Ch. 1

NADIA

“Sweet baby Jesus!” I cried as I flipped the covers back and hopped out of bed. 

“Damit! I’m going to be late.”

I busted my way into the bathroom, turning on the shower before stripping naked and jumping in. The cold water slapped against my skin, shooting ice needles through every pore but I didn’t have time to care. I grabbed a rag and pumped some Dove on there and went to town. 

If I hurry, maybe I can still make it on time. I thought to myself.

I hopped out the shower and dried myself off in a flash. I shook out my curls and patted them dry with a clean towel. No time to blow dry, so a ponytail would have to do.

The sitcom that was my life—no, the drama—wait, dramedy—whatever this was, I had less than to get dressed, eat something (although I could probably skip that) and get into the car.

I nixed any outfits that required tights and went for jeans. Comfy yet professional enough for work, as well as a white tee and a black blazer. 

I yanked a detangling brush through my hair before lathering some argan oil through my hands and running it through my curls. And the finishing touch, a red velvet scrunchie to tie up my coils into a beautiful Pom-Pom. 

“Ready.” I gave myself a once over in the mirror and raced out the door. 

My ‘94 Mazda Protege was sitting in the yard, covered in a coat of pollen. I didn’t  want to show up to my first day like this but I couldn’t do anything about it now. Besides, I was sure my car wasn’t the only one covered in pollen, so no biggie, right?

Thirty minutes later I discovered just how much of a biggie it was. 

As I pulled into the parking garage of Hayward Enterprises, rows and rows of glittering, metallic, expensive vehicles glistened at me, all polished and pollen free. 

“Shit,” I cursed under my breath. I’d just find somewhere to park in the shadows, where no one would see me. 

I parked my beat-up-mobile in the darkest corner before slipping out and shutting the door as quietly as I could, for fear of someone hearing me. 

I scurried through the shiny cars to the elevator at the end of the parking garage. I pressed the 22 on the panel and watched as the sleek doors closed before I was softly whooshed upward. 

I double checked my reflection in the golden walls, checking for an out of place curl of it my jeans were buttoned or zipped up. Nothing seemed out of place but it was hard to tell with my reflection looking all warped. 

I prayed to anyone who could hear me that I didn't look a hot mess right now. 

Before I could finish my silent prayer, the elevator stopped and the doors opened. I took a deep breath and took a step forward and immediately felt something sharp beneath my feet. 

“What is this?” I peered down. Then I heard a crush and looked up. 

“Screw you!” An angry, tall, skinny woman with shoulder length blonde hair, and a skin tight black dress came barreling towards me. 

“Move.” She shoved past me, stomping into the elevator before shoving me out and giving a solid middle finger as the doors closed. 

“What the–”I wondered aloud. Maybe this was a sign I should hightail it out of here. Especially if other women were storming out of here. How long before I was just like this lady? 

“You!” someone shouted behind me and as i turned around, the most handsome man i had ever laid eyes on was headed this way. 

He was tall, with dark wavy hair slicked back with shoulders so broad, why I could practically use them as shelter from the rain. 

What? I laughed in my head. 

But I couldn’t stop staring. His expensive, italian suit fit nicely against his broad chest, bulging biceps, narrow hips and muscular legs. He was definitely jacked under all that Italian fabric. And those eyes, the deepest blue I had ever seen. I could get lost in them. I think I already was. 

“You’re hired,” his next words broke through my reverie. 

“Me? Hired for what?”

DERRICK

“Screw you!” 

My former assistant flipped me off, blazing through the lobby, grabbing anything her hands could reach and smashing everything to the ground. 

She had been throwing this little tantrum of hers for longer than I cared for but her father was good friends with my father and I was obliged to entertain her childish ways. 

That was until she threatened me. 

I could deal with many things, including a spoiled brat who got her way all the time, but tattling on me to one’s father, threatening my job and the work that my company does, I wouldn’t stand for it. 

So I fired her and personally saw to her departure. 

Suddenly the elevator chimed open as an African American woman stepped off into the lobby, looking dazed and confused. 

She was nothing like my assistant, who was making her dramatic exit. The woman from the elevator had sleek, jet black hair with the cutest curls splayed behind her. She was shorter than my assistant but she had full, voluptuous curves that my hands were itching to get a hold of. 

Whoa. Where did that come from? I thought to myself. 

But I was pulled from my lustful thoughts when Whitney slammed her shoulder into this woman. 

“Move,” I heard her mutter before getting on the elevator, finally gone. 

“What the–” the woman was left standing in shock. 

She looked like she was about to leave and so I panicked, saying the first thing that came to mind. 

“You!” 

Great start idiot. She probably thinks you’re an asshole. 

She turned her gaze upon me and seemed frozen in time. 

I made my way over to her quickly before she could leave. Once finally in front of her, she pointed to herself, as if to say, ‘You mean me?’

Oh yeah you. 

I smiled then recovered, setting a frown on my face. I had just fired my assistant but I didn't want her to think I was desperate. Had to play it cool. 

“You’re hired.” 

Real smooth. 

But I just turned on my heels and walked off. 

Me? Hired for what?” I heard her feet slap across the floor, following me. 

“For your next job,” I answered over my shoulder. If I kept her guessing, maybe she’d be intrigued to stay. 

“And that job would be?” 

She caught up to me yet was struggling to keep up, so I slowed my pace a little. 

“To be my assistant,” I simply replied. 

“And what about the interview? Don’t you want to ask me questions?” She peered up at me. 

I shifted my gaze out the corner of my eye and was met with the deepest, richest pair of brown eyes I had ever seen. They were mesmerizing. 

“Don’t need to.” I looked ahead. “I’m sure you’ll do much better than Whitney.” Just saying her name left a bad taste in my mouth. 

“I’m assuming that was her who made her grand exit?” 

“You would be correct in your assumptions, Ms–” 

“Oh, Nadia Bryant.” She stopped walking, holding her hand out to me. 

I followed suit but I hesitated to shake hands. 

She looked down at my hands then back up at my face. “What, I don’t bite.”

I knew the instant I touched her hand, I'd be a goner, so better for me to keep my distance than to put myself into a sticky situation. 

When I didn't reach for her hand, she slowly pulled it back and placed it inside her jeans pocket. 

“Nevermind,” she grumbled, turning away from me.

I heaved a sigh of relief but suddenly a wave of guilt washed over me but I quickly shook it away. 

“Shall we continue?” I asked. 

“With what?” she snapped. 

I guessed I deserved that but I brushed it off. 

“The tour,” I answered her. 

“Oh.” Her eyebrows rose up her forehead before settling back down into their original position. She gestured for me to continue. “Sorry I interrupted.” 

There was a bite to her tone but I ignored it. I had been rude to her, so it was only natural she would be rude back. 

However, I should nip this in the bud early. I couldn’t let this behavior continue, no matter how cute she looked doing it. I had a company to run and I was hiring her to do a job and I expected it to be done. 

“Ms. Bryant,” I addressed her. 

“Yes?” She cocked her head to the side slightly and I almost chuckled, but I had to fight the urge. I narrowed my eyes at her and she immediately straightened her posture. “I mean yes sir?” 

“I understand you’re coming into unusual circumstances, but I expect a level of professionalism at all times. Do I make myself clear?” 

“Yes sir,” she responded. 

“Good.” I nodded before walking off. Slowly but surely, I heard the soft steps of her flats following behind me. 

NADIA

I guessed I kind of deserved that. The tour was awkward from that moment forward, at least on my end. Mr. Holden, my stoic tour guide and boss, didn’t seem fazed by it. Why would he be? He was only the CEO of Holden Enterprises. 

How had someone so young and so handsome become the CEO of a multibillion dollar firm? 

Stop it Nadia! He ain’t that handsome. And he’s your boss. 

No matter, I got the job. Now I just had to keep it. 

He handed me the keys to his office (in case of emergencies), my office (duh, obviously) and the file closet. And no, I was not exaggerating. 

Whist touring the office, he walked me past a room filled wall to wall with file cabinets that he wanted me to have packed up by the end of the day. This space would soon become a new workspace area and the files would be moved to another location. 

Now, I was sitting on the floor in a room full of empty boxes and a whole lot of files to go through. 

“Jimmy from IT will come help you move the boxes,” Mr. Holden said. 

“Okay,” I squeaked out. Then I cleared my throat and said, “Sure thing Mr. Holden. I won’t let you down and sorry about–” 

“Good.” He curtly nodded and stalked off. 

Ooh that man. He’s fine but he can be so rude. 

I shook my head to clear him and began to work. I figured if I started on the furthest end and worked my way back to it, I could better see my progress. 

First I started with placing two empty boxes near each file cabinet. The cabinets weren’t that tall, nor were they that wide. I figured two boxes should be plenty. And upon closer inspection, the room wasn’t filled wall to wall with cabinets. In the back of the room, laid a bunch of old office chairs and a few folded tables, the kind that folded in half with a handle in the middle. 

“Maybe this wouldn’t take so long,” I uttered to myself. 

“Maybe you’re right,” A deep voice said behind me. 

“Oh dear God!” I jumped, throwing my hands in the air, ready to defend myself. 

“Whoa, whoa, take it easy,” the voice, who was actually a tall, lanky fellow with dirty blonde hair tied into a man bun, a gray sweater vest and light blue button down, khakis and black Vans. 

“I’m sorry.” I put my hands down, then held one out. “You must be Jimmy, here to help me. I’m Nadia.” 

“Pleasure.” He shook my hand.

I returned the hand shake before letting go, deciding we had a lot of work ahead of us and no time for formalities. 

“Listen, here’s the plan.” I clasped my hands together. 

“All business. I like it,” Jimmy said. 

His grin was a little cheesy but in a cute way. Any other day of the week, I would have wiped that grin right off his face, but I had just started this job and I couldn’t afford to make enemies. 

“And I like that you’re eager. I like that,” I teased back. “But seriously, we need to get to work.” 

No shame in having some fun but we could work and play at the same time. 

“Alright, alright, What’s the plan?” he asked. 

It was simple. We needed a dolly in here, then as we emptied each drawer, when a box became full, we’d put it on the dolly. Then once the dolly became full, we’d wheel the files to their new location.

“See, simple,” I stated. 

“Yeah, it’s genius. We’ll be done by lunch time,” he said. 

“Now let’s be reasonable. At best we’ll be done before the end of the day and leave a little bit early. Maybe. But we won’t find out if we keep standing around yapping.” I turned on my heels, heading over to the nearest file cabinet. 

“Okay. I got it, boss,” he joked. 

He could joke all he wanted but I was going to exceed Mr. Holden’s expectations. I did not want to let him down.