Jesse Gunn,” he holds out his large hand. Maybe mind reader should be added to his list of attributes? He doesn’t want me to have a reason to turn down his invite and it’s more than a little unsettling. Not because I feel threatened or am sensing a bad vibe, but because he’s already figuring me out and we just met.

“I’m Lilah.” His large fingers close around my hand, gently holding on while our eyes stay locked together. He seems familiar, although, I can’t place his face. But unless he attended Yale for the past four years, I wouldn’t know who he is. I’ve been buried under mounds of schoolwork and have only come up for air since graduation.

“Lilah what?”

“Lilah for now,” I smile. I certainly can’t give him my last name and I don’t want to lie to him. I’m not sure why it matters, I just met this guy, but I instantly liked him. My instincts are usually spot on.

“Well, Lilah for now, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” His lips quirk on the left side revealing a dimple and an endearing crooked smile.

“It’s nice to meet you, also.” He releases my hand, depriving me of the tingling warmth his touch infused me with. Raising my arm, I glance at the platinum wristwatch my parents gave me last Christmas. “Shoot,” I mutter.

“What’s wrong?”

“I need to get inside. It was nice meeting you, Jesse,” I call over my shoulder as I briskly walk toward the door, my heels ticking against the concrete.

“What about that drink later?”

Pausing with my hand on the handle, I peer over my shoulder catching his stare one more time. “I’m off at five.” My stomach flutters madly. I can’t believe I’m making plans to go out with him, but I’ve never met a man I was comfortable with immediately.

He grins. “I’ll be waiting.”

Stepping inside World Class Wrestling Headquarters is something I’ve done hundreds of times, but today feels different… monumental even. Pausing in the reception area, I take in all the details as if it’s the first time I’m seeing them. The flat gray walls, the shiny marble floors and the black armless leather sofas grouped together. Everything looks fresh with my new perspective. Sunlight glints off the sleek glass and chrome tables. The plush rugs that add a jolt of color to the modern space are my favorite. The reds and oranges feel hopeful, and God knows I can use any source of encouragement right now.

Moving forward, I bypass the desk with a wave at Laurel, the building’s receptionist, as she speaks on the phone. I head over to the left bank of elevators and ride up to the tenth floor. There are only two offices on this story; it’s divided equally in half. One side belongs to my dad, and the other to my Uncle Allen. Walking to the right side, I call out, “hello,” to Susan, my father’s executive assistant.

“Lilah, how are you?” She smiles.

“Nervous,” I say, candidly. “It’s my first official day.”

“You’re going to do wonderfully. I know your father’s been looking forward to this for a long time.”

“Are you sure?”

“Stop it. You know he has.”

“I do. Hopefully, he won’t regret it,” I laugh.

“Go on back. He wanted to see you as soon as you arrived.”

Finding his door open, I peek my head in. “Hi, Dad.”

“Lilah, honey.” He drops the pen in his hand and leans back in his chair. “Are you excited?”

I nod, chewing on my bottom lip. “I am.”

“You look ecstatic,” he jokes.

“Ha ha. Maybe I’m just bracing myself for my demanding boss?” I stare at him pointedly.

He barks out a laugh. “That’s my girl. Don’t sugar coat it. I can always count on you to give me an honest opinion.”

“I’m like my father that way.”

“I’ve heard this from your mom many times.”

“Poor mom,” I giggle. “Good thing she loves us so much.”

“Okay, let’s get down to business.” He steeples his fingers. “Your official position is Head of Online Marketing. We’ll go over your job description more in depth once you’ve read through the packet I had Susan leave on your desk. Everything you need as far as account login info, email, phone numbers etcetera, should be in there, but we’ll go over any questions that might arise.”

“Where is this desk of mine, or do I have to find it as part of some hazing ritual?”

He smiles. “Your office is on the ninth floor, right back corner. You’re welcome for that. It has the same view as mine.”

“Hmm, thanks I guess. Maybe you’re just hiding me back there?”

He grins. “If I wanted to hide you, I’d put you to work in the stockroom like when you were in high school.”

“So, you were hiding me?” I huff. “I always suspected. Thanks for confirming it.”

“No, not really. I wanted you to learn the business from the ground up, so you’d be ready for all this.” He opens his arms wide with pride. “It’s quite a company we have here.”

“Are you complimenting yourself right now?” I tease. “Really Dad?”

“I’m not saying I’m solely responsible for the success of WCW, but I like to think I’ve played a big part in how well it’s doing.”

“You absolutely have. Every company should have a CEO as modest as you.” I giggle. “Why are you feeling insecure today? Are you threatened by your kick ass new employee?” I joke.

“You’re a tough nut to crack, Lilah.” He shakes his head and grins. “If I need an ego boost, I won’t be coming to you.”

“And vice versa,” I reply. My dad is great, but if I’m feeling down I prefer to talk to my mom. She’s a lot better when it comes to coddling.

“I want to go over some rules I’ve always lived by and they’ve done me well. You need to remember these three things if you want to be successful at WCW or anywhere else.”

I nod, letting him know he has my full attention, and he really does. I’ve never been privy to this information before and it feels like he’s about to impart some supreme wisdom that will change my life for the better. I’m ready.

“Rule number one and the most important one of all. You never mix business with pleasure. Keep a firm line drawn between you and your employees, one that you can never cross.” His focus is locked on me, watching as I eagerly absorb every word he says like a sponge soaking up moisture. “If you do they’ll lose respect for you and once that happens, you won’t be effective at your job. Therefore, we have a strict no fraternization policy here at WCW. If you want to mess around with a co-worker, then one of you has to find a new place of employment. It’s that simple. Do you understand?”

“Dad, I’m not an idiot.”

“Lilah, sometimes attraction gets in the way of work.”

“Oh, Dad, please don’t make this awkward by going there. It’s a little late to have the birds and the bees talk with me.”

He chuckles. “Rule number two. You must always remain professional in every situation. You can dislike a coworker or a vendor, whatever the situation may entail, but never speak, or act without considering how it might reflect on the company. Kill them with kindness and professionalism.”

“Professional, gotcha.” I give him an okay sign.

“I’m being serious,” he warns.

“And so am I.”

“Rule number three is you never mix business with pleasure.”

“That was rule one. Are you testing me to see if I’ve been listening or are you having a senior moment?”

“Rule one is so important it’s also rule number three.”

I snort. “Are you messing with me?”

The large sigh he expels speaks to his impatience. He leans forward to rest his arms on his desk. “I’m completely serious. Do not disappoint me on this. I’m counting on you, Lilah. You’re a beautiful woman and men will pay attention to you.”

“Dad, ew, don’t.”

He raises his finger to his lips then points at me. “Be quiet and hear me out,” he pauses to make sure I’m done speaking. “This is the world of professional wrestling and some of the men may ask you out. If they do, what will your answer be?”

I roll my eyes. “No.”

“Good. Wrestlers are coworkers too. And eventually, you’ll be the boss of everyone under Allen and me. I know you’re not thinking like a CEO or VP now, but you need to keep a long-term vision in your head for when you are. Conduct yourself appropriately from day one and there will be no issues. You cannot be dating people and supervising them at the same time. Keep your priorities in check.”

“I will,” I reassure him. “You can count on me.”

“I know I can. You’ll do me proud.”

* * *

Five o’clock comes faster than I imagined. My head is filled with names and faces of people I met, but it will take me at least a week to remember them all. Running my hand over my brow, I tug my bag up onto my shoulder as I push the front door open.

“Hey, I thought you might stand me up,” Jesse calls out from where he sits on a landscaping wall.

Shit. I forgot all about our plans. “Hi.” I smile.

He rises, moving fluidly toward me. “How was your first day?”

“It went better than I expected.”

“I figured as much. This is a great company to work for.”

“You work here?” Please say no.

“Well, not here exactly, but for WCW. I’m one of the wrestlers. Should my ego be wounded that you don’t know who I am?”

Just my luck. “No, not in the least. I’ve been out of the loop for the past four years with school. I’m sure learning who everyone is will be necessary now, though.”

“So, about that drink... is there a place you’d like to go?”

Exhaling a sigh, I roll my lips inward and remind myself of my dad’s rules. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. This is a perfect example of why rules aren’t meant to be followed. Jesse’s the first guy I’ve felt an instant attraction to since my college boyfriend. I want to have a drink with him more than anything.

More than you want to keep your job? I can hear my dad’s sarcastic tone as if he’s standing beside me and it’s the voice of reason I so badly need.

“I can’t grab a drink with you.”

“We can do it another night, if that works better for you.”

“No, I can’t then either.” I shake my head and sigh. “WCW has a no fraternizing rule and I can’t break it.”

He nods his head. “I didn’t think about that.”

“Yeah me either, but I didn’t realize who you were so…”

“Well, Lilah for now, can I at least get your last name?” He grins mischievously.

My mouth feels unusually dry and I don’t want to answer his question. My tongue slips out to lick my lips.

“Lilah…” he prompts.

“Turner.”

He grimaces. “Fuck.”