Chapter 1
“Wow.” Alicia entered the large, brightly lit room, her heels clacking on the marble flooring. With such sparse furnishings, every step sounded like thunder bringing down the walls and making the simple chandeliers swing above her head. “Holy shit. This is all mine?”
Ms. Sarah Clayborn lowered her tablet and looked between Alicia and the view of the CBD from her new office windows. “Yes, Mrs. Moreau. This is your office.”
Alicia turned to the assistant on loan from her wife.My wife. Mrs. Moreau.She was still reeling from how quickly everything transpired. From screaming at Danica to get out of her hospital room, to ending up in front of a judge, saying vows, and signing papers. How long had it been, anyway?What month is it?Still August, but the summer had run away from Alicia.
“Ms. Moreau says she apologizes for the current state of your office, but hopes that you can make it your own. She suggests hiring a contractor to partition the rear and the front. It actuallyused to be set up like that, but the last occupant had the partition removed.”
Alicia ran her hands over the svelte black executive desk, waiting for her to set up her things. She currently carried a brand new MacBook in her briefcase. It would have to do until she picked out a desktop unit to keep in her office.
Everything had happened so quickly, after all.
She sat in a leather chair behind the desk.Oh, my.If she really were pregnant, this would be the best chair in the world.There’s a reason I asked for the same one my wife has.Talk about a sudden power trip. Alicia could fire someone right now, and nobody would question her.
Her exact place in the company was still in limbo, and legally… it would be for some time. There had been no discussion beforehand about what she would be doing, other than helping her wife with her business dealings while forging some of her own connections. Alicia took a deep breath. She had no idea what she was doing. She was still getting used to marriage!
Every time she thought of her new role in Danica’s life, she shyly smiled. Usually in the crook of her arm or the back of her hand, but today she let her blush show proudly in front of Ms. Clayborn.Danica said I would have my very own assistant soon. For now, I get her.Even better? Dee was standing outside the door, staring down every asshole who dared to come up and try to get a look at the new missus.
“If I may, Mrs. Moreau.” Ms. Clayborn stood in front of the desk.Shit, I really need to find someone to decorate this place for me.“I’ve taken the liberty to arrange your schedule for next week for you.” She laid the iPad on the desk and presented Alicia with a color-coded spreadsheet. “Your first appointment is tomorrow. Lunch with Petrov and Nabokov Holdings. Ms. Moreau has requested you go in her stead.”
Alicia sat up straight in her chair. As if she could pretend to look so official as she went over this schedule full of people and companies she had never heard of. “My first deal, and she’s making me do it by myself?”
Ms. Clayborn confirmed. She was not paid to give opinions. “You have today and tomorrow morning free. Is there anything you would like me to arrange on short notice?”
“Don’t suppose you could get me an interior designer to help me put this room together?”
“Right away, Mrs. Moreau.”
“Wow, I am so not used to that.”
For the first time, she thought she saw the hint of a smile on Ms. Clayborn’s face.
“Were you shocked?” Alicia asked, folding her hands in front of the tablet. “When you found out that Danica and I were getting married.” Ms. Clayborn had arranged everything that neither Alicia nor Danica could. Her brother, the other assistant? Completely cut off. Last Alicia heard, he was being kept close to her wife. There were a lot of suspicions about Mr. Nigel Clayborn.
“I wouldn’t say I was shocked. Suppose I was mildly surprised.”
“Really…”
“Don’t know if you’ve noticed, ma’am, but I’m not one for theatrics.”
No, Alicia supposed not. If Ms. Clayborn was for anything, it was tepid discussions about lunch and arranging flights to cities around the world.
“I will make some calls and see if I can get someone respectable to meet with you later this afternoon. I’m sure it won’t be a problem.”
Before Alicia could give her thanks, the intercom on her desk lit up with an array of yellow and red lights.
“Mrs. Moreau?” It was Abby, the receptionist out in the main office. “Ms. Moreau has requested your presence in her office as soon as you are available.”
Alicia hovered over the intercom, wondering what button to push. Ms. Clayborn reached over and held down a big black button and motioned for Alicia to speak. “Oh, thanks…” she muttered. “Tell Ms. Moreau that I will be there within a few minutes. Please.”
“Right away, ma’am.”
Alicia flung herself back in her chair. “I haven’t done any real work, and I’m exhausted.”
Ms. Clayborn stood back as well. “I suggest not keeping your wife waiting. Her schedule is packed today.” Now, that was a smile on her face! “She took a couple of days off, you know.”
“Yes. To marry me.” Alicia stood, leaving her briefcase by her chair. “All right. You make those calls for me, and I’ll see what my wife wants.” Alicia had a feeling she would want to meet with her in private.
