CHAPTER TWO
Renee closed her eyes as she worked the shampoo into her hair.
She realized that all she did these days was work and go home. She usually managed to watch some TV before bedtime but she just didn’t have the energy to do anything else. Even on weekends, her boss would call her into the office to finish up some urgent work.
Ah well, work was the only thing keeping her occupied and sane. In fact, working with her boss was challenging, exciting and stimulating.
Renee found her thoughts drifting to her sinfully handsome, domineering, formidable boss. Zack Howell might be the boss from hell, but the man himself was hotter than the flames of hell.
Zack was rich, successful and insanely good-looking. The man was tall, broad and had the ripped, defined physique of a model. With his wealth and rakish good looks, Zack Howell was one of the most eligible bachelors in the city. He’d dated starlets, models, socialites, heiresses, all stunning beauties. Even before she started working for Zack, Renee had already seen countless photographs of Zack in the tabloids and gossip magazines.
But once she stepped into the role of his PA, Renee saw that the playboy facade was just that—a facade. Nobody took a playboy seriously. That was the mistake many of his competitors made. Once they let their guard down, Zack pounced. Behind that pretty face was a very sharp, astute business mind.
Zack was only thirty-one years old, but already he was reputed to be one of the toughest negotiators in the corporate world. His investment firm, Howell Holdings, had only twenty staff but the firm was highly profitable and nimble.
Zack was a very savvy investor and he was quick to pounce on the latest investment opportunity. He acted swiftly and decisively, and he expected his staff to keep up. Zack kept the company small and ran a tight ship. He chose his employees carefully, and he trusted them to do their jobs well. Staff who cut corners and slacked off had no place in his company.
As his personal assistant, Renee had gotten used to the long hours. She worked late almost every day, sometimes even on weekends. When her boss wanted something done, he almost always wanted it done right away.
Renee knew that Zack had fired at least a dozen personal assistants before her. The previous PA had been asked to leave barely two weeks into the job. Zack had caught her trying to unlock his phone to pry into his personal messages and photos.
Some personal assistants took the word “personal” in their job title out of context. There should be nothing personal in the relationship.
Renee had worked as a PA for quite a few bosses, and she had been asked to order flowers, engagement rings, sometimes even lingerie for her bosses’ significant others. She did all these tasks as part of her job. Her job afforded her a glimpse into her bosses’ personal lives, but she never stuck her nose into her bosses’ private affairs.
So far, Zack hadn’t asked her to order flowers or jewelry for any female friend. Was he taking the time and effort to personally choose thoughtful gifts for a very secret, very special woman?
Renee frowned as a strange sensation bloomed in her chest. Why was she feeling...annoyed and jealous?
Could the billionaire playboy have met his match and was preparing to settle down?
Renee growled and scrubbed her skin with more force than was necessary. Why was she feeling all hot and bothered? It was none of her business.
No, no way. She couldn’t be jealous. She had no right to feel jealous.
But come to think of it, ever since she started working for Zack, she hadn’t seen a single photograph of Zack in those tabloids and magazines. He didn’t seem to be dating anyone. All he did was work.
She should know. Because she had to work alongside her workaholic, demanding boss almost every single day of the week. There was no secret girlfriend or fiancee. She was pretty sure of it.
Renee stopped scrubbing her skin raw and turned the water on at full blast.
She had to stop thinking of Zack.
To do that, she needed to take an ice cold shower.