After a quick breakfast of juice, eggs, and toast, she climbed into her small Honda, her mom blowing her a kiss from the front door.
Kent's house was a mansion three times over, the number of rooms making it feel more like a hotel. Her mom hadn't moved out of her own small, two-bedroom house on the other side of Dallas, and they had decided that, for the week of vacation, she and her mom would stay with Kent at his place. Good thing. Her mom most likely had stale cereal and low-fat milk as the most appetizing breakfast option. Bethany shuddered at the thought.
***
Bethany drove in nervous silence, the sound of the traffic around her offering a bit of balm to her beating heart. It had been a while since she’d had to try to impress someone. All of the professors in the business center knew her, and her reputation preceded her thanks to tutoring often and being part of the honors fraternity.
This was a whole new situation. She'd have to impress her new stepbrother, and something told her that would be more difficult than she wanted it to be.
Not having any siblings of her own, she wasn't even sure how to approach their new relationship but figured her best bet was to respect him as her boss, and if something familial grew from that, all the better. Forcing something wasn't her style at all, her heart set on impressing people with her intelligence and wit no matter the audience.
Bethany pulled into the visitor parking, an elderly cop moving toward her and motioning for her to lower the window. The large building above them reaching high into the sky, as most of the other buildings in the business district in downtown did.
"Where ya headed, miss?" He leaned down, a smile lifting the furry mustache on his upper lip.
"I'm starting my internship with McKenzie and Bryant today. I hope I'm in the right place." She looked around for a sign, nothing but plain concrete walls surrounding them.
"You're in the right place. Go to the fourth floor or above in the garage, and make sure you don't park in a reserved spot. Take the ticket the little machine up there spits out at you, and have the receptionist validate it for ya." He moved back and motioned for her to go on through. "Good luck."
"Thanks," Bethany mumbled as she rolled up her window, and the car crept toward the small ticket dispenser. Excitement mixed with fear rushed up her chest, her breathing reminding her of the need to exercise. She usually didn't get hyped up about things, but this was a whole new ballgame. Not having an interview with Damon left her without a clue of who it was that she would be answering to. Her mom's comments about Kent's oldest son left her stomach in knots.
She parked and reached in to pull her purse from the passenger seat, hitting her head on the rearview mirror and cursing at herself. She moved out of the car and walked quickly toward the elevator sign.
The heat in Texas in late August was painful. If she wasn't careful, her hair would turn into something Tina Turner might be proud to sport. Reaching up, she tugged her fingers through the silky strands and slipped into the elevator with the two million other people who were headed toward the large building above them. It looked like hell had opened its gates for a quick drink of ice water.
She filed out, people rushing around her and checking their watches. Bethany looked around, trying to get her bearings before noticing a large sign on the wall that displayed a map. She moved toward it, working not to get run over by the suits that filled the large lobby. McKenzie and Bryant was on the twenty-eighth floor, the view from their windows most likely incredible.
She walked toward the correct elevator and got in at the last minute, the door closing behind her. She turned to face away from the crowd and exhaled softly, fear of the unknown almost consuming her. The door opened a few times for other floors, and she shifted to the left and right, trying to be polite and waiting her turn.
Finally, the light for the twenty-eighth floor lit up, and the door opened, Bethany moving off with a short, squatty male who looked a little older than her. He pulled a badge from his waist and swiped it on the reader on the wall by the door. He held the door open and smiled at Bethany. "New today?"
"I sure am." She moved toward him, a smile on her lips as she held her purse on her shoulder. "I'm supposed to check in with the receptionist."
He moved into the large lobby behind her and shifted to her side. "I'm Ben. Nice to meet you."
"Bethany Miller. Nice to meet you, too." She looked around, realizing that the receptionist desk was just behind her.
"Well, good luck today, and if you need a tour, I'm in office 1014." He smiled and walked off.
Bethany turned to greet the receptionist. "Hi, I'm a new intern."
The receptionist looked up and held up her finger, her long red nail quite out of place for a professional environment. Bethany apologized and moved to sit in one of the small leather chairs just beside the woman's desk. A few minutes later, the lady called Bethany back up.
"New intern, did you say?"
"Yes, ma'am." Bethany stood and moved toward the desk, the woman standing and fiddling with some papers below her.
"Bethany Miller?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Stop calling me ma'am. Makes me feel old." The lady smiled, but it failed to reach her eyes. "You're going to be in that conference room right over there. Here's a packet of stuff you need to fill out, and Mr. Bryant will call you up when he's available. Human Resources will want some of your time today, so make sure to stick around after you see the boss man. We'll get you an office and all that good stuff, too."
Bethany thanked the woman and walked toward the room, her shoulders and back aching as stress stiffened her. Sitting down in the large black leather chair, she pulled out a pen and began to work on the items in front of her.
The receptionist poked her head in a few minutes later, her knuckles rapping on the door and causing Bethany to jump.
"Sorry. Mr. Bryant is ready for you. Just go up the elevator to the thirtieth floor. His receptionist, Linda, will get you in to see him."
She walked off, and Bethany stood, putting the papers together and shoving them in the folder. She hated like hell that her hands trembled. She'd have to keep them in her lap in front of Damon. No way was she letting him on to the nervousness that tore up her insides.
"Here goes nothing …"
Chapter 5
Linda was far too good looking to be a secretary, or Damon was the asshole her mother had warned her about. Bethany hated to judge a book by its cover, but the tall blonde model posing as a receptionist had been incredibly sexual—just in showing Bethany to Damon's office, her words almost purred. Bethany thanked her and shivered in disgust as the door closed. Apparently, Damon was down the hall and would be back shortly.
Taking advantage of the few moments she had, Bethany walked around the large executive office. The windows lined the walls of half of the office from floor to ceiling. The view was spectacular, and she wanted to see it at night, the lights of the city a beautiful spectacle, no doubt.
Pictures of three men accented the wall behind Damon's large cherrywood desk, one of them being Kent and the others Damon and his brother. She picked up one of the photos of the three men smiling at the camera, their golf shirts showing that they were at an event together.
"Oh shit. Please let the goofy-looking one be Damon."
She sat the picture down and moved toward the door, the sound of him coming in causing her heart to race. His voice was deep, the timbre of it commanding and firm.
"I'll be busy for the next twenty minutes, Linda. No interruptions unless the building is burning down."
The door closed, and Bethany turned from the window, her heart sinking at the image before her. It wasn't the goofy brother but the devilishly handsome one. The one that caused hearts to stop and panties to disintegrate with a look. His dark hair was combed on the sides and a bit messy on the top, the smirk on his lips giving her something later to dream about inappropriately. His blue shirt was fitted, the thick muscles of his arms and chest contracting as he simply walke
d toward her.
She moved in his direction, extending her hand, a soft smile on her lips as she watched his dark brown eyes move from her face to her toes and back up again.
"Hi. I'm Bethany."
He stopped in front of her and shook her hand, tilting his head slightly to the side.
"I expected you to be a little more mousy. Pleasant surprise, I suppose." He shook her hand, his face a mask of indifference. "Damon Bryant. Have a seat."
He moved around her, and she turned, walking toward the chair and praying like hell she'd make it before her legs gave out. Her knees shook slightly as her heart beat wildly in her chest.
The picture had been a sad representation of the man before her. The scent of his cologne lingered in the air, and she breathed in deeply, coveting it.
She sat down, pressing her knees together and letting her purse slide from her fingers onto the floor beside her. She wanted to jump in and start the conversation, but he simply demanded the lead, and she couldn't help but let him have it. She bit her lip, stopping the minute she realized he was focused on her mouth.
"My father tells me that you're a brilliant accountant and that you're here to make my life easier."
"I'm grateful for the opportunity to help."
"So tell me, Bethany, are you brilliant?" He sat up, leaning forward as he studied her.
Something about his gaze made her feel as if she were nude, bare before him. A nervous tic caused her foot to bounce to the rhythm of her heartbeat, her mind racing for the most appropriate answer.
"I graduated near the top of my class in both high school and college."
"I didn't ask that. I asked if you were brilliant."
"Yes?" she whispered, her voice hiding from her.
This was embarrassing, humiliating. What the hell was wrong with her? She had sat in front of professors and state regulators for the board of public accountancy. She had never lost her footing before. She spoke again just before he started to, the look on his handsome face pensive.
"Yes. I am brilliant."
"Good." He watched her for a minute more before turning to the blinking light on his phone. "Forgive me for a minute. I need to take this."
She nodded and diverted her attention toward the windows, her chest screaming for air. She hadn't realized she had been holding her breath and worked to let it go quietly.
Damon was sensual and strong, dark and handsome, much more so than anyone she had ever encountered. Remembering that he was soon to be her new stepbrother was important, not that anything would happen between the two of them. He was probably six to eight years older than her and far out of her league. He made the sexy blonde in the foyer pale in comparison.
Bethany tried not to listen to Damon’s conversation but couldn't help it.
"I know, Bridget. Yes, tonight will be fine. Eight o'clock at Pallinda's. Wear the blue dress for me and the black heels that you know I love."
Bethany looked over at him, his eyes on her as he spoke. His predatory gaze made her feel as if she were under a microscope, his attention almost heavy, as her skin broke out in goosebumps. She averted her eyes again toward the window, needing to get some air before she screamed.
"No, you know I don't like it when you wear panties. No, not even the little ones. Too restraining."
Bethany's head snapped back forward, her eyes large and wide as Damon simply stared at her. His expression was soft and lacking emotion as if he were ordering a pizza in front of her. She swallowed hard, her eyes moving to the tug of his bottom lip, his teeth biting along the edge of it. She stood and moved toward the window, her level of comfort completely gone.
"That's right. Blue dress, black heels, and don't bother with your panties. I'm not interested."
The sound of the phone hitting the cradle caused her to stiffen.
He was an ass.
If he'd had any respect for Bethany or himself, he would have held his conversation in private. She turned and looked over her shoulder, her breathing ragged and obvious.
"Bethany, I have certain needs as the CFO of this company. If you're here to make my life easier, then you'll quickly learn them. Your brilliance will get you far, but if you and I aren't on the same page with things, then my father will be your champion instead of me and good luck with that."
The implication of his words sent a chill down her spine.
"And what are your needs?" She turned slowly, crossing her arms over her chest as the door to his office cracked open, and Linda stuck her head in.
"I know you said no interruptions, but your father's on the phone."
"Thank you." He looked toward Bethany as a smile lifted the side of his perfect mouth. "Soon enough. Linda will show you to your new office. Plan on having lunch with me tomorrow so we can talk about the various positions I'm going to put you in."
He turned and sat down at his desk, the conversation over.
Bethany walked toward his desk, leaning over and picking up her purse as her mind spun out of control. She walked to the door stiffly, questions running rampant at the saucy innuendo Damon had thrown her way.
Surely he hadn’t meant…
She stopped just before slipping through the door, the sound of his voice wrapping around her.
"Oh, and Bethany. You'll enjoy every one of those positions, and I'll do my best to make this a stimulating experience for us both." He bit subtly at his top lip and watched her closely, Bethany nodding and slipping through the open door.
She was in too deep already.
Chapter 6
Bethany moved toward her new office like a zombie, her mind trying desperately to work through the last few words her stepbrother Damon had spoken to her. His voice had been filled with conviction, the seriousness of his gaze leaving her to wonder if he hadn't meant everything simply from a business perspective.
He had certain needs, and she would be required to know them and fulfill them, as it seemed every other woman in the company was busy trying to do.
Did Kent know that his son was pimping out the women of their accounting firm for his own perverted desires?
Or had Damon simply meant that, as the CFO, he would need her to be on her toes, to work fast, like he did, and keep on top of things? Those were needs, too… Maybe she was trying to make something sexual out of it because he was by far the most good-looking man she'd seen in her short life.
"Here's your office. The laptop is yours to take with you. The cords are all there, and the phone is already set up." The receptionist turned and extended a golden key, her long nails almost covering up the small item. "Here's your key. You'll need to go tomorrow and get a badge. You're not in the system yet, but Linda will work on that later today for you."
"Thanks." Bethany took the key and moved into the large office, looking over her shoulder as the woman lingered in the doorway. "Do all of the interns have offices this big?"
"No, but you must have impressed someone. Usually, three of them share an office this big." The other woman smiled, lipstick staining her teeth. Bethany almost told her but thought better of it.
"Okay. Thank you again. I'll reach out if I need help."
"Your best bet is to call Ben. He's the intern coordinator for the audit side. I would think you'd be starting off there."
"I'm not entirely sure, to be honest, but I'll call Ben." Bethany smiled as the receptionist shrugged and turned to go.
Her thoughts slipped back to Damon, her conversation with him raring back to life in her mind. Perhaps he hadn't meant that she'd be filling his sexual needs, but his reference to putting her in various positions and making it stimulating and enjoyable for them both?
"Come on …" she whispered, taking a seat and leaning back, her skin flushed with the idea of being naked beneath him. He was far too much man for her. Of that she was sure.
"He's your freaking stepbrother too. Get ahold of yourself." She huffed, looking up to see Ben standing in her door with a friendly smile on his face.
"You alwa
ys talk to yourself?"
"Yep. Only person I've found that isn't quick to disagree with my opinions." She laughed and motioned for him to come in.
"Oh really? Seems like the greatest struggle I have is convincing myself to do something." He sat down in the chair in front of her, his expression open and calm.
Bethany let her thoughts of Damon go by the wayside; the inappropriateness of having those thoughts at work caused her no small amount of discomfort.
"Too funny. So the receptionist told me that you're the intern coordinator."
"That I am. I asked Damon if I could have a few more things on my plate, and he was happy to supply them." Ben shrugged, his cheeks coloring pink.
"You don't have enough work around here?" She smiled, jabbing at him about the overload of work he was probably pushing around. If she'd learned one thing in school, it was that accounting firms of all sizes were sweatshops. You got in and killed yourself until you limped out. The dark circles under Ben's swollen eyes told her his story was in line with her assumptions.
"I have plenty of work, but I'm a single guy, so it's important for me to get out and socialize. I'm originally from Seattle and haven't met too many people yet. Kent brought me down here to help establish a special service line that we'll be starting later this year."
"Interesting. So managing the interns gives you a chance to get out of the office for happy hours and get to know people."
"Exactly." He smiled and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his portly stomach. "Speaking of … there’s a new club in town that the interns are wanting to check out as a group on Thursday night. We thought instead of happy hour at one of the local pubs we'd go see what the rage is all about."
"What's the name of the place?" Bethany leaned forward, pressing her forearms to her desk, her interest piqued. Having been in college just down the street for the last few years, there weren't too many places she didn't know about.
Mister Big Stuff_A Single Mom Friends to Lovers Novel Page 28
