Page 45 of By His Rule

“The Callahan brothers are a law unto themselves,” she muses as if this is something that’s going to be news to me.

“I’m Tatum Warner’s best friend,” I blurt.

Melissa taps the back of my hand and smiles sympathetically at me. “I know, sweetie. I know who you are. Tatum always talks very highly of you.”

“At least someone does.” I blow out a long, pained breath as I try to figure out the big question. “How did I end up here?”

Melissa chuckles. “What Kian wants, Kian gets. The sooner you learn that about your new boss, the easier this will probably all be for you.”

“Easier?” I blurt. “Nothing about this is going to be easy. I can’t stand the man. He’s an egotistical, self-assured—shit,” I hiss as instant regret hits me.

He’s her boss, too. He’s everyone’s freaking boss.

Dropping my head into my hands, I allow myself another moment of wallowing in the unbelievable situation I’ve found myself in before pulling on my big girl panties and sitting up tall.

“I’m sorry, that was unprofessional of me. I’m sure Kian is a fantastic CFO and?—”

“It’s okay. You’re allowed to have a moment over this. Would you like another coffee?”

“Or a shot or five of vodka,” I mutter under my breath.

“Probably not the best first impression,” Melissa jokes.

“Coffee would be great,” I say while mentally kicking myself for being such a moron.

I sit there in my new chair at my new shiny, massive desk and just look.

I’m pretty sure it’s possible to see my reflection on every surface up here, they’re all so polished.

Every single inch of the décor screams unbelievable wealth, something that makes me very uncomfortable.

I grew up in the slums surrounded by dirt, violence, and disregard. This is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before while being the exact thing I’ve always dreamed of.

A life with a high-flying career, a position in a fancy high-rise building, polished floors, and suited staff. They’ve got a freaking doorman and actual security, for fuck’s sake. This place is the shit. Far more than I am.

My stomach knots as I once again feel about a foot tall and nowhere near grown up enough, or prepared enough, to embark on this kind of life.

“So, what do you need to know before the IT guys get here?” Melissa asks, perching herself on the edge of my desk and sipping her coffee.

“Um…” I hesitate, not knowing where to even start. “Has Kian been looking for an assistant for a while?”

The second the question is out of my mouth, I regret it, but it’s too late now.

“Nope. He hasn’t been actively looking since he ran the last one out of here crying.”

“If that’s meant to make me feel better about this, I’ve got to say, it doesn’t.”

“Sorry.” She chuckles. “If you want me to sit here and tell you that I was expecting someone to be occupying this desk anytime soon, then I’d be lying. I honestly didn’t think he’d ever have an assistant again. He’s too…”

“Stubborn?”

“Yeah, that works.”

“Okay so…how about telling me all the things I shouldn’t do instead of what I should. I’m pretty sure I’ve already pissed him off enough for one day,” I say with a sweet smile.

I’m lying, of course. I’m pretty sure that the favorite part of my new job from here on out will be finding any way I can to drive my new boss to the brink of insanity.

I may or may not have gotten this job because of Tatum and my—albeit loose—connection to the Callahan family, but something tells me that’s also going to make it harder for him to fire me.

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