Page 33 of Resisting Fate
Chapter Seven
Missy emerged from the mall locker room in her wool coat, sweater, and jeans, elf costume in hand, still pissed not only to be fired but that her boss actually called for security. What woman in their right mind would be caught dead wearing this elf getup anywhere but here?
She stepped through the employees-only door out to the mall, where the security guard regarded her with a stern expression. She handed over the costume without a word. The guy marched off importantly.
She turned and spotted Ben leaning on the wall near the exit. He lifted a hand, apparently waiting for her. She waved back. Now that she wasn’t humiliatingly dressed as an elf, giving him way too much ammunition, she took a moment to appreciate the big and bad vibe he had going on. His short-cropped hair, the sharp lines of his cheekbones and jaw, his large muscular body framed perfectly in his black leather jacket and faded jeans—all of it combined made him look tough and sexy. She liked the contrast in his looks with his thoughtful considerate manner. She’d never met another man like him.
Sure, he didn’t hesitate to tease her, but he could be serious when the occasion called for it. Like when she’d freaked when he’d restrained her wrists in bed. Her ex, Louis, would do that, manacle her wrists in one hand above her head and slap her. He never left a bruise, just let her know when he was mad for any tiny infraction, imagined or otherwise. He’d be so sorry afterward, lavishing her with gifts and attention for weeks, promising it’d never happen again. She’d married him at eighteen, scared and alone, and he’d promised to take care of her. Their first year of marriage had been good and then two years of abuse. It had happened so gradually, a slap here and there, grabbing her by the hair, the yelling. She’d finally faced facts and told him she wanted a divorce. He’d nearly strangled her, saying he’d kill her before he let her go. She’d been lucky to escape, managing to reach the bedside lamp and knock him out.
Her boss, Amy, had helped Missy get out of California and settled with a new job in a new city, Seattle. Amy was also the one that helped Missy get a lawyer and file for divorce. Missy sent money back to Amy whenever she could to pay back the lawyer’s fees. Life went on, Missy a lot smarter about men. Love wasn’t worth the risk. No man would ever have that power over her again.
She headed toward Ben. He straightened out of his slouch and met her halfway, stopping in front of her.
“That’s the first time I’ve been fired in my life.” She threw up her hands. “From an elf job!”
He spoke in a deadly serious tone. “You need a job; I have a job. Come work for me and Logan. We could use an admin. Ours is out until after the New Year. Her daughter just had her first baby and she went up to Vermont to be with her.”
“Work for you?” she echoed, shocked at the offer. Ben in a position of authority over her? Ben tempting her at the office? Ben, Ben, Ben, every day for the next three weeks and change? That sounded like trouble. He’d want to be on top in more ways than one. “Ben, I do appreciate—”
He cut her off. “I know you’re trying to do something really special for this family, and I get that you want to earn your own way. If you want to pick up some admin work for Checkin, the job is yours. It’s just me and Logan at the office, quiet for the most part. We’re not the hovering kind of bosses. And Sabrina works in the same building, so you could meet up with her for lunch or whatever.”
Her firm resolve to turn him down wavered. That did sound nice. Sabrina was a good friend of hers, living in the apartment down the hall, one of her first friends when she’d moved to Clover Park. And Ben wouldn’t really be her boss, she reasoned. She’d just be helping him and Logan out for a few weeks. Logan, the youngest son in the Campbell clan, was a sweetheart, easygoing and mellow. He’d be no trouble at all. Plus it would be so much easier to be back at a desk than dealing with seasonal work at the mall. Her next (only) idea had been to work at a retail store that needed extra help, probably also at the crowded mall.
She decided it could work if they were both professionals. “I’ve been an admin for eleven years, executive assistant for six of them, and I’m comfortable with most office applications, including spreadsheets and databases. I work in construction now, but I used to work at a tech company in Seattle.”
“That’s perfect because we are a tech company. Logan is the tech guy, actually. I’m more the numbers guy.”
She nodded. “I work mornings at Marino and Capello Construction through the end of the year. Things are slow for them this time of year. Would afternoons work for you?”
He looked at a point over her shoulder. “Sure. This would only be through Christmas Eve. We’re shutting down for the holidays.”
His tone was so flat, so distant, she got worried. “Are you sure you want me to take this job?”
He finally met her eyes, his expression downright gloomy. “Yes, I’m sure.”
“Because you need my skills?” she asked, feeling him out. She wasn’t used to this somber version of Ben. Something felt off.
He exhaled sharply. “Because you need a job.”
She stared at him. “That’s it?”
His lips pressed flatly together before he spoke in a nearly robotic voice. “And I need an admin.”
She crossed her arms. “As long as we keep it strictly professional.”
“Of course,” he snapped. “Did you doubt I would be anything but professional?”
She uncrossed her arms, taken aback by his hostile tone. “I didn’t mean to imply…I’m sorry. Really. I guess I thought because of before—” She stopped herself, deciding it was better not to mention their hookup in light of their new professional relationship. “Thank you and I accept your offer.”
“Spit oath.” He pretended to spit in his hand, a hint of amusement back in his eyes. “Total professionals.”
She relaxed, so relieved he was back to his usual self. She pretend spit and shook his hand.
“Eww.” He dropped her hand. “Slimy. You weren’t really supposed to spit.”
She laughed, a huge weight lifting off her shoulders. She’d come through for the Harpers. And Ben would be fun to be around. As long as they kept a little distance between them at the office, neither one of them would be tempted. And Logan would be there too, so it wasn’t like Ben would be stealing kisses in front of his business partner. This would be good.
She headed toward the exit, already planning ahead to the errands she’d run with her suddenly free afternoon, grocery shopping at the top of the list.
