There was barely a moment before I felt him, shoving his way past my resistance without a second thought.
It didn’t take him long to reap what he wanted. After the parking lot, I was honestly surprised he could come again at all. Though, as usual, once Robbie had taken what he wanted fromme, he was done. Rolled over, passed out, and left me aching and a mess in more ways than one.
I stare at the picture of Sloane Pierce in his idyllic little bubble and then I force myself to look at the Veil Technologies website.
Robbie claimed there was an opening for Sloane’s personal assistant on the website. Said that the turnover was high because his assistants wereunqualified. I wanted to tell him I was unqualified too. It was an insane plan—infiltrate Sloane Pierce’s world and entice him into an affair to use against him to extort him for what Robbie felt he was owed.
But if Robbiecouldsomehow make me qualified in the eyes of Sloane Pierce, then I would have a job—and I could maybe save some money of my own and get out of the current home I’m in. And if by some sheer grace of God, weareable to pull off something like this—well, I’m sure we’d both reap the benefits. Especially, if I am doing the heavy-lifting.
I can’t believe I’m considering this.
It’s wrong on so many levels, but as I look at the job posting and the salary—which is more than I’d ever make as a library liaison inyears—I know Robbie’s right.
I can’t say no. Not when the alternative is scraping through my savings and praying someone will call me back. And aside from his motives for doing so, if Robbie really can make me the perfect candidate and land me this job, then I’d be stupid not to take it, right?
At least that’s what I tell myself as I click theapply nowbutton on the Veil Technologies website and bite my tongue. When I’m done applying, I feel slightly relieved, maybe even a little tired.
Now all I have to do is wait and see if my life is going to change for the better, or for the worse.
Chapter Three
Sloane
“What do you want from me, Chickadee?” I bite, looking up from my computer.
Chicora Deangelo, my executive assistant, stands firmly in front of my desk, her arms crossed. She looks at me like I’m a damn child, but then again, I’m sure to her, I am.
She is old enough to be my mother, but sometimes I think she forgets she’s not.
“Well, for starters, you could maybe not fire every single assistant I send your way and makemorework for me.”
I sigh as I place my hands in my lap, swivelling my chair to give her my full attention.
“I wouldn’t need to fire any of them if you sent mecapableassistants in the first place.”
Chickadee’s expression does not move nor does it betray any emotion. She holds her ground, as she always does. And we have this conversation more often than I wish to admit.
But it’s not untrue. The assistants she hires are not capable of meeting my needs. It’s that simple. Why should I pay these people if they aren’t doing what I need them to do in the first place? If I have to hand-hold, I might as well do this shit myself.
Which is exactly what I’ve told her a million times since the company expanded into this building at the beginning of the year.
I built this company from the ground up myself. I was the one taking the risks and pushing for investors and making the calls and scheduling the meetings for the last few years before Veil got the recognition and the success it deserved. I’m more than capable of running my business myself.
But I digress.
Chicora thinks I work too much, and I need todelegatesome duties. I don’t disagree, but I love my job. Truly.
Veil has been my dream since college, but honestly, it’s been longer than that.
It’s been my whole life, I think. All I’ve ever wanted is to keep peoplesafe,and because of me—because of the glitch I discovered while working with my ex, now I can.
And if I keep myself busy, trapped inside my work, I can keepmyselfsafe from the monster inside of me.
That’s what Chickadee doesn’t understand. I need my work. I need to be in control, or else…
“Portia was more than capable. She had a Masters from MIT, Sloane.”
I try not to react to her informality. After all, Chickadee is the only one of my staff who I permit to call me by my first name, and that’s only because of our mutual respect and long-standing relationship.
