Once Upon a Daddy: A Romance Anthology

by Kelli Callahan

  Why does she look familiar? I swear I’ve seen her somewhere before…

  Three

  Faith

  I was a little shocked when I got the call from Alexio Hawkins’ secretary, Deana, to reschedule my interview. I thought it would be ages before I got another chance to interview for a job at Hawkins Capital, and I had already lined up a few interviews with other companies. Hawkins Capital was my dream job, but I couldn’t wait around for them forever. I didn’t hear from anyone at the company for months after I turned in my resume—I had actually written them off completely before I got the initial call. The call to reschedule my interview was strange, to say the least. Deana wanted me to meet with Mr. Hawkins on a Saturday, and the interview was going to take place at his house instead of the office. The opportunity was too good to turn down, so I agreed, but I thought it was a little bizarre.

  I arrived at Mr. Hawkins’ house ten minutes before my interview was scheduled. I would have shown up a lot earlier if it was at Hawkins Capital, but I wasn’t sure what the protocol was for an interview at someone’s house. Jennifer thought it was odd as well, but she agreed that the opportunity to was too important to question the location. I was greeted at the door by a maid named Olivia, who took me to a small foyer where I sat and reviewed my notes until it was time to meet with Mr. Hawkins. The location made the anxiety and nervousness I had about the interview even worse. I couldn’t even focus on the notes I brought with me, and I struggled to remember stuff that I had rehearsed a thousand times in my head.

  The office was a brilliant display of wealth, but Mr. Hawkins’ house was even more impressive. Calling it a house was probably an insult—it was a mansion in Beverly Hills that cost more than I would ever make in my lifetime. A job at Hawkins Capital would give me an opportunity to achieve my dreams, but it wouldn’t make me a billionaire like the CEO and owner. He was a millionaire before he graduated from college while I struggled to make ends meet. If I could turn that tide, help my parents as they got older, and support myself in the process, I would consider it an overwhelming success. I hoped I could convince Mr. Hawkins that I deserved the opportunity to do it at his company.

  “It’s time.” Olivia walked into the foyer. “Follow me.”

  I took a deep breath and steadied my nerves as I walked behind Olivia. The moment had finally arrived. She led me to what appeared to be a study, and I saw Alexio Hawkins sitting behind his desk—seemingly lost in thought. He was just as attractive as I remembered—so hot that I felt like I needed a glass of ice water just to be in the same room as him. He asked me to take a seat, and there was something about him that just compelled me to obey. I didn’t even realize that he hadn’t offered to shake my hand until I was seated, and his intense gaze focused on me. I wanted to maintain eye contact—that was important for an interview—but it wasn’t easy. It looked like he was trying to read me—as if he could learn more from staring into my eyes than asking a single question. Thankfully, he finally broke the intense gaze and leaned back in his chair.

  “Your name is Faith Matthews, correct?” He tilted his head slightly and folded his hands into a pyramid.

  “Yes sir, that’s right.” I nodded quickly.

  “Your choice of attire—is interesting.” He narrowed his eyes.

  “Um…” I looked down at my blouse and pencil skirt. “I thought it was appropriate for an interview.”

  I literally picked this outfit out of a catalog with the hottest new trends for working women.

  “I suppose.” He shrugged. “Okay, tell me about yourself.”

  “I went to college at…” I didn’t even get to finish my sentence before he snapped his hand forward and interrupted me.

  “No, start at the beginning. Where did you grow up? I want to know about you.” His hands reformed the pyramid, and his stare intensified.

  “Well…” I looked down for a moment.

  I didn’t really prepare to tell my life story, but I guess that’s what he wants to hear.

  “My time is precious.” A light growl echoed in his throat.

  “Yes sir, I’m sorry.” I nodded quickly. “I grew up in Phoenix. I’m an only child. Dad worked in a factory most of my life and put in long hours—Mom worked off and on, but she didn’t have a career. I was the first person in my family to go to college…”

  I really don’t know what he wants me to say. Does he want me to tell him about elementary school? Middle school? I learned everything I know about investments in college…

  “Interesting.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “You’re not like most people who interview for this—arrangement.”

  Arrangement? That’s an odd way to describe the opportunity of a lifetime.

  “I’m sure most people who interview with you have lots of experience.” I exhaled sharply. “I promise that what I lack in actual experience, I make up for in enthusiasm. I’m eager for this opportunity, and I won’t disappoint you—I promise.”

  “Let’s talk a little more about your experience.” He tilted his head slightly. “You’re saying you have none—at all?’

  “No sir, not in this line of work.” I shook my head back and forth. “I was really busy with school…”

  “You’re still in school?” He tilted his head in the opposite direction—but it seemed like he was hanging on every word I said, so I hoped that was a good sign.

  “No sir—I just graduated from college.” I felt a little confusion resonating inside me.

  That was on my resume. Did he not even bother to read it?

  “So, you want to pay off your student loans? Is that why you’re here?” He narrowed his eyes.

  “Eventually.” I nodded. “I want to be able to help my parents out. They’ve never had much, and they sacrificed so much to make sure I could go to school.”

  “That’s respectable.” He seemed to be intrigued—or impressed—I wasn’t sure which one it was. “This arrangement does pay well, but I’m a very demanding man. I expect obedience—that isn’t optional. Once you sign your name on this contract, you belong to me.”

  “That’s…” I looked down for a moment as I tried to process what he said.

  I’ve heard Alexio Hawkins referred to as a conqueror—perhaps he has that same mentality with his employees as well.

  “Do I detect hesitation?” He leaned forward. “I thought you were enthusiastic about this arrangement.”

  “There’s no hesitation, no sir.” I shook my head back and forth. “I’m enthusiastic; I promise.”

  Mr. Hawkins started adding more questions, and they came at me pretty fast—questions that I struggled to answer because some of them were pretty personal. He wanted to know about family, friends, dreams, aspirations, and if any of those things would interfere once he hired me. It didn’t sound like he wanted to just turn me into an employee—he wanted to own me. I kept reminding myself that it was an incredible opportunity, and everyone who worked for Hawkins Capital had sat through the same kind of interview.

  Perhaps he was just testing my mettle—to see if he could get a rise out of me if he pushed past my comfort level. I hoped that was all it was because I was starting to get rather uncomfortable. I didn’t mind answering personal questions, but I didn’t think my life story was relevant to an entry level position at his company. If he offered me the job, then I would be able to prove that I was worthy of the spot. My past had nothing to do with that—I was focused on the future.

  “You’re absolutely sure this is how you want to spend the next thirty days of your life?” Mr. Hawkins tapped his index fingers together without breaking the pyramid he formed with his hands.

  “Thirty days?” I blinked in surprise. “I didn’t realize this was temporary…”

  “Of course it’s temporary,” he growled under his breath. “That should have been explained...”

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Hawkins.” I felt a lump rising up in my throat. “I need something that is a little more permanent. Is there an option for that?”
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br />   “No,” he growled a little louder. “That’s not how I operate.”

  “Okay…” I looked down and nodded.

  I guess Hawkins Capital will look really good on my resume—but maybe I can prove that I’m better than that before it’s over.

  “Is it acceptable?” He narrowed his eyes at me.

  “Yes sir.” I nodded. “If that’s all you’re offering.”

  At least I sent my resume to some other companies. Maybe one of them will offer me a permanent position if I don’t get one at Hawkins Capital.

  “Of course, if you’re really a virgin—I’ll pay a little more…” He leaned back in his chair.

  “Sir?” I blinked in surprise.

  Is that what they call college graduates with no experience at Hawkins Capital? Why would he pay more for that?

  “I’m a fair man.” He nodded. “It’s a little different than what I’m used to, but if you want to make this deal, then so do I.”

  “I got the job?” I felt my pulse speeding up.

  “Yes.” He nodded. “You’re gorgeous—I certainly wasn’t expecting that. Staring at that beautiful body of yours will be a treat.”

  “Uh…” A million alarm bells went off at the same time. “That isn’t very professional—and it’s highly inappropriate.”

  I really need this job, even if it’s just for thirty days—but this is crossing the line into sexual harassment.

  “Inappropriate? You’re going to be mine for the next thirty days. I’ll call you gorgeous anytime that I want—and you’re going to call me Daddy.” He narrowed his eyes.

  “Oh my god…” My eyes opened wide—I was pretty sure they turned into saucers. “Uh, Mr. Hawkins—I don’t think this is going to work out. I should go.”

  “You’re going to walk away from two-hundred thousand dollars?” He growled under his breath. “That’s double what I normally pay—because you’re a virgin.”

  “Two—hundred thousand dollars?” I tried to regain my composure quickly because the interview had gone so far off the rails that I was beyond uncomfortable. “I think there may be some kind of misunderstanding here. I wanted a job at Hawkins Capital, and it doesn’t sound like that’s what you’re offering me.”

  There’s no way he is offering me that kind of money to work at his company for thirty days…

  “Hawkins Capital?” He raised an eyebrow. “Oh fuck, are you—stay here; I need to make a phone call.”

  Mr. Hawkins didn’t give me a chance to respond. He stood up from his desk, grabbed his cell phone, and stormed out of the room. I tried to run through the entire interview in my head. He wanted a thirty day—arrangement—that’s what he called it. He was willing to pay extra because I was a virgin. My stomach knotted up tighter than it had been when I was waiting for the interview. He wasn’t interviewing me for a job—he was interviewing me for something else—something that I didn’t want any part of. I didn’t wait for him to return. I ran to the door, cracked it, and saw him at the end of the hallway—he was talking to someone on the phone, and it didn’t look like a pleasant conversation.

  I need to get out of here. I don’t know what I walked into exactly, but it certainly isn’t an interview for any job that I want…

  The maid gave me a strange look when I darted past her and walked out the front door. My legs were shaking, and my knees were wobbling. Alexio Hawkins was the hottest man I had ever been in the same room with—and he called me gorgeous. I would have probably melted into the floor if he said that to me and I wasn’t sitting across from him trying to secure the opportunity of a lifetime. It was clear that what I was interviewing for wasn’t the job I applied for—and while two-hundred thousand dollars was a lot of money, he didn’t want me for the degree on my resume.

  I guess I can remove Hawkins Capital from the list of places I want to work.

  I got into my car and cranked it up. As soon as I put the vehicle in reverse, I saw Mr. Hawkins walk outside. He had a look of confusion on his face—but I didn’t wait to see if he was going to try and approach my car. My pulse finally slowed down once I made it out of Beverly Hills. I kept replaying the interview in my head—and I felt like an idiot for not seeing the warning signs sooner. The interview was at his house—on a Saturday. He kept calling it an arrangement instead of a job. Deana even sounded rather frazzled when she called to set it up. The only thing that I could rationalize was that Mr. Hawkins saw me when I was there for my interview—and canceled it because he wanted to offer me something else entirely.

  It looks like that bottle of wine Jennifer bought won’t be opened to celebrate anything—but I certainly need a drink right now.

  I sat in my car for several minutes once I got back to my apartment building. The initial shock had worn off, but I was still a little shaken. People described Alexio Hawkins as a modern day business warlord—a conqueror—a tyrant—and they often called him ruthless. His competition respected him, even if they cursed his name when he crushed them—and I idolized him. I had always heard that you should never meet your heroes, but I never really understood why—until mine crushed all of my hopes and dreams. I doubted I was the first woman who had been lured to Alexio Hawkins’ mansion for an offer like that. All I could do was move on. There were other companies and other opportunities.

  I felt like I was making the proverbial walk of shame when I stepped into the lobby of my apartment building. There was no reason for me to feel that way—I wasn’t the one who should have been ashamed of the way the interview went. I started walking slower when I stepped off the elevator on my floor. There was a weight on my shoulders, but I didn’t understand why. The reality of the situation was finally starting to press on me. I never expected to get a job at Hawkins Capital right out of college, but I thought I would always work towards it—that was the final destination, even if it wasn’t where my journey began.

  That journey is officially over—and I never even got to take the first step.

  I pushed my key into the door of my apartment and opened it. I wasn’t looking forward to telling Jennifer how the interview went, but I was going to have to. I stepped into my apartment, closed the door, and noticed that the bottle of wine she bought was sitting on the coffee table—she had already opened it. There was also a lingering scent in the air—cigarette smoke. Jennifer smoked when we first moved in together, but she always went outside when she did, and she had been done with that for years. I dropped my purse on the couch and heard a sound coming from her bedroom. It sounded like sobbing.

  “Jennifer?” I ran over to her bedroom door and knocked. “Are you okay?”

  “No…” There was definite distress in her voice, and another sob followed.

  “What’s wrong?” I pushed the bedroom door open—she was sitting on the edge of her bed with a cigarette in one hand and her cell phone in the other.

  “It’s my mom…” She looked up at me with red-rimmed eyes that were full of tears. “She just got arrested?”

  “What!?” I ran over, sat down on the bed, and put my arm around her shoulders. “What happened?”

  “I don’t know yet. I’m waiting on her lawyer to call me back.” Another loud sob echoed in her throat, and her hand shook as she lifted the cigarette to her lips. “Something to do with her real estate business and money laundering.”

  “Oh my god…” I blinked in surprise. “That sounds absurd—surely it’s some kind of mistake.”

  “I hope so, but her lawyer said it’s really, really bad.” She put her cell phone down and grabbed the glass of wine sitting on her nightstand. “I’m scared.”

  “Should we go to San Diego? I can drive.” I leaned forward so that I could try to read her expression.

  “I—I don’t know…” She took a sip of wine, and I had to grab the glass because her hands were shaking so bad.

  Jennifer was in no condition to stand up, much less walk to the car. She was shaking so bad that I wondered if I should call a doctor. Her phone lit up before I got a
chance to make that decision, and she quickly answered it. I assumed it was from her mother’s lawyer—and judging by the expression on her face, it wasn’t a good call. When she hung up, her hand fell forward, and the phone dropped to the floor. She leaned against my shoulder and started sobbing louder. Somewhere in the midst of those tears and anguish, she told me that her mother was going to be arraigned on Monday—the charges that had been filed against her were serious, and she could actually go to prison if she was convicted.

  I really hope this is some kind of mistake, but it doesn’t sound like it…

  Four

  Alexio

  “Mr. Hawkins—I’m so sorry!” Deana rushed into my study, holding a stack of papers.

  “What the fuck happened!?” I put both hands on my desk and growled as I stood.

  “It was the network crash—the calendar got wiped out.” She put a few papers down in front of me. “I had the interview scheduled with Faith Matthews, and I was working on the one with the girl Ms. Reynolds lined up for you—I got them mixed up.”

  “This is going to require some fucking damage control.” I balled my fists, and my nails dug into my palms.

  “I know; that’s why I’m here.” She sat down. “I pulled everything I could on Faith Matthews. She’s an only child—she just graduated from college.”

  “I know all of that.” I sat down with a hard thud. “I asked those questions before I realized there was a problem—damn it, I knew she looked familiar.”

  “Yes sir.” Deana sighed. “She was at Hawkins Capital the day we started having problems with the network—I had to cancel her interview.”

  “Fucking hell!” I slammed my hand down on my desk in anger. “I should have followed my instincts the moment I realized something was off—the girls Ms. Reynolds sends are never successful college graduates—they’re certainly not potential fucking candidates for Hawkins Capital!”

  And they’re never that fucking gorgeous—which is why I ignored the warning signs and kept going—I started thinking with my dick instead of my head.