Page 1 of Flawless Foundations

Chapter 1

Levi

Her hand brushes my arm as she sets the piping hot cup of coffee on the coaster in front of my keyboard. Heather shouldn't be on this side of my desk, and I mention the invasion every time she wanders over here.

"I thought you might need another cup, Mr. King." Her voice is sugary sweet, and I purse my lips and nod. I don't want to be a dick, but I don't know how many times I can ignore her advances before I either fire her or give in and bend her over this desk. She slinks back to her side and gently caresses the edge of the deep brown desk.

I attempt to ignore her further by skimming through the email pulled up on my screen. Seeing one from my buddy, Charlie, I click to open it. From the looks of the thumbnail, it's a link to some obnoxious YouTube video featuring a lip-syncing Yoda song. I don't know where he finds these videos, but he takes our mutual love forStar Warsto the next level. This is not the right email to read right now. I pull up one I've already replied to, but she’ll never know it’s not a new email.

"Is there anything else I can get you, Levi?" She tries getting personal, but my name on her lips makes me cringe.

"Ms. Powers, that is all. Thank you." I glance at the clock on the wall near the door. "Actually, it's past five, why don't you head home." She's young and attractive, I'm sure she has somewhere else to be on a Friday night in the city that never sleeps. If she were a friend, I'd inquire about her plans, because, let's face it, I have none of my own, but we are not friends. She's my assistant, and well, I don't make it a habit of befriending my direct reports.

"I'm here to assist you in any way that you need, Mr. King, so tell me what you need me to do," she purrs, her voice taking on a more seductive tone. Christ. It takes everything in me to not drop my head in frustration, instead I sit up straighter and shake my head.

"Ms. Powers, I'm good here, please, I insist, go home." Do I need to be more direct? I don't want to make a scene, especially here in my office. It's five o'clock on a Friday, many people have left for the day, but there are still enough here to warrant an unnecessary scene.

She pops her bottom lip out, but I redirect my focus back to my email. She doesn't move, but I continue to click around on my screen. My phone vibrates from my pocket, and I reach in, fuck yeah, saved by the bell. Lifting my phone, I give it a shake to let her know I have a call and nod to the door. I raise my eyebrows when she doesn't make a move to leave. She emits a tiny huff but finally turns and saunters out the door. She closes the door behind her just as I answer the FaceTime.

"I could kiss you right now," I sigh and lean back in my chair.

"Eww. Gross." My little sister makes a face. Her dark brown hair that matches my own is whipping around her face as she's walking. Because of the time, she's probably walking from the subway.

"You know, I could set you up with a car service. Bye-bye subway." She could hire her own damn car service, but she enjoys living life the hard way with no money.

"Pfft. Dad would get pissy. Plus, I like the subway," she answers, looking away from the screen to navigate through a group of people.

"Right. What's your favorite part exactly?"

She makes a show of thinking about her answer before she decides. "Well, it's a toss-up between the musty piss smell and the muggers- oh, and the homeless that slink around at night." I let out a laugh because it's actually why I don't like my little sister taking the subway. It's not safe, let alone for a woman who comes from money with a household last name. She might not use the family money, but she carries the King name around with her everywhere she goes.

"So, what did I interrupt just now?" She turns the conversation back on me.

Groaning, I run my hand down my jaw. "Heather." It's all I need to say.

"Ooh, working hard for that bonus, is she? You take her up on her offer, you sleaze?" She laughs, she knows me well enough to know I would never mess around with an employee.

"Shut it, Em. No, but I can't handle it anymore. I'm sending HR a message before I leave, asking them to find a new department for her."

She nods. "Yeah, probably for the best. Maybe you should ask for a male assistant this time. Unless you really do enjoy the eye candy."

She's laughing because she thinks she's funny. I shake my head and sigh.

"Moving on. What's up?" I try to move the conversation away from me and my unfortunate work-life drama.

"So, we've been summoned," is all she says, and I just look at her waiting for more. "Kitty has summoned us both, on behalf of our father who would like to have a word with both of us regarding the future." Her voice turning into a snooty impression of our step-mother.

"Yeah, she called today, but I didn't take the call. I haven't checked my messages yet. I find it interesting that they requested the black sheep's presence." She glares and I smirk.

"Which is why I'm calling you. What's this about? Do you know?"

I let out a long sigh and run my hand down my chin. "It's probably about him retiring."

"Yeah, and why do I need to be there?" she questions.

"My guess? He will ask you again to come work for King. Hell, he's so disappointed in me for calling off the wedding that he might offer you my job just to spite me."

"Ugh. So, I'm just going to be honest here, I don't want to go. Like, I will be kicking and screaming when it's time to go."

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