His eyes grow wider, probably due to my boldness. “How intuitive of you. Now, Savannah, let’s get something a little clear.”
He stands and circles his desk. Every step tightens my body, anticipation tingling beneath my skin. I try not to stare but fail when he perches on the desk at my side, closing the distance between us.
“Eyes up here,” he orders, and I draw a line up with my gaze to see him, arms and ankles crossed, his gaze set on me. “You shall listen to me. Beck n’ call and all that.” He rasps the last sentence, and the words float and wrap around me. It’s his intention, it’s written all over his face. His normal tone returns.“The plus side of this arrangement is you’re not new to the company, and I’m well aware of your experience in your role. I run things a little differently. I request more, demand is a better word. I hope you can handle that.”
He peers down, and I lift my chin. If not for the chair, I'd be on my knees at his mercy. "Easily," I answer, my voice confident, not weak.
“Don’t be too eager, Savannah. You don’t know what you’ve signed up for. I started a logistics company because I enjoy moving things like a game of chess. Chess pieces sometimes need to be sacrificed when you make risky moves. Don’t become a pawn in a game when I don’t always play fair, Ms. May. So let me be very clear. I haveno problem doing things for my business that would turn heads—legal, of course, but questionable to some. Not many assistants grasp that. I need somebody who isn’t afraid. I speak my thoughts. I won’t sugarcoat or filter them. Not many people can handle that. Can you?” Maybe it’s a threat, or maybe I’m intrigued. The way he speaks has an ounce of swelter that stabs me deep, all the way to my spine.
“Of course.”
“Great. Because I expect all of my meeting agendas for next week, up until Thursday, to be ready by noon.”
I chuff a laugh. “Why next week Thursday?”
He shrugs, a sinful smile spreading. “Because I feel like it. You, Savannah May, must obey your new boss.”
Are you fucking kidding me? He’s testing me.
I swallow my retort and keep my face neutral. “Of course. It’ll be ready. Anything else?”
He propels himself off the desk. “No. You’re dismissed.”
Julian isn’t looking at me when I stand; otherwise, he would see me biting my lip in complete disgust for his attempt to make me break with the audacity of his choice of words.
I walk to the door and pause, hand on the handle. “Your coffee tastes like crap,” I say. I inhale, turn on my heel, and watch him. “I’ve ordered you a new machine.”
His fingers brush along the glass of his desk as he stands behind it. “Did you now?”
“Don’t worry. I already had HR approve the expense since it involves the welfare of their staff. One staff member in particular. They need to increase the happiness scale for the next employee survey.”
Julian fights back an amused smirk. “Enlighten me on howmycoffee machine will increase the scale?”
“Because you will be in a better mood,” I say bluntly and turn to leave.
“Savannah,” he says. I’ll have to get used to how he says my name. It’s not playful, nor serious. His own melody entwines command and entertainment. “Please book a hotel room at the usual spot for 2 PM. I’m meeting someone. You can clear my schedule for the rest of the day.”
I freeze, anxiety fluttering in my chest, and give myself a second longer than I would like to gather composure.
“Of course.” I force the words out, my voice tight with revulsion, before I flee, overwhelmed by absolute disgust. He is one ofthoseCEOs who has weekday-afternoon hotel rendezvous.
Why do I really hate every word in his request? I shouldn’t care at all. Not even a morsel. But there is a crumb of something. Jealousy that I need to find a cure for.
4
JULIAN
Pausing with my lips on the rim of my whiskey glass, I realize that I’m toying with Savannah. I shouldn’t be. She’s my new assistant, and I have to deal with it. That also means that her brazen attitude and the way a dress clings to her body shouldn’t bother me. Yet, I was vague on the details of my afternoon and simply let her assume the worst.
She probably thinks I get my kicks from random hookups with the array of women who have made it known they’re available. Yet that is not what I’m doing at all.
“Earth to Julian.” My friend, Hayes, waves his hand in my face as we sit at a small, low table in the bar of my favorite hotel in the city.
I shake my head slightly. “Sorry. Got sidetracked on a work issue.”
Hayes is my buddy from college on the east coast. It’s a shame he lives down in Texas, but still, we are in constant contact. It was a no-brainer to catch up while he was in the city.
“Anything in particular?” he wonders as he knocks back a swig of his whiskey. “You seem a little distant. How’s work? Must be going well if you managed to sneak away to see me while I have a break from my conference.”
