Beth.
Ever since I’d met her the previous Christmas at a bachelor party in Jamaica, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her. We’d shared a night of unbridled passion – and in the twelve months that had since passed, she’d never left my mind. Even during nights where I worked myself to the bone on a project or dealing with a new client, Beth had always been right there. Her sexy freckles, that long brown hair, and her sparkling green eyes. Not to mention her killer, petite body – she’d looked like a girl next door turned supermodel. I could still remember the feel of her soft skin under my rough hands.
I’d tried to find her. When she’d left without a note or a phone number – or even a last name – I’d gone crazy. I’d hired a private investigator and spent thousands of dollars trying to locate her. All I knew was that she was gorgeous, in Boston, and that her name was Beth.
The odds of finding her seemed fucking impossible, but I wasn’t going to give up. And now that I was heading back home, I wanted to double down on my search.
“Hello? Earth to James,” Harry said. “What do you want?”
A bartender was standing next to Harry, looking vaguely annoyed.
“Just a bourbon,” I said. “On the rocks.”
The bartender nodded. A few seconds later, he returned with two glasses brimming to the top with bourbon. Harry and I each took a glass and clinked.
“What were you saying?” I took a long swallow of my drink. The bourbon burned all the way down, in a delicious, familiar way.
Harry looked at me in disgust. “You’re hopeless,” he said. “Look, James, I don’t know what happened, but you’ve been different ever since we went to Jamaica last year – did something happen?”
“No,” I lied. “Nothing happened.”
I knew that I was thinking like a crazy person. There was no way a rational person would keep pursuing a one-night-stand from almost a year ago…especially considering I didn’t even know her last name! But Beth had sparked something in me, something real, something that I’d never felt before.
And I knew I had to find her, no matter what.
Chapter Three
Hanna
I climbed out of bed and yawned, rubbing my fists against my eyes. The sun was shining outside – it looked like it was already late afternoon – but I knew it was freezing cold. It had snowed, again, the night before, and I’d stayed in bed all day, reading and snacking on the cookies Danielle had brought home from her job.
It had been exactly one week since I’d quit working for Jim. The first few days had been hard. I felt useless and lazy, and it was hard to motivate myself to do anything other than shower during the long days at home. Danielle had been more than supportive – she’d done nothing but give me encouraging words. She’d even asked her friend who worked in a staffing agency if there were any leads that looked like they’d be a good fit for me. But nothing had worked out. Yesterday, I’d spent the whole day sending my resume to what felt like every company in the city. I knew that as soon as I started getting interviews again, I’d start to feel better.
Just as I was about to head into the kitchen and grab the ice cream from the freezer, my phone buzzed in the pocket of my pajama pants. Excitedly, I pulled it out and swiped the call open.
“Hello, this is Hanna Parker,” I said in my most professional voice.
“Hello, Hanna! This is Laura, over at Magnate Group. We received your resume yesterday for an administrative position, and I was hoping you’d be able to come in for an interview tomorrow morning.”
My heart leapt into my throat and I had to steady myself. Magnate Group was the firm to work for in Boston! It was always on the Fortune 500 list, and I knew the owner was a young, mysterious billionaire. It was impossible to go anywhere in the city without seeing sleek Magnate Group advertisements.
“Hanna? Are you there?”
“Oh my gosh, yes, I’m so sorry,” I said. “And yes, I’d love to come in and speak with you tomorrow morning!”
“Perfect,” Laura said. “Please come at ten-thirty.”
I scribbled down the address that Laura gave me on the back of my hand and fought the urge to squeal and jump for joy when I hung up. I couldn’t believe it – if I started working at Magnate Group, my money problems would be over. I’d be able to save, and more importantly, start to pay Danielle back for all of her kindness.
I was still jumping for joy when Danielle got home. She smiled when she saw me.
“I got an interview!” I said excitedly. “At Magnate Group!”
“Holy shit, no way!” Danielle squealed and hugged me tightly. “Hanna, that’s incredible!”
“I know,” I said, closing my eyes and taking a huge breath. “I can’t believe they called me. Me, of all people!”
“I can believe it,” Danielle replied. “You’re smart and capable. They’ll be lucky to have you.”
“Don’t talk like I already have the job,” I said cautiously. “It’s bad luck.”
Danielle scoffed. “It’s not bad luck,” she said. “Hanna, I know you’re going to crush this! I’m so happy for you.”
I bit my lip. “I just don’t want to get too optimistic when nothing has happened yet,” I said. “You understand, right?”
Danielle nodded. “But I’m confident in you,” she said. “And tomorrow, I know you’re going to wow them.”
I flushed. “I hope so,” I said. “Because I really need this.”
That night, I barely slept. I tossed and turned in my bed, wondering what would happen. Would the interview go well? Or go poorly? I even got up early in the morning to brush up on typical interview questions and a brief history of the Magnate Group. It was incredibly impressive that in less than twenty-five years, Magnate had become one of the largest domestic consulting firms.
I wondered if I’d be good enough to work there.
I left the apartment at nine in the morning, in my favorite black dress with stockings and heels tucked in my bag. The streets were still slushy and wet, but the sun was shining. I took it as a good omen. I’m going to get this, I thought, my confidence growing as I walked to the bus stop. I just know it!
When I got to the Magnate Group offices, I couldn’t help but be impressed. They owned an entire building, a large skyscraper in the posh downtown. The inside was all modern – stainless steel and glass – but with luxe touches, like marble floors and beautiful paintings on the wall. I rode the elevator up alone, fidgeting nervously. When the doors dinged open, I reluctantly stepped out and looked around.
A smiling woman at reception stood up when she saw me. “Hello,” she said. “You must be Hanna Parker.”
I nodded. “Yes,” I said. “I’m meeting Laura at ten-thirty.”
The woman smiled. “Come with me, please,” she said. “She’s waiting for you.”
My heart began to thump nervously as the woman led me into a small, intimate conference room. The table was set with a bowl of fruit and bottles of chic sparkling water, but I didn’t want to touch anything and make a bad impression.
“Hello, Hanna, I’m Laura.”
I looked up to see a middle-aged woman sitting at the table. She stood and offered me her hand, which I shook as firmly as I could without crushing her. She had friendly eyes but a stern face, and I noticed that her silk and wool suit was obviously designer.
“It’s very nice to meet you,” I said politely. I waited for Laura to sit down before sitting across from her and passing over a copy of my resume. “I brought this, just in case you needed an extra copy.”
Laura gave me a brief smile. “Thank you for coming in today,” she said. “I’m going to tell you a little about the position, and then we’ll get into the interview portion.”
I nodded.
“So, you’ll be working as the administrative assistant for our CEO, James West,” Laura continued. “He’s a very important man, with a busy schedule. You’ll need to make sure that all of his needs are taken care of, and that a professional
relationship is maintained at all times.”
I frowned. “Why do you say that?”
For the first time, I saw a crack in Laura’s composure. “Some of his assistants in the past have developed…” She trailed off. “Well, let’s not discuss that.” She smiled, but I could tell it was forced. “The important thing is that you’re able to do the job properly.”
I thought of my horrible last boss, Jim, and the harassment I’d endured.
“I’m sure I can,” I said. “As long as Mr. West is professional and respectful, I will be, too.”
Laura nodded. She seemed relieved. “Very good,” she said. “So, please tell me a little bit about yourself.”
“I recently graduated with a degree in social media management,” I said. As I told Laura about myself and my interests, I could see that she was smiling for real now. She made a lot of notes on the pad in front of her as I talked.
After Laura had asked me a few questions, I felt more confident than ever. She was easy to talk with – it was almost like talking with a friend – and I knew instinctively that I’d be a good match for this company. As long as James, whoever he was, was nothing like Jim, I had a feeling that I was going to be very happy here.
At the end of the interview, Laura got to her feet. She beamed at me. “Hanna, I don’t want to give anything away, but you’re the strongest candidate I’ve spoken to so far. I think you would be a great fit for this position.”
My jaw dropped and it took me a few seconds to recover my composure. “Wow, that’s wonderful news,” I said. “Thank you so much.”
Laura nodded. “I’ll speak with human resources, but I’m betting you’ll have a verbal offer by the end of the day. Are you currently interviewing anywhere else?”
I shook my head. “No,” I said honestly. “I’m not.”
Laura smiled. “Very good,” she said. “Well, Hanna, thank you very much for coming in and speaking with me today. And I think I can speak for all of us at Magnate Group when I say that I’m looking forward to seeing how you do here.”
“Thank you so much,” I said. My heart was racing and I had to make a conscious effort not to jump and leap around with happiness.
As I left the Magnate Group offices, I felt happier and more relaxed than I had in weeks. I couldn’t believe it – I’d finally landed a job worthy of the four years I’d spent slaving away in college. And while I didn’t know anything about my new boss, James, I was more than excited to learn.
Chapter Four
James
I only had a few days left in the London office before heading back home, and I was starting to get antsy. I’d missed Boston, but I’d been so busy that I’d hardly thought of home during the year I’d been gone. But now that my return was imminent, I couldn’t stop thinking about all of the things, places, and people that I’d missed.
Harry had been disappointed with me. I hadn’t wanted to go out on a pub crawl with him, or sleep with any lingerie model, or waste my time on banal bacchanalia. Part of me was irritated with Harry, too – we’d known each other for years, and it was very clear that we were two very different men. But on the other hand, his impish charm and behavior was what had drawn me to him in the first place. Men like Harry made me feel stable and confident, even in a sea of uncertainty. I felt like he was one of the only people who ever understood how truly unhappy I was. That was why I never begrudged his constant skirt-chasing – I knew that Harry wanted me to be happy, and he was trying the best way he knew how.
The only problem was that none of those things made me happy. In fact, one of the only times I’d been happy in recent memory had been when I was with Beth, the gorgeous brunette I’d met in Jamaica.
I had to find her again.
The morning I left London, I caught a cab to Heathrow and waited impatiently by the gate for my flight to start boarding. The airport was full of excitement – people coming and going on vacations, tours, and honeymoons, all filled with the promise of something extraordinary. Even though I was only going home, I was just as excited – I told myself that returning to Boston would be a new start. After all, I’d turned thirty-one during my year abroad. I wasn’t a kid anymore. I was a man, a CEO of a huge consulting firm, and it was time that my life should begin to come together.
When I landed in Boston, I caught a cab to my condo. I’d had my housekeeper, Anna, check in every week to keep things clean and make sure there weren’t any problems. Stepping inside felt strange – it had been almost twelve months since I’d been home, and yet now it felt like no time at all had passed.
Anna was in the kitchen, stirring something in a large metal bowl. When she saw me, she beamed.
“Mr. James! I’m so happy you’re back safely!”
I nodded. “Yes, thank you, Anna,” I said. “And I assume everything is fine here?”
Anna nodded. “Yes,” she said. “I wanted to surprise you with dinner – I just have to put this in the oven, and then I’ll be out of your way. I bet you want to relax after such a long flight.”
I frowned. The idea was tempting, but I was more energized than I thought I’d be after a long flight. The cold air outside felt crisp and refreshing on my skin, and I was eager to get into the office and make sure that everything had gone well in my absence.
“Thank you, Anna, but you can just put that in the fridge and clean up.”
Anna frowned. She was a sweet, pudgy woman in her mid-sixties with a motherly bun of brown hair, streaked with grey. She’d been my employee for just over three years, and I knew that she felt a maternal kind of protectiveness over me that I found endearing.
“Mr. James, you shouldn’t work so hard,” Anna said disapprovingly, clucking her tongue. “You need rest! Those planes, they’re so filthy, all that air circulating around and around!”
“I feel fine,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “Seriously.”
Anna flushed. “Yes, Mr. James,” she said politely. I watched as she poured the contents of the bowl into a glass casserole dish and placed it in the fridge before washing her hands and putting the dishes in the dishwasher.
“I’m going to take a shower,” I called over my shoulder. “Thanks again, Anna!”
My housekeeper mumbled something of a response, but I didn’t hear her as I walked into the master bedroom and shut the door behind me. It felt so good to be home that I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, inhaling the familiar air. Now that I was face to face with my bed, I had to admit that a nap was tempting…but still, the urge to go back into the office and check up on things was strong. Besides, I knew that it would be a surprise – no one at Magnate was expecting their CEO back until the following Monday.
And what better way to check how things are going than to drop by unannounced?
After a long, hot shower, I pulled on a fresh Oxford shirt and a pair of slacks. I brushed my hair back from my head, knowing it would turn unruly before long, and tucked my laptop into my briefcase. It was snowing outside, but I looked forward to feeling the cool air on my skin.
As I waited for my driver, Nick, to pull my sedan around to the front of the building, I studied the groups of women walking back and forth. Most of them were laden with heavy Christmas-themed shopping bags and parcels. I felt a small tug of loneliness in my heart. Unlike last year, I typically spent the holidays alone. I always used the “work is too busy” excuse whenever I was invited to a gathering, but it was starting to get old.
I wondered if Harry had any secret plans up his sleeve.
To my relief, the Magnate Group offices looked as pristine as ever. As I walked past the rows and rows of secretaries, they all looked shocked to see me.
“Mr. West! What a surprise, you’re back early!”
“Mr. West, wow, would you like some coffee?”
“How was London, Mr. West?”
I brushed off the girls with polite smiles as I made my way to my office. There, sitting at her desk in front of my door, was Janet, my assistant. When she saw me, her ja
w dropped and her cheeks turned bright pink.
“Oh my gosh, Mr. West! You’re back!”
I smirked at her. “Yes,” I said. “A latte, please, with soy milk.”
“Right away,” Janet said. She leapt to her feet and scurried across the room, her heels clacking on the marble floors.
I rolled my eyes. I’d forgotten how it felt to be drooled over constantly. While the women in London had obviously been attracted to me, they’d shown a lot more restraint than the thoroughly American Janet.
Unlocking my office door, I went inside and sat down. It felt good to be back in my own chair, at my own desk, in my own office. Janet followed a few seconds later with a hot, steaming latte in her hands.
“Here you are,” Janet said proudly. She passed me the latte as if it was the Olympic torch. “How are you?”
“I’m fine,” I said without looking up. “I wanted to drop by and see how everything was going here.”
“Oh,” Janet said. I glanced up and saw that she was squirming and fumbling with her hands. “Right.”
I raised an eyebrow at her. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Janet said quickly. “Um, it’s just—”
I sighed. “Spit it out,” I said, narrowing my eyes at her. “This is getting really old, Janet. You’re not a child. Please, stop acting like one.”
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