by Autumn Reed
“Yes, consider it a perk of the job. I have already created an ongoing shared calendar that I will update with your work schedule as well as the protection schedule. Your passcode is currently 7591, but feel free to change it to whatever you like.”
I cringed at his mention of protection, the term the guys used for what would better be described as “babysitting Haley.” Picking up the deceptively light phone, I turned it over to inspect the slim case. It was midnight blue with a white and silver glitter stars pattern. In small gold letters at the bottom were the words “Kate Spade New York” with a tiny spade emblem. Confused, I looked back up to Jackson. How did he know?
Knox cleared his throat. “Theo picked out the case.”
I smiled to myself. Theo always seemed to know exactly what I wanted even before I did.
Flipping the phone back over, I pressed on the circular button like I had seen the guys do with their own phones and punched in the code. Scrolling through the apps, I was instantly overwhelmed with all the new technology.
Jackson must have noticed my wide-eyed amazement. “Don’t worry, it’s very user friendly. You can ask any of the guys to help you figure it out. All of our contact information is already loaded, so you can get ahold of us by either phone or text. And you can use the Notes app to keep track of your background story. Any questions?”
Knowing I wouldn’t be able to articulate an intelligent question at that point, I replied, “Not right now. Thank you for the phone.”
“You’re welcome. I think we’re done for now; Knox will show you to your desk and introduce you to Melissa who will be showing you around. Call or text if you need anything.”
And with that, he was gone.
Introductions
Knox led me down a hallway on the fifth floor toward my assigned workspace. Anxious about meeting Melissa, I bit my lip, hoping my nervousness wasn’t too obvious. After spending most of the morning with Jackson and Knox, I had almost forgotten that I would actually have to interact with other people today.
Knox slowed his pace and spoke to me in a hushed voice. “Don’t forget; if you need anything, you can text or call us.” I nodded, and he looked me directly in the eye. “Seriously, Haley. Anything.”
We finally stopped at a cubicle, and Knox leaned his head in. “Hey, Melissa. I’d like to introduce our new temporary office assistant, Haley.”
A bright voice, muffled behind the fabric walls of the cubicle, responded, “Sure!”
A petite blonde emerged and extended a slender hand to shake my own. Even in her ridiculously tall pumps, she was a few inches shorter than me and, I was guessing, a year or two older. Her beautiful golden hair grazed her collarbone, offsetting her pale blue-gray eyes and fair skin.
I had no clue what she was really like, but I was thankful she at least appeared friendly. And I couldn’t help but admire her sense of style. Despite being a classic girl myself, I loved her look—a gray pencil skirt, patterned shirt and shoes, and chunky jewelry. Somehow she managed to pair it all together without it looking crazy.
After Knox walked off, Melissa smiled. “Why don’t we start with a tour? Zenith covers three floors. You saw the fourth, which is mostly public space for client meetings. This floor is where most of the work gets done; clients never see this space.”
Passing a row of cubicles and open workspaces, I could see what she meant. The fifth floor retained the modern design of its counterpart on four, but there was more movement, more workers buzzing about. Employees sat or stood at their desks, focused on their computer screens or talking on the phone. Phones rang, people chatted, and printers ran off copies, providing the usual soundtrack of office work.
Occasionally Melissa introduced me to employees or explained their role in the company, but mostly she made small talk about where to park or the best restaurants in the area for lunch. When she asked questions about my life—if I had lived in Santa Cruz long and if I was a student at UCSC—I kept my answers short. Fortunately, just as my dad had always advised, all I needed to do was ask open-ended questions. Melissa was more than willing to do most of the talking.
As we walked around the fifth floor, Melissa pointed out various offices, break rooms, and storage. Everything seemed extremely well-ordered and organized. She explained that the large offices lining the perimeter were shared by each team of five to ten members; name plates by each door listed “Team Falcon” and “Team Jaguar,” among others. Most of the doors were closed, but since the walls and doors were made of opaque glass, the entire floor was bathed in natural light.
Melissa was likeable with her easy friendliness and bubbly nature. I learned that she was from the area and lived with roommates at a house they rented just outside San Jose. She was expressive and inquisitive, and apart from her slightly annoying habit of overusing the word “like,” I thought we were going to get along well.
In the elevator to the sixth floor, Melissa tilted her head and grinned mischievously. “So, Haley,” she said, inspecting my right hand. “Did your boyfriend give you that amazing ring?” Her voice was playful, but I knew she expected an answer.
“Um, no. I don’t have a boyfriend.” Unsure what more to say, I just hoped that she didn’t ask anything else about my ring or my single status. My complete lack of dating experience was unusual for a girl my age. I definitely didn’t want to admit that I had never had a boyfriend and was still waiting for my first kiss.
Her face lit up. “Good, me neither. You should come clubbing with me and my girlfriends. You’d love it!”
I highly doubted the club scene would ever be for me, but it was nice to be invited. Fortunately, the elevator opened to the sixth floor, saving me from responding with more than a polite smile. Even if I wanted to, the guys wouldn’t let me go clubbing without them. I was sure Theo would take me if I asked, but how would I possibly explain his presence? It’s not like I could tell Melissa that I had to bring a non-date along because I was under constant surveillance.
The sixth floor had a similar layout to the fifth. Melissa explained that this floor was for higher-level employees and executives, such as the co-founder and San Jose Regional Director, Patrick Ross. And while most teams had an office on the fifth floor, a few of the more experienced teams were granted the privilege of an office on the sixth floor.
Finally arriving back at my cubicle, I sunk into the chair, feeling overwhelmed. Zenith had a lot more employees than I expected, and I had only met a handful of them. And the overall atmosphere was very businesslike and rather serious. Without Melissa’s effervescent personality to distract me on the tour, I would have been completely intimidated by my surroundings.
I heard a buzzing noise like something was vibrating on my desk. Puzzled momentarily, it dawned on me that perhaps it was my new phone. I pulled it out of my purse and looked at the screen, inserting the passcode before I noticed a new message.
Theo: Hi, Supergirl! Hope you’re having a great first day of work.
Smiling at his newest nickname for me, I debated how to respond. Maybe if I convinced Theo that everything was great, I could convince myself of the same.
Me: Thanks, Robin! So far, so good.
I hoped Theo wouldn’t read too much into being the sidekick to Knox’s Batman.
* * *
It was my third day at work this week, and I was getting into a comfortable groove. Between my new job and a fairly regular schedule at the loft, I was relieved to be settling into my temporary life in Santa Cruz. After so many years spent mostly alone, I was surprised how smoothly things were going; I kind of felt like I was fitting in.
Melissa had me working on older files, scanning them into the system and organizing the electronic copies. The work was mostly mindless and highly confidential. Technically, I wasn’t supposed to read the documents apart from the client name and date for labeling purposes, but sometimes I just couldn’t help myself. I needed to know more about Zenith and what they really did, and I needed to stay awake.
So far, everything seemed pretty above board. Most of the assignments were private security for corporate functions and wealthy clients I had never heard of. I kept hoping to find something juicy. Was it too much to ask for a wedding that got out of hand with guests escorted from the premises?
An alert popped up on my computer, reminding me to set up a conference room for an upcoming meeting. Melissa walked me through the process the day before, but this would be my first time to do so on my own. Thankfully it wasn’t a difficult task, mainly following a checklist of requirements for that particular meeting.
After I finished setting out refreshments and made sure the digital projector was working properly, I looked over my checklist to confirm that I had completed all the tasks. Satisfied that everything was ready, I started toward the door just as a small group of people entered.
In the lead was an attractive man wearing a well-cut gray suit, pale blue collared shirt, and matching tie. His silver hair contrasted nicely with his tanned skin. And while he had the look of a distinguished gentleman, his skin was still smooth and mostly wrinkle free. He was definitely older than my dad but not by too many years.
He excused himself from the group and walked straight to me, holding out his hand. “Haley, it’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.” His face was kind and his bright blue eyes sincere.
Confused, I shook his hand and stared at him in surprise. He continued, “I’m Patrick Ross, the San Jose Regional Director. How have your first few days of work been?”
Patrick Ross knows who I am? I tried not to panic, wondering how much the guys had told him about me.
I finally snapped out of it and responded. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Ross. And the first few days have gone well, thank you.”
He smiled, surprising me with his apparent friendliness. “Good. I will let you get back to work. I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other.”
I walked back to my desk, pondering the encounter with Mr. Ross. Considering how many employees were under his supervision, I wouldn’t expect him to even know my name. I was only a temporary office assistant after all. When he said that we would see more of each other, did he just mean around the office?
Knowing my questions wouldn’t be answered until I talked to one of the guys, I sat down at my desk and got back to work.
It was late afternoon, and I was making good progress on my stack of files when Ethan appeared in the entry to my cubicle. Surprised by his sudden arrival, I almost dropped the papers I was holding. The corner of his lip twisted up, showing off his usual smirk.
“How’s it going, Haley?”
I placed the files on the desk and stood up, smoothing my pants. “Pretty good. Everyone’s been very nice and the work is easy enough.”
“Glad to hear it.” He paused. “Maybe we can grab lunch next week?”
My heart leapt at the idea. “I’d like that.”
Remembering my interaction with Mr. Ross, I said, “I met Patrick Ross earlier.”
Ethan laughed, “Oh yeah? You know he’s Jackson’s uncle, right?”
“What?” The shock in my voice was obvious. “How could you guys not tell me that? I didn’t even know he worked here!”
Ethan just shook his head, “I guess it never came up. Well, I better get back to work, but I’ll see you later.” He winked before walking off.
Less than a minute after Ethan left, Melissa popped her head in my cubicle, interrupting the tirade I was mentally screaming at each of the guys. Her eyes were wide as she whispered loudly, “You know Ethan?”
Startled by her urgent question, I nodded, unsure why it was a big deal. She entered my cubicle and sat on the empty file cabinet; I swung in my chair to face her.
She sat with her legs crossed and her finger on her chin. “Haley, I need details!”
My confusion must have been evident because she continued talking. “Unlike some of the other teams, Team Jaguar, Jackson’s team, is totally antisocial. The guys are polite, but none of them will hang out with any of us outside the office. Or even inside the office, really. They’re like seriously mysterious.”
She uncrossed her legs and placed both palms on the file cabinet as she leaned forward, lowering her voice. “And don’t think every girl in this office hasn’t tried. They. Are. So. Hot.”
Melissa paused, the wheels turning. “When Knox first brought you over, I didn’t think much of it. But now, Ethan stops by.” Her voice was getting excited and slightly high-pitched despite the whisper.
I sat silently, shrugging my shoulders.
“Come on, Haley. Spill!”
As much as I liked Melissa, I knew I couldn’t tell her the truth. Instead, I put my acting skills to the test, reciting the brief story I had rehearsed with Jackson and Knox. I kept it as short as possible, hoping she would buy my explanation. After I finished, I tried to gauge Melissa’s reaction, surprised when she seemed excited for some reason.
She leaned in, her demeanor serious for once. “Haley, I have a confession to make.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Okay.”
“I have a huge crush on Chase.” Her pale skin flushed pink. “This may surprise you, but I’m into the silent, studious type. And that dimple, OMG.”
I instantly felt a twinge of jealousy at the thought of Chase with Melissa. Not that I had any right to. We were just friends; he was free to date anyone he wanted. And who wouldn’t be attracted to Chase—or any of the guys, really—myself included. Distracted by these thoughts, Melissa’s next statement caught me off guard.
Her voice pleading, “Haley, you have to set me up with Chase. Please, please help me!”
In that moment, I wanted to disappear. This whole making new friends thing was harder than it looked. What am I supposed to say?
Hot & Cold
My feet felt light as I walked through the lobby; I was looking forward to a relaxing, low-key evening with Chase and his favorite board games. It had been a few days since Melissa revealed her secret crush to me, and I pushed it to the back of my mind. I’d bring it up with him at some point but not tonight.
Rounding the corner, I was surprised to see Liam leaning against a large column, his arms crossed nonchalantly while he watched people coming and going. He looked as polished and professional as ever in his gray pinstripe three-piece suit, textured lavender shirt, and patterned tie with coordinating pocket square. I raised an eyebrow; I was almost positive that the calendar on my phone indicated Chase was my companion for the evening.
“Good afternoon, Haley. Due to a last-minute change of schedule, you will have the pleasure of my company this evening.” He grinned, clearly pleased by the idea.
I tried to hide my hesitation. “Is Chase okay?”
Liam’s smile was dazzling, but somehow it always made me feel like I was walking into a trap. “Chase is fine, he just got caught up with work. And we finally get an evening alone.”
Alone. Alone with Liam. Alone with Liam all evening. I gulped and tried not to panic. Telling Chase about Melissa’s crush seemed almost relaxing in comparison.
Liam held out a hand for my tote bag and said, “Allow me,” before placing his other palm on the small of my back as he guided me through the lobby. Entering the parking garage, a car beeped and the lights flashed on a cobalt two-door sports car. Elegant, yet powerful, Liam’s car made a statement.
I whistled, admiring the Audi’s sleek lines. “So this is how you get all the girls. Now I see why.”
Feigning offense, Liam gasped, “Don’t listen to a word Knox says; the ladies flock to me because of my devastating good looks and charm.” He smiled then, his white teeth gleaming. “The car is just a bonus.”
I laughed, once again torn between amusement and annoyance at Liam’s considerable ego. And yet, I couldn’t necessarily fault his confidence. He had a natural charisma that, combined with his dashing good looks and sexy accent, likely attracted most females he came into contact with. I imagined any one of them would be e
nvious of me getting to spend the evening alone with him.
But, I wasn’t most girls; I was truly dreading the next few hours. It wasn’t that I disliked Liam, but I didn’t know him very well. And he made me uncomfortable. Really, really uncomfortable.
I slid into the leather seat before Liam closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side. Smoothing my skirt, I glanced down at my outfit—a navy dress with a camel-colored pattern, camel blazer, and skinny belt and flats. I’d been pleased with how the outfit came together, reflecting a dressier version of my usual style, but somehow I always felt underdressed compared to Liam.
Liam pressed a button and the car fired up without him ever inserting a key into the ignition. The black leather interior and dashboard were minimalist and sleek; everything was digital or touchscreen. As we drove out of the parking garage and onto the street, I felt like I was hovering just above the ground.
“Seriously. This car is incredible, and it’s even my favorite color. I think it may be a sign that you should let me drive it sometime,” I teased.
Stopped at a red light, Liam turned to face me. His eyes swept my face and body in a way that I was quickly coming to expect from him.
With a mischievous smile, he said, “How about this. You wear a bikini the next time we go swimming, and I’ll let you drive my car.”
My mouth dropped open in shock, and I felt heat instantly flood my face. “Did you really just say that? That is so insulting!”
Liam breezily turned back to face the road and laughed. “What? Is it so wrong to appreciate a beautiful girl?”
When I continued to silently glare at him, he sighed. “Do you even know how to drive? I must be off my trolley to even consider saying yes.”
“Wait, what? Off your trolley?” Distracted by what I assumed was ridiculous British slang, I was able to ignore my anger for the moment.
“Yes, off my trolley. You know, crazy.”
