Chapter One

 

Mimi

My coffee sloshed over the edge of my cup and I sighed in exasperation as I walked into the lobby of the huge building. I could feel the receptionist's eyes on me as I made my way to her desk, and I didn't blame her. I sure as hell looked like I didn't belong in the lobby of Smart Investments, inc., with my off-the-rack outfit, heels I could barely walk in and the face that screamed of my age - not old enough to be taken seriously, not young enough to be a child.

"Can I help you?" the receptionist asked me in a crisp, posh voice, and I stared at her trying to gather my bearings as she silently judged me.

"Yes," I finally managed to get out. "I'm here for the PA position."

"The interviews?" she asked primly, and I nodded intently, attempting to pull out my resume from my bag and dropping all my papers as I did so.

"I'm afraid the position has been filled internally," the woman said as I bent to pick them up. "You're too late, unfortunately."

I stopped in my tracks, the papers scattered around my feet as I stared at her incredulously. Was she serious? Had I really trekked all the way downtown only to be let down a moment later?

"It c-can't be," I stuttered. "I talked to HR just this morning, they asked me to come in..."

"I'm sorry," she replied with an icy smile and a look that plainly told me I should get the hell out of there.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I fought against the tears springing to my eyes, bending down to pick my scattered papers. I was attempting to gather them all and bite back my tears when I felt a hand touch my own. A strong, weathered hand with dark hair. I looked up when he touched me, and bit back a gasp of surprise.

"Mr. Wilkins!" I managed to get out.

"Hello, Mimi," he said pleasantly. "What are you doing here?"

I stared into the eyes of the man before me, still crouched down on the floor. I couldn't believe I was seeing him in the flesh again, after all the years I had passed. The memory of the last time I'd seen him still burned brightly in my thoughts, and I blushed, looking away when I felt all those feelings rushing back.

"I'm here for the interview," I managed to get out, still attempting to gather my things. "For the personal assistant position."

"Is that so?" he asked, and I looked up at him again. There was a smirk playing on his lips as he looked at me as if he was amused by something. "Why don't you come in, then?"

"I've been told..." I swallowed thickly. "I've been told the position's been filled internally."

"Internally?" he repeated, his eyebrows shooting up. "By who?"

I glanced towards the receptionist. He got up and glared at her, and the woman looked sheepish as he told her off before turning back to me again.

"It's most definitely not filled," he said as I finally got my bearings and stood up again, ready to do whatever he told me. "And I would love to see you in my office, Mimi. Would you care to come with me?"

My heart beat a little bit faster as I glanced at him and the pissed-off looking woman behind the desk.

"But... do you work here?" I asked, my voice shaky.

Mr. Wilkins laughed in response, saying, "Of course, you wouldn't know. You and Cassi dropped out of touch, didn't you? After she went abroad?"

"Yes," I nodded, my throat tight at the mention of his daughter.

Cassi had been my best friend for years. We'd been together through thick and thin - through kindergarten, through primary and high school. I'd been there for her when her mother passed away, and she stood by me when I was struggling with my parents' divorce. After high school, I went off to study finance, and Cassi decided to take a gap year to travel the world. Now, I was twenty-one years old and ready to take on my first job, and as far as I knew, Cassi was still traveling. We spoke every few months, but we led different lives, and it was hard to stay in touch. I still considered her a close friend though, even though she was usually a continent away.

And as for Mr. Wilkins...

He was Cassi's father.

And I'd had a crush on him for years.

A crush that resulted in one forbidden, incredible and oh-so-wrong kiss... And then I never saw him again. Until that moment in the lobby.

"I started my own company after Cassi went off to travel," he said then, making me snap my attention back to him. "You know, an old man has to keep busy. I was quite lonely after Cassi left."

I knew all about that too, and I blushed deeply, glancing away before my stupid mouth went off again.

"Look at me," he said softly, and my eyes snapped back to his in surprise.

His tone reminded me of the one he'd used with me three years ago. Barely eighteen... the sun was hot that day, drying the droplets of water from their pool on my skin. I was a different girl back then. A different girl that had kissed him. A kiss he returned so passionately, held my cheek in his palm as if I were the most precious thing in the world.

"Will you please come to my office?" he asked again, and this time, I found myself nodding to his question.

He made a move as if he were about to take my hand, but changed his mind the last second, giving me a big smile instead. I trotted behind him as he led me to the elevator and pressed the number with the highest floor. 69. My stupid mind giggled at the thought.

We were alone in the elevator, and his closeness was electrifying. I felt him in every cell of my body, his presence sending shivers down my spine. He didn't say a word, just stood his ground firmly, his gaze focused on the lit-up numbers above the elevator's door. I kept sneaking glances, unable to stop myself from staring at him in fascination.

He was still just as jaw-droppingly handsome as I remembered him. His dark brown hair was now peppered with grey strands, but his jaw was just as chiseled and covered in faint stubble. He'd told me once he shaved every morning, but the stubborn beard made an appearance in the form of a shadow a couple of hours later. I smiled at the memory.

"Remembering something?" he asked me in that deep voice of his and looked down at me to smirk.

He towered over me. I was petite, but next to Mr. Wilkins I felt like a little girl. He was huge and I still remembered the muscles I felt under his shirt when I kissed him that afternoon in their house. That was the last time I saw him.

Just then, the elevator doors opened and I followed him down a long, winding hallway towards what I assumed was his office.

"So the PA position," I said softly as I rushed after him. "I would be working for you?"

"Indeed," he replied, sending shivers down my spine. "My assistant is currently on maternity leave, and I'm looking for someone to stand in. If I like the way we work together, I'm open to finding another position for the person once Mrs. Sanders returns."

He stopped in front of a larger corner office and showed me in with a pleasant smile. My heart pounded as I walked into the room, admiring the beautiful interior, which was obviously done by a professional designer. Mr. Wilkins had come a long way. I still remembered him working on his own company and getting it off the ground when Cassi and I were younger.

We sat down at his desk, and the next twenty minutes of our conversation was completely professional.

He asked about my experience, about my education, and my interests. I was upfront and honest about everything, but also made sure to tell him I'd be available to start right away, and I was open to working around a busy schedule that he surely had. The whole time we spoke, I watched the glimmer in his eyes that I'd known for years. When we were finally done, he leaned across the desk and grinned at me.

"The job is yours if you want it," he said with a bright smile, and I couldn't help the corners of my mouth turning up as well.

"Really?" I asked hopefully, and he nodded, making me jump up from my seat and squeal with excitement. 

He laughed at my obvious happiness and came around his desk. In seconds, I'd hugged him tightly, only noticing a second too late he'd actually extended his hand out for me to shake, and I'd gotten the completely wrong idea.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry," I managed to get out. "I don't know what I was thinking..."

"Mimi," he said softly, and my eyes shot up to his kind green gaze.

Except now it wasn't kind at all, but instead almost looked tortured. His eyes were dark with needs I didn't understand, and memories we both shared. My lips parted to say something, but there were no words left, just the feeling of my own beating heart and his fingers digging into my skin, waiting for my next move.

"Do you remember my name?" he asked me roughly, and I let out a gasp.

"Of course..." I whispered. 

How could I have forgotten? I'd lusted after the man for years... At first, when he was an unattainable fantasy, and later on, when I'd already tasted his lips and wanted nothing more but to be in his arms again.

"Say it," he said, his voice filled with emotion I didn't understand.

"W-why?" I managed to get out.

"I want to hear it," he said, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Easton." 

The word slipped from my lips, and he groaned when he heard it, sending every bit of heat in my body straight to my sex. I was turned on. God fucking damn it, I was turned on for Cassi's father... and my new boss.

"Thank you," he finally said, slipping back to his professional smile and letting go of me.

I felt the loss of his touch like a slap in the face, and I cleared my throat while he went back to sit at his desk.

"Will you be able to come in tomorrow?" he asked me, and I was quick to nod, grateful for the distraction. "I need you here at 8 a.m. sharp. That alright?"

"Yes," I said firmly. "I will be here. Hopefully in less disarray than I was in today."

He laughed out loud and crossed his arms in front of his body. His biceps bulged through the expensive suit jacket he was wearing and I did my best not to stare.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he said with a grin, and I nodded before practically stumbling out of his office.

I made my way out of the building in a daze but still managed to notice the receptionist giving me the stink-eye as I made my way outside. I was too overwhelmed to acknowledge it though, my thoughts on anything but her apparent bitterness. I took the tube home with a stupid grin on my face and walked into my small apartment trying my best to focus. As I sat down on my couch with a glass of wine, I realized I had nobody to tell the good news. I wasn't close with either of my parents, especially after the ugliness of their divorce. My only real friend had been Cassi, and I'd mostly dropped out of touch with my classmates. Sitting there, I felt really alone, so I busied my mind with thoughts I most definitely shouldn't have been having, and all of them revolved around a certain Easton Wilkins.