"Lori, I’ve been watching you work. You’re doing an excellent job. You never need any help to keep up with your own work, and you volunteer to help others in the department. You’re both efficient and a team player." He leaned back in his chair and rolled a pencil in his fingers. "How would you like to make more money?"
"You mean I’m getting a raise?" She tried to sound normal, even businesslike, but inside she was shouting with excitement. As a high-school dropout, she’d resigned herself to a life of unskilled labor. Now, she had proven her worth in an office job. Mama would have been so proud. She’d been so unhappy when Lori dropped out of school.
"You deserve a raise, and I’ll see that you get one, whether or not you accept the challenge I’m offering you." He dropped the pen on the desk and leaned forward. "I’m sure you’ve heard what a tough boss I am."
Lori looked down at her hands folded in her lap. What could she say that was both honest and tactful?
Derek Anderson, the terror of the sales department, suddenly smiled and Lori’s whole world lit up. She’d admired her handsome boss from afar. Now she sat in front of him, the center of his attention.
When she didn’t answer, Derek continued. "I’m glad you didn’t deny hearing the complaints. If you’d said you hadn’t heard anything, I’d know you were lying. And I have to be able to trust my secretary. As I’m sure you know, I need a new one, and you’re the perfect candidate."
He held up his hand to stop Lori’s protest. "I don’t really expect you to be perfect, you know. You’re competent and don’t engage in office politics." He frowned and paused for several seconds. "I think you’ll keep your mind on business, and I’m looking for a professional, not a personal, relationship. The last couple of secretaries I’ve had were more interested in flirting than filing."
Lori’s eyes widened and she felt the heat as her face turned red. She’d heard the other women giggling and sighing over the handsome Mr. Anderson. She admitted to herself he was an attractive man. Okay, more than attractive — gorgeous. But there was no danger of her even considering a personal relationship with him. She came to work to work, not to play. She’d put too much time and effort into preparing for a career to risk an affair with her boss.
"Look," he continued. "I realize it doesn’t have anything to do with me personally. They’re attracted to the Vice President of Sales and Marketing, not to Derek Anderson."
Lori’s confusion must have shown on her face, because he continued, "I prefer the title sales manager, but my official title is Vice President of Sales and Marketing." He shrugged.
Lori knew what his title was. She was confused that he would think any female would be more attracted to the position than to the man. His longish blond hair invited a woman to run her fingers through it, and the long lashes on his green eyes were the envy of many women. In contrast to the boyish good looks of his face, his tall, broad-shouldered body seemed to emanate power. He didn’t need a title or even his authoritative voice to draw attention. Lori heard enough gossip to know her heartbeat wasn’t the only one that sped up when he came near.
His voice interrupted her daydream. "Can you move to your new desk this afternoon so we can get started in the morning?"
He didn’t seem to realize that she hadn’t answered. He obviously took her acceptance for granted. Although she wondered how she would keep him from seeing her attraction to him, she knew she couldn’t pass up this career move. "Of course."
On that day three months ago, she hadn’t let her new boss see how much her hands were trembling. Today she wouldn’t let him see her fear, and she certainly wouldn’t let him see her fascination with him.
She suddenly realized she didn’t hear his voice. He’d quit calling for help. She couldn’t hear any sound at all. When she looked toward him, she gasped at the look in his eyes. He stared at her as if he’d never seen her before.
"You’re scared." She’d never heard his voice so soft.
She shook her head in denial. "No. No, I’m not scared."
He stepped forward and took her hands in his. "Lori, your hands are shaking. Are you going to panic on me?"
"No, I am not scared, and I am not going to panic." She pronounced each word carefully and distinctly. "I am the always-efficient secretary." She didn’t feel like the always-efficient secretary now, but she couldn’t let him know that.
Although she stood directly in front of him, she raised her voice to her boss for the first time since she’d known him. "I don’t panic when you give me one hour to finish a three-hour job."