by J. L. Beck
I told him over and over again there’s no way to prepare for someone’s death. I should’ve taken my own fucking advice. Slumping down into my office chair, I log onto the server to access my emails and try to get some work done.
“Whatever is going on with you, you need to get it together or swallow it the fuck down.” Remy’s voice meets my ears, and I lift my eyes from the screen and to look up at him instead. Just looking at him, one would never have believed he was our father’s son. He looks more like our mother with his fairer hair.
Though, he still has the Winston genes, with a perfectly sculpted jawline, and angular features. As egotistical as it sounds, us Winston’s are hot enough to grace the covers of GQ Magazine if we wanted to.
“Great advice, Rem, I’ll save that for next time. In the meantime, feel free to fuck off.” Neither Remy nor Reed understand how badly Father’s death consumes me. Add that to my obsessing over the woman I spent the night with, and I’m almost too pissed to function.
“Maybe you won’t confess it to Reed,” he starts, completely ignoring my comment and coming the rest of the way into the office to take a seat in one of the chairs on the other side of my desk, “but you can’t lie to me. I know for a fact there’s something deeper going on here.” His grin is sincere, not because he’s an asshole who likes to wind me up like Reed.
“How do you do it?” I surprise even myself by asking the question.
He looks a little confused. “Do what? Move on?” Just the words make emotions tug at my heart. I hate feeling vulnerable. I hate letting people know how I feel because that shows weakness, and weakness is something men don’t show. God knows Dad told us all that enough times growing up.
“Yeah,” I croak, my throat feeling like a thousand razor blades are tearing it apart.
Remy shrugs, his eyes showing his own sadness. “I’m not over it, Ry. I haven’t moved on, and neither has Reed. We want to be here for you, but we don’t know how to help you or how to make things better for you. You won’t talk to us, and until you do we have no idea what’s going on in your head.”
That’s probably the most words he’s ever said to anyone at one time. Maybe they’re right and I am being selfish, but I can’t help the way I feel.
When Remy realizes I’m not going to respond, he sighs, shaking his head and standing. He comes around the desk and lays a hand on my shoulder, giving it a brief squeeze before releasing me. “Just think about what we said, Ryker. You don’t have to go through all of this alone.” I nod in response, and he makes his way toward the door. Just before he leaves, he turns back to give me a small grin. “And I think this assistant is going to be good for you.”
My stomach is in knots. I’m wearing my best business suit and a brand new pair of heels, which are already killing my feet. I should’ve listened to Gabby when she told me to wear them grocery shopping or just out and about before having to wear them through an eight-hour work shift.
It also doesn’t help that I’m running ten minutes behind to start my internship at Winston Industries today. I barely snagged the job as an assistant to one of the top men in the company, and here I am fucking late. It’s bad enough they pushed me starting back two weeks. Now they’ll probably just fire me.
Blowing a lock of my blonde hair out of my face, I hustle to the elevator, trying to get there before it closes. I have my purse in my hand and a bunch of papers that a man named Reed told me I needed to bring with me on my first day.
I eye said paperwork as I stand in the stuffy elevator with a bunch of other people headed to the top floor. For the most part, everyone is all smiles, their faces full of happiness as I pass by them. I, on the other hand, am already miserable. My stomach is churning and I feel like I’m on the verge of throwing up, plus my feet ache like hell.
Way to go, Ava. Way to fucking go.
A second later, the elevator chimes, and the door opens onto the floor I need. For a second, as I step over the elevator threshold and onto the office floor, my thoughts slip back to the mystery man I left in that hotel room. Was it really only a few weeks ago? The pleasure he ignited deep inside me is something I haven’t been able recreate, and believe me, I’ve tried.
Still, it’s a little weird to be thinking of that moment as I’m heading into my first day as an intern. I should have googled the company to see who my potential bosses should be, but I’ve been too worried about everything else–like how to pay my bills while waiting for this job to start. I should just be thankful I scored an internship that pays.
Goose bumps cascade across my skin, and a shiver runs through me as I head in the direction of the double glass doors ahead. The office is quiet, with a few people looking over their cubicles at me as I walk down the aisle. The place is very pleasant looking, with big bright windows that let the light stream in, and it’s clean and spacious.
All of those things are nice, but won’t matter if I don’t get my ass to this Reed guy.
Focusing on the frosted glass doors ahead, I march forward, trying to show confidence and determination in each stride. It’s not until I reach the doors that I spot a woman stepping out from behind a desk that I didn’t notice until now.
“Hi there. Welcome to Winston Industries. How can I help you?”
I blink, unable to stop staring at the woman in front of me. She’s breathtakingly gorgeous, with long dark-brown hair and piercing green eyes. Her skin glows and her lips pull up into a smile when she stands to greet me. My eyes rake down her body slowly, and it’s easy to see just why she’s glowing so brightly.
She’s pregnant. Not quite ready-to-pop-at-any-moment pregnant, but she’s definitely pretty far into her pregnancy. I quickly avert my eyes from her stomach, forcing my attention back up to her face, and smile back at her. “Hi. Um, I’m the new intern. Ava. I’m not really sure where I’m supposed to be going right now?” I swallow hard around the nervous fear in my throat.
“I’m also late, and it’s my first day.” I huff out a breath, knowing I’ve already said way too much, and yet the woman in front of me does nothing but smile. No worries mar her brow, she doesn’t even seem to care that I was late.
“I’m Fallon Leary, but you can call me Fal. Please, don’t worry. I’ve been right where you are, and I completely understand. Just take a couple calming breaths and get yourself together.”
I do as she says and feel my nerves calming, my body relaxing slightly with each breath I take. She gives me a few moments, then points toward the doors behind her.
“They’re waiting for you inside. Good luck.”
My eyes go wide, and it feels like my heart is in my throat, making it hard to swallow. I knew when I applied for the job I would be working for or with one of the owners of Winston Industries, but I never expected to be working for more than one.
“They… as in more than one?” I whisper under my breath, sweat forming against my brow. Anxiety makes my hands clammy and my stomach twist into knots. This job might be more than I can handle.
“Yes,” she says with a chuckle, “more than one. Three to be exact. One of them is my husband though, so you should have no worries with him, but the others…” She trails off to snicker louder, and I can’t tell if she’s joking or being serious, which only makes me more nervous.
Sucking air in so fast I don’t even feel like I’m actually breathing, I contemplate running from the building right then. I don’t know why I’m so frazzled. Actually, it could have something to do with the fact that I’m late on the first day, that parking was shit, and I can’t get the thoughts of Mr. Serious out of my head.
I exhale, face forward, and straighten my shoulders, readying myself to go inside. Fallon gives me a small smile as I take a step forward and then another… my hand grasping for the door, when suddenly it opens.
Everything seems to happen so fast. One moment I’m standing there all alone trying to gather my wits, and the next I’m colliding with a very firm chest and stumbling backwards, my legs wobbling like a f
awn’s when it’s first learning to walk.
The air is shoved from my lungs, and my confidence hits the floor and bounces away from me. I can feel the power that radiates from the person, their entire presence literally and figuratively slamming into me.
“Oh my God,” Fallon whispers under her breath as the chest that smacked into me moves. Firm hands grip my arms and hold me in place, stopping me from falling to the floor. It’s almost like a rom-com, but the moment is anything but romantic as I try my best to stand without wobbling. Air refuses to enter my lungs, and a wave of nausea slams into me at the same time. Dammit, can today get any worse?
I have to force myself to breathe, then wet my suddenly dry lips with my tongue before lifting my eyes up to look at the man who’s holding me in place. As soon as my eyes meet his stormy blues, I regret it.
Shock, fear, excitement, anger…there aren’t enough words to describe how I feel seeing the man from my one-night stand standing in front of me. I feel my eyes go wide with shock, and my entire body feels as if it’s going to combust at any moment. I take him in—his angular jaw, his messy brown hair that looks as if he just got out of bed… with someone who isn’t me. I knew he was devilishly handsome the night we met, but today, in the light and awake, he looks even more delicious. In fact, he looks bigger in the suit, tougher, maybe meaner too.
“You good or do I need to keep holding you?” The annoyance in his voice isn’t missed, and I furrow my brow, trying to determine if this is really the man I gave my virginity to or if it’s just my imagination. I was so excited to possibly meet him again, and regretting I left before leaving my number, but with the way he’s speaking to me? Not so much.
Maybe he has a twin, I think to myself, trying to remain hopeful. I have to be.
“Seriously, Ryker? Don’t be rude,” Fallon scolds, giving him a dirty look. “This is your new assistant.” I take in her words without fully realizing what she’s saying. He releases me a second later, the loss of his touch leaving me cold. I don’t dare say a word. I’m still reeling at the knowledge that I slept with this man—this man—Ryker Winston, without even knowing it. I couldn’t have chosen anyone else to sleep with? Nope. I had to choose the boss at a job I really, really need. I want to drop my head in my hands and pray this is some horribly bad dream.
Ryker, the man who I know as Mr. Serious, eyes me closely, his eyes narrowing to slits. It’s almost as if he’s angry at just the idea of me being his assistant. “If you’re Ava, you better get your ass into that boardroom right now. You’re late, and tardiness leads to getting written up and eventually fired, so you better go.” There’s a sick smile forming against his lips, one that makes my insides churn more.
Anger flares deep inside me as I take a step back away from him. This isn’t the same man I met at the bar, it can’t be. He doesn’t even recognize me.
This guy? He’s crude. He’s cold. He’s menacing and a jerk.
When he leans into me, I swear I can see him smelling me, taking my scent into his nostrils. Watching him do so turns me on, but the feeling passes as soon as he opens his damn mouth.
“I said go. Or maybe you don’t want the job after all? It’s not like you’ll last more than a couple days with me. No one does,” he’s bullying me, and it makes my blood pressure rise.
Fallon gasps, and I watch as she shoves him, causing more space to form between us. “Ryker, stop, you’re being an asshole. She’s an intern, not a piece of garbage.” Turning to me, she gives me a soft smile that all but says sorry, he’s being an ass. Her shove does nothing to Ryker’s brick-wall form. He’s still staring me down like a hawk ready to swoop in and attack its prey, though he does manage to move out of the way so I can get around him and what he said is the boardroom.
I don’t waste another second standing next to the ass. Instead, I scurry through the door, damn near tripping over the threshold, my eyes barely noticing the floor-to-ceiling glass windows that overlook the city. The air is cooler in here, but does nothing to lessen the heat I can feel in my cheeks as I replay his words in my head.
“Beautiful view, isn’t it?” A man that looks similar to Ryker, though with less of an edge, speaks. His voice is comforting, and again, I find myself wishing he was my mystery guy’s twin. Unfortunately, while he looks similar to Ryker, their voices are much different, so I know that’s not a possibility.
“It… Ummm, yes, it’s beautiful.” I’m agreeing, but I didn’t really pay much attention. “Though I doubt the reason I’m here has anything to do with the view,” I quip, smiling softly and trying to let the tension ease out of me.
A third man sits at the head of the huge table that looks more like something you’d eat Thanksgiving on than have a board meeting on. “Correct,” he says, grinning slightly. I wonder if this is the Reed man I was told to ask for when I got here. As if reading my mind, he continues, “I’m Reed, and this,” he points to the man who spoke to me when I entered the room, “is my brother Remy. I see you’ve met Ryker already.” I bite the inside my cheek and nod my head yes.
I’ve more than met him, dude. I’ve let him get inside me.
A mistake I won’t be letting happen again.
“It’s nice to meet you both. I’m truly sorry for being late. Traffic was worse than usual today, and—” Reed puts a hand up, silencing any future words. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not, so I remain silent.
“No worries. Being late happens. Even more so when you live in the city. We’re just glad you showed up and stayed after seeing just how difficult Ryker will be to work with.” Remy, the other brother, snickers, not even attempting to cover his laughter with a fake cough. Reed’s gaze darkens, and I get the feeling these three brothers do a whole lot of needling each other.
“Do I really have to be his assistant?” My voice squeaks. Surely they won’t force me to work with him after the way he treated me.
Reed nods and my hope plummets. “Yes, though I promise he isn’t always this way. He’s just going through some things right now. I’m sure when he bounces back he’ll be a much more enjoyable person to work for.” He smiles reassuringly, but Remy doesn’t. If anything, he gives me a sorry-not-sorry look when I look back over at him, and I know that probably isn’t true either.
Ryker won’t be a good boss, or even person to deal with, and if that’s the case, I think I might need to renegotiate my pay. How do I bring that up though? Hey, your brother is a dick so you need to pay me more to deal with his stupid ass. I don’t see that working.
“Your brother’s face says otherwise, and while I’m not usually this straightforward about things, I really need this job.” I pause briefly, taking in the death glare Reed gives Remy. It almost makes me laugh. Remy looks as if he’s barely containing his laughter, and when Reed rolls his eyes, he can’t stop the corner of his mouth from tipping up.
“Ryker is a pain in the ass.” Remy thinks for a moment before speaking again. “He has been every day since he was born, but we need you. We need the help now more than ever.” Remy’s eyes plead with me, and when I swing my gaze back to Reed’s, I can see Remy isn’t lying.
“I’ll take the job, but I if I have to deal with him, I need better pay,” I say it before I realize I’m going to, like my brain has disconnected from my mouth. I hope I didn’t just earn myself a swift kick out the door.
When neither of them say anything, I slowly creep backward. Way to go, Ava. Getting your ass canned on the first day? Marie and Gabby are going to laugh all the way to the paper when they have to put up an ad for a new roommate. Can’t pay rent when you get fired.
Remy looks almost relieved. “Whatever you want, it’s yours…but we need you. That means no quitting, even when he makes you want to. At least for the next six weeks.” His eyes skirt away from mine, and I look back at Reed.
“Then we have a deal. No quitting, and anything else you want to include?” I lick my lips nervously. I’ve never negotiated for a job before, but doing so builds my conf
idence up just enough for me to think that I might be able to face Ryker.
“Yes,” Reed replies, his voice soft and completely unlike any other bosses I’ve ever had. “I need you to keep him in line. I’m having a baby soon, and I can’t be worried about how the company is doing, and if he’s handling things, when I should be enjoying time with my baby and soon-to-be wife.”
I nod my head in agreement as his blue eyes stare into mine, sadness flickering in his deep depths. It makes sense now. Fallon and Reed. They’re probably the Barbie and Ken of the company. Ryker’s lost his brother because he’s finally found someone to be with.
“Is he okay?” I ask the question knowing it’s not really any of my business, yet still feeling this compelling need to care for him.
Reed releases a frustrated sigh, and Remy stares off into the distance. “He’s not okay, but he will be. Just get through these next couple of weeks with him, and I’ll make sure you have more than just an internship at Winston Industries.”
Excitement and fear both zing through me all at once. That’s practically a guaranteed job after graduation. I want to jump up and down, but I also want to scream in agony.
I am officially Ryker Winston’s assistant, and even though I wanted to know the mystery man’s name who I gave my virginity to, I didn’t want it to happen under these circumstances.
“Great, where do I sign?” I force a smile, making both Reed and Remy smile too. I don’t know it when I sign the papers, but I’m in for a whole lot more than just intern work.
Why does she have to wear those tight-ass pencil skirts and blouses that make me want to pop the buttons and take a peek inside? I growl to myself, waiting for my assistant, Ava—the assistant I didn’t want or ask for—to enter my office.
Since meeting her the other day, my body has been more than fully aware of her presence. Her sweet floral scent is maddening, and even when I don’t want to look at her, I find my gaze slipping from the task I’m working on to where she is standing in the office.
