the wall beside the door, and a glass and gold coffee table sat in front of it. On the far side of the room, in front of a desk, sat two brown leather chairs that matched the sofa.
The desk was massive and made of a rich, dark wood. However, no matter how impressive the room was, nothing in it held a candle to the man sitting behind the desk. He was the most beautiful man I’d ever laid eyes on and quite a bit younger than I was expecting. Thick waves of blonde hair just brushed the tops of his broad shoulders. I instantly wanted to run my fingers through it.
A chiseled jaw and classic cheekbones complimented his handsome face and gave him a bit of a rugged look. He appeared to be immersed in a pile of papers lying in front of him on his desk. I hesitantly approached.
Without looking up he ordered, “Sit. I will be with you in a minute.”
The tone of his voice sent a startling shiver through me. This was a man who was used to people following his orders. The authoritative tone brooked no disobedience.
I perched on the edge of the chair on the right and tugged at the hem of my dress. The shortness of it bothered me. It didn’t seem appropriate for an interview, but Ms. Henderson had insisted.
I twisted the strap of my purse in my hands as I waited. When he finally looked up, and my eyes met the piercing blue of his, my breath caught in my throat. The intensity in them intimidated me.
“You’re late, Ms. Darling.”
“I know. I’m so sorry.” My voice cracked. “My car wouldn’t start, and I had to borrow my roommate’s.”
He gestured with his hand as if brushing my reasoning away.
“I’m a busy man, Ms. Darling. I expect promptness.”
“Yes, sir. I understand that. I can promise it won’t happen again.”
He remained quiet for a moment, and his eyes wandered down my body. I had a sudden irrational feeling that he was undressing me with his eyes. Surely I was imagining things?
“Ms. Henderson tells me you’ve recently lost your parents.”
“Yes, they were killed in a car accident just after the first of the year.”
“Thus you have no way to pay for the rest of your education.”
“That’s true.”
He tapped the pen he’d been holding against the smooth surface of the desk.
“Stand up.”
His command took me by surprise.
“I’m sorry?”
Sighing heavily, he ran a hand through his thick hair.
“Ms. Darling, I don’t have the patience for you to question my every request. If you can’t follow a simple instruction, you are wasting my time.”
With my heart hammering in my chest, I stood. Once again, his eyes wandered over my body. I felt a strange tingling between my legs. Why did the way he looked at me affect me so?
“Turn around and walk to the door and then walk back to where you stand.”
I hesitated for a split second, confusion filling me. What did walking have to do with being an assistant? Placing my purse down in the chair, I did as instructed. Even though I couldn’t see him, I could feel his eyes heavy on me as I walked toward the door.
When I turned to walk back toward him, I shivered when I realized he was watching the way my breasts bounced when I moved. When his eyes met mine again, I could’ve sworn I saw a moment of hunger before they returned to ice. It couldn’t have been true. There was no way a man like Mr. Weatherton would see anything interesting in a curvy girl like me.
“You may sit.”
Picking up my purse, I once again perched on the edge of the chair. I couldn’t hold the weight of his heavy gaze, and I let my eyes fall to my lap.
“Working for me will not be easy. I’m a hard taskmaster, and I will expect you to do exactly what I say. Your main duties will include keeping up with my schedule, screening my calls while I’m working at home, typing whatever I need, and taking care of other needs as they arise. Basically, you will be at my beck and call.
“On school days, I will expect you to be here at 5pm sharp unless you have a night