“He’s not the type to do that sort of thing here, is he?” I whispered as she laughed and shook her head.
“Not that I’ve heard, but he is busy outside the office.” She paused as she glanced to her left. “I’m this way, but would you like to have lunch today?”
“Yeah. That would be great.” Lauren waved and walked down her hall while I continued forward. I’d been given a thorough tour the day I came in to fill out paperwork, and I glanced at the clock to see that I was ten minutes early.
I walked up to the large black desk that was going to be mine and moved around to the back of it, looking over the floor. I could see most of it, and I was relieved that there was a window to my direct left, so I could at least see the outside world. I set my coffee on one of the coasters and opened the large drawer on the left to set my purse inside it.
On the desk, there was an impressive computer and keyboard, as well as a phone that looked like it might take a bit of time to figure out. “Miss Neil,” a voice said as I glanced up and smiled nervously. It was Landon, looking handsome in a fitted black suit with a white shirt and a black tie that was draped around his neck. “Good morning.”
“Good morning,” I greeted, taking in the casual state of his clothing as he looked at my desk. “Thank you again for hiring me, Mr. Logan.”
“Call me Landon. We’re going to be working together a lot, and I like a casual work environment. We can save the formality for clients.” He looked into my eyes and smiled, making my body react in a way Brian never did.
“I’m Lily, in that case.” He seemed to consider that before nodding, inviting me into his office to go over a few things. I closed the drawer that held my purse and looked around for a moment, uncertain whether I should leave it there. My bank account was small, but I needed everything in it.
“There is a key in that drawer right in the middle to lock that. I trust everyone in this office, but it is such a hassle to cancel all of the cards and go to the DMV,” Landon told me, and I reached for the small drawer that was right under the center of the desk.
“Wonderful,” I said as I found the small gold key and secured my things. I followed him into his office, taken off guard by the wall of windows that offered a beautiful view of the city. “Oh, my stars.”
“It gives me a lot of peace in my days,” he said as he followed my gaze. Beyond just the view, the office was huge, and it even had a black leather couch and a coffee table against the wall opposite the desk. “My first job here was in this tiny space with just one window. I am grateful every day for what I’ve accomplished. I am glad that I get to sit here every day.”
“You’re partner. That’s amazing,” I told him as he smiled, but what appeared to be bitterness crossed his face.
“It is the ultimate goal, isn’t it?” His eyes lifted to look back at my face as I smiled weakly and nodded. “Have a seat. I have some items for you.” Landon gestured to the seat across from him as he took a seat in the large chair at his desk. “You were hired as my assistant, as you know. I have provided you with a top-of-the-line computer, but you also get this tablet with a keyboard if you prefer that as well as a cell phone. I would prefer to be able to reach you at any time for business, though I try to avoid calls at three in the morning if I can.” He smiled, and I giggled as I felt heat wash over my skin.
“That’s a good thing.” I reached for the tablet first, an incredibly thin device that was already on, and I felt him lean forward. Landon explained the basics, telling me that this would be used for notes and meetings as opposed to a bigger laptop. Of course, he offered me the choice since he had a laptop available at any time. He turned the phone on and told me he already had it connected to the tablet as well as any programs on my work computer that I would need while away from the office, but I was welcome to add anything I wanted to for personal use. I swore his eyes darkened when he said it couldn’t be used for anything illegal or sexual, making me blush. “Of course not.”
He went on to explain that they handled businesses and represented them in court should a client take an issue too far. Much of this was financial and involved unpaid contracts that the clients just weren’t dealing with, something the firm was known for. They always got the money, and often the client paid with just the threat of a court case with their attorneys. They also handled the selling of businesses with another company in the city, seeing to all the details.
There was an intensity about him that was thick in the air with every word he spoke. He was intelligent and confident in his position in life, making me sense he had an alpha personality as well. I wondered when he used that for a moment as he excused himself to make some coffee, asking me if I wanted some as well.
I still had mine on my desk, so I shook my head as he stood, leaving the office with the door open as I stared out the window.
Landon
I strode out of the room to the large break room, longing to add some liquor to the strong black blend I started most mornings with. I was already feeling the attraction to Lily after the hour or so I’d spent with her, and it had been making me lose my senses as I sat across from her. I stayed for a moment longer than necessary in the room, listening to conversations around me before I left and returned to Lily.
She was standing at the window when I walked back in, staring outside. I took in her ass in the fitted skirt and the legs I’d admired at the bar over the weekend before closing the door gently, making her turn around and flush pink as she hurried to her seat. “I’m sorry. It’s just so pretty.”
“No worries. I agree,” I assured her as I walked around to my side of the desk and looked at the column of her neck as she tossed her hair back, sighing softly. I sensed she wasn’t happy with her appearance, at least not completely. That was crazy to me, since she was one of the most beautiful women I’d ever seen. “So, you will be helping me research some of the clients, taking detailed notes on each case. It will keep you busy, but you will learn a lot and I expect that you’ll move up in the company.”
“Isn’t assistant to a partner impressive already?” She teased me as I smiled. Touché.
“It is, particularly since we are one of the best firms in the city.” I was proud of that fact. She would get a great reputation working, here but I was thinking about a lot more than the job as I shifted in my seat. Her eyes drew me in, her full, glossed lips looking utterly edible as she smiled and nodded. Fuck, I was going to be in trouble over this one.
I covered a few more things before I told her to look over everything at her desk and familiarize herself with the software. I watched her leave, waiting her to close the door before I dropped my head back and moaned. I needed to rein this in and keep it professional. I could fuck every girl on the street, just not this one.
I focused on reading some emails, and then I knotted my tie before I went to meet a possible new client for lunch to go over the company. I reminded myself to talk to Lily about that as I left and told her to take her own lunch whenever she was comfortable. I knew I would be gone for a bit since these things could run long. I’d endured several of them, catering to the client to some degree. I drew the line at places like strip clubs during the day, but depending on the personality of the client, I’d pushed the boundaries after hours. If they could keep their mouths shut, I was willing to show them a good time, and it often worked.
All the partners did that from time to time. Usually it was a fancy dinner or lunch and a few drinks as we talked numbers. Their main concern was what we could do for their company, and it was rare that I wanted to spend time outside work hours with a client, apart from some of the social events we hosted throughout the year. A large part of my job was social, but I liked that. I could handle it well and I had a high success rate with clients, probably the best among all of the partners. I did my job well.
Today the client and I met at a classy seafood place and ordered whiskey before the meal. The client, Jack, owned a successful graphic design business, and he was looking for protection with clients as he started doing better. I was aware of the company, having researched it on my own before the meeting, and I explained in detail about our fees and services.
We were there for over two hours, and I left with a new client in the books. I walked back toward the office with a grin and noticed Lily walking with Lauren, more than likely returning to work as well. That hadn’t taken long. Lauren was a nice girl, but she had hit on me heavily when she started working for the company five years ago, taking it so far that she got me into a dark office at one of the parties we had for the holidays. Her lips had been on mine before I pushed her away, explaining that I didn’t mix business with pleasure. Lauren was pretty, with pale blond hair and piercing blue eyes, but I knew she was dangerous, which made me wonder what she was telling Lily right now. Their laughter carried back to me as they headed for the door and walked inside, making me take a moment to pause.
By the time I returned to my office, I was on the phone with my divorce attorney as I walked past Lily at her desk. I knew my voice was a little angry, and I glanced at her concerned expression before closing the door. “Damn it, Mark. I can’t believe what she’s asking for. She didn’t lift a finger to build my career.”