“You’re most welcome.If you need anything, you know where to find me.Welcome, again, Callie.”
With that, she left me alone in Mr.Price’s office.I sank into one of the sleek leather chairs in front of the desk.My knee bounced impatiently as I waited.
CHAPTER THREE
EMMETT
The momentI stepped out of the elevator onto the twenty-seventh floor, I could feel the energy of The Common.This was my sanctuary, a place where I could escape the expectations that followed me everywhere else.I designed it myself when I started the department six years ago.It was one of my proudest accomplishments.
The sharp voice of my assistant cut through my thoughts and snapped me back to reality.
“Emmett!You’re late.Did you forget your new intern was starting today?”She fixed me with a stern look from behind her desk.
I ran my fingers through my sandy brown hair, then rubbed my temples, feeling the weight of the morning catching up with me.My flight from London, where I’d been ringing in the new year with Wick, had been delayed.By the time I’d made it home, it was well past midnight.I’d overslept and missed my morning workout.As if that wasn’t bad enough, I spilled scalding coffee all over my favorite shirt.
Today was not off to a good start.
“Of course not,” I said, trying to summon my customary charm.“I’m just fashionably late, as always.”
Meredith raised an unimpressed eyebrow.“Well, Mr.Fashionably Late, Miss Winters is already waiting in your office.And you look like shit.”
“My flight was delayed.I overslept,” I grumbled.
“More money than God, and you chose to fly commercial.”
I always flew commercial unless I was on business.It was one of my many attempts to avoid becoming one of those elitist snobs I’d spent years tryingnotto hate at boarding school.
“Thanks for the pep talk, Meredith.”
“I live to serve.”She clicked the button on her desk that unlocked the double doors to the hallway that led to my office.I suppressed a scowl.I was more than capable of opening a damn door for myself.Honestly, I preferred to leave them propped open.Accessibility and whatnot.My efforts not to act like a rich, arrogant asshole felt wasted when everyone insisted on running around after me, anticipating my every whim.
I walked towards my office with a spring to my step.While my tardiness may have suggested otherwise, I was always excited to greet a new intern.Each one brought a fresh perspective and new ideas.Ideas I sorely needed.With our most recent endeavor wrapping up, it was time to shift gears.But the gears could use some grease.
Let’s see what you’ve got, Miss Winters.
I caught a glimpse of her through the open door, sitting in one of the chairs across from my desk.Her head and shoulders barely cleared the back of the chair.Petite.Her dark brown hair was pulled into a neat bun at the base of her neck.Boring.Not a great first impression, but not an awful one, either.Who makes a first impression from the back of their head?I mentally scolded myself for being a dickhead.
I took a deep breath, preparing myself to set her at ease, and crossed the threshold of my office.As if sensing my presence, she turned to face me.
“You must be Miss Win—” I stopped short.A strange sense of familiarity washed over me.
Her green eyes widened, and she whispered with a mixture of surprise and confusion.“You.”
I couldn’t help smiling at her reaction, even as I fought to maintain some semblance of professionalism.“And you.”I leaned against the doorframe with what I hoped was an air of nonchalance.“Finally, I can put a name to the face.It’s nice to meet you, Miss Winters.”
I hung up the phone and stepped into the lobby, the fading sunlight spotlighting a figure by the mailboxes.She whirled around, her sudden expletive cutting through the quiet.I paused, struck dumb.Not many people could look that beautiful in a hoodie and ratty slippers.
Her hand flew to her chest.I wondered if her heart was racing as fast as mine.As I approached, she took in my appearance with a mixture of wariness and curiosity.The sweet scent of her perfume was intoxicating.
“Everything okay over here?”Lame, but I needed an excuse to talk to her.
The silence stretched between us.I watched her look me over, assessing, judging.Not the typical reaction I received.
“I, uh...I’m fine,” she said, her voice betraying a hint of embarrassment as she gestured toward the scattered papers.“Just looking for a package from my mom.”
“Need some help?”I stepped closer, feeling a magnetic pull.
She lifted her chin defiantly.“With finding my mom’s dumb box of makeup and snacks?Thanks, but I think I can handle it.”
