Chapter 1
Chastity
Even though it’s only eight-thirty in the morning, countless business-suit clad employees swarm around the office in front of me. For the third time, I try to make eye contact with the receptionist. I’m starting to think she’s just deliberately ignoring me. True, the phones never seem to stop ringing, and there’s a never-ending parade of people approaching the desk who need something, but I’ve been waiting here for ten minutes now without getting so much as a glance in my direction by that perfectly shaped face fringed with blonde hair.
Of course. They are always blonde. It’s even more unfair that her hair appears to be natural. Either that or she spent a fortune to get that shimmery blonde shade without any roots peeking through.
Giving up for the moment, I go to the coffee machine again to refill my second cup, but instead I decide to toss the cup in the trash. As nervous and on edge I am already, the last thing I need is more caffeine. I’ll be bouncing off the walls.
I make one more futile attempt to catch the receptionist’s attention but she still doesn’t look my way. With a frustrated sigh, I start walking down the hall. I half-expect one of the security guards near the entrance to stop me, or perhaps finally get a glance from the woman working reception, but no one looks at me or tries to stop me. I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m so anxious I figure wandering aimlessly has to be better than standing in the lobby looking like an idiot. I can come back to the desk when they’re less busy... Or maybe someone will notice me as I get deeper inside the building?
Unlikely. Nobody seems to be waiting for me. I’m more convinced than ever that I’ve been sent to the wrong place by the school, when they matched me with the internship program. My plan is to major in accounting, and while I’m certain Hayden Enterprises has an accounting department, I don’t think they need me. They seem so busy and preoccupied, they probably even have time to take on an intern.
Finally, I find an open office and slip inside. I promised to email my friend Vicki with all the details of my assignment, and while I don’t have any yet, I could use a commiserating ear, or some advice. The minute she is out of class I’ll call, but in the meantime I can email and text her. We’re always there for each other.
Catching my reflection in the mirrored wall, I can see my eyes getting huge as I step into the office. A hint of doubt creeps over me. It’s so swank and fancy, it’s obvious the designer spared no expense. The client who commissioned him or her must have endless cash. The wall-to-wall windows form a perfect L. I stand in front of the glass for a moment, marveling at the sight of Manhattan stretching out in front of me. Like other New Yorkers, I’ve been to the Empire State building as part of a school field trip, but I never bothered to go back after graduating and before starting college. Whoever has this office sure is lucky. Probably a lowly accountant intern’s boss’s boss’s boss’s boss. I don’t want to get caught trespassing, so I better hurry. I stick my hand the pocket of my suit jacket — borrowed from my mom, who fortunately I share a size with, since we also share a curvy frame and similar shape — and take out my phone.
My thumb barely slides over the unlock button when the sound of a door slamming makes me jump. I jerk and spin around away from the windows, immediately wishing I listened to the little voice inside that told me to stay out of this place -- both the fancy office, and maybe even the building.
A breathtaking man swoops toward me. He looks annoyed by my presence, and I can’t blame him. I have no business being there. As I open my mouth to apologize, he cuts me off.
“Who are you, and what are you doing in my office?”
I stammer, trying to get a response out of my mouth which has gone suddenly dry. “I… I…”
“Your name is Eye Eye?”
I shake my head mutely as he crosses his arms over his chest. At first, he looks terrifying and imposing, especially with his solid physique and carefully styled deep black hair. When a sparkle in his blue eyes and the slight twitch of his lips gives him away, I realize he’s not angry. He may be confused about my presence, but at least I haven’t irritated the wrong person on my first day of the internship.
Yet.
“Well, Eye Eye, unless you’re some kind of corporate spy, you don’t need to be in my office. Which department are you with?”
“Um…” I shrug weakly again, and shift my weight from foot to foot. I still can’t seem to speak.
He frowns, and the way his dark brows draw together creates an enticing furl in his forehead that I want to reach out and smooth away with my fingertip.
“Unless I miss my guess, I’d say you’re not here for customer service or answering the phones, since you can’t seem to speak. Hmm… are you a software developer for our team?”
I shake my head again, but finally manage to squeak out, “What do you develop?”
His eyes rake over me from head to toe, and I’m nearly certain I see a flash of heat before his lids lower to shield his gaze. “Your Next Ex.”
I shake my head, feeling like my neck is on a spring of a Jack-in-the-Box as much as I’d used it last few minutes. “I don’t have an ex.” I don’t even have a current. I’ve never had a current or an ex-anything, since I’m shy. And curvy. The curves probably didn’t scare away the high school boys, but my own self-consciousness certainly did. It’s not like I can hope to send any signals of interest when I get practically paralyzed around anyone of the opposite gender. Especially gorgeous ones.
Much like I am around this gorgeous person.
“Who are you?” I blurt out finally.
One of his brows arches, rising closer to his hairline. “I think that’s the question I asked you, Eye Eye.”
“Um, yes. Sorry. My name is Chastity Mitchell, and I’m an intern. At least I think I am, though um, it’s very possible I might be in the wrong place.” I say it as almost one word without taking a breath, and as the last word leaves my mouth I realize how squeaky I sound.
If I’m not struck by shyness with a frozen tongue, I’m babbling like an idiot.
“Ah. I’m Blair Hayden, and I own Hayden Enterprises, which produces the app, Your Next Ex.”
“Oh,” I say, confused. “I still don’t understand what that is.”
He indulges me with a crooked smile. “Your Next Ex is a hookup app. Perhaps you’ve heard of Tinder?”
I hesitantly nod my head. I’m vaguely familiar with the idea. I’ve never tried it myself, but I would have to be living under a rock not to have a clue about Tinder. My heart sinks and I’m more convinced than ever that some snafu on the college’s part sent me to the wrong business.
“I’m not sure why I’m here then. I’m supposed to be an intern, but I’m studying accounting. I don’t know anything about software development or for that matter—” I break off abruptly before I blurt something embarrassing like, ‘hooking up with strangers to have sex.’
“You wandered into the wrong office, Eye Eye.”
“Chastity,” I remind him in a whisper, unable to meet his bright green eyes that are focusing solely on me. I look down, suddenly finding the tips of my muted dove-gray shoes engrossing.
“All right. Let me get someone to sort you out.” He crosses to his desk, putting several feet of space between us, which somehow makes it easier to breathe.
He lifts the phone and speaks into it for less than a minute before returning it to the cradle and turning to face me. “Okay Eye Eye, Madeleine will be in an a snap to show you where to go.”
“Who’s Madeleine?”
“Our secretary.”
With a small stir of pity for the woman if she’s expected to be the secretary to the entire office, which is brimming with employees as far as I could tell. He rakes his eyes over me as I shift from foot to foot again, and neither one of us speaks again until a sharply dressed brunette enters his office after knocking. She’s beautiful too. Sure, I have brown hair, but she’s got rich chestnut and chocolate brown lights. It reminds me of the mousiness of the rest of me, and I touch it self-consciously I shoot an anxious look at Blair. I realize I’m looking to him for reassurance, which is nuts. Crazy. I don’t know him. I’ll likely never see him again as I run out my tenure in the internship I have to finish to start my major.
What use would the CEO have for a lowly intern?
He flashes me his crooked grin, with equal parts amusement and confidence. “Go with Madeleine now, and I’ll see you later, Eye Eye.”
“Chastity,” I whisper once more as I step past him, moving closer than I should. Or need to. My reward is one last breath of his spicy, masculine cologne as I follow the secretary from his office.