Chapter 13
Mia
I pull over a few blocks away. My hands are shaking, and my mind is scattered. It is definitely not safe for me to be driving. I take deep breaths and will myself to slow down. I have never done anything like that before. There were people just on the other side of those tires. I had wanted to be on my knees in front of him from the moment he called me this morning. All he had to do was say the word. What the fuck is wrong with me?
The weekend had been a sickening elevator ride of heady rushes of lust and excitement followed by plummeting doubts of bewilderment and shame. I had decided last night, or more like the wee hours of this morning, after putting the finishing touches on my project, that I was going to conclude my business with Garrett Castle and that would be the end of our acquaintance. It was done, and it wasn’t going to happen again.
My resolve had lasted less than 12 hours. I had it all planned out when he called this morning. I thought I would be safe as long as we met at the garage. What a naïve idiot I am. I give myself a mental shake. My internship was riding on my presentation in 30 minutes. I need to get my act together.
I wrestle the images of Garrett out of my mind and lock them away in a little corner. I know they will not stay there willingly, but I have them cornered for the moment. I swing into the parking spot with plenty of time to spare. I check my appearance in the rearview mirror. Other than some darkness under my eyes thanks to several sleepless nights, I look like a put together young professional woman. You can’t tell that I had been in flagrante delicto just moments ago.
I put on my game face and concentrate on my proposal. If this goes well, I hope to land an internship that will launch my career. I watch two of my classmates’ presentations before my name is called. I take a deep breath and walk with confidence to the podium. I am in the zone. This is my shot, and nobody, certainly not Garrett Castle, is going to mess it up.
“Good afternoon. Thank you for coming to suffer through what must be tedious amateur presentations to your trained eye. I appreciate that you came in person as opposed to sending a flunky in your place while you put your time to better use perfecting your golf swing.” I had their attention and had received several smiles and chuckles. I feel it all click into place as I dive into the project that I have been pouring my heart and soul into for weeks. It is a SWAT analysis of a local business, and I have several practical, affordable, and creative ways they can improve their advertising and sales. The 20-minute presentation is done in a nanosecond. I receive a solid round of applause and several nods as I leave the front of the room.
Cara, my best friend, is in the back of the room waiting for me. We get out the door before she squeals with excitement. “Holy shit, Mia! That was fantastic!” She practically tackles me one of her exuberant hugs. I take a couple of steps back at the force of her embrace and stumble into a tall, nice looking man just walking out of the door.
“Oh! I am so sorry,” I say laughing and blushing as he tries to catch and steady both of us. Cara is giggling but trying not to. Her face is turning so red she looks like a tomato about to pop.
We finally get untangled. “Ms. Andrews, I’d like to talk to you about an internship.”
My stomach flips and my nipples get tight when he says ‘Ms. Andrews’, but I pin a smile on my face and stick my hand out. “I’d like to hear what you have in mind, Mr. …” I let my sentence trail off to allow him to supply his name.
“Ashby. Lucas Ashby,” he says and takes my hand in a firm handshake.
Cara tells me that she’ll call me later and excuses herself. I give her a grateful smile and bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing as she pantomimes a thumbs up and fans herself communicating her conclusion that Lucas Ashby is a hottie.
She’s got that right. He is broad shouldered and several inches taller than me. His hair is a dark, dirty blond that is cropped short in a no-nonsense professional cut. He is regarding me with forest green eyes with flecks of gold that are intelligent with a dose of ruthlessness.
“Shall we have a seat and chat, Ms. Andrews,” he asks gesturing at a cluster of chairs in the foyer. “You’ll have to forgive me for pursuing you in the hallway, but as you mentioned in your opening remarks, my time is valuable.”
We sit and 20 minutes later, we are shaking hands over my internship at the Ashby-Morgan Agency.
The next several days are a whirlwind doing pre-employment screenings and paperwork and finishing up all of my classes. I pick up my phone countless times to call Garrett. He had done so many extra things to the car, and I wanted to tell him my good news. Every time, I end up putting the phone down. Garrett Castle is a complication that I don’t need right now.
My first day at the biggest marketing firm in the city is overwhelming but exciting. The only downside to the whole experience is Lucas Ashby is the biggest dickhead I have ever had to deal with. The arrogance is understandable, almost forgivable. His nasty comments and snide remarks about me and my two other fellow interns are not. He treated us like we were there to fetch his coffee, run his errands, and basically lick his boots.
Emily is in tears, Rachel is boiling over with indignation, and I am simply disappointed. We are standing in the lobby of the building discussing our not-so-awesome first day. I look at us, and it is clear to see that Lucas Ashby likes brunettes with curves. I wonder cynically if he even heard any of our presentations. The doors of the building slide open, and I look over Rachel’s shoulder to see Garrett walking in the building. He looks the lobby over as he heads toward the elevator. His eyes lock with mine and his feet change course, making a beeline directly to me.
“Tomorrow’s another day, ladies. Mr. Ashby just wanted to make sure everyone knows that he is large and in charge. He’ll tire out of his little power games soon enough,” I cut across Rachel’s rant. I want to separate myself from them before I have to do introductions.
I meet Garrett a few feet away from my stunned classmates. I know they are staring at me and wondering what is up with the tall, hunky guy. I am not particularly friends with either one of them, but we’ve been in classes together for a couple of terms. They know I am not a socializer and don’t date.
I grab his arm and steer him back toward the elevators away from eavesdropping ears. “What are you doing here,” I ask, trying to ignore the butterflies in my stomach and the hopeful feeling that leaped into my chest. Only the insane pace of the last week has kept me from obsessing endlessly about Garrett. I’ve only been managing, part-time obsessing, at best.
“I have business to attend to, Ms. Andrews. What are you doing here,” he retorts and tucks my hand in the crook of his arm, trapping it when I had started to pull it away.
“I got an internship at Ashby-Morgan. Today was my first day.” I try to sound confident and excited, but the words come out flat.
Garrett looks down at me sharply with those blue eyes. “Doesn’t sound like the best first day. Why did you choose Ashby-Morgan?”
“It was ok,” I say as I shrug. “I didn’t choose them. Mr. Ashby chose me, and besides, they are biggest and best firm in the city.” It sounds like I am trying to convince myself as well as him.
“Ms. Andrews, are you busy?”
“Umm..,” I try to come up with something I need to be doing. I had a date with a tub of Ben and Jerry’s to drown my sorrows, but I didn’t think that qualified as ‘busy’. “No. I don’t have any plans.”
“Good,” he says and abruptly changes course, heading for the doors.