Chapter 13
Adrian is greeted by the low hum of efficiency when he gets back to the office—phones ringing, fingers tapping against keyboards, printers shuttling out paper. He nods in return for every murmured hello as he makes his way up the stairs, going straight for the conference room to begin a meeting.
He asked Mia to help Beth with anything she needed and based on what she’d told him before he left for his lunch break, Beth was doing really well for her first day. He’s glad to have his suspicions confirmed; she is a brilliant woman and he was right to hire her.
The nature of work at his company demands agility. Many of his employees perform their tasks efficiently, speaking rapidly with little patience to explain their long-established ways, but she’s proved that she’s more than capable to work in this setting. She is bold but respectful– unafraid to ask questions, but well aware of when and how to approach.
A knock on his door breaks him from his thoughts.
“Come in.”
Colin walks in with both hands in his pocket. He pulls out the chair across Adrian’s desk. “I feel like, for the CEO of this company, you’ve hardly been in the office for the last two weeks.”
“You know I do most of my work from my home office.”
“Yeah. But you still need to actually show up," he says this with a hint of a smile. This is a conversation he constantly has with Colin. But no matter how many times Colin complains, he’s always there when Adrian needs him. This company won’t exist without him. “Anyway, I noticed we have a new employee. But I wasn’t aware that we were hiring. So I thought maybe this employee is the reason I haven’t seen much of you at the office…” Colin trails off, giving Adrian a sideways glance.
Adrian drops the stack of documents he’s been flipping through. “What are you asking?”
Colin raises his hands. “Nothing. Just that I’ve never known you to hire through such unconventional means.”
“Well, I felt we could use some help improving the company’s public image in preparation for our latest launch, hence the unconventional means.” He should have told Colin his plans. As the COO, he deserved to know. But he can’t explain something he barely understands himself. He had no logical reason to offer Beth the job. Although hiring a marketing communications specialist was an idea that the head of the Marketing Department had brought up in passing, they hadn’t released a job advertisement requesting applications for the position.
“While I don’t disagree, I’m pretty sure I’m missing something but I won’t push.”
“You’re not missing anything,” he replies, glad that Colin is willing to drop it. He has no desire to reveal the real reason why he’d hired her and confess that he’s on the verge of breaking one of his many rules. “Would that be all?”
“Yup,” Colin says, pushing his chair and standing. “See you later.”
“Bye, Colin.”
When his door shuts, he glances at the clock. A quarter to five. He picks up his desk phone. “Mia, can you please have Ms. Parsons stop here on her way out?”
“Yes, sir.”
He loosens the knot of his tie as he leans back in his chair. When he hears a knock on the door ten minutes later, his heart jumps into his throat. Why the hell is he nervous? “Come in.”
Held up in a ponytail before, her long dark curls hang loose now. He imagines the moment she arched her back and let it down. He pictures her breasts in the air as she ran her fingers through it. He hasn’t done much today but fantasize about sitting her naked on his lap, playing with her tits while he works, and then fucking her hard over his. Right now, it feels like there’s nothing he wants more than to do exactly that.
“Have a seat.” He gestures to the chair Colin just vacated. “How was your first day?”
“Good. I enjoyed myself,” Beth smiles as she folds her hands in her lap.
“Amy tells me you’re settling in just fine. Do you feel comfortable with your workload?”
“Absolutely.”
“Do you have any questions thus far?”
“No, I feel pretty clear on my role. My colleagues have been really helpful.”
“I’m happy to hear that.” He leans forward in his seat. “I called you in here to ask… a favor. The company is hosting a fundraiser this Friday. I would like you to go with me.”
“Oh?” She arches an eyebrow. “Is this a date?” she asks, looking both excited and apprehensive.
He chuckles at her expression. “No. This dinner is strictly work-related. I told you that the job comes with no conditions. You going out with me is merely…” He pauses, lifting his shoulders in a casual shrug “…one of the perks.”
Her face visibly flushes. “Oh,” she mutters, clasping her hands together like she doesn’t know what to do with them.
He has a few ideas, but most of them are from his brain downstairs. And he doesn’t think she’ll be extremely welcoming of them at this stage of the game.
“Beth?”
Her attention jumps from the floor straight to his gaze. The vivid depths of her eyes are swirling with a heady mix of excitement and uncertainty, nearly knocking the wind out of him.
“Will you be my date?”
Her face softens briefly, overwhelmed by a powerful look of longing. Fifteen seconds later, when determination replaced it, her jaw flexing under the pressure, he isn’t sure it had ever existed.
“Yes.”
He bites his lip in victory. “Alright. I’ll pick you up Friday at 7?”
“I’ll come to you.”
“I’m capable of picking you up. I already know where you live.”
“And I’m capable of driving myself.”
He shakes his head. “Are you always a pain in the ass?
She smiles coyly.
“Alright. I’ll see you Friday at The Atlantis.”