I balance the carafe on the tray and give them my sweetest smile. “Exactly. Which means if I ever stop brewing it, you’ll all have to survive a meeting without caffeine. Imagine the carnage.”
That shuts them up long enough for me to glide past them and toward the conference room, heels clicking, the smell of roasted beans trailing behind me like a victory flag.
A woman standing near the conference room opens the door for me as my hands are preoccupied with trying not to drop the large tray, and as I enter, the table is full of men, all busy in conversation.
The harsh smell of many dueling colognes hits my nose the moment I lean down, sit the tray in the center of them, and begin filling each coffee cup before placing them in front of each man present.
With the last one set, I take the now-empty tray and head for the door once more, but a deep voice has me stalling.
“Morgan. Elizabeth Morgan, correct?” Turning swiftly, my eyes widen as I am surprised any of these men even know I exist.
Nodding silently, the man smiles. “My name is Chase Williams. I don’t believe we’ve ever formally introduced ourselves. You run the front desk, right?”
Once again, I nod without verbally answering him, still stunned in place by the front door.
“Please, take a seat.” He gestures to the seat at the far end of the table directly across from Jonathan Clark, the man everyone should recognize.
He is one of the most successful business owners, along with being one of the most eligible bachelors in the city.
Without an argument, I place the tray down on a side table and quickly take my seat.What could they possibly want with me?
“I’ve noticed all your hard work, and I want you to know that it hasn’t gone unnoticed,” Chase begins again. “How long have you worked for us now?”
“A little over a year,” I respond in a soft tone after clearing my throat.
Chase smiles and looks around at all the other men who are also staring at me. “Perfect. And are you familiar with the computer software we use here?”
“Yes, sir. I use it every day.” My stomach begins to churn as the nerves set in. “Am I in trouble?” The words blurt out before I can stop them, worrying that I am getting fired.
I never take a day off, and I’m never late. I can’t think of one thing I did that would justify them wanting to terminate my employment, but I can’t keep the thought away.
Chase laughs. “No. The exact opposite, actually.” His words cause my breath to hitch in my throat. What does that mean? Am…am I getting promoted? “I want to offer you a job as Jonathan’s assistant for the time being. With everyone taking off for the holidays, we’re going to need someone as dedicated to their job as you to work directly with him.”
Oh my God…I am being promoted! It’s a Christmas miracle.
After a few rapid blinks on my part, Chase speaks again as I remain quiet, unable to form a sentence. “It’s not too hard of a job, just be there to help him with whatever he may need. The holiday season is one of our busiest.”
My attention snags on Jonathan the way silk snags on a rough edge. He shifts in his chair, and suddenly his gaze collides with mine.
My stomach plummets, then flips, sparks licking down my spine until my thighs clench tight under my skirt.
I should look away. I can’t.
His stare pins me there, cool and unreadable, and the longer it holds, the more my skin hums.
A smile tugs at my lips before I can stop it. For a second, he’s stone, carved and untouchable. Then his mouth curves, slow and deliberate, and the air between us changes.
My body goes molten. My nipples pebble beneath my blouse, traitorous and obvious, and I shift my weight so no one notices.
If this is what a single glance does, then working this close to him is going to bebrutal.
Every cell in me wants to lean closer, to imagine his hand sliding under the table and onto my thigh, his voice in my ear telling me not to move.
I drag in a breath, force myself to step back, and tell myself I’m here to prove my worth.
To get noticed for my work, not for how wet my boss can make me with a single smile.
2
