Undeniably His (Undeniable Series Book 1)

by Ramona Gray

  How, Janie? You barely get four hours of sleep a night as it is. How are you going to work a third job? Face it, girl, this job was your only chance and you fucking blew it. Mama J is going to end up in some horrible nursing home and it’s all your fault. After everything she did for you, you’re going to let her die in some place where they won’t even care about her, where they won’t -

  “Hey, how did it go?”

  She stumbled to a stop, squinting through the tears at the woman from the bathroom. The woman’s eyes widened and she touched Jane’s shoulder.

  “Oh, honey. What happened?”

  “I – I didn’t do very well,” Jane stuttered before wiping at the tears on her face. “He ended the interview after less than five minutes. When I sat down one of the pins poked me in the butt and it hurt like hell and was really distracting and I - I…”

  She trailed off and covered her face with her hands. She wouldn’t cry in front of this woman, no matter how kind she was.

  “I’m sorry, honey,” the woman said.

  “Me too,” Jane sniffed. “I should go. I need to pull a pin out of my butt, find a Band-aid, and get back downstairs. Thanks again for your help.”

  “Wait, just a minute. Let me - ”

  “I’m sorry. I have to go.” Jane ducked around her and limped down the hallway, praying like hell she would get to the bathroom before she really started crying.

  * * *

  Luke looked up in surprise when Amy walked into his office without knocking. She sat down in the chair and stared at him.

  “Ames? What’s wrong?”

  “How did the interviews go?” She asked.

  “Terrible,” he said. “The first one was Lisa from marketing. She has plenty of experience and would do the job well, but she also made it perfectly clear that she hoped we’d be more than boss and employee.”

  “Ooh,” Amy said. “How deliciously naughty of her.”

  “Sleeping with the employees is not a good idea,” Luke said.

  “Probably not,” Amy said. She waited a moment before saying casually, “What about the second one?”

  “Even worse. A Jane Smith – what kind of name is Jane Smith by the way – from the accounting department. She nearly started crying during the interview.”

  “Were you mean to her?” Amy asked.

  “What? Of course not,” Luke said. “I barely said anything to her. She just sat there in her too-big, discontinued suit, and tried to tell me that she had an interest in fashion and would be a great assistant despite her zero experience.”

  Amy scowled at him. “Maybe you should give her a chance.”

  “Why? Let her stay with Mark. He’s all about giving people chances and I’m all about getting the job done, remember? This woman was so flustered and sweaty I’m surprised she even remembered her own name.”

  “You make people nervous, Luke.”

  “That’s not my fault,” Luke said.

  “It kind of is. You could try being less brusque.”

  He gave her a puzzled look. “What’s gotten into you, Amy? Why do you care who I hire as my assistant?”

  “I met Jane in the bathroom before the interview. She had a rip in her skirt and was panicking. I pinned her skirt for her.”

  “Okay,” he said. “So what?”

  She crossed her arms over her chest. “She told me she knew her outfit was too big but that someone had told her if she wore a Dawson suit it would give her a better chance at the interview.”

  “She should have bought one that fit then,” Luke said as he scrolled through his emails.

  “I don’t think she has a lot of money,” Amy said. “She said she bought this one at a thrift store.”

  “I don’t want an assistant who buys her clothing at thrift stores,” Luke said. “I meet with potential investors all the time. I need an assistant who looks like she can afford to wear our clothing.”

  “You could give her a clothing allowance.”

  “Since when do we start giving out clothing allowances to employees?” Luke said.

  “I liked her, Luke.”

  “That’s nice,” he said distractedly as he opened an email.

  “I think you should hire her.”

  “Mm, hmm,” he said.

  “Luke!”

  “What?” He gave Amy an exasperated look. “Ames, I’m really busy. I have a meeting at nine and I - ”

  “I want you to hire Jane.”

  “What the hell for?”

  “Because she’s sweet and I think she needs help.”

  “I already give to charity.”

  “Luke, I mean it. Give her a chance, will you?”

  He shook his head. “She’s not going to work out and then I’ll have to fire her and she’ll be out of a job completely. Is that what you want?”

  “Mark will take her back.”

  “No, he won’t.”

  “He will if you ask him to.”

  He sighed loudly and sat back in his chair. “I don’t want to hire her, Amy. It’s not going to work.”

  “I think it will,” she said stubbornly. “Luke, please. Just give her a chance, okay? For me?”

  She gave him a pleading look and he could feel his resolve weakening. He never could say no to his baby sister.

  “Every time she cries, I’m sending her to your office,” he said.

  She grinned triumphantly. “That’s fine.”

  “I mean it, Amy. And when she fails - ”

  “If she fails.”

  “When she fails, you have to ask Mark to let her have her job back.”

  “No way.”

  “Yes way.”

  “I hate Mark and he hates me. He won’t do it if I ask him.”

  “He doesn’t hate you and yes he will. You two used to be friends and now you won’t even talk to him anymore.”

  She glared at him. “It’s better this way.”

  “Is it? It’s been over a month since you started fighting with him. Are you ever going to tell me what the fight was about?”

  “We didn’t fight and it’s none of your business anyway. Are you going to hire Jane or not?”

  “Yes, I’ll hire her if you promise to talk to Mark when I fire her.”

  Amy hesitated before nodding. “Fine. But only because I know she’s going to do a great job and you won’t be firing her.”

  “Whatever, Ames.”

  He waited for her to leave and when she didn’t, gave her an impatient look. “What?”

  “Are you going to call Maria and tell her?”

  “You want me to call her right now?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “Because then she can tell Jane right away. She was really upset when she left your office and I want her to hear the good news today.”

  He sighed loudly. “You’re not going to leave my office until I call Maria, are you?”

  “Nope.”

  He picked up the phone and punched in Maria’s extension as Amy gave him a delighted grin.

  * * *

  “Hello, Mama J.”

  “Janie! How are you, dear?” The old woman gave her a warm look and Jane breathed a sigh of relief before kissing her cheek.

  “I’m great. How was your day?”

  “Oh fine. I watched a movie in the common room with some of the other residents and worked a little on my scarf.” She stared at the knitting in her lap before stroking the soft yarn.

  “You didn’t eat,” Jane said.

  Mama J stared at the plate of food. “I was waiting for you. I thought we could eat together.”

  “I’d like that,” Jane said. She moved the tray of food closer to Mama J and pulled out her peanut butter sandwich from her purse.

  “That’s not a very big dinner, dear,” Mama J said as she ate her meatloaf. “Why don’t we share mine?”

  “No. This is more than enough,” Jane said. She forced herself to eat her sandwich slowly. When she was finished, she filled her water
bottle from the sink in the bathroom and drank all of it, hoping it would help to ease the hunger pains in her stomach.

  “What did you do today?” Mama J asked.

  “I have the most wonderful news,” Jane said. “I got a promotion at work. I’m the new assistant for the president of the company. I start Thursday.”

  “Congratulations, honey,” Mama J said. “I’m so proud of you.”

  “Thank you. I didn’t make a very good impression in the interview so when Maria told me I got the job, I almost didn’t believe it.”

  “I’m sure you made a terrific impression. You’re such a sweet girl, Janie, and you deserve all the good things that come to you. I love you.”

  “I love you too, Mama J,” Jane said. “This new job is just the thing I need to turn my luck around. I have a feeling that it’s only going to get better from now on.”

  The old woman smiled at her and Jane leaned forward and hugged her. “Everything’s going to work out, Mama J. I know it.”

  Chapter 3

  “Hello, Jane.”

  Jane swallowed the mouthful of peanut butter sandwich and placed her napkin over the other half before smiling at the woman who had pinned her skirt together. “Hi there.”

  “How’s the new job going?”

  “Good, I think,” Jane said. “It’s only my second day though.”

  “I’m sure you’re doing very well. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt your lunch,” the woman replied.

  “That’s okay,” Jane said. “I was just having a quick bite to eat at my desk. It’s busy today.”

  The woman placed the potted plant she was holding onto Jane’s desk. “I brought you this as a ‘welcome to the 37th floor’ gift.”

  “Thank you so much. It’s beautiful,” Jane replied.

  “Ms. Smith, I need that letter!”

  She jumped up at the sound of Mr. Dawson’s voice and snatched the letter from the printer. “Please excuse me.”

  She hurried into his office and placed the letter on his desk, chewing worriedly at her bottom lip as he scanned it. He signed it and handed it back to her.

  “It looks good. Can you add it to the package for the lawyer and run it over to them? Their office is about three blocks away on 105th.”

  “Yes, Mr. Dawson.”

  “Also, stop at the deli on the corner and pick me up some lunch. Thai soup, turkey sandwich with no cranberry and extra mayo.”

  “Of course. Do you have a tab there or…”

  She trailed off, hoping like hell he wouldn’t ask her to buy it for him and expense it.

  “Use the petty cash in the bottom drawer of your desk. Remember to put the receipt in.”

  “Yes, Mr. Dawson.”

  He finally glanced up at her. “When you’re back, I’ll need you to finish the document for…”

  He trailed off and looked around her. “Amy? What can I do for you?”

  Jane’s eyes widened and she stared speechlessly at the woman who had saved her the day of the interview.

  “Hey, Luke. Just popped by to say hello,” Amy said cheerfully. She held out her hand to Jane. “We haven’t formally met yet. I’m Amy Dawson.”

  Jane shook her hand as dismay filled her body. She had asked the head designer for the company to fetch her a stapler. The woman responsible for creating the clothing lines of the very large and very impressive company Jane worked for had stuck her hands up her skirt and then watched her cry in the hallway. “You – you’re Amy Dawson?”

  “I am,” Amy said.

  “I’m so sorry,” Jane mumbled.

  “For what?”

  “I – I didn’t know who you were earlier. I never should have asked you to get a stapler for me.”

  She gave Amy a look of panic before glancing at Luke. He was staring at them and Jane flushed before scurrying toward the door. “I’ll take this to the lawyer now and get your lunch, Mr. Dawson. It - it was nice to meet you, Ms. Dawson.”

  “Call me Amy,” Amy called after her.

  When she was gone, Amy smiled at Luke. “How’s it going?”

  “She asked you to get her a stapler?” Luke said.

  “Long story,” Amy replied. She checked to see that Jane wasn’t at her desk before sinking into a chair. “So, how’s she doing?”

  “Fine,” Luke said distractedly as he studied the spreadsheet on his computer screen.

  “Just fine?” Amy said. “Give me some details, Luke.”

  Luke sighed and leaned back in his chair. “She seems intelligent and competent. I haven’t had to repeat instructions and she has a good return time on documents I give her. She hasn’t cried yet and she doesn’t try to make small talk.”

  Amy studied him carefully. “But?”

  “Nothing,” Luke said.

  “Spill it, Luke. You know you can’t keep anything a secret from me.”

  Luke tugged at his tie. “She smells like peanut butter.”

  Amy gaped at him. “What?”

  “She smells like peanut butter. For the last two days, she’s eaten a peanut butter sandwich for breakfast and for lunch. Who does that past the age of ten?”

  “Plenty of people. You don’t like peanut butter but that doesn’t mean everyone doesn’t,” Amy said.

  “That’s all she eats,” he said. “I think she might have an eating disorder or something.”

  “Just because a girl is on the slender side doesn’t mean she has an eating disorder,” Amy said with a frown. “Don’t be that guy, Luke.”

  “I’m not trying to be,” he said. “I honestly think she might have a problem. Now that she’s wearing clothes that actually fit she’s even thinner than I thought.”

  “You’re not firing her because you don’t like what she eats,” Amy said.

  “I know that,” Luke replied. “But for someone who works for a clothing design company, she wears terrible clothes. I meet with investors and buyers all the time, what happens when they walk by her desk and see her dressed like that?”

  “Don’t be so shallow,” Amy said.

  “Look, like it or not, how our employees are dressed is important in this company. It’s why we don’t do casual Fridays.”

  “If it bothers you so much, give her a clothing allowance,” Amy said.

  “Like I told you before, I’ve never done that for an employee and I’m not starting now,” Luke said. “If she can’t afford to buy nice clothes, that’s not my problem.”

  “You’re being a dick,” Amy announced.

  “Yes, well, if you’re done insulting me, I have a lot of work to do.”

  Amy stood and blew him a kiss. “Be nice to her, Luke.”

  “I’m not the nice one – you are, remember?”

  “You should try it some time, it feels good to be nice.” She grinned at him and left his office before he could reply.

  * * *

  “Here’s your lunch, Mr. Dawson. I’m sorry it took so long – there was a line at the deli.”

  Luke looked up as Jane hurried into his office. The scent of snow and cold air clung to her and she was still wearing her thin jacket. Her hands and face were bright red from the cold and her lips were blue. He sighed inwardly. She wasn’t even wearing gloves or a scarf for God’s sake.

  She set the brown paper bag on his desk and smiled tentatively at him. “The documents have been delivered to the lawyer’s office.”

  “Your lips are blue,” he said.

  “It’s a bit chilly out,” she replied.

  He studied her thin jacket. “You should dress more appropriately for the weather.”

  She touched her jacket self-consciously but didn’t reply.

  He opened the bag of food, took out the foil-wrapped sandwich and the container of soup and opened it. “Do you own any Dawson brand clothing, Ms. Smith?”

  “I – uh, I have one suit.”

  He ate a spoonful of soup. Her stomach growled loudly and he raised his eyebrow at her.

  “I’m so sorry,” she sai
d as she pressed her hand against her flat stomach.

  “So, your suit is the one you wore to the interview?” He asked.

  She nodded and he couldn’t hide the look of distaste that flickered across his face. “I see. Most of your clothes are from Walmart then?”

  Her face which had begun to pale turned a fiery red and she blinked rapidly. He groaned under his breath. Now the waterworks would start.

  “Am I not dressed professionally enough?” She asked in a quiet voice.

  “It’s fine,” he said. His tone of voice suggested that it wasn’t fine and she chewed at her bottom lip before backing toward the door.

  “Enjoy your lunch, Mr. Dawson.”

  “Thank you, Ms. Smith.”

  * * *

  Luke buttoned his jacket and handed a pile of papers to Jane. She took them and he glanced at his watch. It was past six and he would be late if he didn’t get his ass moving.

  “I’m leaving for the day, Ms. Smith. You should go as well. The rest of it can wait until Monday.”

  “Okay. Have a nice weekend, Mr. Dawson.”

  Luke nodded distractedly as he strode past her desk. He was halfway to the elevator when he clutched at his jacket pocket and muttered a curse. He had left his cell phone on his desk. He walked back toward his office. Jane wasn’t at her desk and he stopped abruptly in the doorway of his office.

  He had eaten his soup but only half his sandwich at lunch. He’d wrapped the other half back in the foil and tossed it in the trash can under his desk. Jane was holding the foil-wrapped sandwich in her hand and as he watched, she unwrapped it and studied the sandwich before carefully wrapping it up again and tucking it into her purse.

  He backed away from the doorway and leaned against Jane’s desk. He had just caught his assistant stealing his half-eaten sandwich from the trash. What the hell did he do now? Nothing, he decided abruptly. What could he do? Demand she throw his old food back in the trash? He started toward his office again as Jane came barreling out of his office with his cell phone in one small hand. She ran straight into him and bounced off his wide chest. He caught her around the waist before she could fall.