Two Weeks In

TINA

I sat waiting for a chance to present the progress I’d made with the company since I’d been hired.

The CEO paced around the room, speaking about some initiative that had nothing to do with my work.

At least he wasn’t currently being a dick. Two weeks had passed since I was hired, and for the most part, it was a smooth ride. That was when Alejandro wasn’t being a total ass. He was so strict and got offended by the smallest of things.

This sweet young guy once collided into Alejandro in the kitchen and spilled coffee over his expensive suit. The poor fellow was fired on the spot.

So I mostly stayed out of the dragon’s way.

But this time I had no choice. Today was a board meeting, and everyone was there, including myself.

“We managed to grow our usual sales by 40 percent,” Alejandro continued, pointing to a PowerPoint graph on the large screen.

“More people are now purchasing meters for their houses to generate power. It’s now safe to say that our vision for this company is heading in the right direction.”

I felt myself get hot. This was my work he was presenting. I thought I’d get a chance to stand up and talk about it. My degree in public administration wasn’t for nothing, and my marketing skills in convincing potential clients were further proof.

I waited for our arrogant CEO to acknowledge me.

“Thanks to everyone’s joint effort,” Alejandro said.

I composed myself and glared at him as everyone clapped. I was angry, and I wanted him to know it.

He met my eyes, and a smug look crossed his face. This sucker deliberately refused to give me the credit. Son of a bitch.

“Could this meeting end already?” I heard a groan beside me, and I glanced to the side.

My colleague, Kelly, had her palm against her cheek and was giving Alejandro the most neutral and polite look she could muster. She knew what I was thinking and that he was taking credit for my work. And she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of looking impressed.

Kelly was like the sister I never had. She was a curvy, attractive redhead with blue eyes and was quite the talker. And her personality was the same as that which was common with redheads—fiery and feisty. She could curse freely and talk trash too. I had fallen in love with her the moment we met. She was my perfect other half.

“Now to important matters,” I heard Alejandro clear his throat.

“There will be a charity event this weekend,” he said. “Gonzalez Industries has been invited to partake in a donation at the town hall in order to promote awareness and give more exposure.”

I rolled my eyes. I was definitely not attending. I have better ways to spend my weekend, and it involves one hundred percent not going out.

“And everyone must attend,” Alejandro added.

Fuck.

I saw Alejandro stare at me as he made that statement. It was as if he’d read my mind.

“Do we have to?” I whispered to Kelly.

“Sadly, yes,” she whispered. “I don’t enjoy those boring things where snob assholes display themselves with plastic bitches with fake stupid accents. But it’s mandatory.”

“The meeting is dismissed,” Alejandro said.

“Hallelujah,” I breathed in relief. So glad that was all over. I rose from my plush seat and got my ass out of the room.

“So, you’ll be at the event with me, right?” Kelly asked as we walked down the hallway.

“Hell to the fucking no,” I replied.

She stared at me like I had two heads. “Stop kidding.”

“Who says I am?”

“You know you can’t defy his orders, asshole or not,” Kelly said. “If you don’t come for the event, you might as well kiss your job goodbye. And it won’t be a good look for you, considering you just got it.”

I groaned.

“It’s okay, love.” Kelly smiled, slinging her arm around my shoulder. “It may not be that bad. If it comes to the worst, we can always bail once we’ve put in an appearance.”

I could only hope so.

***

I alighted from the taxi and walked toward my apartment. The rest of the workday had been a total bust. The actual work I did didn’t suck, as I had feared it would. But I dreaded this stupid event. For fuck’s sake, I wasn’t going to fit in there.

I raised a brow on seeing a car parked near the entrance. It was a Lexus and the latest model. Did someone move in?

I narrowed my eyes as I stepped in and met Mrs. Kirby by the door. There was an unusually nervous look on her face.

“Can I help you?” I frowned.

“There’s a gentleman by your door,” she said, her voice low. For weeks now, since our ‘interaction’ when I tore into her, she’d made the wise choice to stay out of my way. And now that my income had increased, it wasn’t as if she had any reason to bother me with her obnoxious face.

Today was different.

I tilted my head at her statement. What did she mean, there was a gentleman by my door? She didn’t say anything further.

So I didn’t say anything, either. I walked past her and made a turn for the hallway where my flat was. My heart lurched as I saw the familiar figure of none other than Alejandro staring at my door.

“The fuck?!” I yelled.

He spun around, clearly hearing me.

“Miss Campbell.” His expression was as implacable as ever, as if he had no shame in being caught lurking outside my home.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, stomping toward him. I stopped near him and flared my nostrils, trying my best to look intimidating.

Sadly, it didn’t have any effect. He just stared back at me with that flat, unreadable look that I hated.

“Familiarizing myself with my workers,” he replied.

Sure, that would make this situation less awkward.

“By stalking them and standing by their doorstep like a creep?” I nearly yelled.

“You have quite the mouth, Miss Campbell.” He folded his arms. “And I wasn’t stalking.”

Right.

“I wanted to make sure you’re attending the event,” he said.

“What if something comes up that day?” I frowned. “I might have plans.”

Sure. Plans like watching movies and stuffing my face with chocolate and doughnuts. But he didn’t need to know that.

He leaned toward me and looked deep into my eyes. His beautiful green eyes had a hypnotic glow within them that made me nearly melt on the spot.

“Cancel it,” he said.

“Have a good day.” He nodded and walked away. I glowered at his straight and perfect shoulders as he moved. I clenched my fists.

Son of a bitch.

I’d have to go to this event, if only because I wanted to look in his eyes again like that.