The Unwanted Assistant

by Evangeline Kelly

  He shook his head. “No, I guess I was always the one to call it quits.”

  “Have you experienced unrequited love? Possibly cared for someone who didn’t return—”

  “I’d have to actually fall in love for that to happen.” He laughed bitterly.

  “You’ve never—”

  “No.” His voice was firm and cold, and he said it with such force I knew the conversation was over, at least on that subject.

  He leaned forward and tapped his fingers on the dark brown coffee table in front of him as if I now wasted his time and his thoughts were already on other matters. “I think we’re done here. Before you go, is there anything else you’d like to ask?”

  Do you pay extra for putting up with your attitude?

  I bit my tongue. All I wanted to do was leave this farce of an interview. He’d forced me to bear my soul, and I’d lost my temper—not something that happened very often. I was more the pushover type, but Sawyer had definitely brought out another side of my personality, one few ever saw.

  Plus, the writing on the wall seemed evident—the guy didn’t plan to hire me. This was all some kind of sick, twisted entertainment for him, and I’d played right into his hand.

  I figured it would only be wasting minutes out of my day to ask anything else since I didn’t want to work for him. Clearly, the guy didn’t like me, and if I was truthful, I didn’t much care for him either.

  “I don’t have any other questions. Thank you for your time.” I’m out of here.

  Tension filled Sawyer’s face as I stood. It almost appeared as if he didn’t want me to leave except I’d just witnessed his obnoxious behavior and knew better. He took a step towards me. “I planned on paying a modest sum of twenty-five dollars an hour, but you’re worth more.”

  I blinked. Was he offering me the job?

  His voice went back to that mocking tone I’d come to despise. “I’ll admit, you’re the best candidate we’ve had so far, and I like you can hold your own.”

  I’m the only one who’s lasted this long, and that’s probably not a good thing.

  “Because you’re such a great candidate, and because Hayden will murder me in my sleep if I don’t secure you right now, I’m going to raise your salary.” Sawyer scribbled something on a piece of paper and handed it to me, watching me carefully for a response.

  I glanced at the paper and gasped in disbelief. It had to be a joke, another ploy to get a rise out of me. “I’m not stupid. You’re not going to pay this.”

  His eyes narrowed. “All joking aside, I’m very serious right now. Money isn’t an issue. You can ask for more if this doesn’t meet your requirements.”

  Not sure what to do, I wavered. Surely, there were other means of employment available in this city—with better work environments. On the other hand, how could I turn down this kind of money? Yes, he was the most condescending, arrogant man I’d ever met, but I’d be lucky to find anything paying half as much even after I graduated from college. Could I set aside my pride and suck it up?

  If I agreed to this, Mom and Dad wouldn’t have to worry about me and I’d have more than enough for rent and living expenses. Not to mention, if I handled my finances wisely, I’d be able to pay off some of my student loan. Out-of-state tuition wasn’t cheap. Maybe I’d be able to put aside money towards my future goal of traveling.

  I let out a sigh. “Ugh . . . this amount is just fine.”

  He held out a key. “You’ve got the position if you want it. You’re free to come and go as you please. Make your own schedule—it doesn’t matter to me. But there are two rules I ask all my employees to follow.”

  I took the key, hoping he didn’t notice my trembling hand. “Okay. What are they?”

  He stepped closer and leaned down so we were face-to-face. Honey brown eyes, striking and beautiful, blazed with a ferocity that sent shivers all the way down my spine. “First of all, don’t forget you and I are not friends, not even close.” His deep voice, purposeful and lethal, delivered a warning. “There are times I can be moody. On those occasions, don’t try to cheer me up and don’t give unsolicited advice. I’m accustomed to life the way it is, and the last thing I need is a silly girl thinking she can make things better for me. Are we clear?”

  “Yes.”

  “And second, I don’t allow any alcohol in this house. If I ever catch you with even so much as an ounce of liquor, you’re fired.”

  “That won’t be a problem.”

  He lifted his chin towards Mr. Jeffries. “Hayden, can you show Ivy around?”

  Mr. Jeffries nodded and gestured for me to follow him. I stumbled forward, feeling shell-shocked. Was I really doing this?

  ***

  Mr. Jeffries led me on a tour of the home, showing each and every corner of the house. In contrast to the way I felt around Sawyer, Mr. Jeffries made me feel comfortable. There was a spark of kindness in his eyes, and his even-tempered manner made me immediately relax with him like I would with an old friend.

  We stopped at a large room on the second floor that had been converted into a gym. There were treadmills, stationary bikes, elliptical and row machines, and a lot of other expensive training equipment. Half the room was taken up by weights alone. “Sawyer keeps a strict training schedule,” Mr. Jeffries said. “How about you, Ivy? Do you like to exercise?”

  “Not really.”

  He cleared his throat. “Well, perhaps you can sit and keep him company while he works out.”

  The thought of watching his muscles flex brought a blush to my face. I was supposed to watch him work out? The guy was not my type in the least, but I wasn’t blind. He was cut, more so than the average man who went to the gym.

  “I suppose I can join him. I probably need the exercise.” Understatement of the century.

  We passed a room on the other side of the hallway. “And this is the library. Many of the publications you’ll find here are old and out of print, but there’s a whole section of contemporary books, mainly Science Fiction.” He smiled fondly as if remembering something. “Sawyer loves to read. When he was a kid, he used to beg me to read stories to him all the time.”

  His words caught me off guard. “You’ve known Sawyer that long?”

  “Yes. I went to high school with his parents and was a close friend of the family. My wife and I watched him grow up.”

  “Do his parents live here too?”

  His expression darkened. “No, they passed away five years ago.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. Does Sawyer have any siblings?”

  “He had one brother.”

  Had one brother. Past tense. I wasn’t sure if I should pry, but I was curious to learn more. “Do you mind if I ask what happened to his parents and brother?”

  He hesitated. “Sawyer likes to keep his past private. It’s really his story to tell, not mine. But I will say he’s had it tough, and it changed him deeply. He wasn’t always the untrusting, challenging man you saw a few minutes ago. When you’ve been hurt the way he has, you tend to protect yourself for fear of being hurt again.” He turned to me with entreating eyes. “Please give him a chance. He can be difficult, but there’s a heart underneath his façade—one that’s kind and generous and very sensitive.”

  Sensitive? Sawyer? It was hard to believe, but I supposed I’d have to take his word for it. “I will try. But I don’t think Sawyer likes me. I get the impression he’s only putting up with me because there’s no one else.”

  Mr. Jeffries laughed for the first time. During the interview, he’d looked stressed and weary and almost frantic, but now, his smile lit up his countenance and it made him look ten years younger. “Oh, he likes you. He wouldn’t have agreed to hire you if he didn’t. He found reasons to dismiss at least twenty other candidates besides the two others interviewing today. When you got up to leave, he presented an offer he was sure you couldn’t turn down.”

  The fact that he’d dismissed so many candidates didn’t make me proud I’d been selected. It mad
e me nervous I wouldn’t live up to his expectations. “I don’t understand. Why me? I’m not anyone special.”

  “You stood up to him, kept your cool, and didn’t let his pushing and prodding get to you.”

  “I don’t know, I nearly walked out.”

  Mr. Jeffries lifted an eyebrow. “I’m glad you didn’t.”

  We continued the tour, and he pointed to a room with a closed door. “That’s Sawyer’s bedroom. He likes his privacy so if he’s in there, I wouldn’t disturb him.”

  We walked downstairs and Mr. Jeffries showed me a beautiful sunroom with bay windows facing the garden. I stared out the window at the flowers and the woods stretching beyond the house.

  A ping pong table sat against the far wall, and large glass doors slid open, allowing easy access to the garden. Outside, a porch swing moved back and forth with the breeze. I thought how nice it would be to sit out there with a southern ice tea.

  “I’m glad you agreed to join us, Ivy. Sawyer doesn’t get out much and I worry about him, you know?”

  No, I didn’t know. But I was beginning to see. Beginning to see Mr. Jeffries was much more than Sawyer’s business manager. He truly seemed to care. Well, at least one person vouched for him. Uneasiness rested in my chest like a bad case of pneumonia. What if I couldn’t hack it? What if I couldn’t handle working with a man like him?

  I would make it work. I had to.

  Before I left, I filled out paperwork and listed Sammie as my emergency contact since she would call my parents if needed.

  “Take your time,” Mr. Jeffries said. “You can start anytime this week.” He took a business card out of his front pocket and handed it to me. The card said he was the CEO for Drake Hotels.

  “The Drake Hotels?” I lowered my voice, not wanting to sound like a fan-girl of some famous rock star. “Sawyer is the owner?”

  In my travel research, the Drake name had come up over and over but I hadn’t made the connection until just now. The elite luxury hotels were featured in articles about the top ten most beautiful resorts in exotic locations. I’d dreamed of spending the night at one of those hotels but I would never be able to afford even a one-night stay. It was hard to fathom that Sawyer owned all that. I tried not to look star-struck, but it probably showed all over my face. Good thing he hadn’t mentioned it in the interview or I’d have been a bumbling mess.

  “Yes. Sawyer inherited the business. We’re located all over the world.”

  I nodded, not sure what else to say. To my chagrin, I’d never stayed anywhere, not even a dumpy motel.

  “Call me day or night if you have questions or concerns. I’ll do whatever I can to make this work.” His expression softened. “And Ivy, I’m batting for you on this. I believe you’re the best person for the job, so if anything happens . . .” He changed course. “If Sawyer becomes . . . problematic, don’t hesitate to contact me.”

  His manner was so sincere, so kind my heart melted a little. Why couldn’t I work for him?

  Instead, I had my hands full with the very challenging Mr. Drake.

  Chapter 6

  Ivy

  I crashed through the doorway of my apartment like a madwoman in search of an elixir, except I rarely drank alcohol, so I would have to find another way to calm down. Where were my Hershey’s Kisses when I needed them?

  “Hey, Sammie,” I said, walking straight to the kitchen. I shuffled through a cabinet, moving everything to the side. Gone. I’d finished the chocolates off yesterday.

  Heading back to the living room, I rolled my neck, relaxing the muscles. I took a deep breath, glancing around. Home. Finally.

  Our apartment was small but in good condition, with crown molding along the upper walls and a quaint charm that won me over the day I moved in. When the windows were open, warm breezes carried the scent of magnolia flowers.

  We’d made the place our own with framed calendar pictures on the wall featuring impressionist paintings by Monet and Renoir, and a vase with silk green and purple hydrangeas sat on top of a brown coffee table.

  Sammie rested on the couch, remote in hand, watching television. She turned the sound down and lifted an eager smile my way. “How’d it go?”

  “That was the worst interview I’ve ever had.”

  Her expression softened as she took in my frazzled appearance. “I’m sorry. You didn’t get the job?”

  “Oh, I got the job all right.”

  The confusion on her face struck me as funny.

  “Okay, not following.” Concern lined her features. “Please tell me ‘photo shoot’ wasn’t a part of the equation. After you left, I started worrying the ‘wealthy gentleman’ might be some perv who wants to take pictures of you or something.”

  I threw my purse on the table and fell onto the dark blue, second-hand couch Sammie found at a thrift store. “Hardly. It’s some rich guy who needs someone to keep him company and help with errands.”

  “That sounds easy. How much will you be making?”

  I pulled out the paper with the amount Sawyer offered and handed it to her.

  “This is a lot. Like, seriously, a lot.” She stared at the number for a while longer and then lifted suspicious eyes to mine. “Hold on. What am I missing? Are you sure this guy isn’t a perv? You’re not his assistant,” she air-quoted, “in the sense of personal escort, or something like that, are you? No one pays this kind of money without expecting a lot in return, especially not for handling errands.”

  She had a point about the salary not being equivalent to the nature of the job. I still didn’t completely understand why he’d offered so much, but I had to believe it was because he knew no one would put up with him otherwise. And obviously, money wasn’t an issue for him.

  “Trust me, I’ll be earning every last cent working for this man.” I frowned. “But he’s a tyrant, not a perv. And Sammie, if the position had been for an escort, he could’ve been a lot pickier.” I stood, rolling my shoulders to loosen the muscles, and headed for the kitchen.

  “You shouldn’t be so down on yourself, Ivy. You’re really pretty—much prettier than you give yourself credit for.”

  I took a tall glass out of the cupboard and filled it with ice. “Thanks. But you’re my friend. You have to say—”

  “I don’t have to say anything. That business with Austin destroyed your confidence. I’ve never seen you so defeated. I hope you’re able to put him in the past for good.”

  “I’m working on it.” I cleared my throat and turned on the water faucet, filling my glass. “You didn’t really think I’d take a job as an escort, did you?”

  “Of course not. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t being taken advantage of.” She got up and joined me in the kitchen, bare feet padding on the white linoleum. “So, the new boss is a tyrant?”

  “Yep, total jerk.” I took a sip of water. “He’s young, rich, completely rude. He owns these luxury hotels around the world. His CEO, Mr. Jeffries, was nice, but Sawyer is . . .” I stopped mid-sentence, not sure how to describe the man.

  “Start from the very beginning. I need a blow-by-blow account of everything that happened.”

  After I finished giving her the details, Sammie shook her head. “You’re brave. I don’t think I could do it.” She took out an icy mug she’d been keeping in the freezer and filled it with root beer.

  “Yeah, well your parents are able to pay for out-of-state tuition and living expenses,” I said. “Mine are struggling. I don’t have much choice. That kind of money will go a long way to cover what I need.”

  She gave me a sympathetic look. “Well, it might not be that bad. I’m sure he gets better as you get to know him.”

  “One can only hope.” I put my glass on the counter. “Oh, there’s one more thing I forgot to tell you. Sawyer is the same guy we saw in the balcony at church.”

  She nearly spit out her root beer. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

  ***

  Later in the evening, I leaned back in the seat of Sammie’
s white Toyota Camry, window rolled down, long hair sticking to my neck from the wet humidity, smiling like a fool with my strawberry shake in one hand. “This is so divine.”

  Sweet Home Alabama played on the radio, and Sky, Sammie and I sang along to the words, our voices loud and off-key.

  When the song came to a close, Sammie took a sip of her chocolate shake. “Told you, Sonic Drive-In is the place to go when you need a sugar fix.” She turned and glanced at Sky, who was sipping a vanilla shake in the back seat. “Dating any new guys?”

  Sky laughed. “Me? Yeah right. My favorite date on a Friday night is a bag of popcorn and a good Chick-flick.”

  Sammie waggled her eyebrows. “I can set you up again.”

  “No, thanks, Emma,” Sky said, referring to one of Jane Austin’s books. “You may be as cute as Gwyneth Paltrow, but I’ve seen your match-making skills up close.” She switched her attention to me. “Don’t let this one sway you to go on any blind dates. I tried that once, and it was a disaster.”

  “Come to think of it,” I said giggling, “she is a bit of a matchmaker.”

  Sammie shrugged. “I like to bring people together. What can I say?” She glanced over her shoulder at Sky. “The guy I introduced you to wasn’t that bad.”

  “Yeah, the date was such a priority he didn’t bother to shower after football practice.”

  “He had hygiene issues,” Sammie said. “But you could have given him more of a chance.”

  Sky had a matter-of-fact expression. “I would have, but my nose was on fire.”

  I laughed at that.

  Sammie’s gaze shifted to me. “You know what you need?”

  I put my arms up as if to block her. “Oh no, don’t even think about it.”

  “Oh, come on. It’s just a set-up. Nothing serious. It’ll get you out of your funk.”

  I wagged my finger back and forth at her. “I’m done with dating.”