“I’ll think about it. There’s a lot to figure out when it comes to all of that.”
“Fair enough,” he nodded. Headlights flashed in the rearview mirror, and Eli glared at it in mild irritation. “This car has been tailgating us almost the whole way from the shelter. Not sure why… It’s not like he hasn’t had plenty of opportunity to go around me.”
I frowned toward the back window, squinting a little in the light. Since it was so late, the other lane was pretty much empty, and the car behind us had more than enough time and space to pass us. I was too blinded by the headlights to make out any details about the vehicle, so I shrugged and faced forward again. Some people just turned into assholes on the road.
When we turned into the parking structure beneath Eli’s apartment complex, the car revved its engine and sped off, tires squealing. It looked like a dark colored sedan of some sort, but I couldn’t see anything else about the car or the driver. We exchanged a shrug as he pulled into his designated space.
“Come on, Angel. There’s a hot shower with our name on it.”
“Our? I hate to disappoint you, but I’ll be lucky if I’m still awake when the elevator stops.” Eli chuckled, but I wasn’t exaggerating. I’d been on my feet for the better part of the last twenty hours.
“A hot bath, then. And I’ll carry you to bed. You’ve earned it.”
As it happened, he ended up carrying me to the bath as well as from it, and I smiled sleepily up at him afterward while he brushed out my wet hair.
“Why are you so good to me?”
“Because,” he said simply, leaning down to kiss the top of my head. “You deserve it.”
Nineteen
Charlotte
Pulling myself out of bed the next morning, or more specifically out of Eli’s embrace, took a Herculean effort on my part. Having his arms around me felt so perfect that I wished we’d had another day to just enjoy each other.
I dressed in one of my black skirts with an emerald green button-down blouse, deciding to leave my hair down for once. It fell in waves around my shoulders and made me feel more feminine than my usual braid or updo permitted. Eli made coffee and a light breakfast while I was getting ready, and as I watched him check his briefcase, my first-day jitters began to settle in.
“You sure you don’t want to ride together?”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. I need to do a little shopping after work. I won’t be out long, but I’ve got to get a few more business-appropriate outfits.”
“Okay. Well, follow me in anyway. We should stop by HR first thing.”
I nodded, remembering our agreement to disclose our relationship sooner rather than later. We hoped that doing so would diminish the gossip that was sure to arise when people found out ‘the new girl’ was ‘sleeping with the boss.’
As I followed Eli’s car the short distance to his office building, my nervousness increased. I’d never been in a situation like this before. Not only had I landed a real, grown-up job, but I was about to talk about my love life with someone in Human Resources. While I didn’t disagree with Eli’s logic, this was thoroughly uncharted territory. What if it didn’t go the way we hoped? What if it only stirred up more gossip and drama?
I sighed, unable to see any viable alternative. Because not being with Eli just wasn’t an option. I had passed the point of no return the night I let him take me into his home. And certainly the next morning, when he’d taken me to his bed.
Eli walked with me from the car to the little lobby of the HR department, and we waited only a couple of minutes before a slender, middle-aged woman greeted us with a sweet smile. Her brown hair was pulled into a sleek twist and streaked with gray, and her green eyes were shrewd but kind.
“I’m Leona, and you must be Ms. Douglas,” she beamed, giving me a surprisingly firm handshake. She was only a little taller than I was, but her presence was somehow much larger.
“Yes. Very nice to meet you.”
“You too, dear.” Leona turned her smile on Eli and gave him a challenging look that was almost maternal. “So, this is the one Hayden was talking about?”
“Yes,” Eli confirmed, looking mildly embarrassed.
“Hayden?” I asked curiously.
“The guy who was with me for lunch at Chance Encounters the other day. He’s Leona’s son.”
“Oh,” I nodded, making a mental note to ask him about Hayden later. I was curious as to how his friend’s mother had come to be his employee. Maybe it was another example of what Eli had meant about keeping RPC a ‘family business.’
Leona led us into a small conference room where she had us sign a document disclosing the personal nature of our relationship. I sat quietly as they exchanged playful banter, and it made me smile to see Eli so relaxed with one of his employees. Though admittedly, Leona didn’t talk to him like an employee. Their dynamic was a curious one, and I found myself liking Leona more and more as I watched them interact. She reminded me a little of the way my mom had been before her first stroke. She had that same sharp wit and compelling personality.
Once we’d exhausted the subject of our personal relationship, Eli stood from the table. I had a lot more paperwork to get through as a new hire, but he needed to head up to his office and start his day. I could tell he wanted to kiss me goodbye, but he settled for a wink and a sexy smile. That was probably for the best, since we’d just finished reassuring Leona that we could keep things professional in the office.
After my paperwork and a quick tour of the RPC offices were completed, I was introduced to my direct supervisor, Samantha Branson. She was an attorney who primarily handled the contracts and correspondence for the labor unions, and I would be her new assistant. Samantha looked to be in her mid-thirties, with naturally blonde hair and full-figured curves. Her smile was warm and welcoming as she invited me to take one of the chairs in front of her desk, rambling through her introduction.
“Nice to meet you, Charlotte. I’m so glad they finally decided to hire someone on. My old assistant decided to do the stay-at-home-mom thing, and while I’m happy for her, I’ve been a bit lost without her. I’ve had a temp off and on, but you know how that can be sometimes. I’m hoping we’ll be able to get things organized again fairly quickly.”
“I’ll do my best,” I promised, smiling nervously.
“I’m sure you will. I’ve already heard good things from HR, so I doubt you’ll have any trouble getting acclimated. I did want to talk about the, um… email… I got from Leona Forrester this morning.”
“Of course.” I braced myself for the worst, wondering if my new boss was about to deliver the first round of coworker rudeness.
“Now, I don’t need details, but I do want to warn you that once word gets out you’ve snagged Eli Brighton off the market, you’re bound to catch a little flak from some of the women around here.” Her tone and expression held only kindness, and I relaxed a little.
“I expected that,” I replied honestly. “I don’t care so long as no one thinks I traded sex for a job. That’s not the case at all. The woman who interviewed me didn’t know anything about me that wasn’t on my résumé, and I was offered the job right away.” Maybe that was a little too much information, but I wanted to be straightforward with her. Samantha waved off my concern with a reassuring smile.
“I believe that. I’ve gotten to know Mr. Brighton a bit since he took over RPC, and by all accounts, he’s a straight shooter. He’s honest and has a good sense of ethics. He also doesn’t tolerate incompetence, so I’m sure you wouldn’t be here if you weren’t up for the job. However, not everyone knows all of that about him. So, if anyone gives you trouble, don’t hesitate to speak up. Bullying and harassment of any kind aren’t tolerated here.”
“I will. And thank you for being so understanding. I know it’s an unlikely situation,” I said, feeling a surge of relief to know that she was on my side. Samantha shrugged.
“Not as unlikely as you might think. I started here when Mr. Pierce was still alive,
and his wife worked in the engineering department for many years. She passed the year before he did, but spouses working together isn’t all that strange. Family businesses are called that for a reason.”
“Eli said something similar,” I agreed with a smile. “Still, it’s not quite the same. We’re not married.”
“Regardless, I’m sure it will all work out. Just don’t let any of these catty hoes get under your skin.” I laughed in surprise at her candor, and she gave me a wink before sending me on my way.
My morning went surprisingly well. By the time my lunch hour rolled around, I felt like I had a handle on what was expected of me, and I’d learned my way around pretty quickly. Samantha had waved goodbye on her way out of the office for lunch and told me to take a break too, but I belatedly realized I hadn’t packed or planned anything. I’d been so nervous about my first day that food had been the furthest thing from my mind. Just as I’d decided to work through the break as usual, a delicious-smelling figure in a suit cast a shadow over my desk. I knew that scent.
“Working hard, Ms. Douglas?” Eli teased, smiling down at me. My own lips curved upward of their own accord.
“Very hard, Mr. Brighton. I’m quite the over-achiever, you know.”
“You’re not kidding,” he snorted. “I came to invite you upstairs to my office for lunch. I ordered in.”
“Sounds good.”
I stood up to follow him to the elevator, not caring about the various stares I could feel as we passed through the array of cubicles. I couldn’t seem to wipe the smile off my face as we stepped into the elevator. Eli slammed his hand against the button that closed the doors, keeping another employee from getting on. It was a harried-looking young man carrying a stack of files.
“Get the next one, Perkins,” Eli said as the doors shut in the man’s face.
As soon as we were alone, Eli moved toward me, catching me by the waist and practically carrying me until my back was pressed against the back wall. He trapped me with his body and kissed me hard, murmuring into my lips between each kiss.
“I’ve been waiting to do this all day,” he groaned. “It’s been impossible to focus… Knowing you’re just two floors below me… looking so beautiful… smelling so incredible.”
We were both breathing heavily by the time the doors opened again, and Eli backed away from me quickly, straightening his tie. Thankfully, no one was in the executive lobby to catch us, but I wondered if there was a security camera in the elevator.
“I hope that’s okay,” he said when we got to his office, gesturing to the to-go containers on the conference table. “I just got the same thing you ordered for dinner the other night. We haven’t talked much about favorite foods yet.”
“We’ll get there,” I smiled as we sat down to eat. I’d ordered a steak quesadilla when we’d stopped for dinner on the way back from Wauchula, and the one that sat in front of me now looked even more appetizing. He’d even remembered my substitution of sour cream in place of guacamole. “And this is perfect. I didn’t even think about lunch until Samantha was telling me to take a break.”
“I think you’ll like working for her. She’s got a good attitude and seems to get along with everyone. How has the morning been? Anyone give you trouble?”
“No, but Samantha mentioned it first thing. I guess Leona emailed her. They both seem pretty supportive.” I took a bite of my food and hummed in appreciation.
“Leona’s been in your corner for longer than you think. Probably even before I brought up the idea of you coming to work here, if Hayden has been running his mouth. She likes to mother me now and then, and she’s apparently been waiting for me to find someone like you.”
“If she knew much about me, I doubt she’d have wanted you to find someone exactly like me,” I chuckled. Eli shook his head and sighed, smiling wistfully at my self-deprecation.
“I didn’t share personal details, but she could tell right away that you make me happy. That’s enough for her.”
I blushed and nodded in agreement. It was enough for me too.
Once we finished our meals, Eli led me over to a leather couch I’d never noticed before and pulled me into his lap. I grinned and wiggled slightly against the bulge in his dress pants, but when I opened my mouth to give him a sassy comment, he cut me off with another kiss. His tongue traced the seam of my mouth before plunging inside. One arm was wrapped tightly around my waist, and he threaded the fingers of his free hand through my hair.
“God,” he groaned, now trailing his lips along my jaw. “As much as I love seeing the back of your neck, I really love being able to feel your hair like this. It’s so beautiful.”
“Thank you.” I was gasping and shuddering as his mouth sent shockwaves of pleasure through my body. “But isn’t this a little… inappropriate for work?” I managed, moaning as loudly as I dared. He’d once told me his office was soundproofed, but I tried to hold back, just in case. His assistant, Walter, didn’t need that particular impression of his boss’s girlfriend.
“My office is fine, but…” Eli sighed as he pulled away reluctantly. “We probably shouldn’t get too carried away. Your break’s almost over. And we should probably try harder to avoid this sort of thing in the common spaces. The elevator was a slip. I’ve been fantasizing about you all morning.”
“You’re forgiven this time,” I grinned. “But I should head back so I have time to stop in the ladies’ room and clean myself up.”
His eyes darted to my lap, and I knew he was debating whether or not we had time for him to handle the clean-up personally. I chuckled and scooted off his lap, and he let me go with only a hint of a pout.
“I want to do something special tonight. To celebrate your first day.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“We could go out for dinner somewhere? Or I can cook, if you’d prefer that. I know you’ve probably gotten tired of eating out.”
That was certainly true. Of course, Eli’s version of ‘eating out’ varied quite a bit from the sandwich-and-chips dinners I used to eat every night between my shifts, but I’d certainly missed the option of a home-cooked meal.
“Either sounds great, but I do have some errands to run after work,” I reminded him.
“Oh, that’s right. Shopping.” He made a face of mock terror, and I laughed before giving him a playful shove. “How about I throw something together while you’re out, then? We can eat around seven-thirty, if that’s enough time?”
“That’s perfect. I should get back to my desk. Wouldn’t want one of my new coworkers to think I’m late because I’m off screwing the boss in a supply closet somewhere.”
“Now you’re just putting ideas in my head.”
I giggled as I kissed him goodbye and danced out of his reach before we got too caught up to stop. Walter gave me a friendly wave from his desk as I passed on my way to the elevator, giving me hope that I looked normal and not like the disheveled ball of lust I resembled on the inside.
The rest of the day went as smoothly as the morning had gone. I had an opportunity to sit down with an associate from HR and discuss the specifics of the insurance coverage, and to my relief, he was able to answer most of my questions. RPC provided excellent benefits for its employees, and although the premiums would cut into my paychecks a bit, the amount was far less than what I’d been paying in out-of-pocket expenses for Mom’s care. I left the meeting with the answers I would need to make up a new budget, and for the first time in years, I actually felt optimistic about money. Or at least cautiously optimistic. It was still hard to believe that my newfound streak of good fortune would hold.
As I finished my workday and headed to a nearby thrift store, my thoughts were full of Eli. For one thing, I was a little relieved that he hadn’t insisted on tagging along. I couldn’t imagine the well-groomed, CEO version of Eli browsing the racks with me at Goodwill. I’d been able to repurpose my serving uniforms well enough so far, but I didn’t want to wear the same sort of outfit every day. I
was still working with a limited budget, but I was a patient shopper and knew how to get the most out of my dollar.
My mind wandered as I shopped, and I thought back to the offer Eli had made on Saturday. I wanted to accept his help with moving Mom to Tampa, but he was already doing so much for me. And our relationship was still so new. I trusted him enough to know a breakup wouldn’t result in the loss of my new job, but I was sure any extra help he might give me was contingent on a romantic relationship. He wasn’t exactly making similar offers to any of his other employees. I was hesitant to get myself into an even bigger financial mess than the one I was just beginning to claw my way out of. And I did feel guilty at the idea of taking more from Eli.
But it wouldn’t be for me, I reminded myself. Or at least, it wouldn’t just be for me. And I could always add evening hours at Chance Encounters in addition to the weekend shifts if I really needed to…
Having my mom nearby would make it so much easier to see her regularly, and I had to believe that more face time would improve her cognitive awareness. Her doctors had said as much in the past, but making regular trips to Wauchula just hadn’t been feasible. Now, I had an opportunity to do more for my mother, and when I looked at it that way… How could I possibly say no? I didn’t even want to consider what it would cost or the headache of finding a new facility and new doctors in the city, but my weeknights were free now. Maybe I could make calls on my lunch hour and set up tours after work…
Despite my distraction, I managed to find five or six staple pieces to complement the dress clothes I already owned. Some were marked down even more than usual, and I left the store having spent less than twenty dollars. My bras and underwear would need to be replaced soon, though I wasn’t going to worry about that today. I probably needed new shoes too, but my simple ballet flats would have to suffice for now. There were some things I didn’t quite feel comfortable buying from a consignment store. Shoes and undergarments were at the top of the list.
Fortune's Angel (Fates Aligned Book 2) Page 14
