Undeniably His

by Amanda Chayse

  “It’s not him I’m worried about.” She gives me a soft smile. “So are you going to do it?”

  “I don’t see how I could not do it. If I don’t like it, I can always just walk away.”

  Lia gives me a hug. “I’m happy for you, Belle. Just be careful.”

  “Okay, mom.” I tease into her ear.

  The next morning I dial the number to Mr. Davis’s cell and take a deep breath.

  “Kalin Davis.”

  “Mr. Davis, this is Annabelle Ried.”

  “Miss Ried, what a pleasant surprise. Have you made a decision?”

  “Yes. This sounds like a wonderful opportunity, and I would like to accept the offer.”

  “I am delighted to hear that. My secretary will draw up the official employment contract for you to sign. You can stop by any time this week to pick up the contract.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Davis.”

  “Just make sure to read and sign it by the end of the week. How soon can you start, Miss Ried?”

  “I can start anytime, sir.”

  “Splendid. We can set a date in the contract, and give you a few days’ rest before your training begins.”

  “I am so excited, Mr. Davis.”

  “You have reason to be excited. This is a rare opportunity.”

  “Thank you.”

  “We will talk soon, Miss Ried.”

  I turn to place the cordless phone back into its charger, and Lia is standing there with her arms crossed. Her lips twist into a smile.

  “Stop looking at me like that, Lia.”

  “I didn’t say anything,” she mutters in an innocent tone.

  “I have to pick up the contract this week. You won’t be looking at me like that when I pay the rent and have some extra cash to take us out to dinner.”

  “Dinner? You should be throwing us a party with the wad of cash you’ll be flashing around.”

  “Yeah, well, let’s not spend all the money before we even get it. Besides, Mr. Davis wants to show me the ins and outs of the business. What would it look like if I started spending money like crazy?”

  Lia taps her fingers on her arm, which is folded across her chest. “You’d probably fit right in. Don’t forget about us little people when you’re on the cover of the Wall Street Journal.”

  I curve my mouth up at her. “Please. Lia, you saved my ass more than one time. If things go well, I could even help pay for some of your nursing school.”

  “Belle, I was joking. You don’t have to do that.”

  “How many times have you paid my portion of the rent when I didn’t have the money?”

  “I don’t know. I wasn’t counting.” She smiles at me.

  “Exactly. So don’t start counting now. Consider it payback.”

  Lia shakes her head. “Let’s just see where this goes first before we start making too many promises.”

  I exhale a small sigh. “You’re right. I just want you to know I won’t ever forget what you’ve done for me. You’re my best friend. I would do anything for you.”

  “I know. Me too,” she says, while pulling me into a hug.

  An email message from TALVIS Advertising confirms my appointment to review and sign my employment contract at two o’clock next Wednesday. I purchase some new clothes on my credit card, unconcerned about the four-thousand-dollar balance I’ve accumulated over the past several months just to survive. Come payday, it will be gone anyway.

  I moved from my home in Dallas to go to college, and my parents are already concerned about my future after I graduated with bleak job prospects. They know that when I’m quiet for too long there is probably news that I don’t want them to know about. Like long-term unemployment. It’s bad enough when they ask me about my relationships. It’s almost unbearable when they ask me about a career that’s nonexistent. I don’t want them to worry, especially my mom, who can agonize over things for weeks until she hears some good news. So I’ve made our conversations light, short, and less frequent.

  I’m dying to call them, but want the news finalized before I make any assumptions. My dad has drilled the worn-out “don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched,” and other such platitudes, into my brain long enough to know better. My mom is a third grade schoolteacher and my dad retired from his job as a production manager for an aircraft manufacturer. This is probably more money than they have both ever seen at any one time in their entire lives. I never told them I was unemployed for almost a year, was a few months from defaulting on my student loans, and was approaching complete financial ruin at the ripe old age of twenty-three.

  Now I don’t have to mention anything about it. A smile slips over my mouth as I pick out a cute and expensive cap-sleeve black-and-white printed dress, a cropped open jacket, and matching black lace ankle-strap sandals for my first day of work.

  My wardrobe has suffered from chronic neglect, since every penny of the past year has been spent on groceries and rent, but all of that is about to change.

  I arrive at the now-familiar bank of elevators in the lobby for my two o’clock appointment with HR. I feel much more confident than the first time I was here when uncertainty racked my brains, caught in my chest, and tensed my nerves. Now I feel relaxed, clearheaded, and light on my feet. What a difference two weeks makes.

  The elevator lifts off and whisks me to the fiftieth floor. I walk through the familiar glass double doors and am greeted by the receptionist. Her tone is noticeably respectful. “Good afternoon, Miss Ried. We’re expecting you. Our HR Manager, Tracy Hanily, has reserved the afternoon for you. Please follow me. My name is Keira, by the way. We met a couple of weeks ago. If you need anything, just let me know.”

  “Thank you, Keira. It’s nice to be back.” I smile and follow her as we pace through the busy office. A few of the employees nod their heads in recognition as we pass the long hall of glass-door offices on the right and busy cubicles on the left. We enter one of the offices, and I am greeted by Tracy. “Thank you, Keira.” I smile.

  “My pleasure, Miss Ried.”

  I walk into the office, and Tracy turns in her chair and smiles. Her shoulder-length brown hair scatters stylishly over her shoulders as she stands up to greet me.

  “Miss Ried, so nice to meet you. I’m Tracy Hanily, the HR manager here. Welcome and congratulations.”

  “Thank you. This is very exciting.” I smile and look around the organized office.

  “We have some paperwork for you, but I promise to make it as painless as possible.”

  She hands me the employment contract. My eyes scan the contract, searching for two main numbers: fifty thousand and one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars. The rest of the contract should certainly be painless after I find those two numbers that are about to make my life a lot easier.

  Tracy hands me another folder with all of the insurance and legal documents. I spend the next two hours filling out paperwork and reading legal jargon. My start date is in one week, and my employment is at will, meaning I can quit or they can fire me for any reason without warning. I sign the papers and head out the door excitedly, awaiting my fifty-thousand-dollar deposit, which should be paid in two days this Friday

  Mr. Kalin Davis is standing with three executives in the hall just before the exit. I want to say hi, but he looks like he is in the middle of something significant. I get just close enough to hear them discussing something about online integration.

  “We were able to take revenue from our competitors because we could see the market shift early. The longer it takes them to shift to digital, the more advantage we have over them. It is imperative that we maintain this advantage with our clients by providing them with key competitive metrics.”

  Kalin spots me and dismisses his executives in a firm tone, like a commander dismissing his generals. He seems so young to be so knowledgeable and authoritative. I already feel like I’m in over my head. Intimidation and excitement wrestle and roll in my stomach. My heart races as he spots me, smiles, and approaches me.<
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  “Miss Ried, how nice to see you again.”

  “Hello, Mr. Davis. I was just at HR filling out the paperwork.”

  “Are you heading out?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Let me walk you out.”

  We approach the elevators and he presses the button with his long index finger. The elevator opens. “After you, Miss Ried.”

  “You can call me Annabelle, or Belle for short, since we’ll be working together.”

  “And you can call me Kalin, Annabelle. I like your name.”

  He smiles at me and I cannot help but smile back. Everything feels different when we’re alone. He’s so easygoing, and I feel no pressure, no intimidation, and no butterflies. I almost don’t want the elevator doors to open again. I just want to be alone with him for a while longer, and not share him with the world demanding his attention. It’s a weird feeling because I don’t really know him, but I don’t want him to leave.

  His hand suddenly brushes against mine, and my skin tingles. I smile up at him.

  “Is that your employment contract?”

  “Yes.” I am already distracted by his big brown eyes. They are so beautiful, and I catch myself thinking I want Lia to be right about him. It wouldn’t be so bad to be used by Mr. Kalin Davis. I push the thought out of my mind and try to present a professional demeanor.

  “I don’t think there’s anything in that employment contract that’s not your typical boring legal stuff.”

  “No captivity, confinement, or involuntary servitude.” My lips form a slight smile.

  He turns his head and glances down at me with a partial smile. “Not that I last checked. From the size of it, it does look like our legal department is working meticulously. I’m sure they would have crossed out anything I may have tried to put in your contract to that effect.”

  “But Mr. Davis, you are the CEO.”

  Kalin turns to me and presses toward me. I want him to touch me. I don’t know what’s gotten into me. I want him to be attracted to me. I don’t find it offensive. I find it thrilling. He presses my hand to the wall of the elevator, and wrenches the contract from it.

  “You’re right, Annabelle. If I want something in this contract, goddammit, I’ll put it in myself.” His full lips are curled in amusement as he takes a pen from his front pocket. I can’t believe it. What is he doing? He begins writing on the contract. When he’s done he takes my hand into his, causing a current to jolt through me. I gasp at the sudden warmth of his touch. He places my fingers around the pen and signs my initials with my own hand, then signs his name under my initials. I still have no idea what he wrote because his arm is blocking the note.

  He folds the contract and hands it back to me.

  The elevator opens and I get out, only to spin around just in time to see the fast-moving elevator doors close. I bite my lip, unfold the contract and stare at the handwritten note.

  507 Crimson Lane 8 PM

  Chapter Four

  Thrill and uncertainty course through my body. I fold the contract and slip it into my purse.

  Lia is fixing dinner when I get home. I smile at the array of items she’s purchased. “Someone’s been spending some money.”

  She samples some pasta sauce as she glides around the kitchen. “I figure we can start eating a little better. Organic. You still owe me dinner.” She smiles at me while mixing some pasta sauce and spices.

  “It smells wonderful, but I can’t stay for dinner. I have to be somewhere at eight.”

  “Whoa, look at you, big shot. Do you have an executive meeting already?”

  “Something like that. It’s kind of hard to explain. But I need to borrow your car.”

  Lia glances up at me from her concoction and licks her fingers. I give her a shy glance that she deciphers immediately.

  “Oh, my God!” Lia narrows her eyes at me and rushes toward me.

  “He wrote his address on my paperwork today. He wants me to meet him tonight.”

  “Fast worker. Did he say what for?”

  “I don’t know yet. Your guess is as good as mine.” I shrug.

  “Yeah, I think we can both guess.” Lia takes off her apron and searches my face.

  “Lia, it’s not like that. He didn’t even expect to see me today. He broke his meeting off with his top executives when he saw me. Just the look he gave me.” I shake my head and a smile plays across my lips. “He was so nice to me.”

  “You’ve got it bad, girl. Be careful. He could be using you, Belle.”

  “You don’t know that.” I briefly feel a hint of resentment and uncertainty crash through me. I can’t blame Lia for saying that. She has every right to feel that way. But I’m hoping she’s wrong. “It’s hard to explain. When we are alone, it’s comforting. When we’re together…”

  “What, Belle?” She peers at me.

  “I don’t want him to leave,” I confess.

  “That’s the fifty thousand dollars talking, sweetheart,” she says dryly.

  “There’s something I like about him.” I shake my head and push my hands out in front of me. “Wait a minute. We’re getting way ahead of ourselves. We don’t even know what this address is, or why I’m being invited there.”

  “Well, we can certainly find out.” Lia runs soap and water over her hands and dries off with the dishrag. She jostles by me to her MacBook on the living room desk. “Let’s see where you’re venturing off to tonight, young lady.” She looks up the address on her computer to find a picture of a gated mansion.

  “Oh, my God, it’s an orgy mansion, like in Eyes Wide Shut.”

  “Shut up, Lia.”

  “You shut up. Look at this place!”

  I peer over her shoulder and catch my breath. “It’s a beautiful house.”

  “It’s a beautiful mansion.”

  “So he’s rich.”

  Lia stands up and faces me. “Yeah he’s rich. That doesn’t mean he’s not dangerous, Belle. A lot of these rich guys are big pervs.”

  “Jesus, Lia, you’re so theatrical.”

  She folds her arms and gives me a stern expression. “Better watch it, moneybags. You may be bought and paid for.”

  I cast my gaze to the side in frustration before meeting her eyes. “Can I borrow the car?”

  “I guess so. I better be nice to you from now on.” Lia narrows her eyes and studies me for a moment. “You really do like him, don’t you?”

  “I can’t say that I’m hoping he asks me there for business.”

  “Well, you may just get your wish, girlfriend.” She reaches into her purse and throws me her keys. “In case you have to make a clean getaway.”

  “Thanks.” I smile. “I’m sorry I can’t stay for dinner. It smells delicious. Save me some?”

  “Sure.” She shrugs. “You bought it, anyway.” She lifts her credit card from her purse and smiles at me. “Add this to your bill.”

  I shake my head at her as a smile moves across my lips. “You’re so bad.”

  “Hey, we’ve both eaten enough ramen soup to last us both a lifetime. It’s time to live large, honey, compliments of Mr. Kalin Davis.”

  My wardrobe is slowly recuperating from the dearth caused by months of neglect. I take a shower and slip into a cute dove-white-and-black paneled dress.

  I put on my new jacket and head out of my bedroom.

  “That dress is soo cute! Someone is not going to a business dinner.”

  I smile at her. "I can only hope."

  “How much was it?”

  “Less than $500.”

  “I'll be here alone eating spaghetti if you need me.” She gives me a mock pout.

  "Invite Trevor over. I won't be in for a while. I’m sure he would appreciate a good home-cooked meal, and especially the woman who cooked it.” I waggle my eyebrows at her, and she laughs.

  “Maybe I will.”

  “Thanks for the car,” I say, jingling the keys as I walk out the front door.

  I drive to the mystery address handwr
itten on the front of my paperwork, about thirty minutes northeast of the city. The neighborhood is clearly affluent, with stone mansions and gates surrounding beautiful acreage.

  Kalin’s house is surrounded by a natural stone wall with an iron gate in the front. When I arrive at the gate, it automatically opens. The driveway curves around beautiful landscaping with red maple trees, beech trees, oak trees, and sycamore trees. The size of the estate is breathtaking, and I sigh as the tranquility of this place immediately soothes my frayed nerves after the blaring sirens and unrelenting noises that have worn on me over the months I’ve lived downtown.

  I drive up to the top of the driveway to four large, closed garages. The house is lined with ground roses, white-weeping crabapple trees, rhododendrons, trumpet flowers, and a stone walkway surrounded by a well-manicured grass terrace. I stop to savor the sight and breathe in the sweet scent of the flowers. Turning to the front door, I ring the bell. The gentle evening breeze bathes me in the sweet floral scents that surround me. The sound of the heavy wooden door opening causes butterflies to flutter in my stomach. Kalin flashes a boyish smile, and the familiar calmness of his presence envelops me and shoos my nerves away.

  “Annabelle, so nice to see you. I take it you found the place okay.”

  He takes my hand and pulls me in. “Yes, I just followed the navigation app on my phone. I’ve never been in this neighborhood. It’s so beautiful.”

  “It is why I love this place. It soothes my senses. It inspires me.” He smiles at me and I blush.

  We walk through the large foyer of dark wood and antique rugs and he offers to take my jacket. I oblige.

  “Do you live here alone?” I ask as he takes my jacket and I take in the grandness of the house and the high, sloping ceilings.

  “I mostly use my condo in the city. But I have friends and family nearby who enjoy this house. It’s also ideal for entertaining guests, including company events.”

  “Is that what this is?” I ask.

  Kalin turns around and a small smile plays on his lips. “It’s my pleasure having you here, Annabelle. So I suppose it’s a bit of both.”

  “It’s so beautiful, so tranquil here,” I say, folding my hands in front of me.