Page 37 of Wrecked By You
“I’ll try not to make a habit of it.”
“Oh, yes.” She nodded sagely. “We can’t have that. People might mistake you for human.”
She winked, and a part of me I’d long since forgotten sparked to life. My heart clenched at the moment of camaraderie. Not that I’d ever outwardly show the effect she was having on me. No, I’d push it down and lock it behind a newly built wall I now realized she’d chipped away at since the day the agency had sent her to me for a job interview.
“Anyway, if you’ve finished yelling at me, I guess I should get back to work.” She glanced at her watch. “We’re about to open.”
As she turned to leave for the second time, an idea sprang to mind. I wasn’t one to act on impulse, but this made total sense.
“How would you like to be my assistant?”
She froze, one foot in front of the other. Her head slowly swiveled, her hips twisting as her feet remained glued to the floor. “Me?”
“Sure. Why not? You have the organization skills I’m lacking as you so delicately pointed out. You know me. You’re not in awe of me. You’re honest and will tell it to me straight. Plus, this way, you’d be able to work days and spend more time with Chloe. We could work around her schooling, and if there was a requirement for extended hours, then I’m sure we could figure something out. The pay will be more than you earn tending bar, too, and that includes the tips you’re picking up.”
She spun around to face me. “But… I don’t have any experience.”
“The only experience you need is the ability to handle me, and you seem to manage that with no trouble.”
Her teeth grazed over her bottom lip. She stared at her sneakers, then lifted her chin. “I thought we were shorthanded at the bar?”
“We are.” This time I did smile. “Your first job as my assistant is to find an adequate replacement, and ensure that nothing falls over in the meantime.”
She threw back her head and laughed, and another brick popped out of the wall. Goddammit.
Thrusting out her hand, she waited for me to take it. I hesitated, then pressed my palm to hers, thinking of anything other than how soft her skin was and how small her hand looked inside mine.
“You have yourself a deal.”
Chapter14
Johannes
This is not a date.
I repeat, this is not a date.
Ella,it turned out, was a revelation. Fifteen days had passed since I’d hired her as my assistant, and although I’d never tell her this, I’d begun to wonder how I’d coped without her. Hell, I had enough trouble admitting that fact to myself. Relying on others did not come naturally to me, and that trait had worsened after what Sadie and her hired thugs had done. Yet Ella had slipped into my life in that quiet way of hers and pried a few spinning plates from my hands, then dealt with each one with poise and efficiency.
Tonight, I had a meeting with Ryker Stone, one of the board members of ROGUES, a global behemoth a similar size to my own family firm. Ryker managed a chain of dance clubs calledPoles Apart,and while the premise was different from my nightclub business, Ryker seemed to think there was an opportunity for us to work together. Dad had a lot of time for Ryker, and the other ROGUES board members, as did Ash. After all, my elder brother had gone into business with Garen Gauthier, who headed up the ROGUES hotel business, and it had been fruitful for both sides.
I had to admit to being intrigued by what he had to offer.
Ella popped her head inside my office door, a ready smile on her pretty face. Despite my usual stoic response, she always had a smile for me, for Stan, for everyone right down to the janitor and the driver who delivered the liquor.
I admired her for that. And envied her.
“Do you need anything else before I go?”
“No, I’m good. Thanks for the prep ahead of tonight’s meeting.” Ella had pulled together a briefing paper onPoles Apart,including everything from locations to estimated turnover. Even if I didn’t think they were a good fit for a joint venture, I could learn a lot from how Ryker had expanded into international markets. He’d already achieved what I was aiming for. Spending a few hours in his company couldn’t hurt.
Plus, Ryker’s Los Angeles branch ofPoles Aparthad won theHottest Nightspotaward two years running. For some reason, he hadn’t entered this year, but he might have some worthwhile strategies I could emulate and put my own twist on.
Ihadto win that award. Coveted it. Could picture it sitting right there on my shelf. Physical proof of my achievements, a way to show Dad that I might’ve been the fuckup son whose naivety had almost cost him his life but that, like a phoenix, I’d risen from the ashes and triumphed.
That I still suffered night terrors and refused to speak to a therapist about the PTSD I’d never dealt with was another issue entirely. My business and I were two separate beings. One could succeed while the other was an utter mess.
“Okay, then, I’ll see you Monday. Hope tonight goes well.”