Oh, she had no doubt the receptionist knew all the ins and outs and was one of the best sources of gossip. Perhaps starting with a little break room talk over lunch would be a good starting point for her own project.
Things were already starting off better than she’d hoped. Surely if Sophie was dealing with the head honcho himself, she could gain access to all the cut footage. But she still had to be careful and calculated about this. There was no room for errors and no way could she raise suspicions. Above all, she couldn’t run into Miranda. Even with the blond hair, glasses and completely different wardrobe, Sophie knew her step-monster would recognize her.
“Mr. Townshend is waiting,” Craig said as he turned and put his hands on the gold handles of a set of white double doors. “Welcome to Green Room Media.”
The doors swung wide and Sophie/Roslyn pulled in a deep breath.
Showtime.
* * *
When he’d asked for help, he hadn’t expected a lush supermodel turned librarian. The sight of the curvaceous blonde with sultry glasses and a confident smile hit him right in the gut. He was also a fan of glossy red lips.
Those jeans should have been illegal, but he certainly wasn’t complaining.
Bloody hell. He didn’t have time for this distraction. He hadn’t even had time to interview anyone for himself and had trusted his most loyal, dependable employees to do that. But he’d only asked for someone well qualified, professional and polished.
He’d certainly gotten that last part; he had to assume the rest of her credentials were just as impressive as the outward package.
Might as well embrace his new temporary consultant. Temporary being the key word. Off-limits was also another key word because he never ever fraternized with employees. He liked to date, but he’d never gotten too serious...much to his family’s dismay and disappointment.
Most times the Townshends didn’t understand why Nigel was in New York, growing his empire, and not back in England, settling down and working on new heirs. He loved his family, he truly valued them and missed them like crazy. But he wanted to branch off from the dynasty and create his own legacy. This company and his shows were bigger than anything he’d ever dreamed. He just needed to continue that trend of growth and success in order to show his family that his goals and dreams truly were worthwhile.
Pushing the family issues aside, Nigel kept his eyes locked on the striking woman in his office. Talk about a test in willpower. If she was going to be working alongside him for weeks or months to come, he would have to remember this was a professional environment. He demanded as much from each of his employees and he would never let them think that he was incapable of meeting those standards himself.
Nigel came to his feet and rounded his desk. He was the boss, time for him to act like one and put these adolescent hormones to rest. His family considered him the infamous black sheep for breaking away, and he was doing his best not to live down to that reputation. Just because a man didn’t want to get married and produce a litter of children did not make him a failure.
Of course, his sister was getting married next week and he was a groomsman, so that certainly didn’t help matters.
All the more motivation to turn these dwindling numbers around and get Secret Lives back on top of the rankings. Maybe then his family would be proud of the work he did.
“You must be Roslyn Andrews,” he greeted, turning all of his attention to the new employee. “I’m Nigel Townshend.”
Her smile widened as she crossed his office and extended her hand. “It’s a pleasure, Mr. Townshend.”
“Mr. Townshend is my father,” he corrected. “You will call me Nigel.”
With a delicate nod, she replied, “Alright, Nigel.”
His name sliding through her lips was just as magical and potent as he’d expected. And all of his employees called him Mr. Townshend. He couldn’t quite justify the reasoning behind his quick response to her calling him Mr. but here they were.
“I had no idea I would be working with you directly,” she added. “Can I be honest?”
The combination of that sultry voice and the confident firm grip of her handshake assaulted every nerve ending he had. Her dark eyes flared when he slid his hand into hers.
Well, wasn’t this interesting?
She snatched her hand back and adjusted the purse strap on her shoulder. He had to give her credit, though, her smile never faltered.
Self-assurance was a sexy trait. Add that to the alluring outward package and he might be in trouble with this one. Hell, he was already in trouble since they were on a first-name basis after a one-minute meet. He had employees who had worked for him for over a decade who still didn’t call him Nigel.
“Please,” he replied. “Honesty is our key policy.”
She adjusted her tortoiseshell glasses. “I’m even more nervous now that I know I’m working directly with the boss. But, I promise not to let my nerves get in the way of doing my best work.”
“I hope you’ve saved your best work for me because I need the best.”
“No pressure,” she joked. “I hope I live up to your standards.”
“I have no doubt you’ll do just fine. I’ve seen your résumé. The fact that you work in interior design actually appealed to me because I believe designers look at every detail in all aspects of life and that’s exactly what I need. And, I’m not sure if you’ve heard anything, but I’m not difficult to get along with, though I’ve been told I have a dry sense of humor.”
“I have two older brothers. I’m pretty good with holding my own, no matter the jokes.”
With her honesty and sense of humor, Nigel could see they’d get along just fine...so long as he kept reminding himself this arrangement was professional and temporary.
How many times could he use those two words?
Probably not enough, because he had a feeling he needed to keep those in the forefront of his mind as long as Ms. Andrews worked by his side.
“Have a seat,” he told her, gesturing to the leather chair opposite his desk. “Since I didn’t sit in on the interview process, I’d like to get to know a little about you before we begin our day. Like I said, I’ve seen your résumé, quite impressive, and I’ve heard my crew speak your praises.”
“I’m flattered.”
She should be. They’d interviewed a slew of people for this position, but Nigel had put out very specific requirements. Interesting that the most striking, intriguing woman he’d ever met was the one who had landed in his office.
He worked with beautiful women every day. The entire cast of Secret Lives consisted of stunning ladies. But something about Roslyn seemed almost wholesome...which was quite refreshing in this field.
Nigel unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt as he went back to his desk chair. Distance from her would help him keep his head in the game, so would focusing on the sole reason for her employment. He needed a new vision for the show and the only way he could see that happening was to bring in an outsider.
There was no room for attractions or office escapades. The last thing he needed was a sexual harassment lawsuit. Of course, bad press would drive up ratings, but he wasn’t about to embarrass his family, put his own reputation on the line or degrade any woman.
He respected women and his new consultant would be no different. There’s no reason he couldn’t find her attractive and keep a level head about himself...right?
“I saw you recently moved to New York,” he began, leaning back in his seat.
Roslyn nodded. “About a month ago. It was time for a change.”
“You came from Texas?”
“I did. My family owns a ranch.” She eased her purse onto her lap and crossed her legs. “My brothers still live there.”
“So why the drastic change?” he asked.
A sadness swept over her
face for a second before she tipped her chin and silently gathered herself together. “My father recently passed and it made me realize how fragile life is. I’d always wondered what city life was like and I decided to take the risk.”
Taking risks was certainly something he could understand and appreciate. He hadn’t gotten this far without stepping outside the proverbial box and taking his own chances in business. He understood her need to be out on her own, away from her family, and he instantly admired her drive and independence.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” he told her. “I have to admit, I’m impressed that you took such a leap.”
“No time like the present,” she stated with that same confident smile that punched him with another dose of arousal.
“You have a degree in design.” Nigel glanced at the portfolio photos on his computer screen he’d been looking at before she’d arrived. “These are pretty impressive. Why the switch to media? Did you just want to make a change?”
She shrugged one delicate shoulder. “Why can’t I do both? I’ve always loved design and I’m fascinated by media. Who knows? Maybe one day I can design living spaces and work areas for the stars. This is a good step in that direction.”
Nigel leaned forward, lacing his fingers together on his desk. “Is that what you’re hoping to gain here? The chance to meet celebrities and get your foot in the door?”
Roslyn opened her mouth, but he quickly held up his hand. “I’m not judging,” he added. “I think it’s brilliant.”
“You got me,” she laughed. “I’m always thinking ahead. I figure if I’m going to take the leap into a new kind of market, why not make it a big one? I want to cover a wide variety and when I have my own company, I’ll be well versed in all the things.”
“That’s exactly the type of asset I want on my team,” he told her. “What’s your favorite food?”
Roslyn blinked, then laughed. “Excuse me?”
“Favorite food.”
“Um... I don’t know. I guess sushi. Why?”
“I like to have dinner meetings and I want to make sure I choose something you’ll enjoy.”
He hated most kinds of sushi, but this was New York. Plenty of places served a wide variety that could accommodate both of them. For now, though, he wasn’t quite ready to end this talk and he wasn’t ready to dive right into work, though that’s exactly what he should have been doing.
“Why don’t I show you around,” he said, coming to his feet.
Craig would’ve normally tour new employees, but Nigel had already blocked this morning off because he wanted to do so personally... Now he wished he had let Craig retain that honor.
“There are aspects of this company that you should know from day one,” he continued. “I want you to be comfortable and think of this as your second home for as long as you’re employed here. We’re all friendly and, for the most part, we all get along.”
Roslyn stood and eased her purse back onto her shoulder. “That’s impressive with such a big corporation. I’m excited to be part of something so positive.”
As committed as he was to making sure his staff all worked well together, he wouldn’t settle for anything less, Nigel needed a little more drama and action on the set of Secret Lives. The show couldn’t afford to be all sweetness and niceness all the time. There needed to be a reason for viewers to tune back in, excited to see what would happen next—but right now, he just didn’t have the answers.
He did, however, have a new consultant eager to see the offices and he might just have to take her to the penthouse suite and show her that breathtaking rooftop view. The penthouse was used on occasion for special events with the staff since it had a large boardroom table and full kitchen. But, it also had a private en suite that he would sometimes stay in when his office hours became too long and he just needed to crash.
His job right now was to save his show, and this woman may be one of the most striking and gorgeous consultants he’d ever seen, but he needed her and he wasn’t going to do anything to jeopardize his show...especially by hitting on his newest hire.
“We’ll start with the best part of the entire building.”
Nigel gestured to the lift in the corner.
“Your own private elevator?” she asked, with a half grin. “I’m impressed.”
“There are perks to being the CEO.”
And as the CEO, it was his responsibility to remain 100 percent professional, 100 percent of the time.
He worked with gorgeous women every single day. This shouldn’t have been any different...yet it was.
Two
Sophie wasn’t sure how to deal with her spiral of emotions as she stood next to Nigel in the elevator. She wished she’d known that she’d be working directly with him. She wished she’d known just how potent this powerhouse truly was. And she sure as hell wished she’d known just how her entire body would heat because this was a completely new territory for her.
Granted she didn’t believe anything could’ve fully prepared her for that heavy-lidded stare, the strong jawline, the right amount of expensive cologne and that polished British accent.
Mercy’s sake. She certainly hadn’t counted on how sexy a conversation with a Brit would be. How did any woman in this office get work done? How was she going to get work done? She couldn’t afford to get fired from her faux job because she was too busy fantasizing about the boss.
The man opened his mouth and a slew of inappropriate thoughts filled her head. But that wasn’t why she was here. Though the eye candy certainly didn’t hurt.
A man like Nigel Townshend wasn’t just a panty-dropper, he was a billionaire bad boy with a bit of a reputation. He always had the sexiest women on his arm at award shows and debuts. He’d been known to date some of the hottest supermodels in the industry, but, to her knowledge, he’d never been seen with the same woman twice, which led her to believe he was a player.
And she was the total opposite, considering she’d never been with a man.
What would it be like to be with a bad boy? Maybe that was precisely what she needed. Perhaps she should give herself to a man who knew exactly what he was doing.
Then again, she wasn’t about to announce to a man she just met that she was a virgin. She wasn’t ashamed of the fact, and she certainly wasn’t sorry she’d spent her years building her career and devoting every waking minute to growing herself as a successful businesswoman and YouTube sensation. There was no rule or timeline for sex, and she’d do it when she was damn well ready or when a man intrigued her enough to make her want to.
Unfortunately, her new boss intrigued her way more than he should. She could easily imagine him doing a clean sweep of papers off his desk and ripping her clothes off in a heated moment of passion. The clothes would be utterly ruined, of course, but she wouldn’t mind sacrificing these skinny jeans.
Why were they called skinny jeans anyway when she clearly had curves and wore a size sixteen? If they were supposed to make her feel skinny, then they were failing.
Regardless, she’d much rather think of Nigel finding her irresistible. Maybe late nights would turn into lingering glances or sensual touching. Not that she thought he’d do anything inappropriate...but a girl could fantasize, couldn’t she?
The elevator chimed as the doors slid open. Just in time to pull her from yet another delicious daydream about her new boss.
Good grief. She had enough issues right now. She needed to focus on the job her brothers had trusted her to get done. Getting down and dirty with the CEO of Green Room Media was not quite the angle she’d been thinking of. Besides, she’d promised herself to be back in a week and getting tangled in anything other than her plan would eat up time she didn’t have to spare.
Nigel gestured for her to exit the elevator, and as soon as Sophie stepped out, her breath caught in her throat.
“I had the same reaction
when I first saw the view,” he told her, staying right by her side. “I admit, it never gets old. There’s something so timeless, so classy and sexy about the New York City skyline.”
From this rooftop penthouse with a wall of glass windows all around the perimeter, Sophie felt as if she could reach out and touch the sun. She had to agree, there was something sexy about this view. Something almost...powerful, like because you were on top of the world that meant the whole world was yours to command.
Even with the wintery conditions outside, she was surprised by how bright the sky seemed to be from this angle.
Wanting to explore each part of this magnificent space, Sophie took one slow step after another as her eyes raked over the rich masculine leather furniture, the chrome fixtures, the simplicity of the lighting and the breathtaking sights of the city. This was definitely a man’s space.
She told a slight lie when she’d said she was a wannabe city girl. She mostly stayed to the country life, a laidback style that fit with her personality and the way she designed. City life always seemed so noisy and rushed...not just the cars but everything and everyone else, too. She felt that people were too busy doing their own thing to truly listen to others.
Sophie enjoyed people, she loved chatting and getting to know more about them. How else was she supposed to grow and develop her brand? She had to purposely put herself out there, so over the years, she’d just defaulted to a social butterfly.
Hey, that bold move had paid off, hadn’t it? Her YouTube channel ranked in the top ten interior designers of the entire site and she could easily see herself climbing even higher.
“Come closer,” Nigel urged, cupping her elbow and escorting her to the windows. “This is the place I escape to when everything downstairs becomes too much.”
Sophie glanced from the city below to the man at her side. “And here I assumed there wasn’t a thing you couldn’t handle.”
Nigel’s lips quirked. “Don’t give away my secret.”
“Anything you say is safe with me,” she promised. “I’m not here to judge. I’m here to help.”
From Boardroom to Bedroom Page 2
