“Miss Ried, how nice to see you again.”
“Hello, Mr. Davis. I was just at HR filling out the paperwork.”
“Are you heading out?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Let me walk you out.”
We approach the elevators and he presses the button with his long index finger. The elevator opens. “After you, Miss Ried.”
“You can call me Annabelle, or Belle for short, since we’ll be working together.”
“And you can call me Kalin, Annabelle. I like your name.”
He smiles at me and I cannot help but smile back. Everything feels different when we’re alone. He’s so easygoing, and I feel no pressure, no intimidation, and no butterflies. I almost don’t want the elevator doors to open again. I just want to be alone with him for a while longer, and not share him with the world demanding his attention. It’s a weird feeling because I don’t really know him, but I don’t want him to leave.
His hand suddenly brushes against mine, and my skin tingles. I smile up at him.
“Is that your employment contract?”
“Yes.” I am already distracted by his big brown eyes. They are so beautiful, and I catch myself thinking I want Lia to be right about him. It wouldn’t be so bad to be used by Mr. Kalin Davis. I push the thought out of my mind and try to present a professional demeanor.
“I don’t think there’s anything in that employment contract that’s not your typical boring legal stuff.”
“No captivity, confinement, or involuntary servitude.” My lips form a slight smile.
He turns his head and glances down at me with a partial smile. “Not that I last checked. From the size of it, it does look like our legal department is working meticulously. I’m sure they would have crossed out anything I may have tried to put in your contract to that effect.”
“But Mr. Davis, you are the CEO.”
Kalin turns to me and presses toward me. I want him to touch me. I don’t know what’s gotten into me. I want him to be attracted to me. I don’t find it offensive. I find it thrilling. He presses my hand to the wall of the elevator, and wrenches the contract from it.
“You’re right, Annabelle. If I want something in this contract, goddammit, I’ll put it in myself.” His full lips are curled in amusement as he takes a pen from his front pocket. I can’t believe it. What is he doing? He begins writing on the contract. When he’s done he takes my hand into his, causing a current to jolt through me. I gasp at the sudden warmth of his touch. He places my fingers around the pen and signs my initials with my own hand, then signs his name under my initials. I still have no idea what he wrote because his arm is blocking the note.
He folds the contract and hands it back to me.
The elevator opens and I get out, only to spin around just in time to see the fast-moving elevator doors close. I bite my lip, unfold the contract and stare at the handwritten note.
507 Crimson Lane 8 PM
Chapter Four
Thrill and uncertainty course through my body. I fold the contract and slip it into my purse.
Lia is fixing dinner when I get home. I smile at the array of items she’s purchased. “Someone’s been spending some money.”
She samples some pasta sauce as she glides around the kitchen. “I figure we can start eating a little better. Organic. You still owe me dinner.” She smiles at me while mixing some pasta sauce and spices.
“It smells wonderful, but I can’t stay for dinner. I have to be somewhere at eight.”
“Whoa, look at you, big shot. Do you have an executive meeting already?”
“Something like that. It’s kind of hard to explain. But I need to borrow your car.”
Lia glances up at me from her concoction and licks her fingers. I give her a shy glance that she deciphers immediately.
“Oh, my God!” Lia narrows her eyes at me and rushes toward me.
“He wrote his address on my paperwork today. He wants me to meet him tonight.”
“Fast worker. Did he say what for?”
“I don’t know yet. Your guess is as good as mine.” I shrug.
“Yeah, I think we can both guess.” Lia takes off her apron and searches my face.
“Lia, it’s not like that. He didn’t even expect to see me today. He broke his meeting off with his top executives when he saw me. Just the look he gave me.” I shake my head and a smile plays across my lips. “He was so nice to me.”
“You’ve got it bad, girl. Be careful. He could be using you, Belle.”
“You don’t know that.” I briefly feel a hint of resentment and uncertainty crash through me. I can’t blame Lia for saying that. She has every right to feel that way. But I’m hoping she’s wrong. “It’s hard to explain. When we are alone, it’s comforting. When we’re together…”