He opens a desk drawer and pulls out a manual from its interior. “This is our employee handbook. I’ve marked the pages I’d like you to review.”
“Of course,” I say, taking a step toward him to retrieve the book.
He pulls it tighter to his body, leaving me angled toward him. “When you are here, you are on my time, Ms. Hope. No personal calls, no long lunches, no excuses.”
My back molars clench together. Keeping that standard while being a single mom is going to be challenging, if not impossible, but I nod anyway. What choice do I have?
From the drawer, he also pulls out a set of keys and sets them on top of the book. “I work long hours. Any time I need you after five will be time and half for you. But to make certain you’re available for after-hours work, I’ve arranged for you to have an apartment in the building.”
My heart jumps in my throat, as I breathe out, “Thank you.” It’s what I’d hoped for, though the part where he mentioned working a lot of overtime has my toes curling in my heels.
Balancing Emma’s needs and this job is going to be a challenge for sure.
“You’re welcome,” he murmurs, handing me the keys and the manual. “Rachel can show you the filing system, the phone system, and then take a few minutes to look over the marked pages. I’ve got a meeting with the city planning board at ten, I’d like you to take notes.”
I nod, drawing in a slow, steadying breath of air as I hug the manual to my chest. “Of course.”
“Would you like to know why I hired you?” he asks, looking down at me with those dark eyes that I can’t read and that make me want to run and hide.
The honest answer is…no. I don’t want to know. But I also know that I’m supposed to say yes. I can’t quite bring myself to ask the question, though, so I just give a tight nod.
He eyes me for a moment, taking his time, before he finally answers, “You’re clearly smart enough, but don’t seem to have a chip on your shoulder. There is only room for one of those in this office.”
Noted.
I turn, manual in hand, and scurry as fast as my heels will allow, back to my desk. Rachel is waiting, her brows up. “How’d it go?” she whispers, eyeing Mr. Smith’s door.
“Big Bad Bossman,” I whisper back.
She cracks a smile before she gestures for me to sit. I do and she spends the next forty -five minutes showing me the digital files, the hardcopy filing drawers, and the phone system, schooling me on the greeting and other pertinent details.
“The Jersey deal is all anyone is talking about. The Smiths are buying a major piece of land right on the waterfront. They’re hoping to develop it into condos, shopping, luxury offices, the works. It’s going to be an even larger version of this place, bigger and better in every way. But they’ve had major competition, and they seem to be hitting every snag known to real estate.”
I grimace. I know that my ex-husband is one of those snags. Maybe he’s all of them.
He wanted that land for himself. A project like that can wash endless amounts of money and provide legitimate W-2s for his crew, as well as huge kickbacks.
But I push Vigo out of my mind. I’m here to build a life without him.
It’s ten before I know it. Mr. Smith strides out of his office, and I pick up my brand-new office-provided laptop, doing my best to keep up with him on his way to the conference room.
Before long at this job, I’m going to have to learn how to run in heels.
We’re the last to arrive, and I’m so relieved when I see Erika in the corner. One of the lawyers she works for must be at this meeting as well.
I settle next to her, pulling out my laptop.
“Ms. Hope,” Mr. Smith’s dark, sharp voice cuts through me. “Let’s offer our guests some beverages.”
My eyes go wide as I stand so quickly, I nearly drop my new computer. Setting it on my chair, I meet Erika’s worried gaze.
I try to give her an encouraging smile as I cross to the mini fridge that’s tucked under a countertop and assess what I can offer. I wish he’d mentioned this as a duty prior to entering the room. I would have prepared, but I’ll know for next time.
Still, it feels a little like being set up to fail.
The men quietly talk as I move about the table, offering bottles of water. Before I’ve finished the lap around the room, Mr. Smith calls the meeting into order.
I rush back to my computer, attempting to take the notes I’ve been assigned, but I’m behind before I’ve even begun.
