Chapter One
Lucy
I love my job.
I silently repeat the words like a mantra as my boss, Miles Hart, scrolls through his phone, doing God knows what.
Probably checking his Insta feed.
I tighten my grip on the stylus I’m holding, if only to avoid throwing it across the desk. If I had a dollar—hell, a quarter—for every time I’ve had to repeat myself during these daily briefings, my student loans would be a thing of the past and I wouldn’t have to choose between my Starbucks habit and paying rent.
If only.
I love my job.
Never in a million years did I think I’d find myself working in financial technology, but here I am, slogging away as an executive assistant in Silicon Hills. Don’t get me wrong, Triada Tech is a great company, and, aside from his fleeting attention span, Miles is an excellent boss.
He’s brilliant. Patient. Sexy.
Completely out of my league.
To be fair, Miles is in a league all his own. A self-made billionaire with sun-bleached hair, clear blue eyes, and the kind of wicked smile that leaves a trail of exploding ovaries in his wake—he’s basically the human equivalent of a unicorn.
Which probably makes me a lamb.
Or, if we’re keeping with equine theme, a mule.
One who’s spent far too many nights pining over a man who barely knows I exist.
I exhale slowly, the mindful breathing exercises almost second nature at this point.
On the other side of the desk, Miles swipes his phone screen.Again. I bite back my frustration and count to three before continuing.
“You have a ten o’clock conference call with Hillary to discuss the new advertising campaign,” I say, reviewing the meeting details on my tablet. “I told her you have a hard stop at ten thirty, but I set an alarm on your phone. Just in case.” Hillary has notoriously poor time management, and Miles is too nice to cut her off, even when he has back-to-back appointments. “Should I print a copy of the presentation for you?”
Miles doesn’t answer, and when I glance up, he’s staring at his computer monitor, brows flat, a look of intense concentration on his face.
Irritation sparks deep in my chest.
What is the point of these meetings if he doesn’t actually listen to a word I say? There are a million other things I could be doing right now. Things that would actually deliver results.
Admittedly, there was a time I wouldn’t have minded basking in the warm glow of the floor-to-ceiling windows in his sleek office, admiring the way his muscular forearms ripple when he types, but that time has passed.
I clear my throat—loudly.
Miles straightens, turning the full strength of his megawatt smile on me, and it’s all I can do not to swoon. Because reasons.
Stay strong, Lucy.
“Have you seen the reviews for Keke Bell’s new movie?” he asks, reaching for his coffee. The coffeeImade him. “They’re even better than we’d hoped. If we can get her to sign the endorsement deal, it’ll be a huge win for Triada.”
Is he serious? I’m reviewing his schedule, and he’s scouring the web for movie reviews?
Un-freaking-believable.
My usually placid face must say everything my mouth doesn’t, because Miles pauses with the mug halfway to his mouth.
“I’m sorry.” He returns the coffee to his desk, untouched. “What were you saying?”
