**AUDREY**
Liam Cross. The memory of him was one reason I wanted to flee from Phoenix.
How could I ever forget his eyes that stared affectionately at me that night? He—who still haunts my dreams at night because of guilt? Guilt that I led him to misery because of my mistake—his death, to be exact, however brutal that word was.
But perhaps fate wasn’t done with me yet. And just when I thought I had finally escaped, fate sent someone else to torture me.
I thought I was going to faint on the spot, looking at the face of my prospective boss, Gabriel Stark.
The symmetry of his face resembled Liam, only Mr. Stark was sophisticated and brisk, and right now, I was having second thoughts about working for him. I could call HR and tell them I wouldn’t be able to come anymore, but that would be a terrible blemish on my employment record.
“Hey!” Chelsea sat next to me, snapping a finger in my face to bring me back to reality. “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve been sucked into a black hole.”
She put a cup of coffee in front of me. She was already dressed in formal attire—a white lace blouse, a cream colored-skirt, and nude heels. Her red hair was tied in a ponytail.
“I’m nervous.” I gripped the cup’s hot surface.
“It’s normal to be nervous on the first day,” she assured, but then she frowned. “What are you wearing?”
I looked down at my black knee-length dress, one of the few dresses I could save before leaving Phoenix.
“Don’t you think that’s too plain?” she asked. “I’m sorry, Audrey. Your face is of a goddess, and your body is to die for, but didn’t I tell you that working at Stark Apparel means dress to impress? You’re going to be working for the boss who owns a fashion firm,” she reminded me, but she forgot to mention that I was only going to work there for a temporary position. It meant I could get fired anytime, and HR told me I would be under his right-hand man David Kline.
“Well, my wardrobe is limited, so…” I reasoned. “But I will pick up a couple extra things when I get my first paycheck.”
“Hmm. Wear my nude heels, at least. It’ll match your dress.” She smiled, then took a sip of her coffee, “and oh, let your hair down.”
“I prefer it this way.” I touched my strawberry blonde hair knotted in a tight bun.
“You’ll learn once you get there… he’s very meticulous. He’s very meticulous.”
“No, I’m going to work under his secretary.”
“Which means he’s your direct superior. I work as the general manager.”
My shoulders fell. Liam Cross or Gabriel Stark, he was still someone who could make my knees liquefy.
Chelsea put down the cup on the counter. “Drink up. We’re leaving in five minutes. I’m just going to get another pair of heels from upstairs.”
“Thanks,” I murmured, and then she disappeared.
***
I was fortunate because of Chelsea. She owned an apartment a few blocks away from the office in New York City. She had a car, so I wouldn’t need to worry about transportation because I probably would live in the streets if it weren’t for her. I knew that living in the United States’ largest city wasn’t easy. The cost of living in Manhattan was beyond my savings reach. I had to tighten my budget until I got my first check.
It was ten minutes before eight when we arrived at Stark Apparel. Chelsea told me to go to the HR department office first because there would be an orientation before starting with the actual job. I came into the room where I first had an initial interview and found Jacey sitting there. She instantaneously recognized me by flashing a wide smile.
“You’re in! I’m so happy to see you!”
I grinned and sat next to her. “I’m happy to see you too, Jacey. You’re here.”
“You know, I heard that they’d already picked someone for the job I was applying for, but then the HR manager put me in another vacancy because some employee is going to take her maternity leave. They needed someone to sit in her position. Isn’t that great? I’m glad they picked you. It means I won’t have to go to the cafeteria alone.”
I grinned. I was sure she’d find a friend in no time, even if it wasn’t me. She was friendly. “Oh, have you seen anyone from HR yet?”
“They said I had to wait here. Have you?”
I shook my head. “No. They said the same.”
As we waited for orientation to begin, I learned Jacey was twenty-two, a senior, and an aspiring fashion designer undergraduate at NYU. She lived with her older sister in an apartment on the Upper East Side and was born in London. Her sister was already in the fashion business. They left the UK when their parents divorced, leaving their older brother behind because of their sick mom.
I couldn’t say anything about myself to Jacey. I had no interest in sharing my life with anyone because nothing was good to share. It would probably ruin the mood if I told her the tragedy of my life. I didn’t want that.
Thirty minutes later, a man with eyeglasses came into the room. It was the assistant manager of HR, Mark Collins. He wore a designer jacket with the company logo on the chest, a dark red turtleneck, and tight black pants. From his looks, everyone seemed to have the freedom to express their fashion style. I thought that the company was suitable for a person who already had money.
“Good morning, ladies,” he greeted, then sat on the chair across from us. “Welcome to Stark Apparel Inc., Jacey, and Audrey, correct?”
“Yes, Mr. Collins,” we answered in unison.
“Alright, this is going to be very brief, and I shall start with Miss Hopkins. You can ask questions after I tell you all the basics.”
“Of course, sir.” I acknowledged.
“As discussed, you will work with the CEO’s right-hand man, Mr. David Kline, until Mr. Stark finally entrusts you with the executive assistant position if you pass probation. He wants to ensure that you’re the right person for the job, hence, the probation status.
“Second, you should always be available for Mr. Stark whenever he calls you. You will be in charge of helping Mr. Kline organize Mr. Stark’s schedule, forward and answer most of his emails, assist the guests, and you shall be present at every meeting. It’s not a mandatory thing, but our CEO is very demanding.
“You can’t be caught using phones too often during work hours, but it should always be available since I’m giving the bosses your direct number in case they can’t contact your desk. And here is the company’s handbook. It contains the company’s rules and regulations. I’m giving both of you a copy so you can review it in your free time. This contract is for three months. Subsequently, we will assess if you are eligible for permanency, as per Mr. Stark’s order. Is that clear?”
“Crystal.”
“Good. Any questions?” Mr. Collins asked.
“None, sir.”
“All right, and as for you, Miss West, the same rules are applied. Only you are working under the Vice CEO’s executive assistant. Oh, excuse me.” He looked back at me. “Miss Hopkins, you shall proceed to the eighty-fifth floor. Mr. Kline is waiting for you, so you can start working.”
“Of course, Mr. Collins.” I smiled, then stood and hooked my knapsack bag.
“If you have a question, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Thank you, sir.”
I glanced in Jacey’s direction, but she was currently busy listening to Mr. Collins, so I left the room without a backward glance. I walked toward the elevator and pressed the 85th-floor button. I could already feel my heart racing as if it wanted to jump out of my chest in nervousness. I couldn’t stop clenching the fabric of my bag. Approaching the 83rd floor, the elevator stopped to let in a man in a blue suit. He tried to press 85 but smiled when he saw it was already lit.
“Good morning,” he greeted.
“Good morning.”
“Are you, perhaps, Ms. Hopkins?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I see.”
The elevator finally stopped on the 85th floor. He let me step out first, and he came out after me.
“My name is David Kline. I’m Mr. Stark’s right hand. This floor is exclusive only for the upper management, their assistants, and of course, the CEO.”
My eyes roamed around the place. From what I could tell, the 85th floor was unlike all the other floors in the building. It was more like a five-star hotel suite lobby with chandeliers in the ceiling and plush, carpeted flooring. The scent alone smelled luxurious, just right for its expensive interior. The reception area had the Stark Apparel Inc. brand logo on the wall.
“This is your keycard,” Mr. Kline handed me a light blue-colored card. “It has access to each door in this building since you will work for the CEO. Not everyone has this authorization. Please, don’t lose it.”
“Thank you, Mr. Kline.”
“You can call me Dave. Audrey, right?” he smiled. “We always want to become friends with everyone here. The job here can be demanding, but at least we’re comfortable working with our colleagues.”
I smiled back. “Of course, Dave.” It was almost awkward since he was very polite.
“Alright, let me introduce you to Mr. Stark properly now. Shall we?”
My heart skipped a beat, and my throat got dry. I took a deep breath and heaved out a sigh. “Sure.”
“Follow me.”
I followed Dave until we reached the most significant room on the 85th floor. He knocked on the door, then we heard a “come in.”
“Oh, you need to wait for his answer before you enter.”
“Sure.”
“Mr. Stark?” Dave stepped into the CEO’s room, and I followed him.
“Yes, Dave?” Gabriel Stark turned his swivel chair around and faced us.
Oh, God. He was just too good to be true. It was as if I was looking at a movie scene. He was more beautiful than I last remembered him. He looked impeccable in a tailored gray three-piece suit with a black tie. His hair was faultlessly trimmed into a classic pompadour. But the way he looked at me and crossed his leg was as if he was telling me to “come over and sit in my lap.” It was too much.
“Mr. Stark, Miss Hopkins is here.”
“I’m aware,” he answered, but he kept his deep set of eyes on me, making me blush more than ever. Gabriel stood and walked over to me, then reached out his hand. “Welcome to Stark Apparel.”
Hesitating, I held out my palm to shake his hand. “Thank you, Mr. Stark.” His hand was slightly rough and rugged, but it didn’t prevent the little tingles that traveled down my already wet panties.
God! This man was the epitome of perfection, as if he was born to please a woman with his devilishly sexy features, and he knew it.
He cleared his throat, then broke away, slipping his hands inside his pocket. “Mr. Kline, show her the desk. She’ll be using Ms. Will’s former seat.”
“Right away, Mr. Stark.” Dave curtly nodded, then he looked at me. “Follow me, Ms. Hopkins.”
He remained standing, cocking his head as he watched us exit his office.