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.”
Chapter Two
“Men don’t typically like to hurt your feelings unless he’s a bitch with a dick and named Adam.”
“They want you to marry her.”
Adam almost spit out his coffee all over his keyboard. He brushed at the wet spots dotting at his silk tie before placing his cup on the desk and turning to Dean. “Say what now?”
“I’ve talked to the Council of Clans, they still think you and Eva should be married. Same terms our grandfathers laid out years ago.”
“And you know this how?” Adam questioned Dean.
“Ah, I may have, you know, called the council…” Dean started. He gave Adam a small grin and took a step back as if he anticipated Adam would go Kanye on him.
“First thing; no. Second thing; stay out of my business, Dean. Jesus H, dude, you never learn. You’re always meddling in shit that is none of your business. First getting Eva a job as my assistant, now calling the Council? Are you a shit-stirrer or just oblivious?”
“That’s not fair, Adam,” Dean said, “I only have your best interests in mind. And your best interests include our clan and Frost Industries.”
“Dean, I don’t need your help with this. You’re meddling in this because it amuses you.”
“A little, but I do care about you.” Dean dropped into his usual chair, propping one foot on the edge of Adam’s desk. “So, she still got the hots for you? I remember when we were kids. Well, teenagers. You two couldn’t keep your hands off each other.”
Adam shoved at Dean’s foot, pushing it off his desk and brushing at the mark it left on the polished mahogany. “No,” he said shortly.
“Just, no? That’s it?”
“Why are you pushing me on this, Dean? What could you possibly gain whether I marry her or not?”
Dean got up and strolled to the minibar cabinet in the corner. He uncorked a bottle, giving it a swirl before pouring an inch of the amber liquid into a cut-glass tumbler. He returned to his chair, taking a sip before settling back into his chair. He sat, swirling his drink, regarding his cousin with a steady gaze.
“Well? I’m waiting,” Adam prompted.
“I just think you need a nudge in the right direction. And not just for the company or the clan, but for you
rself. You loved her, Adam. I remember how devastated you were when she left. You disappeared into the game preserve for a week. I was beginning to think you were going feral. I really thought we’d lost you to your tiger. Believe it or not, I care about you and I always have the best intentions for you.”
Adam pressed his lips together, trying to hold in the rage that wanted to let loose. Yes, he was hurt when Eva left. She just disappeared, not a word to anyone. When he’d gone to her house, her parents were apologetic, but wouldn’t tell him where she’d gone. He remembered her dad clamping a sympathetic hand onto his shoulder. A lump rose in his throat as he remembered the first moment he realized she was gone and wasn’t coming back to him. He glanced at the glass in Dean’s hand. “Isn’t it a little early for a drink?”
“It’s happy hour in Tokyo right now.” Dean tosses the rest of his scotch down his throat. “There.”
Adam spun his chair to face the window. Staring down on the streets of New York usually gave him pause, helped him to focus and concentrate. Since Eva had walked back into his life, he hadn’t been able to concentrate on anything. Anything but the thought of her in the next room, that was. He turned back to Dean. “I’m serious, Dean. Stay out of this. This isn’t the time for your meddling. I’ll deal with Eva myself. Don’t push me.”
Dean shrugged and headed to the door. His hand was on the knob when he spoke, not bothering to turn around and look at Adam. His voice was low, but Adam heard him clearly.
“The Council had spoken to me about this before, twice, in fact, but I didn’t bring this to your attention. They were pretty clear, Adam. They wanted to reassure the Carey clan’s alliance on our side for the long haul. Eva is a beautiful tigress with impeccable pedigree. Her bloodline is old and pure. Whether you like it or not, she’s very desirable as a bride. If you don’t marry her, someone else from our clan has to. Would you prefer that person to be me?”
Adam thought about what he said long after his cousin left. He hated to admit it, but Dean was right.
***
The sun was slipping below the tops of the buildings, sending bright sparks of orange shattering across the buildings of Manhattan. Adam was still facing the window, the setting sun deepening the shadows across his face.
Adam wasn’t sure he could keep doing this. He felt as if he’d been stretched too thin. Eva had been here three days and he hadn’t slept a wink since. Damn Dean for bringing her back. Most days, Adam could forget he’d ever known Eva Carey. He should have put his foot down on the first day, insisted she be sent immediately to another department. Hell, to another building. His company had offices all over the world. No reason for her to work in that one. But then he thought of what Dean had said. He was annoyed that the Council meddled in his private affairs.
He was still lost in his thoughts when a light tap at the door pulled him back into his office. He turned and called, “Come in.”
Eva cracked the door and inched into the opening, half of her body still in the outer office. Adam sighed. It’s like she can’t stand to be in the same room with me.
“What is it, Eva?”
“It’s after six, Adam. I’m going to head home if you don’t need me for anything else. Are you going out for dinner? I could order you in something if you want.”
“No, thank you, I’m fine.”
“Okay, well, goodnight then.” Eva started to disappear back through the door when Adam called out.
“Eva, wait.”
She stepped halfway into the opening again. “Yes?”
“Come in here for a minute. I mean, would you come in? Please?”
She stepped into the room and stood near the door, her back against the wall. Adam waved her forward, gesturing to the chairs in front of his desk. “Please, have a seat.”
Eva trudged forward, her face distrustful, and eased into the seat Dean vacated earlier. Instead of Dean’s nonchalant slouch though, Eva perched on the edge, a bird ready to take flight at the first sign of danger. Adam studied her for a moment, her body tense.
Something stirred inside. Damn, how could he have forgotten how beautiful she was? Eva was perfect, her cherry hair in curls over her shoulders, her black wrap dress hugging her curvy body. She’d always been gorgeous, even as a teenager when others were awkward, but now, a woman, with a woman’s curvaceous, luscious body? She was incredible.
She cleared her throat and he looked away, uncomfortable now that he had been caught staring.
“Is there something I can help you with, Adam?”
“No. I mean, I just wanted to…talk,” he said.
“Talk?”
“Yes, is that okay?”
“About work you mean?”
“Sure, we can talk about work.”
“Okay.” She was staring at him, waiting for him to talk. When he didn’t she started to fidget, shifting in her chair, looking like she’s ready to stand up and leave.
Say something, Adam berated himself, before she leaves.
“So, how’s work?” he finally get out.
“Ah, work is…fine?” She sounded confused by his question. “Adam, what’s this about? Why did you call me in here?”
“I just wanted to see how you were doing. You don’t, we don’t…I mean, you work for me and I hardly have any contact with you, unless you count email.”
Eva didn’t answer him. She stood and walked to the door, her hand on the knob. She looked as if she was still thinking about something. She turned and looked at him and her eyes glittered with unshed tears. “Adam, please don’t, okay? Just, let me work. Let me do my job. Let’s not relive the past. We’re just going to keep it professional. Okay?” Then she glided out the door. She must have been running because he could hear her heels clicking like machine-gun fire down the marble hall.
Adam cursed himself. There had to be a cosmic conspiracy regarding old flames. Why must the one he wanted most be the one who was unattainable?
***
Eva snatched her things and ran down the hall, punching at the elevator button, willing the doors to open before her tears started falling. She wouldn’t let Adam see her cry. She wouldn’t let Adam know that the past three days of working for him had been the hardest in her life. Her pride wouldn’t let her do that. She punched at the buttons again, desperate to get out of the building. When the chime pinged, the door hadn’t even opened completely before she was sliding between them and slapping at the lobby button.
As the elevator carried her smoothly down fifty flights, she fought back her tears. She usually wasn’t this whiny, crying at the drop of the hat. But coming here was a big mistake. She hadn’t anticipated that her feelings for Adam were as still intensely alive as they were years ago. She should have walked out when she found out she was working for Adam. She needed the job, yes, and the pay was too good to turn down, but she wasn’t sure she could do this for the long term. Not if it meant having to see Adam every day.
Through the lobby and out into the street, Eva kept her tears at bay. A quick subway ride deposited her near her apartment. She quivered with emotion as she shoved her key into the lock. She dropped her bag and keys on the table near the door and called out to see if her sister, Bella, was home. When there was no answer, she grabbed a bottle of wine and headed into the bathroom, flipping on the taps and filling the room with steam and the scent of vanilla bubbles.
She slipped into the bath, a glass of wine dangling from her fingers, when she heard the front door open and her little sister yelled her name. “Bathroom,” she called back and slid further into the bubbles.
Bella, a cute and bubbly redhead, popped into the bathroom and flipped the toilet lid closed, dropping onto it before taking in the scene in front of her. “Uh oh,” she said, “bubbles and Bordeaux. What’s going on, sis? New job not going well?”
Eva took a deep sip of her wine and popped a few bubbles before answering her sister. “Well, it’s not a bad job, it’s not hard…”
“But…” Bella prompted her.
“My boss is the but.”
Bella cackled and grabbed the wine bottle off the floor, taking a big swig straight from the bottle. “Okay, tell me why your new boss is an ass.”
“That’s not what I said.”
“Close enough.”
“Okay.” Eva took a deep breath. “Here’s the thing. My new boss…is Adam Frost.”
Bella spewed red wine across the bathroom. “What do you mean ‘Adam Frost is your boss?’”
“Well, when I was looking for a job and couldn’t find one, I called mom and dad…and I guess they called the alpha. Next thing I know, Frost Industries is calling me up, telling me there’s an opening as an administrative assistant and it’s mine if I want it. Of course, I had to take it. And I didn’t know then that I was going to be working for Adam. It’s a huge corporation…I never for a minute imagined I’d ever even see him, much less be working directly under him every day.” Eva paused for a breath and sank beneath the bubbles, popping back up and rubbing the water off of her face.
“So.” Bella blew out a long breath. “What are you going to do?”
Leaning forward, Eva grabbed the wine bottle from where it dangled from Bella’s fingers. She tipped it back and poured the sweet, red liquid down her throat, finishing the last drops in the bottle. “Well, I guess, I’m going to do my job. I’m going to go in every day and treat him like he’s a stranger. Like he’s nobody.”
“Uh-humm,” Bella said, semi-mocking. “Like nobody, huh? We’ll see about that.”
“I’m serious.”
“Yeah, right.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“I believe what you believe. At this very moment, you believe you can distance your feelings for him. But who knows what tomorrow brings? You might waltz straight into his bed.”
“That. Is. So. Not. Going. To. Happen.”
Bella giggled. She tossed a wet washcloth at Eva’s face and skipped out the door. “You’re fooling yourself.”
Eva plucked the washcloth and chucked it into the water. “I’m going to act like I never loved him,” she said softly to herself.
Chapter Three
Romance Warfare: a Tigress' Guide to NOT Secure a Mate: BBW Tiger Shape Shifter Paranormal Romance Page 2
