“I’m afraid it’s not a joke. Your clan called, we answered. We’ve always been allied, no reason to start breaking alliances now. If you need this job, we can help with that.” Adam pushed back and crossed his arms over his chest, almost daring her to turn him down.
“I can’t work for you.”
“Why not?”
“You’re an asshole.”
Dean dissolved into choking laughter and almost slipped out of his chair.
“Dean, would you get the hell out of here?” Adam barked.
Dean grinned again and settled back into his chair. “And miss all of this? I don’t think so.”
Eva had her arms crossed and was staring at both of them with fury in her eyes. Adam thought it was sexy as hell, but he had no intention of telling Eva that. He’d forgotten she always looked prettier when she got mad. He had no idea if this would work or not. He’d forgotten how beautiful she was and how intensely he was attracted to her. Eight years had stunted his memory, but it was all flooding back now. She’d broken his heart when she left with no warning, but he still loved her. He wasn’t sure he could work with her—not because he didn’t want her around, but because he wanted her around too much.
“Eva…” he started.
“So,” she said, voice icy, “are you still a cheating asshat?”
“I…what?”
Eva studied her surroundings, cynical smile on her lips. “I bet the panties start dropping when you say ‘CEO, Frost Industries.’ Worked your way through the entire office yet?”
A muscle twitched in Adam’s cheek and he clenched his jaw tightly. “Yeah, that’s why I needed a new secretary; I keep running through them.”
“I hate to disappoint you, Mr. Frost, but I won’t be sleeping with you.”
Dean chortled to himself and earned another icy stare from Adam.
“I haven’t asked you to.”
“Yet.”
“What makes you think I want you, Ms. Carey?”
“I can smell it.” Eva inhaled deeply, nostrils flaring as she caught the testosterone-laden scents of both virile males in the room.
“I assure you, I can control myself.” Adam wasn’t sure, but he deigned not to admit it.
“First time for everything, I suppose.”
Adam turned to Dean. “This isn’t going to work. Get her out of here.”
“Whoa, whoa.” Eva stepped back and raised her hands in defeat. “Wait. I…I really need the job. I need the money. Bella’s tuition isn’t cheap.”
Adam studied her. Watching her chew on the inside of her lip was making him want to chew on it, too. He wasn’t sure this was the best idea, but he didn’t want to turn her away.
“Fine.” He exhaled loudly. “I think we can make this work. We’re all adults, all professionals, and we’ll all act like it. Do your job and stay out of my way.”
Eva was still staring at him, an unreadable expression in her eyes. “Right. I’ll stay out of your way.”
“Actually,” Adam added, “let’s keep the fact the we know each other between us.” He gestured between the three of them. “I think it would make your transition into the company smoother if everyone else didn’t know that we’re old, uh, friends.”
Eva raised her eyebrows at Adam’s words. “Sure. Old friends. Got it.”
Dean jumped up and put his hand on Eva’s shoulder, steering her towards the door. “And I’ll help her get settled into the outer office, cousin.”
“And then get your ass back in here,” Adam ordered.
Dean gave him a mocking salute and grinned before following Eva through the office door.
Adam settled back into his chair and twisted around, not seeing the skyline spread out before him. He never thought he’d see Eva again and he wasn’t sure how to feel about the fact that she just showed up in his office, in his life, again. They’d been engaged, a marriage arranged by their grandfathers when they were still cubs, but he’d fallen in love with her over the years. She’d been beautiful, smart, and sassy even as a teenaged girl. She was even more so now. She’d broken his heart though, when she stopped talking to him after her junior year homecoming dance and then disappeared a few months later. All he’d been told was that the engagement was over. Nothing had ever crushed him more.
He never thought seeing her again would bring all those feelings rushing back. He’d thought he was over her. He’d certainly tried to crush out the image of her face over the years the only way he knew. With other women. But over the past couple of years he’d mostly sworn off women all together. He didn’t want a woman who only wanted him because of his family name and connections or because of his money, he wanted a woman who wanted him.
Just him.
Adam ran his fingers through his hair and sighed, exasperated at the thoughts tumbling around in his mind.
He finally figured out two things. First, he’d have Dean’s head for a midnight snack for pulling this frivolous little stunt. And second, Miss Eva Carey was still heartbreakingly sexy and still a massive pain in his ass.
***
Eva was still in shock from her unexpected encounter with Adam.
After Dean showed her to her new office, she dropped into her desk chair and stared at the computer without really seeing it. How did that happen?
Adam was her boss.
Her ex-fiancé Adam was her boss.
Her cheating, heartbreaking, ex-fiancé Adam was her boss.
I should leave, there’s no way for this to turn out okay, she thought impulsively. She grabbed her bag and pushed back her chair before she realized there was no way she could turn down the job. The pay was too good. The benefits were too good. Now that her little sister, Bella, was going to attend NYU this fall and was living with Eva, she felt the added pressure of responsibility. Another mouth to feed and an apartment in New York City were no small things. The weretigresses of the Carey clan took care of their own. Their parents were retirees and had done a lot over the years for her. Eva felt that Bella was her responsibility now.
Eva sighed and dropped her bag back into a desk drawer. There was no way for her to get out of it. She had to stay and make the best out of it. She’d never find another job that would pay as well as being Adam Frost’s executive assistant. For the time being, she was stuck.
She turned on the computer and started to familiarize herself with the company system and set up her email account when she noticed two women standing just outside the glass doors that led into her office. They were giggling like schoolgirls and talking behind their hands. Eva huffed, annoyed at what she knew was coming. Still, she felt like she needed to make friends in the office so she lifted a hand and wiggled her fingers at them. That was all the invitation they need. They pushed open and tripped into the office.
“Hi!” a bleached-blonde chirped. “I’m Irena.”
“Hello. Eva.” She gestured to herself.
“I’m Andrea. Nice to meet you, too,” said the brunette with steely blue eyes as she offered her hand to Eva.
“Eva,” she said again, and gave Andrea a polite handshake.
Irena perched on the edge of Eva’s desk, grinning at her like an overly perky cheerleader. “Soooooo, you’re the new girl, huh?”
Eva eyed her new co-worker carefully. “I guess I am.”
“You meet the boss yet?” Andrea joined Irena on the edge of the desk. They were both staring at her, anticipating her response. Eva fought the urge to roll her eyes. No need to alienate her officemates just yet.
“Yes. I’ve met him,” she said, keeping her voice as neutral as possible.
Eva did roll her eyes when she saw Irena nudge Andrea’s foot with hers. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“Yeah, how about your boss’s social calendar? I’d love to know where I can ‘run into’ him,” Andrea snickered.
“I don’t think I can do that. And I should get to work. Don’t want to make a bad first impression.”
“Oh, come on! We just want
to know what you think of Daddy McHotpants.”
“Excuse me?”
Irena giggled. “Just one of our many names for Mr. Sex-on-a-Stick. Along with Stud Muffin, Honey Lips, and Tiger.”
Eva raised her eyebrow at the last nickname.
Andrea sidled up to her. “You’ll have all the inside info on him. You get to organize his calendar, arrange his travel, make his schedule. You’re the perfect person to get all the gossip from.”
“And you get to spend all day just looking at him. Mmm. All. Day.” Irena sighed at the thought.
“I’m not really interested in that kind of stuff,” Eva said.
“Yeah, right. Honey, every straight female from here to San Francisco is interested in him. You did meet him, right? Adam Frost? CEO? Titan of industry? Ass like steel? Face like a god? Body made for sin? Whoo, I have to go to confession twice a day for thinking about the things I’d like to do to that man.” Andrea licked her lips and grinned.
“I’m here to work.”
“I don’t think I’d get much work done with him around all day,” Irena said with a dreamy look on her face.
Eva’s lips tightened into a thin line. She’d had enough of listening to these two fawn all over Adam. Suddenly, she wasn’t as interested in having friends at work as she was earlier.
“I wouldn’t mind being the meat in an Adam-Frost-Dean-Woolsey sandwich, either.” Andrea wiggled her eyebrows lasciviously, making Irena burst into giggles again.
“Excuse me, I have things to do,” Eva snapped.
“We’re only kidding, honey,” Andrea drawled. “You have to admit, the man is very, very attractive. And very, very rich. Every woman in this building would give her left ovary to spend a little time with him and here you’ve got him all to yourself. Practically.”
“I don’t want him. I…I have a boyfriend.” Eva swallowed heavily around the lie.
Andrea shrugged. “Just as well. He doesn’t date.”
“What do you mean he doesn’t date?”
“What I said.” Andrea studied her nails. “He hasn’t dated anyone in the three years I’ve been here. Check the gossip blogs and Page Six if you don’t believe me. He’s never been photographed with anyone and if any woman in this building had dated him she’d never shut up about it. He doesn’t date.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
Andrea narrowed her eyes at Eva. “Why do you care? Thought you had a boyfriend.”
“I do. It’s just that…with scheduling…and his calendar…I like to know…it’s easier if I…” she trailed off.
Irena giggled again.
“Well, we’d better get back to the bullpen.” Andrea indicated the administrative office pool beyond the glass doors of Eva’s office. “See you around, Eva.” Andrea waggled her fingers and tugged on Irena’s elbow.
“Byyye,” Irena trilled as Andrea tugged her out of the door.
“Bye,” Eva mumbled and slumped back into her chair.
What have I gotten myself into?
Irena and Andrea’s chatter had exhausted Eva and it was only ten-thirty in the morning. As the next few hours passed, more and more girls from the administrative pool and other executive assistants dropped by her office to introduce themselves. They prattled on and kept one eye trained on the inner office door, waiting to see if their sexy boss would make an appearance. Eva just nodded and tried to get rid of them as quickly and politely as possible. Is this what’s it’s going to be like every day? I may not last long.
By the time her lunch hour rolled around she was beyond irritated and had to keep reminding herself why she even took the job in the first place. She needed more cash. Her former job at an insurance agency was laid back and low key. But it paid little. Even then she was content. She wasn’t ambitious, she just wanted to enjoy a quiet and peaceful life.
She gathered up her bag and coat and headed to the elevator, eager to escape the building for just a few minutes. Just as she punched the button for the ground floor someone slipped in between the closing doors.
It was Adam.
Ugh.
“How’s your morning been?” he asked.
“Fine. I’ve think I’ve met every member of your fan club. No, wait, I haven’t seen anyone from accounting yet.”
Adam scowled at her, eyebrows drawn tightly together. “Eva, I know you need this job, so can we just agree to get along? I don’t know what I did…”
Eva snorted, sounding very unladylike, but she didn’t care.
“I don’t know what I did,” he continued firmly “but I’m willing to forgive you for running off without a word and I’m willing to put aside all my feelings so that we can work with each other in a mature and professional manner. Deal?”
“You, forgive me?” Eva sputtered. “You arrogant…pompous…swaggering…tiger!” Eva punched at the elevator buttons, trying to get the doors to open.
“Eva.”
“What?” she snapped.
“We’re on the fifty-fifth floor.”
She stopped punching the buttons and stepped back. She couldn’t believe what he just said. He forgives her? Forgive her? If kicking her boss on the first day wouldn’t reflect badly on her job performance, or worse, getting her fired, she would wail on him until he was black and blue. The gall of this man! Argh! She was close to screaming at him. The ride to the lobby felt like it took a century. A century in which Eva stood with her arms crossed, her lips tight, and eyes trained on the corner like it held the mysteries of the universe.
“Eva,” he called, trying to ignite a conversation again.
She ignored him. Hard core.
When the elevator dinged and the doors slid open, Adam stepped back to let her walk out first. She was about ten feet away when he called out to her. “Eva, you’re coming back, aren’t you?”
She didn’t want to but she had to. Eva’s shoulders slumped slightly before she took a deep breath and straightened her back.
“Yes, I’m coming back.”
Spotilicious: BBW Werejaguar Shapeshifter Paranormal Romance (Jaguartown Book 1) Page 9
