For all her flaws, my mother did her best when I was growing up. She didn’t deserve the hand she was dealt, but she always kept food in the fridge and a roof over our heads. Now she needs help, and I have to be there for her. It’s not a choice. Iwillbe there for her.
I bring my fist down on the door in a featherlight knock. I doubt he even heard it, but then I hear a muffled voice utter a half-hearted “Come in.”
Ashton is furiously typing on his laptop when I enter. His white dress shirt sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, the veins in his forearms popping, his muscles flexing with each keystroke. His slightly wavy ‘new money’ brunette hair sits perfectly on his head, a single wave dropping in front of his honey eyes, which dart back and forth on the screen as he types. And those damn freckles. They’re barely noticeable from far away, but up close, you can clearly see the smattering of light brown spots that cover his nose and spill out onto his cheekbones. Space Buns was right. The man isfine. Not just fine—he’s damn near perfect. His face looks like it was sculpted with purpose rather than randomly assigned at birth.
“Have a seat,” he orders, not even looking up from his computer. My appreciation for his physical appearance dies a quick death and is replaced by irritation. The nerve of this guy.
Keep it together, Allie.
I slide into the one chair that sits opposite his desk. The same chair I sat in three days ago, but it wasn’t his desk then.
“All done,” he chirps, hitting the last key on his laptop with finality. “Oh good, Alexandra,” he says as if he just noticed I’m sitting right in front of him. He flashes that godforsaken cocky smile again. “I see you’re still here. I wasn’t sure you would be. You know, since you’re such a flight risk and all. Anyway?—”
“How do you even know that’s my full name?” I spit out, ignoring his dig. “It could be Allison or Alexis.”
“I didn’t.” He chuckles to himself. “Until now.” He holds up a manila folder in his hand. “I enjoyed reading your resume, Alexandra. Although I must say I’m a little concerned by your lack of experience working in a team setting.” He flips open the file and pretends to peruse the contents. “In fact, it looks like you have only ever worked for yourself.”
I narrow my eyes. “Yeah, well not everyone got handed a corporate six-figure job at their family’s company right after graduation. Some of us had to make our own way.”
The pride expanding in my chest at my comeback withers when I see his face is not at all hurt but amused.Oh, shit.He knows I’ve looked into him. He never told me that. We talked that night…or more like I word-vomited all over him. His job never came up, though.
“Sure,” he drawls, sitting back in his swivel chair and resting the side of his leg on his knee. “Hey, let me see your contract. I want to check something.”
“My contract?”
“Yes, the contract Skylar sent you over the weekend, which you should have signed and brought in today.”
“Oh, I?—”
He laughs again. Why does he keep doing that? What is so fucking funny?
“Damn, you must have done a number on Theo.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I cross my legs and lean back in my chair, mimicking his power stance.
“Oh, nothing. Just didn’t think Theo was one to get distracted by a pretty face. ”
“Are you—” I’m so livid, I can barely form words. “Are you insinuating that Theo hired me for something other than my merits and his confidence that I’m good at what I do?” I stand and place both hands on the desk, leaning forward.
Ashton drops his leg and leans forward in his chair. “Now why would I suggest something like that? Unlessyoufeel like you were hired for the wrong reasons?”
I hold in the scream building at the back of my throat.
Keep. It. Together.
I take a deep breath and sit back down, folding my hands sweetly in my lap. “What do you want?” I ask with as much deference as I can muster.
“Not much. An Aston Martin. A villa on a secluded island. Maybe a dog. I have always wanted a puppy…”
“I mean from me,” I cut in.
Ashton’s smirk turns dark for a moment.
“I’m going to cut to the chase, Alexandra. You are a new hire—our only new hire in the past few months. That means you are in a probationary period and therefore can only write one article per week.”
“Yes, I read the contract.”
“Then you know that your job, while you are in this period, can include other tasks not generally taken on by staff writers. Since you can only write one article per week, you will have a lot of extra time that is unaccounted for.”
