Page 12 of Once Upon a Prince

“We really need to stop meeting like this,” he said as he approached me.

I hadn’t expected him to come back to the office after his day. I figured he would have dinner plans with some woman or even another meeting to go to. I had been looking over the budgets of each department for the last two years and had the IT budget spread out over my table. It was a mess, but an organized mess. I wouldn’t have had it out if I thought that Dax or anyone was going to be coming into the office.

“Mr. Moore. I didn’t expect you back this evening,” I said as I stood.

“Nor did I expect you to still be at the office. It’s late, you should go home. Have a life. If you don’t, people are going to start thinking your boss is a tyrant.”

“I think they will believe he’s a dedicated worker who wants what is best for the company. Isn’t that the persona you and your father want you to emulate?” I asked.

“True, but that doesn’t mean you have to burn the midnight oil. What are you looking over anyway?” he asked and walked over to look at the paperwork.

“The budget of your IT department for the last two years. I wanted to get a head start on the budgets and what to expect. It’s helpful to see what they have asked for in the past, what was denied, and why.”

“I agree, I’ve been doing the same thing. I didn’t expect you to,” Dax looked over at me, pleased.

“It’s all a part of what I can and should do for you. I helped balance the budgets at my father’s office for years. I don’t exactly have a head for numbers but I do like seeing how things were and what they should be.”

“My father mentioned you’d worked for your father’s company. I’m worried your experience might be misplaced as my assistant,” Dax said.

“Are you now?” I asked and crossed my arms over my chest.

“Do you not believe me?” There was a slight smirk on his face.

“First, you thought I was incompetent—”

“I never said you were incompetent. I just wasn’t sure how much I wanted a woman who was on her phone to be my assistant.”

“Which I explained to you.”

“Yes. I jumped to the wrong conclusion and I apologized. I’ve seen what great work you have done in the last few days. Yes, we got off on the wrong foot and I’m sure I will put my foot in my mouth a few more times before all of this is over. Though, I imagine you will too.”

“Maybe.”

“Are you saying you didn’t have any preconceived notions about me? You didn’t remember me when we were kids and think I might be the same punk kid?”

“You thought you were a punk kid? I’m afraid to ask what you thought of me,” I said.

“It doesn’t matter. My impression of you was wrong. I want you to know I appreciate all that you’ve done and think that we can have a very good working relationship. I’m not sure what you’re looking for in your future and with your family’s company, but I hope I can help you if you have any questions.”

I smiled at him and he let out a short laugh, “Also,” he continued, “if you have any advice or suggestions for me. If there were things that worked for your company that might work here, please let me know. I do want this to be a partnership of sorts not a boss/assistant relationship. I hope that’s okay with you?”

It was more than I could have hoped for. I had only wanted to get away from my stepmother, I didn’t really care where I went. That Dax’s father had offered me a job was incredible. I didn’t care what it was or if I didn't really use my knowledge and experience to the fullest. Working with Dax seemed like a good way to learn how a Fortune 500 company was run. It could give me some insight into how to better run my father’s company when the time came, if I decided to. I had never counted on Dax thinking that I could be his equal, much less saying it to me. That he did mean the world to me.

“That is more than okay with me. That sounds wonderful. I won’t let you down and I do want to learn from you,” I said.

“Wonderful,” Dax said. “To our partnership.” He put his hand out for me to shake it.

I reached over and put my hand in his. There was a shock, an electric current that went through my body when I did. It took me a second to understand that it was attraction and desire. I had been so intent on doing a good job, on impressing my boss, that I had forgotten how sexy he was. My eyes shot to his and I could see a stunned expression on his face. It wasn’t something that he had been expecting either.

I squeezed his hand and kept my eyes on him as we shook hands. There might be something I was feeling toward Dax and he might be feeling it, too, but it wasn’t something that I could or would even entertain. I needed to work with the man, his company’s future and mine depended on it. Though as I slowly moved my hand away and longed to feel his touch again, I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy feat to accomplish.

Chapter 8

Dax

“Was there anything else you needed?” Ella asked.

“Yes, for you to come over here so I can kiss you.”