Chapter 16: Chapter 16

FRANCESCA

“Francesca, I’m Bridget Daniels, Mr. De Luca’s personal assistant. Marketing is on the twentieth floor. Follow me,” Bridget greets me as soon as I step into the building.

“Bridget, you didn’t need to come down.”

“Mr. De Luca insisted.”

“Of course he did.”

I roll my eyes, thinking about my stuff packed up in a moving truck.

Bridget and I navigate through QB Enterprises, making small talk. We chat about college, and I learn that Bridget is engaged and getting married in three months.

“—but why do we need someone new?” A voice rings out as we step off the elevator.

“Zoe.”

“I mean it, Myles! Was the job even posted? I didn’t know we were hiring a writer. Then, out of nowhere, we get an email about a new hire. What gives?”

“Warm welcome,” I mutter under my breath. Bridget gives me a sympathetic smile.

We continue walking until we reach a cluster of cubicles.

“Welcome to marketing. QB likes a creative environment, so no one here has their own office. They usually—”

“We switch desks depending on the day.” A male voice cuts Bridget off. “I’m Myles Matthews, and you must be Francesca Barton.”

“Frankie, actually. Nice to meet you.”

“You too.” He grins as we shake hands. He’s tall, confident, and cute in a hipster kind of way.

“Zoe Freeman.” A chilly voice comes from behind me. I turn to see a stunning African American woman glaring at me.

“Miss Freeman is the marketing director at QB Enterprises,” Bridget explains.

“Nice to meet you,” I say softly, extending my hand. Zoe just stares at it.

“What’s your background?”

“I’m sorry?”

“Your background. What experience do you have? What makes you valuable to ~my~ department?”

“Well…I went to NYU. Studied literature and journalism, and I—”

“Mr. De Luca hired Miss Barton himself. It’s not your place to question his decisions,” Bridget interrupts, her tone stern. I’m surprised when Zoe just nods and walks back to her cubicle.

“I should get going. Call if you need anything. And remember my advice.”

“Thanks, Bridget.”

I watch her head back to the elevator. Then, a hand lands on my shoulder.

“Don’t worry about Zoe. She’s a softy once you get to know her,” Myles says, grinning. “Come on, I’ll show you where you can set up.”

“How long have you been here?”

“Almost four years. I was hired by the big boss, not De Luca.”

“Leo?” I ask, and he stops to look at me.

“You’re on a first-name basis with Mr. Chambers?”

“First names!” I laugh. “I’ve seen the guy naked! I’m the one who calls him QB.”

Myles looks at me, his face a mix of shock and confusion.

“Leo and I have been friends since kindergarten. I met Christian at his wedding.”

“Wow! You’re on a first-name basis with all the bosses. Is that how you got the job?”

“Christian wants me to work on the writing side of marketing. I think I’ll mostly be writing press releases. You guys will still do your jobs.”

“Wow,” Zoe scoffs, “how lucky we are to have an extra staff member who is virtually useless.”

By lunchtime, Zoe is still glaring at me. I haven’t heard from Christian, but James called to say my stuff is officially out of his apartment.

“Want to grab lunch?” Myles asks, peeking over my cubicle. “You can tell me more about the great Leo Chambers. I need some embarrassing stories for the tell-all.”

“Sure. Can we eat in the café downstairs?”

“Definitely. They have the best coffee around.”

Myles and I chat easily. I tell him about Leo in high school, and he shares some funny college stories.

He’s a nice guy. I don’t understand why Christian would have a problem with him. He seems like a good worker, and he’s friendly.

“So, what’s the real reason you’re here at QB?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve never seen Bridget Daniels leave her desk just to introduce a new hire.”

“Oh.”

“Are you sleeping with the boss?”

I choke on my BLT, and Myles laughs.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

“It’s not like that. Christian is…” I trail off, unsure how to finish.

“Go on, Francesca.” I straighten up at the sound of Christian’s voice. “I’d love to hear the rest.”

I can’t believe how easily my body reacts to him. I mentally scold myself for the tingling sensation I get just from his presence.

“Good afternoon, Mr. De Luca,” Myles says, smiling. But Christian ignores him, his eyes locked on me.

“My office. Five minutes,” Christian says gruffly. He starts to walk away, but I stop him.

“My lunch break ends in ten.”

I watch Christian’s hands clench as he turns back to me.

“Five minutes.”

“I’ll be in your office at the end of my lunch break, Mr. De Luca,” I say confidently. Christian’s brow furrows slightly.

“Fine.”

Christian shoots a glare at Myles, who is barely holding back laughter, before he walks toward his private elevator.

Myles and I watch him step into the elevator, and as soon as the doors close, Myles lets out a hearty laugh.

“You two are definitely going to end up in bed together!”

***

Fifteen minutes later, I find myself stepping out of the elevator and onto Christian’s floor. Any longer, and I know he would drag me up here by my hair, but this is just enough time to let him know I’m mad.

“Hi, Bridget.” I flash a smile at Christian’s personal assistant, and she smirks back, fully aware that I took her advice.

“Go right in, Miss Barton. Mr. De Luca is expecting you.”

I walk past her desk and toward the two imposing hardwood double doors.

The large brass handles glare at me, and I can’t help but notice how out of place the doors seem in such a contemporary building.

I knock before entering, unsure of the protocol; after all, he is the CEO and my boss.

After a gruff “Come in,” I gently push the door open and see Christian sitting in a big black leather chair behind a large hardwood desk.

His hands are clasped in front of him, and his lips curl up slightly when he sees me before he quickly masks his expression with a stern line.

“You’re late.”

“Myles showed me the way, and I had to let Zoe know where I was going.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s the marketing director.”

“You don’t report to her. If anything, she should be reporting to you.”

“Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t do what you’re thinking. Stop stirring up trouble.”

“How am I stirring up trouble, kitten?”

“I’m not experienced enough for this role, Christian. I haven’t done much writing work, let alone handle marketing.

“And then you move me out of my apartment on my first day in a new job I’m not qualified for, where the head of department—”

I’m so deep into my rambling that I don’t even notice Christian has moved to stand in front of me. He takes me by the shoulders and pulls me into his chest.

“I’m mad at you,” I mumble, my voice muffled by his Armani-clad torso.

“I know, kitten.” Christian chuckles softly. I feel him press a kiss against my hair. “Now, what’s this about the head of marketing?”

Christian pushes me back, holding me at arm’s length. I can feel his eyes scanning my face.

“Nothing.”

“That certainly didn’t sound like nothing. I’d like to hear about your morning and also why on earth you would have lunch with Myles Matthews.”

“Myles is nice,” I say softly, and Christian growls.

“No.”

“What’s your issue with him?”

“My issue is with any man who thinks he can have you.”

“God, you must have trouble looking in the mirror,” I tease, and Christian looks confused for a moment before understanding my meaning.

He steps around me, pinning me against his desk. He smirks as he lowers his lips to mine.

“I already have you, kitten,” he whispers against my lips, his voice deep.

“We need to talk about the apartment.”

Christian’s lips move against my neck, and I shiver as I feel his warm breath on my skin.

“And we will.” Christian sinks his teeth into my neck, and I moan. “Late—”

The office door swings open, interrupting Christian.

“Mr. De Luca, your next meet—oh my goodness! I’m so sorry!”

The door slams shut as a startled Bridget rushes back out to her desk.

“I think you scared her.” I laugh softly. Christian sighs, his gaze shifting to the expensive gold watch on his wrist.

“I have a meeting in ten minutes across town.”

“Oh! Well, I should get back to work anyway. We can talk later. Tonight, maybe?”

“No.”

“No? But you said—”

“Come with me.”

“Christian, it’s my first day. I have actual work. I can’t just—”

“I need you at the meeting with me.”

“For what possible reason?” I put my hands on my hips and roll my eyes, causing a smirk to tug at his lips.

“I’m meeting with a big oil company executive. His company is based in the Midwest, but he’s in New York visiting family.

“I’ve managed to snag a meeting on QB’s behalf to ensure responsible use of fossil fuels.

“I could use your expertise to write a press release about the meeting. I like to get my side out before the other media outlets have a chance to speculate.”

“Why not take Zoe?”

“Because while she’s good at her job, I have no interest in spending any time with Miss Freeman. You, on the other hand, I never want to leave alone.”

I find myself blushing and mentally scolding myself at the same time. I don’t understand how he does this to me.

“Come.” Christian doesn’t wait for a response as he pulls me out of the office.

I don’t quite catch what he says to a sheepish-looking Bridget, but before I know it, we are in his private elevator. It stops down at level twenty, and once again, I’m being pulled along by my wrist.

“Mr. De Luca, it is a—” Zoe appears as if from nowhere, but Christian is quick to cut her off.

“I believe you disagree with my new hires?”

Zoe’s eyes widen, and she looks from Christian to me. I’m fairly certain she can see the love bite bruise forming on my neck before her gaze settles on Christian’s hand wrapped around my wrist.

She squares her shoulders slightly before looking him directly in the eye.

“Well, did you hire Miss Barton based on her qualifications or her pretty face?”

Behind Zoe, I see Myles staring at her, shocked.

“Are you really questioning my decision, Miss Freeman? Miss Barton may have a lot to learn about marketing, but she is an incredibly talented writer.

“The fact that we are romantically involved has nothing to do with me hiring her. Have you bothered to look at her résumé or work samples that I forwarded to you?

“I thought I made it clear that I wanted you to guide her, not belittle her. Do you get a kick out of being the boss?”

Zoe stammers, “I…uh…” and Christian grins at her.

“Since you can’t seem to do the task I gave you and help Miss Barton learn, she’ll be getting her education on the job.

“Miss Barton will be joining my meetings and drafting all necessary press releases.”

“But she—”

“You could have avoided this, Miss Freeman, if you had just. Done. Your. Job!”

Zoe retreats to her cubicle as Christian’s voice echoes through the marketing department. He guides me back to the elevator, and I stand there, stunned, as the doors close.

“Close your mouth, kitten.” Christian chuckles.

“You were so harsh with her,” I murmur.

“Don’t you think she had it coming?”

“She might be a pain, but no one deserves that, Christian. You embarrassed her.”

“Then maybe she’ll think twice before questioning the CEO.”

I stay quiet as we step out of the elevator and head toward Toby, who’s holding the limo door open.

Christian lets me get in first, and I stop, realizing I left my bag and coat behind.

“I—”

“Frankie!” Myles comes running out of the building, my gray trench coat and purse in hand. “You forgot your stuff.”

Christian stiffens beside me, but I smile.

“Thanks! You’re a lifesaver, Myles.”

“No problem. See you tomorrow, work buddy.” Myles gives my shoulder a friendly bump, and Christian glares at him. I say goodbye to Myles and turn to see Christian still glaring.

“Really?” I roll my eyes, and Christian nudges me toward the limo.

“Maybe the marketing department wasn’t the best idea.”

“And moving my apartment without asking me? Do you think that was a good idea?”

“I just want you to be safe.”

“You own my old apartment building! Wasn’t that enough control for you?”

“I own your new one too.” There’s a twinkle of amusement in his eyes.

“Are you trying to be funny?” I glare at him, and I see him bite his lip to keep from smiling.

“Not at all, kitten.”

“Sir, we only have five minutes to get across town.”

“I trust you, Toby,” Christian tells Toby before raising the screen between the driver and the back of the limo.

“Are you always like this?”

“Like what, kitten.”

“Mean.”

I see a flicker of an unfamiliar emotion in Christian’s eyes before he hides it, his face impassive and his lips a tight line.

“I’m a CEO, Francesca. It’s my job. They’re my employees, not my friends.”