Ocean Breeze

by Laura Conway

  Chapter Seven

  Carley found some ice in the freezer and put the cubes into a tumbler before covering them with whiskey. She took a sip before bringing the glass outside with her, taking a seat on the white sofa again. She wasn’t entirely sure what she was signing up for, but she needed the money.

  In the few minutes that Andrea had been gone, she’d already started daydreaming about how different the second half of her trip could be if this job paid as well as Jessica had said. Carley knew she’d find out in a few minutes when Andrea returned with the contract, but she let her mind wander, thinking about how she could stay in hotels instead of hostels. She could dine out without checking the prices on the menu before she even sat down.

  It’ll be worth it, whatever I have to do in the next six months... I’ll be able to travel to even more places and in a bit more comfort too.

  Carley turned when she heard Andrea’s heels clicking against the tiles. She handed Carley the contract as she sat down beside her.

  “Wow,” Carley said, feeling the weight of the papers in her hand. “I thought we were talking about a few paragraphs...”

  “Take some time to look over it, but there’s nothing hidden in there. I’m not trying to trick you. I just have to cover myself and my businesses. A lot of it comes down to confidentiality.”

  Carley nodded. “Okay... That makes sense.”

  “I’ve added a few lines to the standard contract for you. I have the exit date as November eighth, six months from today, with the option for you to stay on if we’re both happy.”

  Carley scanned through the contract, flipping through the pages, until her eyes fell on the figure she’d be paid every week. She squinted, bringing the stack of papers a little closer. Surely, she was seeing things. She sometimes didn’t make that in a month. Now she’d be making that much every week?!

  “There’s one other thing,” Andrea said, and Carley looked up to meet her eyes. She seemed... nervous almost. “I can’t have you living in a hostel, and since you’ll be working long hours with me... There’s the option of living here.”

  Carley’s eyebrows rose. Okay, now I have to be dreaming. “Live here?”

  Andrea nodded. “There’s five bedrooms, a living room, a den, a gym... There’s more than enough room. You’ll have your own space when you’re not working.”

  Carley wasn’t sure what to say. She didn’t get the impression that Andrea was suggesting this out of the kindness of her heart, and it didn’t seem to be a business decision either, although Carley could see that she was positioning it that way.

  “You’d be embarrassed to have your personal assistant living in a hostel, right?” Carley asked, leaving the contract down on the glass coffee table in front of them. She brought her tumbler to her lips and took a sip, waiting to see what Andrea would say.

  “It wouldn’t look great...”

  With the amount of money that Andrea was offering her, she could just rent her own place for six months, and she’d still have plenty left over to travel. She didn’t want to be Andrea’s charity case.

  “But it makes sense too,” Andrea added. “There will be a lot of late nights and early mornings. It would be easier for both of us if you were here... I’m going to get a drink. Think about it, and if you want to take the contract with you and have someone look it over with you, that’s fine.”

  “I’ll read it here if that’s okay,” Carley said, meeting her eyes as she stood up.

  “Okay.”

  Carley took a deep breath when Andrea was back inside. This whole thing was crazy, but that was what she left Connecticut for: adventure. She wanted to see the world and experience more than what her small town life had to offer. Wasn’t this exactly what she was looking for? She’d already met Vega Reyes through Andrea. Who knows what else could happen in the next six months?

  Carley wanted to ask Andrea all evening how she knew Vega Reyes, but she bit her tongue. This was supposed to be an interview even if it was an unusual one. Carley would slip it into conversation when they got to know each other a bit better.

  Carley picked up the contract again and skimmed over the words. She knew she should read it more carefully than she was, but it was full of legal terminology. She almost laughed out loud at the thought of emailing this to her parents and asking for their legal advice. That was definitely not happening.

  She turned over another page, looking for anything that deserved her full attention, but it all looked legit. It was mostly about Andrea’s privacy. She was pretty much signing a non-disclosure agreement with a few additional things thrown in. She couldn’t find any reason not to sign it, and once she did, Carley would be Andrea’s P.A. effective immediately.

  Chapter Eight

  Andrea took her time getting a drink. She wanted to give Carley some space to read over the contract. She’d prefer it if she had her own lawyer look over it, but it suddenly occurred to her that she probably wouldn’t have one. Everyone she knew had one, but they clearly ran in different social circles.

  Andrea stood in front of the French doors, taking a second to observe Carley without the fear of getting caught. She watched her read through the last page of the contract, her blond hair falling across her face as she reached down to pick up her handbag. Andrea took a sip of her whiskey as she watched Carley take a pen out of her bag and sign the papers. As of this moment, Carley Morrison was her new P.A.

  The only question left unanswered was her living situation. Andrea couldn’t believe she was seriously offering a stranger a place in her home when security was her number one priority, but she knew how crazy the next few months were, and it would be so much easier having Carley around.

  Andrea reached for the handle and pulled the door open. Carley spoke first. “It’s official.”

  “You’re happy with everything?” Andrea asked as she sat down.

  “Yes.”

  “Perfect... And what do you think about living here?”

  “If you think that it makes sense for you, I’m happy to stay here,” Carley said, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear.

  “Okay. Great.”

  Andrea relaxed a little. She had a P.A. and hopefully her life would start getting back to normal now. Carley would need some time to settle in and figure everything out, but at least Andrea could focus on business again instead of answering her phone or checking emails.

  Andrea lifted her glass to Carley’s. “To a new partnership,” she said, gently hitting her tumbler against Carley’s.

  “Cheers,” Carley said, flashing her a smile before she took a sip.

  Andrea could already see some major differences between Jessica and Carley. Jessica respected her, in an almost fearful way. She’d lived in Marbella for years and knew Andrea’s status. She’d already been a secretary for one of Andrea’s colleagues too, so she knew how to schmooze. She blended in at social events and fundraisers. Jessica loved fashion and the glitz and glamour of Andrea’s social circle. She fit in easily.

  Andrea hadn’t really thought that far ahead. She’d been so concerned with finding someone to take care of her day-to-day tasks that she forgot about that part of the job. Jessica had been so good at it. Andrea knew she’d be doing well to find someone like that again. She’d really been a great assistant, except for the stealing part.

  Andrea would let Carley get a grip on her very long list of new responsibilities before she started talking to her about her wardrobe. Andrea did need to worry about the event in London next week. Maybe when she was getting fitted for her dress, they could bring a few options for Carley.

  She didn’t need to be worrying about this now. Tomorrow was another day.

  Chapter Nine

  Carley placed her duffel bag on the bottom of the bed. She’d unpack the few things she had later. Right now, all she wanted to do was take in the view... from her balcony. She smiled to herself as she slid the glass door open and stepped outside. She went straight to the railing, her hands wrapping around the rou
nded metal edge as she looked out at the ocean.

  She’d been here all day, going over everything with Andrea and asking her as many questions as she could think of so that she wouldn’t have to bother her with them in the coming weeks, but this was the first time she’d explored her room.

  Suite. I’m pretty much staying in a suite.

  The room was spacious, as big as her apartment was back home, and she had this balcony. The bathroom was equally excessive with a massive waterfall shower head and a jacuzzi bath in the corner.

  And this was just one of the guest bedrooms. What was Andrea’s master bedroom like?

  She’d see it soon enough. She remembered Jessica’s words ‘I don’t even know when she sleeps,’ and Carley could already see what she’d been talking about. Andrea’s days were long, and Carley didn’t know if she ever switched off. She’d probably end up discussing business with her in her bedroom one night. It wouldn’t surprise Carley at all.

  But it’ll all be worth it.

  Carley needed to keep reminding herself of that during the next six months. At least Andrea wasn’t one of those ice queens. There were moments today when she was all business, but she hadn’t turned nasty or demanding. She just told Carley what she needed from her without any drama. It was early days yet, but Carley had a feeling that was the way it was going to be.

  Carley took one last look out at the ocean before she went back inside and closed the sliding door behind her. She had to unpack and get to bed. Her alarm was going off at 5:30AM tomorrow, and she’d have her first real responsibilities as Andrea’s P.A.

  Carley needed to get in touch with the venue in London and make sure everything was ready to go. It was one of several charity events that Andrea would be attending in the coming months, and since she was one of the leading donors, she’d be making a speech. Carley would be confirming all the details, and then she’d be getting in touch with the pilot and making sure he was still available for that morning.

  Carley still couldn’t wrap her head around this kind of lifestyle. She knew people lived like this, but she’d never even come close to being in the same room with someone like Andrea, and now this. She’d be getting on that private jet with Andrea to London. She’d be at that fundraiser with her.

  Wait. What the hell am I going to wear?

  She only had two or three dresses, and she didn’t bring any of them with her to Europe, although she highly doubted that any of them would have been suitable for an event like this. She would be getting paid on Friday, the day before they flew to London, so that didn’t really help. She doubted the few hundred she had in cash would get her the kind of dress she needed, and she needed to keep some of that for day-to-day expenses.

  I’m going to have to tell her...

  Carley’s flat shoes made little noise against the tiled floors of the hallway, and she noticed the light underneath the door of Andrea’s office. Of course, she was still working. Carley stood in front of the white door for a few seconds, listening to make sure she wasn’t on the phone and when she didn’t hear anything, she knocked gently.

  “Come in.”

  “Hey. Sorry to bother you this late.”

  “It’s fine. I’ll be up for another while. Is everything okay with your room?” Andrea asked as she turned in her chair to face her.

  “More than okay, but I thought of a slight problem for this weekend.”

  “And what’s that?”

  Carley shifted her weight onto her other foot. She felt awkward standing in her doorway like this, but she wasn’t going to make herself comfortable either. She didn’t know Andrea well enough yet to know what sort of boundaries she liked. Would they end up being friends or would Andrea prefer to keep a certain level of professionalism between them?

  “I don’t have anything to wear to this fundraiser in London,” Carley said, running her hand through her hair. “I’m not even sure if I went shopping that I’d know what I was looking for... I’ve never been to anything that...fancy.”

  Andrea nodded. “The designer I normally work with is coming over Wednesday with my dress, but I asked her to bring a few for you to try on. I hope that’s okay?”

  “Yes. Of course,” Carley said, a slight smile on her lips.

  “It’s a business expense too, so don’t worry about it, okay?”

  “What? I couldn’t let you-”

  “This won’t be the last event that you’ll be going to,” Andrea said as she stood up and crossed the room to stand in front of Carley.

  “Thank you,” Carley said, pushing a piece of her hair behind her ear and swallowed the lump in her throat. She didn’t like this feeling of being taken care of. She was used to providing for herself, and the idea that Andrea was going to be funding her new wardrobe didn’t sit well with her. She had a feeling that this might extend to her day to day clothes. Her casual attire probably wouldn’t work when Andrea was standing beside her in designer skirts and blazers that looked like they were custom made to fit her athletic figure.

  Carley was still standing in the doorway, her hand on the frame as she tried to decide if their conversation was over. She’d found out today that Andrea was forty-two years old when she gave Carley the master list of passwords to her accounts and access to all her documents including her passport. Carley hadn’t really thought about it, but she looked good. She probably would have guessed that she was only a few years older than her, maybe in her early thirties, but she was actually fourteen years older than her, and she’d already accomplished so much.

  “Let me know if you have any other questions or dilemmas,” Andrea said. “I know this is probably overwhelming, but after a few days, you’ll get the hang of it.”

  “I hope so... Goodnight,” she said as she turned to leave.

  “Goodnight.”

  Carley wandered back to her room, still trying to take this whole situation in. She had to keep reminding herself that this was her new job. This was what it was going to be like for the next six months. She’d never been anywhere close to so much money. She’d always been frugal, saving as much money as she could. She’d never bought anything designer. Most of her clothes came from thrift stores. This was all so foreign to her.

  But she’d just have to get used to it. Andrea was right. That dress would probably be the first of many ‘business expenses.’ Carley stood in front of the mirror in her bathroom and unpacked her toothbrush and makeup. She brushed her hair, wondering if that was something else she’d have to change. She’d always dressed casually, and that extended to her hair and makeup.

  She either wore her hair down and left it straight or tied it back in a pony tail or a messy bun. She never gave her hair any more attention than that. Her makeup was minimal too. Just some gray or brown shades of eyeshadow to bring out her blue eyes and some eyeliner. She rarely wore foundation or mascara.

  She imaged that Andrea would never leave the house without looking done up, except when she was running. That was the only time Carley had seen her hair tied back and her face free of makeup.

  Carley got ready for bed and unpacked her few items of clothes, placing them in the chest of drawers that were opposite her bed. She lifted the decorative pillows off her bed, piling them in the corner. She’d turned the air condition off earlier and preferred to have a window open to let some fresh air in. As she climbed into bed and got comfortable, Carley closed her eyes. Sleep wasn’t far away.

  Chapter Ten

  Andrea spent the drive to Malaga Airport reading over her speech. She’d been making speeches for years and addressing large groups of people came second nature to her, but that was because she was always prepared. She would know her speech off by heart by the time she got on stage tonight. It gave her a boost in confidence, not having to worry about what would come next. She could focus on the words she was delivering.

  Carley sat in the backseat of the car beside her, typing away on her phone, probably taking care of any last-minute changes. She was adjusting much better th
an Andrea thought she would. She wasn’t overly confident either. When she wasn’t sure what to do, she asked, and Andrea appreciated that.

  Andrea folded up the two sheets of paper and slid them into her bag. She’d go over it again when she got on her plane. It was a short flight, about an hour and a half, and there was nothing else that needed her immediate attention. She wanted to make sure she got this speech right. There was an emotional element that she didn’t normally have to worry about when she was giving a speech.

  Tonight’s fundraiser was for breast cancer, and a few years ago, she wasn’t sure if her mother was going to make it. She’d been involved with fundraising for breast cancer before, but when it had affected her so closely, it became a lot more personal. She was tonight’s biggest donor. Her mother would be sitting at their table tonight, and Andrea didn’t want to think about the alternative, about what might have happened if she hadn’t been treated in time.

  “Okay,” Carley said, taking Andrea away from her thoughts. “We’re having lunch at that restaurant you mentioned, Rivera’s. We have a reservation for one o’clock. Then we’ll go back to the hotel. You have a meeting at three. They’re coming to you... And then hair and makeup will be coming over to get you ready for tonight,” Carley said, glancing up from her phone to meet her eyes.

  Andrea nodded as they pulled up at the airport. She could see her plane waiting for them a few yards away, her crew climbing the stairs. They’d be taking off in about a half hour.

  “Is this your first time flying private?” Andrea asked her as they got out of the car.

  Carley laughed. “Yes... I’ll have to try not to get too used to it,” she said, flashing her a smile as she grabbed their small suitcases from the car and wheeled them over to the plane.