Gone - Part One Read Online Free

more personal than it should be at breakneck speed. I should correct her. I need to tell her that I barely know Parker and virtually every interaction I ever had with him was from the comfort of my bedroom, while I typed out messages to him on my laptop. I don't know anything about Parker other than the fact that he probably has a collection or Polaroid pictures of naked women he's never met and that his dick curves a little too much to the left for my taste.
    I lick my lips before I open my mouth knowing that I need to say something. I have to stop this before she assumes that Parker and I are hot and heavy. Who am I kidding? I can tell from the overly wide grin on her face that she's already jumped head first into that theory. "I'd like to talk…"
    Her finger jolts up into the air in a gesture that mimics the woman at the front reception desk. It has to be part of the employee training. Her thumb scrolls across her smartphone's screen before she brings it to her ear. "Hi, it's Rowan. I need you to put together an employment package for me." She pauses as her fingers tap the edge of desk. "Do it as an entry level two. Lilly Randall is the name."
    I sit silently as I listen to her spell out my name letter-by-letter. This can't be real. I didn't just land a position at the company of my dreams because I sent a random guy a picture of my tits. It may not be my first choice for getting my foot in the door, but I'm in and once I prove I have what it takes to Rowan and Clive, everything in that envelope will cease to matter. It has to. The alternative will mean I'll be making mocha lattes until I retire.
     

Chapter 4
     
    "Everything is signed." She runs her hand over the edge of the papers. "You can start whenever you want."
    Today wouldn't be soon enough. After a woman had knocked on the door fifteen minutes ago with my employment contracts in her hand, I'd fallen into a pit of pure joy. The small details about where I'll live and how much notice I need to give my boss at Star Bistro seem inconsequential right now. Rowan had offered me a temporary position filling in for an employee who was set to start her maternity leave in a few days. I read the fine print and I know logically that the position will only last for three months. I also know that I'm going to make the most of every single hour I'm here. I'll impress them to the point that they won't have a choice but to offer me something permanent. I won't waste this opportunity. I can't.
    "I know you have to make some arrangements back in Boston, Lilly." She tucks the papers I just signed into a file folder. "Why don't you give me a call tomorrow and let me know if next Monday works for you."
    "Next Monday will be perfect," I shoot back gleefully. "I can't thank you enough for this opportunity."
    "You'll fit in well here." She takes a step back signaling for me to stand. "I'm excited to share the news with Clive."
    I'm on my feet before his name leaves her lips. In my giddy state I'd forgotten the not-so-small detail of Clive Parker and the fact that he owns the company. My only hope is that he won't put the pieces of the puzzle together and realize that the Lilly that was hired to work on the fifth floor in strategic development is the same Lilly who wrote the detailed manifesto about the best way to suck a man off. By the time he connects those unfortunate dots, I'll have secured my place as a valuable member of the Corteck team.
    I volley back and forth on my heels trying to lasso all the nervous energy I feel pumping through me. "I can't thank you enough for giving me this opportunity, Ms. Bell. I promise I'll work as hard as I can."
              She races her hand along the sleeve of my blouse, stopping to rest her fingers against my shoulder. "My name is Rowan. You'll call me Rowan and I know you'll do good things here."
    I have to. Before the papers arrived, she confessed that she'd have to work some human resources magic to push the person who was