Chapter 16 — April

I’d managed to make a fool of myself and a good impression all in the same day. The day came to an end, I must admit I was starving because I hadn’t eaten all day and I was nervous too. It was seven and I’d suggested ways to go forward, but I didn’t have the experience the team had, this part was clear and as much as I told them what to do, they corrected me on how to move forward and Luke would be proud, so proud of how a little babysitter turned PA had saved the day.

Or so I thought?

Yet, he said nothing to me when I gave the presentation even though everyone in the room applauded and told me it was a fantastic idea. They were nearly half-dead they’d spent over two hours trying to fix the issue and trying to figure out a way forward. Yet every suggestion they gave him, he just barked at them like a dog. He was so fucking rude, I saw a side to him I didn’t like and it got even worse when I did my presentation, I expected him to do the same thing to me. But nothing. Nothing at all, he stood up and told everyone to go to work.

We did.

When it was completed, and we did the presentation only the creepy CFO asked if I wanted to go out and eat with them. They were all going to the pizza joint down the road they always ate at on Friday nights, but it was a Monday and going to be a long week, so they figured they would eat tonight and carry on working afterward. I’d never been asked out by anyone since I came to the city, but then Francesca, the CIO told me not to go.

“No one’s going. He wants to get you alone,” Francesca told me in the bathroom as we washed our hands. “There’s a Starbucks across the road, I’m going for a quick fix and then coming back. You want to join?”

I nodded, thinking it was the first time since I started working here, someone had actually had a conversation, even if it was so small. Also, it was nice to be asked to go out even if it was for a quick coffee, but the first offer was for something much more, but I didn’t want to find out what he had in mind at the pizza joint.

I went to my desk to grab my purse hoping Stephanie wouldn’t change her mind.

“April in here.” Luke’s voice boomed behind me.

I hesitated thinking he should be in a good mood, but he seemed even more miserable than he did this morning. How was it possible, to have so much money and always appear to be dejected?

As I entered his office, he said, “Close the door.”

I did as he ordered and then sat opposite him. He was staring at me again, the same way he did earlier when I was giving my presentation, the same blank expression made me feel so uncomfortable as I did earlier today.

“So?”

I repeated, “So.”

He cleared his throat, “I didn’t want to say this in front of everyone else, but you really did a good job today. So good I feel you’re wasted being my PA and you should be so much more. Don’t get me wrong, the guys in the room have so much experience they have fresh insights into many things…”

I didn’t let him finish. “Well, Stephanie helped me polish up the proposal this evening. She found flaws in my presentation and if it wasn’t for her, then today would have been the disaster it was—”

“Please don’t interrupt me while I’m speaking, it’s rude and I don’t have the patience for it.”

He was being all formal and part of me regretted coming into his office. The illusion I had of this man was disappearing and there was nothing sexy or event hot about him. Just the opposite, he was being an ass and I was being tortured being in his office. Even if he was wearing a dark blue suit, and matching tie which made his eyes even appear lighter than they did every day.

“We had an understanding and you broke it on Friday. I excused you, but then again this morning.”

I looked up, to see he couldn’t even face me, he stared out at the window.

“I don’t want there to be a misunderstanding because you could be a valued member of the team. If you want to be.”

I stood up, not sure what to do with myself.

“Yes,” I whispered.

“I’m happy you want to be part of the team,” he clapped his hands behind his back, but his face was still as cold as ice.

“I need to go downstairs, the girls are waiting for me before we finish the work for today.”

“Oh good, you’re making friends.”

I wanted to slap him in the face and tell him what a jerk he was being. Instead, I smiled and nodded like a child being told by their parents how happy they were finally making friends at their new school.

“Oh, and one more thing April about us being a fake couple, I need us to have a dry run this weekend on Sunday. My mom is having her famous charity barbecue. I hope you don’t have plans.”

“No,” I said. Not sure what to expect from him next.

“Good, I’ll pick you up at twelve.”

Of course, he would and if he said good, one more time then I would scream. Instead, I clutched my purse and faced the door. No wonder he needed a fake girlfriend, he couldn’t get a real one if he tried. The man was hot one minute and then cold as ice the next. His poor PA, how did she deal with him? Then again, who was I kidding? He wanted to keep everything strictly business. I should be glad the reason I wanted to work here in the first place was to get ahead in education because I didn’t have the right qualifications. I headed to the elevator, wondering if the girls were all still in Starbuck. I felt sad being rejected, and like a complete fool.

Hopefully, time with the girls would change my mood even if it meant sitting down and having some coffee. Anything was better than having Luke Cold as Winters on my mind.