“It’s really been that bad?”
“Yeah. Really bad.” Linus cringes.
“Is he a tyrant?”
“No.” Linus shakes his head. “He’s really quite sweet. Always says he’s going to steal me away from Mr. Scott.”
“So why can’t he find someone who will stay?”
“He has high standards. He’s incredibly intelligent, works long hours, and needs someone who can keep up with him. He owns multiple companies with varied purposes, New York City commercial properties, a mortgage brokerage, and his baby, his foundation that supports underprivileged children. His pay is”—Linus blinks a few times—“phenomenal. Free health insurance, car service, optional apartment near the office if you want to move, gym membership, so many bonuses, and his retirement plan is unlike anything I’ve seen. Bram is always trying to match it for me, but instead, he apologizes with a key to his Hamptons house for the weekend, every time he realizes he falls short.”
I chuckle. “Well, I’m sure that makes up for it.”
“It does. Seriously though, if I were to work for anyone in the city, it would be for Bram Scott or Rath Westin.”
“Mr. Westin. Oh, I’ve scheduled a few meetings for Mr. Danvers with him before. He was always nice.”
“See?” Linus says as we take one more step forward, one couple away from the new planners. “He’s a great guy and I know you would be amazing for him. What do you say? Can I introduce you?”
New planner.
Possible new job.
Looks like this day is turning out to be better than I expected.
“Feels like I bumped into the right person today.”
I wipe my eyes and take a deep breath. “I need to pull it together.”
“Yes . . . you do,” Linus says on a laugh.
“I’m sorry, but I was so nervous I wasn’t going to make it to the booth in time, and they were short on stock. I didn’t know we were going to get the whole new year package for free. I’m still in awe. I can’t believe they knew you.”
“Pretty sure Mr. Scott had something to do with this,” Linus says. “Because they’re taking money from other people.”
I look behind us and see them swiping cards. “Seriously? You think he called ahead?”
“Wouldn’t put it past him. He’s always doing little things like that to show me how much he appreciates me. Mr. Westin would do the same for the right assistant.”
“Wow.” I clutch the planner package full of new pages, stickers, and pens to my chest. “The more I think about it, the more I’m leaning toward yes. I think I took too much time off and now I’m at the point of borderline desperate.”
“No need to be desperate, I can—” Ding. Linus looks down at his Apple Watch and then smiles. “Guess who’s here?”
I pause and give it some thought just as my pulse skyrockets. “Oh my God, is it Mr. Erasable, the mascot for all whiteboard markers?”
Linus throws his head back and laughs. “No.” He shakes his head at me. “You need to get out more. Mr. Westin is here. He had a meeting and has finished. Mr. Scott told him I was here. He wants to say hi. I can introduce you.”
Mr. Westin is here? Why does that make me suddenly nervous?
“I don’t know.” I glance down at my casual wear. “I’m really not dressed to meet an employer.”
“Please, he’ll appreciate you’re here, dedicated to such things as office supplies. Shows how committed you are to our line of work.”
“Not just committed, but love it,” I say and then shift on my feet. “You don’t think he’ll mind?”
“Not at all. He’s by the café. I sent him a text that we’re on our way and that he needs to meet you. Let’s go. I’m not taking no for an answer.”
Gahh . . . but . . . I’m not ready.
Linus takes my hand and weaves me through the crowd of people, toward the café, nerves blooming in the pit of my stomach from how quick this is all happening. I’m at the pinnacle of my happiness, surrounded by things like inkjet cartridges and the latest and greatest organizational holders for Keurig cups and even though I should be my most happy, I’m feeling very unprepared and oddly scared.
“Maybe this isn’t a good idea,” I say to Linus, trying to dig my feet into the floor. “I mean, I should really meet him in a more professional capacity.”
“Mr. Westin is really casual, the least uptight guy I know. Trust me, this will be fine.”
Fine for Linus, but this feels like a recipe for disaster for me.
“Oh, I spot him,” Linus says. “And look, he’s already grabbed drinks and treats for us.”
“You know, I really think we should give this more thought.” I try to pull my arm back, but he doesn’t let go.
“Stop it. You’ll love him. He’s the best, and I’m sure he’s excited to meet you.”
Oh, yup, these high-powered men are always “excited” to meet assistants. Now that I think about it, Linus might be high this very minute, and not high on office supplies like me.
I try to look around Linus’s tall frame, to catch a glimpse of Mr. Westin, but with his height and the crowds, I can’t see anything until we stop dead in our tracks at a table off in the corner, away from the crowd.
Linus pulls me up front and says, “Mr. Westin, it’s so great to see you.”
My eyes fall to the man in a tailored suit, crisp white shirt, top few buttons undone just enough so I can see a hint of muscle. His broad shoulders pull at the fabric of his suit jacket. Therefore, even though he’s a busy man, he still finds the time to go to the gym. My eyes travel north to his firm jaw, full lips, chiseled nose, and sharp, angry eyes.
Wait, angry . . .
Oh God.
I know this man.
He’s the man I argued with this morning.
The man I lied to.
The man I called a peon.
The man I . . . oh God . . . the man I called a turd nugget.
Chapter Two
RATH
Linus: Yes, I’d love to meet up. And guess what, I think I have your new hire with me. Act cool, but she’s perfect. Worked for Harold Danvers. Comes highly recommended.
While I waited for Linus and this prospective assistant to show up, I read his text over and over, excited over the prospect of having some help again. A temp has been running my schedule, and I’m two seconds from ringing the idiot’s neck.
It’s why I’m here, at this awful convention, because he thought it would be fun for me to check out the up-and-coming supplies right before I spoke with Gwendolyn Havershire. The meeting lasted ten minutes, because that’s all the moron scheduled. I basically shook her hand, gave her a card, and told her to email me directly.
Such a waste of a goddamn day.
Not to mention, I was verbally assaulted by an overeager office supply nut before I even stepped foot in the convention. I should have walked away when she asked me to take her picture, but because I’m a red-blooded male who saw a beautiful woman, I stopped. It wasn’t until she was waving her phone at me to take a picture that I realized what she wanted. I should have turned away the minute she started arguing with me, but hell, her long blonde locks and brilliant blue eyes grabbed my attention, and instead of walking away I stood there, outside of Office Supply Con, arguing with her as she spouted off insults at me.