“Is this necessary?” I get off the stool, relieved at being released, feeling like a full-size Barbie doll.
“Yes, I’m afraid so … Jake’s image is important; the Carrero name envisions luxury and wealth. If you’re to attend events with him you need to represent the same image, my dear.” She smiles at me with a note of sympathy. “Jake knows asking his staff to spend thousands of their hard-earned pay on an image is ridiculous, so just enjoy the perk.” She tries to appease my doubts as I try to calm my internal bristle and urge to refuse.
“I don’t like other people choosing what I wear.” I like to be in control of every detail of my life. It’s how I function. How I keep calm.
“Hush now. Donna is the one who helped me discover my inner goddess and made me look like this.” She twirls like a teenage girl. She’s wearing a fitted black suit today, molded, knee-length skirt and low buttoned jacket over a silky, silver camisole top, and perched on high black stilettos. Her blonde hair is a flawless French twist. She looks amazing.
“Really?” I am slightly appeased. She’s the picture of sophistication and control that I aspire to achieve; maybe Donna won’t be so bad after all.
“Oh yes. I was hopeless with my style when I started here. Fifteen years on and here I am.” She beams at me.
“Fifteen years?” the shock is obvious in my tone. That would mean she worked here before Jake was even old enough to help run an empire. He would have been thirteen!
“Yes, I used to be Carrero senior’s assistant.” She’s now clearing up the papers left askew by Donna on my desk.
“What’s he like?” I’ve always been intrigued by the older man and meeting him last year quelled none of the interest. He seemed to be a force to be reckoned with. Terrifying and cold.
“Like someone you never want to willingly meet.” The deep familiar smooth voice is so unexpected and close, I jump and spin around to see Jake striding in the door casually. The flutters in my stomach come back full force, reminding me I’m still standing in the middle of the room and I move to my desk and sit down. Instant nerves returning.
He’s wearing designer jeans in a soft, washed-out color, a white T-shirt with a graffiti print logo that is slightly too neat on that body, a modern leather jacket, and his trademark shades. He doesn’t look like a guy who’s coming to the office for the day. I’m not sure I’m impressed, despite how much it suits him, bad boy biker style. It’s not exactly professional.
“Mr. Carrero … I mean—Jake … Good morning.” Controlled Emma is back in play, despite the hair tickling my face and the breathlessness at his appearance and attire.
“You look really nice today, Emma.” He smiles, allowing his gaze to travel over me from head to foot with a look of appreciation even behind shades. It makes me uncomfortable yet still my face flushes with telltale heat.
Traitorous body!
“And you, Margo.” He turns his head toward her and it almost seems like an afterthought, but she smiles.
always?” she smirks
nestle in his hair. I try to ignore the slight flip low in my stomach, hate that I react to him this way and quash it, looking
he has in the mirror
she enquires, looking him up and down questioningly. “Even for you that’s rather casual for
for a very sad boy.” He grins back
Margo, Bambino.” His term makes me
this a hint of Casanova Carrero
down to my desk to hide the revulsion I know fleets across
need me to come with you?” she looks him over intrigued and completely un-phased by his pet
throwing me one of the heart aching “Yes, I know I’m sexy” smiles, but I don’t react. I’ve seen this
Liar.
whatever task you ask of me,”
Within reason!
smile is
meeting? I thought we scheduled it for next week?” They’re both standing at my desk, a little too closely for me to ignore, so I keep my eyes on the screen in front of me instead and try
it this morning … He’s free for a couple of days. Next week he’s flying
I’m not yet privy
away, and I can only follow without question. I slide up and match his purposeful stride, even in heels. He waits until Margo and I’ve followed him in and closes the door behind us; she goes straight to his laptop pulling it across the
… PA … to
as he looks at me with a smile. A
What now?
dear. You’ll be accompanying Jake today, but you need to look like a date rather than an assistant.” Margo crosses to the printer to
lungs moving in and out. Suddenly compressed with weight and unable to breathe
Again … What?
don’t even know how to respond