Tell Me Something (The "Something" Series Book 1) (3 page)

My head was spinning. “All right,
Josh
.” I put emphasis on his first name. “Why did you ask me if I like working for Warren?”

“Well that leads me to what I wanted to discuss with you.”

My palms started to sweat. Isn’t this where in the book he proposed an affair or arrangement whereby I went back to his hotel room to see what exactly was under that suit?

“I want you to work for me.”

In my mind that sentence ended with
as my personal sex slave,
but in reality I realized he was proposing a real job. “Uh, what?” was my eloquent response.

“I want you to come to New York and work as my second assistant. Nigel has been with me a number of years and is the best in the business, however he has a personal situation currently that precludes him from traveling with me and he needs to be out of the office from time to time to address it. I would need you in New York most of the time, but then also to travel with me. Matter of fact, we would leave for Cancun on Wednesday.”

I was stunned. “I would move to New York?”

“Yes. I think you will find the salary quite a bit higher.”

“But the cost of living is higher. I would need to find a place to live and I have two more months on my roommate agreement here.” I stopped, realizing I was rambling and this wasn’t a man who had the time to listen to it.

“I recognize this is catching you off guard. Ask me your questions while I drive you home. Then I’ll give you my cell phone number so that you can text me anything that you may forget to ask this evening. I’m leaving Sunday morning and would want you to come with me.”

“I um, wow, but you don’t even know if I’m a good assistant. Not to mention, I would leave Warren without any notice.”

“The fact that you are worried about leaving without notice tells me what kind of assistant you are, Haylee. I need someone who is loyal and who I can trust.”

“I have a million questions,” I murmured, giving directions to my apartment building.

“Well, let me break it down to make your decision easier. You want to save money for law school am I right?”

I could only nod.

“I will pay you a hundred thousand in salary plus housing which would allow you the ability to do that.”

Housing alone was a fortune in New York City. “I’ve only been to New York City once before. Where would I live?”

“In Manhattan, only a few blocks from the office. I need you close by in order to come into the office or to travel when I need to. You won’t have much time for a personal life, this position is very demanding.”

We had pulled up to the curb and I wasn’t sure how to respond to any of this.

“I’ll take care of the last two months’ rent to satisfy your agreement here and the apartment will be furnished. I will also pay to move out whatever belongings you have, or if you prefer, we can put things in storage.”

I already had my parents’ belongings in storage. I only had my clothes and some other odds and ends to worry about.

“Give me your phone,” he requested.

After pulling it out, I handed it over, and then watched him deftly put his number in my contacts.

“Text me or call me with any more questions, Haylee. I’m at the Four Seasons and will expect you either way Sunday morning for breakfast at nine o’clock.”

I was surprised that he wanted to meet Sunday morning no matter what the decision and had to test him. “What if I say no?”

His answer was thoughtful. “I will be disappointed, but you would continue your current position with Warren if that is what you choose. I’d like to think I’m giving you a choice. I’m not a man who usually has to resort to ultimatums.”

My mouth went dry at the double innuendo and I realized I needed to get my mind out of the gutter. I also needed some space away from this magnetic man if I was to make a clear professional decision. “All right, I will think about it. Here, I’ll take the trash, don’t want to ruin the new car smell.” I gathered up the fast food bags and closed my door.

“Thanks for dinner, Haylee, and I mean it. Text or call with any questions. I don’t care what time it is.” He had rolled down the window.

“Okay and you’re welcome,” I replied. Walking away from the car, I was aware that he was watching me walk inside the building.

My roommate’s name was Angela and I had found her on Craigslist for a six-month sublet. Her usual roommate was currently in Spain on a temporary work assignment. Angela was a CPA and worked for a prestigious accounting firm but at the moment was getting completely decked out to hit the town. I glanced at her short skirt and sparkly top, and found it hard to imagine her as a tax genius by day.

“Hey, lady, long day for you. Whoa, love the hair. Very sexy,” she pointed out, greeting me at the door. I put my purse down and followed her into the hall bathroom where she started putting on her makeup.

“Yeah, it was a crazy day for sure. Where you off to?”

“
We,
meaning the both of us
,
are going out. It has been a long, boring, number-crunching kind of week, and there is a hot new club that one of my clients put our name on.”

The last thing I wanted to do was hit the town. I had a ton to think about, but the thought of spending the night fretting and over-analyzing it all seemed depressing. Plus this could potentially be my last night out in LA with Angela.

“All right, you know what? I’m in. I need to change and do something with this.” I gestured toward my face and wished I had left my makeup on from the shoot.

“Please, you’re gorgeous. I’d kill for your curves, and the hair is seriously hot. Just put on some makeup and throw on something skimpy.” Leave it to Angela to make it simple.

Laughing, I hurried into my room. I slipped on a short mini and an off-the-shoulder club-worthy shirt. I doubted very much this ensemble would cut it in New York.

Then again, it didn’t sound like I was going to have a lot of time for a social life. In fact, the way Josh had presented it made me think about all of the time I’d be spending with him instead.

How did one travel all over the world with a hot boss and not completely make a fool of oneself?

And why me? No matter what else he had explained, why was he asking me when he could easily hire someone local? It sent a shiver though me as I secretly hoped he might have felt the same spark I had. But then what? He was the owner of the company.

Damn. What I needed was to drink and to dance and then come home and slug it tomorrow with a hangover. It wasn’t my most mature plan, but it was the plan of the moment.

I met Angela in the hall after doing up my eyes the way Trisha had and grabbing my ID and some cash.

Angela whistled. “Wow, the smoky eye looks amazing on you.”

I smiled and returned the compliment.

As we called a cab and headed out, I brought her up to speed with all the events of the day.

“Holy shit. You filled in for Katrina Tross? What did the pictures look like? Have you seen them?”

I realized I had no idea how they’d turned out. I thought it had gone well, but what the hell did I know? Supplying the subsequent details of Josh coming to the office and the job offer, I left out the fast food dinner as it seemed too bizarre to explain.

“Wait. You were offered a free move to New York, a furnished apartment, and the opportunity to travel the world for a year? Uh, yeah, tough decision, my friend. So what is the problem? Is the guy creepy, or what?”

“Well, that is one of the issues. He’s gorgeous, like seriously hot, like I get tongue-tied hot.”

Before I knew it, Angela was on her phone, flashing a picture of Josh Singer my way. “Is this him?” she questioned.

Nodding, I took her phone and sighed. “Oh yeah, that’s him.”

“Holy shit, he is smoking hot. What kind of offer is it?” She narrowed her eyes and I rolled mine.

“A professional one, Geesh.”

Angela laughed and took my hand as we got out of the cab in front of the club and then proceeded to the front of the line. “Sorry, honey. You know I didn’t mean any disrespect. Although if I’m being honest, a nonprofessional offer from a guy who looks like that could be interesting, too. He’s like tie-me-up-and-use-a-flogger-on-me hot.”

I shook my head, knowing Angela had an affinity for those types of books. But yeah, he was kind of tie-me-up hot. And I’d have to google what the hell a flogger was.

“So, do you want my opinion? DO IT,” she shouted as we entered the loud club.

I could only smile. Then we made our way into the vibrating center.

***

A few drinks later, I watched Angela meet up with one of her co-workers while I thought about the one question I couldn’t shake.

I was sure I would regret texting him later, but at one o’clock in the morning, four drinks in, it seemed like a great idea.
“Why me?”

Sipping on water, I was surprised at how quickly he texted back.

“Where are you?”

Smiling, I thought about Josh in a place like this. An image of Mr. Conservative bumping and grinding made me giggle.
“Out at a club.”

“How much have you had to drink?”

It was tempting to ask what he was wearing, but even in my drunken mindset I knew that was over the top.
“A few. You didn’t answer my question.”

Waiting for his text back, I felt my phone vibrate with an incoming call instead. Oh shit, it was Josh. The music was deafening, but I answered anyhow.

“Hello,” I shouted and could barely hear his response. “Hold on.”

I found Angela, who was happily lip-locked with her co-worker, and told her I was making my way home. She smiled and told me not to wait up. Good for Angela, I thought, and walked outside.

The cooler air hit me, and I realized I was still holding my phone with Josh on the other end. “Um, are you still there?” I asked, wondering if I remembered correctly that he had called.

“Yes, I’m here. Where are you, Haylee?” At least he didn’t sound annoyed.

“It’s a club called Fancy. Downtown. I’m about to catch a cab home.” My feet were killing me.

“Stay there. I’ll be by in a few minutes and take you home.”

Did I hear him correctly? “No, no, it’s late. I’m fine to take a cab.” It began to sink in who I was talking to, and I was starting to freak out a little bit.

“I will give you a ride home. Wait for me out front, I mean it.”

He didn’t leave room for me to argue and when he pulled up ten minutes later I had to fight my anxiety. Opening the passenger door, I slid in.

“Jesus, you call that a skirt?” That was the first thing out of his mouth.

I should be offended, but instead I started giggling. “It’s a club skirt, and mine is long compared to some.”

As if on cue, two women came out in skimpier attire. He only raised a brow and muttered something about being too old.

He was silent most of the way back, and I was surprised when he cut the engine after pulling into my apartment parking lot. “I’ll walk you up.” His voice was back to intimate.

When my face hit the night air, I started to realize what I must look like through his eyes. “I’m fine, really. Look, I’m sorry. I drank too much, and I had just thought to text you a question and then you called and now you’re walking me up and shit—” I missed a step, and he steadied me up against his body.

He had changed and was now in jeans and a soft black T-shirt. My hand found his chest, and I was able to feel the hardness of his muscles beneath the soft material. Jumping back, I realized what a silly girl I must appear to be to him. I unlocked the door, about to bid good night when he invited himself inside.

“Where is your roommate?”

“She was going home with someone from the club. I mean, she’s not slutty. It’s her coworker and they’ve been seeing each other. Crap, Haylee. Just. Stop. Talking.” I clamped a hand over my mouth, completely embarrassed.

“Why did you ask me that question?” He had crossed the room and was looking intently at me.

My lips went dry and I cursed mentally at the fact that most of the moisture from my mouth was going downward and pooling between my legs. Merely from his intensity. “I just— I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense, that’s all.” My eyes shifted down.

His fingers lifted my chin. “You make me want to get to know you. You make me want to trust you for some inexplicable reason. Does that answer your question?”

It really didn’t and instead led to many more. But the fact was that my brain was fuzzy, and I was exhausted, so I merely nodded, wondering and secretly hoping he would kiss me.

“So is that a yes, then?” His voice did this honey thing that made my stomach flip-flop. “Or are there any other concerns?”

“I uh, no. Are you sure you haven’t changed your mind?” I challenged.

Smiling, he gave me an entertained look. “No, but tell me, what is holding you back from taking this opportunity?”

Before I could filter my response through the tiny sober part of my brain, I responded, “That I’m way too attracted to you for you to be my boss.”

He stepped back, and my brain registered what had just come out.

“Oh shit, I didn’t mean to say that out loud.” I felt the tears of embarrassment well up.

He cupped my face and wiped them away before they made tracks. “Text me yes. Right now, so that in the morning you see that you have agreed.”

Since when was a text message a binding agreement? But my heart and fuzzy head weren’t computing so I nodded dumbly and fumbled with my phone.

“There, I just sent it,” I proclaimed.

He checked his phone and seemed pleased. “Get some sleep and get your things in order. Tomorrow I will email you the non-disclosure agreement that you’ll need to sign before working for me, and then I will see you Sunday morning. And, Haylee?” He was at my front door and looked back. “The feeling is quite mutual.” With that, he left.

It took me a full minute to realize what he was referring to, but once I did I was dumbfounded. Josh Singer was attracted to me. And I’d just agreed to move to New York to work for him.