The Romance Challenge
The Complete Series Box Set
By Arlanna Sterling
CHAPTER ONE
Monday
Tension hung in the air like primordial swamp mist. Nathan Cameron, owner and CEO of Cameron Industries, was here to choose one of the employees from this Chicago branch office to go with him on an assignment in Key Largo, Florida. Shannon, my supervisor, was interviewing with him now, while the other admin assistant and I traded nervous looks across the room.
Too wound up to sit still, apparently, Becca sauntered over and parked her butt on my desk, narrowly missing my coffee. I grabbed the mug and moved it.
"What do you think? Up or down?"
She lifted her perfect hair up, then let the shiny locks fall down to frame her perfect face. I glimpsed my own mane, reflected in my computer screen. Frizzed-out today, since a heavy gray mass of yuck and rain had moved in, making early November extra bone-chilling cold and nasty.
"It looks awesome either way. Tell me about Nathan. You've met him in person. What's he like?"
I talked to him on the phone and we worked together a lot, but I'd never seen him except on a video conference call. He was in his early-thirties, I knew that, and kept a low profile. Very few pictures of him surfaced on the Internet. I'd devoured all the information I found on him and his company as soon as Cameron Industries hired me. Good to know the people who sign your paychecks, I always say.
"He is one fine-looking man. Great butt. He must work out. A lot." Becca finger-combed her hair.
"Nice to know. But what about his personality? He's always pleasant to me when we talk, but he could be faking that."
"Nathan is cool when he comes here. He doesn't stay long and doesn't chat much, but he never gives us any trouble. We get paid on time, not like other places I've worked, so I figure he's got his act together." She stood. "What are you going to do if he picks you, Amber? You all ready to go to Bay Paradise Resort?" She gave me a sly grin.
I'd probably keel over from shock, that's what I'd do. And no, I wasn't ready to go to a tropical island. "You're the one he'll choose. You've been with Cameron the longest."
"Yeah, but he always wants to talk to you when he calls here."
Nathan did seem to request me more often, but I figured that was because Becca and Shannon were busy with their more advanced projects. "Even if he picks me, I wouldn't go. I can't leave my mom."
"She's got a nurse to take care of her, right?"
My pulse rate increased as it did whenever the topic of my family came up. "I can't travel all the way to South Florida for a whole week. Mom would miss me."
"You need to get out more, sweetie. You're looking kind of faded. Want to borrow my lipstick?" She pulled a tube out of her pocket and waved it at me.
"No thanks. Nathan's not married, right? No kids?"
"Single, no kids. He was engaged once, but what I hear from headquarters in Los Angeles, he dates now. Nothing serious. All the women there go crazy over him, but he never socializes with anyone from the office."
Shannon burst into our cubicle area. "Lordy, I'm glad that's done. Interviews make me sweat like a basketball player. Nathan says give him ten minutes, then you're up, Amber. Good luck."
My stomach knotted tighter. I grabbed my notes that outlined all the fabulous reasons Nathan should choose me. One more glance before I presented. Oh crap. Did I write that? I was a "people person?" Blerg! How cliché. I crossed it out with a red pen. Ten minutes. Should I make another bathroom stop? Check my outfit one more time?
Nah. I knew what I looked like. A large woman, wearing an outdated skirt and blouse a size too small. I'd polished my seldom-worn heels and did the best I could with my face and hair. I'd have to dazzle Nathan with my charm and my smarts. He wouldn't pick me, but I had to give it my best shot anyway.
Standing outside the office he was using for interviews, I gave my hands a quick wipe down the side of my skirt, gripped my notepad tight, and walked in. Nathan was pacing and talking on his phone.
OMG. Becca hadn't lied. He certainly was fine in person. Tall, slim, wearing a suit that had to be custom made it fit him so well. Don't look at his butt, don't look at his butt. I looked. Yep, that ass had seen one or two workouts.
It took a moment, but he finally noticed I was there and turned to face me. Those eyes; dear Lord. I'd seen his face on a computer screen, but in person, they radiated power and passion. I froze in the middle of the doorway, as though caught in the headlights of a semi-truck.
He stopped in mid-sentence on his phone call and stared at me, with this intense look on his face. Uh-oh. Was something wrong? Did I have a poppy seed stuck in my teeth? Becca would have told me. Or not. My mouth. It hung open like a car door. I closed it and made my lips smile.
Calm down. This is a nice guy who likes to work with me.
"I'll call you back." Nathan put his cell phone on the desk.
"Hello Nathan. It's good to meet you in person. I'm Amber." I moved towards him, smacked my hip into the corner of the desk, and bit back a curse as pain shot through my leg. Do not drop the F bomb. Smile still in place, I stuck out my hand, praying it wasn't damp.
He kept staring for another second, then kind of shook his head and smiled back. "So nice to meet you too, Amber. I've enjoyed working with you long distance." He took my trembling little paw and shook it.
Wow. What the heck was that tingle running up my arm? His grip was firm, but not like he was crushing me. By the way his eyes widened, he felt something too. Maybe I'd picked up static electricity walking across the room. Not real likely, on tile floor, but I couldn't think of any other reason for this surge of energy. We stood there for an awkward moment while he studied me, then he dropped my hand.
I wanted to glance down to see if there were scorch marks, but I grabbed it with my other hand and clasped them both in front of me. Before they did something silly, like reach up and stroke the slight shadow of a beard on his face.
"Sit down, please."
My legs shook as I took a seat in the chair across from the desk. What was I, a love-struck teenager meeting a rock star? Jeez, this was Nathan, the guy who laughed at my corny jokes and liked the pictures of my cat I emailed him. Why did a wave of heat flood my body, particularly in my girl parts?
Because he was hotter than hell in person that's why. I didn't get that energy, that piercing awareness, when I talked to him on the phone. And I sure never smelled him. Kind of woodsy, with a bit of musk layered in. A hint of spice too; bay leaves, or cardamom. From his slightly messed up hair to his shiny Italian loafers, the guy radiated sex appeal. And those laser-beam eyes.
No. I gave myself a mental bonk on the head. I had zero interest in his hotness. I had no time to think about men, with my jobs and my family situation. And anyway, gorgeous billionaires like him didn't look twice at plus-size girls like me.
"So Amber, tell me why you'd be a good candidate for this position."
Right down to business. I'd hoped for a few minutes of small talk to help me loosen up.
"I'm detail oriented, as you know from working with me. On this job at Bay Paradise, you want your assistant to take accurate notes and prepare reports. That's one of my specialties, summing up information and presenting it concisely."
Okay, so far so good, I guess. He had given none of us much information as to what he wanted an assistant to do in Key Largo. We'd all discussed it and the only thing we knew was, Cameron Industries bought the hotel recently and wanted to keep it goi
ng.
He nodded at me to continue.
"After looking at so many properties this past year at Cameron, I feel I can effectively evaluate the pros and cons of a place."
"This is a resort. You've been working on the residential side."
"Well, I assisted Shannon with two of her commercial projects. Not like she couldn't do them herself," I added quickly. "It's just, I had spare time, so I asked her if I could help."
Shoot. I hope that didn't get her, or me, in trouble. Nathan smiled slightly, so I took a deep breath and continued. "I enjoy working with people. I can talk to others easily and get them to talk to me. I feel that would be an asset for this project."
Do not say "people person."
Nathan nodded again, glanced at his phone and tapped it briefly, then scribbled on his notepad with his Montblanc pen. Talk about owning the finer things in life. I'd ordered that pen for his visit and about fell over when I saw it cost over seven-hundred dollars. But when you have as much money as he does, you can afford the best of everything, I suppose.
"Thank you, Amber. That will be all." He stood and picked up his notepad. "My driver is waiting downstairs. I have business in the area, but I'll be back today at four o'clock to announce my decision. Please pass that on to everyone."
I stood also. Wait. We couldn't be done already. "Um, I have spreadsheets here, showing the results of several of my projects, and my six-month review from Shannon. I can…"
"That won't be necessary. Thank you, and I'll see you at four."
He came around the desk, did not bash his hip into it, and strode out of the room.
Well hell. Was that it? He'd spent at least a half-hour with the other two women and five minutes with me. Maybe he needed to dash off to another appointment, or really had to pee, or something like that.
Or maybe, I sucked big time.
Fighting tears, I went back to my desk, aware that Becca watched me. I didn't even look in her direction, just sat down and sent a notice to everyone that Nathan would return at four. Then, I dove back into work. It didn't matter. I couldn't go to Florida anyway, so there was no reason to be disappointed.
But even though I couldn't take the job, part of me desperately wanted to be asked. I always did my best at everything I tried and enjoyed a challenge. Being picked for the position would sure boost my ego. And maybe, just maybe, I'd find a way to go. Getting out of this cold town, basking in the sunshine and ocean breezes…I'd be reborn. Becca was right; I looked, and felt, pretty faded.
After the longest day in the history of mankind, Nathan returned. He'd texted Shannon from the lobby and asked for the three of us to gather in the break room. Becca, Shannon and I made silly small talk. I kept a smile in place and practiced my "congratulation" speech to whoever won. Please, just let this day end. My skirt was cutting off my circulation and the dressy shoes pinched my feet. I wanted to get home to my sweat pants and Pumpkin the cat. She loved me, no matter what.
"Thank you for speaking with me today. You all have excellent qualities and skills. If not, you wouldn't be working for me."
I nervous giggled. I couldn't help it. He looked so solemn, but I'd seen from our correspondence, beneath his serious outer layer, a fun guy lurked. One I suspected he didn't allow too many people to see.
Nathan rocked on the balls of his feet. "It was a difficult decision, but Amber will be assisting me in Key Largo."
I stopped breathing. Really and truly, just stopped. I heard wrong. But no, I was the one getting the congratulation speech from my coworkers. He picked me.
Through my astonished haze I realized Nathan was talking, and I should probably listen.
"Contact my assistant and make your flight arrangements. You'll arrive this coming Sunday the eight. I'll send you further information about the project this week. Thank you all again." He turned and strode from the room.
Still in a daze, I wandered back to my desk. I did it! I got the assignment. Me, the big girl with the frizzy hair. Too excited to concentrate on work, I tapped out a quick text to my BFF Jennifer, who lived in New Jersey.
Hey, guess who got the job and is going to FL next week? Squee!
Jen stayed glued to her phone, so I got an immediate response.
Sweet! Tell me more later. Wrestling the kids right now. Good going!
Jennifer and I didn't talk much. Between my busy schedule and hers with her twins, we had little free time. But we shot each other a text now and then, and neither of us worried if it was brief. One of those solid friendships I treasured.
The day finally ended, on a much better note than it had started. Since it was my week to tidy up, I was the last one out. As I shut off the lights in the office Nathan used, I saw an object on the desk. His pen. I picked it up, turning it over in my hands. What made this writing implement so special that a guy didn't mind spending seven-hundred dollars for it? It was kind of pretty, but not that beautiful.
I tucked it in my pocket. I'd give it to him next week. As I shoved in the chair closer to the desk, a slight whiff of his scent hit me, making a shiver tickle my spine. No. I would not think of him in any way, shape or form in the romantic sense. I wouldn't think of that delicious tremor that heated my insides when we'd touched, or the way his eyes had lit up when he smiled at me.
Key Largo would be a business trip, nothing more.
+++
I would have bought an airplane just to watch the sunset from high in the sky. As much as I traveled, I needed private, fast transportation anyway, but the view from on top of the clouds really did it for me. I always turned off my phone for at least fifteen minutes on a flight, to enjoy the scenery and decompress from a trip. On stressful days I added a shot of whiskey to the routine, but not after this Chicago run.
It went well, better than expected. As much as I would have liked to stay in the area longer, other business took priority. The trip to Bay Paradise Resort would be here too soon. Not that I wasn't looking forward to time in Key Largo. There was no place in the world like the Florida Keys. The water, the breeze, the laid-back attitude.
That last part concerned me and prompted me to add an assistant to this trip. I needed to find out which employees to keep on at the hotel, and which ones to let go. There would be no slackers at Bay Paradise Resort. I like to play as much as the next guy, but when it's time for work, I don't put up with laziness. The Keys are notorious for their relaxed way of life, but I know how to run a business. Come to work, do your job. When it's time to go home, then the fun starts.
Which is why I wanted Amber to be my assistant on this project. From the moment she started working at Cameron Industries, I could tell she was driven. She gladly worked overtime whenever asked, even on a couple of Saturdays. I don't take advantage of my employees, but I appreciate one who knows the meaning of hard work.
Along with that drive was a sense of warmth and fun. The first time she sent me a picture of her cat, hanging off her couch, I cracked up. She apologized, said she hit the wrong key and didn't mean to send that to me, but I liked it, told her to keep them coming. So she did, adding witty captions and sometimes cleverly slipping pictures or cartoons into whatever we were working on.
I knew she'd be the perfect assistant to talk to the staff, that they would open up to her. Just like she said in her interview. From her work I determined, she was smart and good at problems solving but damn, something I didn't expect, hotter than hell. Speaking of staff…I adjusted myself, still semi-hard.
The minute I saw her, I had to think about baseball, quick, to distract me from that sweet, curvy body. Even though she wore a suit that looked ten years old and didn't fit worth a shit, she turned me on big time with those delicious tits and an ass that begged to be grabbed. By me. While I stood behind her and…
I shook my head to clear the image. Nope. Not going there. Never again. No way would I get involved with an employee. I learned my lesson the hard way with Tanya, my ex-fiancé. I still paid for that mistake. Every time I smelled that pricey
perfume she loved, or heard the song we first slow-danced too, my heart cracked.
This project was important. Not just from the monetary angle, but because if I succeeded here, a group of investors would join me in another venture I had in mind. I possessed the money to buy the property, but I was looking at a huge endeavor, developing an island off the coast of Florida. To make it what I wanted, I'd need help, from a lot of different factions. Keeping Bay Paradise Resort not only running but turning a nice profit was my goal.
Anyway, Amber was a sweet, quiet girl, and would never get involved with a guy like me, devoted to his company and nothing else. She'd find a nice man with a steady job, settle down in the suburbs, pop out a baby or two. Her excitement, organizing play dates for her kids. No big drama in her life.
So I'd use her organizational and communication talents in my business, and enjoy her pleasant company. Amber would bring the exact blend of enthusiasm, friendliness and efficiency I needed to interact with the employees at Bay Paradise Resort.
That's all I needed from her, no matter what my cock said.
CHAPTER TWO
By the time I got home, I knew I couldn't go. What was I thinking? I couldn't leave Michelle alone. Michelle, my sister, not my mom, like I told people.
Before I even changed out of my work clothes, I fired up my laptop and sent Nathan an email. He texted a lot, I knew from working with him, but I wanted my refusal to be more detailed, more personal.
Nathan, I'm very sorry, but I have to decline your offer. My mother's health has become increasingly poor, and I don't feel I can leave her for a week. I'm sure one of the other women will work out fine for the position, and while I very much appreciate being accepted, I won't be able to go. Thank you.
There. Nice and polite. I gave him my reason for refusing so he shouldn't take it personally. And it was true; Becca or Shannon would be perfectly able to do the job. I kicked my shoes into the closet, then peeled off the too-tight skirt. Crap. A seam that was stretched to the limit now expanded even further. Not many miles left on that. Stress and constant work for the past year had turned my eating habits upside down. I desperately needed to change my diet.
The Romance Challenge, Complete Series Box Set: BBW Hot Alpha Billionaire Romance Page 1
