Page 53 of The Physical Attraction Seminar
I tilt her head up, and she’s got a glowing smile on her face. “We’re really doing this?”
“Together,” she replies with a soft kiss.
TWENTY-ONE
LYLA
When we returnto the city the next morning, I have Barrett and Lionel drop me off at my apartment. I need a shower, a couple of hours alone, and a bottle of cheap wine all to myself.
When morning comes, I am up early and on my way to the office. Stepping through the turnstile into the lobby, my hand tightly clutches a folder, and my determination guides my every step.
The lobby is mostly empty, with only the soft click-clack of my heels echoing through the space. When I get to the elevators, one dings and slides open immediately, revealing a mirrored interior. This time, as I stepped into the elevator, I felt the cool metal beneath my fingertips as I pressed the button for the twenty-eighth floor.
“Knock. Knock,” I whisper a few minutes later, my fingers gently tapping on the doorframe. “Are you free?”
“Of course, come on in.” Aspen’s voice is filled withwarmth and hospitality as she motions for me to come in and have a seat in her picturesque corner office. “Is something wrong? What are you doing here on a Sunday?”
I don’t know much about Aspen, but I’ve heard in passing that she’s a nocturnal workaholic who thrives in the solitude of late nights and weekends. It’s half the reason she’s looking to hire a new office manager. In order to maintain her productivity during the night, she needs assistance with day time responsibilities, allowing her more time to mingle and get some much-needed sleep.
Although her company is still small, it’s rapidly expanding, and she’s struggling to manage the increasing workload. Even though she owns the company, she is still shouldering an overwhelming amount of work. Now I just need her to realize that I’m the best person to alleviate some of the stress that’s weighing her down.
“I know that our friendship is still in its early stages, and I hope I’m not crossing a line here, but can I ask you a blunt question?” I ask after getting settled into my chair.
“You can ask me anything.”
“Have you hired anyone for that office manager position yet?”
“The final candidates just interviewed yesterday morning. I was planning on sending out a job offer on Monday.” Her lips gradually curve into a smile. “Why?”
I take a deep breath, exhale slowly, and adjust my posture while I gather my confidence. “This is my resume and a few client testimonials mentioningmy name from when I worked at Solus. If you meant what you said last week, I’d like to interview for the job.”
Taking the folder with a smile, she leans back in her chair, the soft creaking sound filling the room as she opens it to the first page. “Any chance you’d be ready to interview now?”
TWENTY-TWO
BARRETT
“I found a flaw in the policy.”Harrison walks into my office and slaps down a stack of papers onto the center of my desk. “We’ll have to run it by Reid before you challenge the board, and even then, it’s still a risk, but it’s worth a shot.”
“Is there any particular reason you’ve been looking into this?” I narrow my eyes at him, trying to discern his intentions.
I never thought to seek my brother's help in researching the policy, even though he's likely the most knowledgeable person I know on the subject. Harrison is a well-known rule breaker, and he understands that in order to excel at bending the rules, he must first have a solid grasp of them.
Even if I did think of it myself, he's already consumed with starting his new role, and I would’ve been skeptical he’d follow through. Especially for a task that was solely intended to benefit me.
“It’s not for me.” He shakes his head. The usual mischievous twinkle in his eyes is replaced with a glare of annoyance. “You know my intern, Willard?”
“You mean Wallace?”
“Isn’t that what I just said?” Harrison asks, his brows furrowed in deep concentration. “Doesn’t matter. He has a crush on another one of the interns—Josephine, who wears the glasses—but he can’t ask her out because of the non-fraternization policy.”
This only adds more evidence to my theory that there is an undercurrent of romantic entanglements within this office. If Harrison is correct about discovering a flaw, then we can confidently approach the board and try to contest the policy. Lyla and I may not have a need for it anymore, but as the chief executive officer, I feel compelled to do this for the betterment of my employees.
“I never thought I’d see the day where premier playboy Harrison Banks is trying to play matchmaker.”
“Retired premier playboy,” he corrects. “Didn’t Dad tell you? He told me I have to refrain from dating to ensure my name stays clear of tabloids for a full year, or he’s taking away my inheritance.”
My mouth drops open, but I quickly snap it shut.
