Page 3 of Softest Touch
We take the elevator together, and her perfume tickles my nostrils. It's sweet, floral, and a little spicy.
“Where's your car?” I ask her, holding the door for her before leaving the building.
“I'll take a taxi. Good evening, Mr. Wilson,” she says as she walks away.
“Miss Jackson,” I call her back. “I'll take you home. I can't leave you alone at this hour.”
“Nice of you, but no thanks.” She gestures for a taxi to stop and gets in.
Standing there feeling foolish, I watch the taxi drive away, then I shake my head and walk to my car.
The trip home is quite short, and as soon as I open the door, Sissi runs up to me, wagging her tail. “Hey, I missed you too,” I bend down to cuddle her. “Shall we go for a walk?” I ask, grabbing her leash as she happily hops.
CHAPTER TWO
MELINDA
Who the hell does he think he is to treat me like he did? I nervously throw my keys on the table and take off my jacket. I've read a lot about Derek “Douchebag” Wilson, and I know his standards are high. It was Grandma who pushed me to give it a try and apply for the open position. She has a crush on Derek, and I can't deny he's charming and freaking sexy. I've always dreamed of becoming a stylist, but the responsibilities after my parents' deaths and all my commitments made me push back that secret dream. Working as an assistant for one of the best fashion labels is close to living my dream, and for me, it's enough.
“Melinda, is that you?” Grandma asks from her bedroom. Damn, I woke her up.
“Yes, Grandma, sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up.” I want to slap myself when she comes to hug me.
“No, you didn't, sugar. Why did you come back so late? How was the interview?”
“It went well, Grandma. I was hired.” I smile at her. I'm still surprised he agreed to put me on a trial. Sometimes I should learn to keep my mouth shut, but somehow, I couldn't.
“I knew they would take you. I'm proud of you, little one.” I link to her arm. “Thank you, Grandma. Come on, let's go to sleep.”
“Okay, but tell me… is Mr. Wilson as handsome as in the magazines?”
I laugh and shake my head as I help her get back into her bed. “He's cocky, bossy, and so irritating.”
“Oh, what happened?” She gasps.
I kiss her forehead and tuck in the blanket. “Nothing you need to worry about, Grandma. I'll tell you tomorrow. Now go to sleep.”
“Okay, baby, goodnight.”
“Night, Granny.”
Turning off the light, I close her door. Walking to my room, I decide to prepare a hot bath since I need it after today. I'm still nervous about how that bully treated me. I'm so tired of being interviewed and sidelined because of my physical appearance, or being too skilled, or worse, for my last name. I have enough worries about my grandmother to let them put me down too.
I sink into the tub and the hot water takes away all the anger, relaxing me while Derek Wilson pops into my head. His piercing blue eyes and that perfectly sculpted jawline are etched into my memory. Even though he's infuriating and condescending, I can't deny how attractive he is.
* * *
When the alarm goes off in the morning, I reluctantly emerge from under the covers, growling as I get up. It's a new day, and my mood soon improves. As I brew some coffee, I cook breakfast and prepare my grandmother's pills. Once everything is done and I've had my precious cup of coffee, I start getting dressed.
“Good morning, darling. You look gorgeous today.” Grandma yawns.
Seeing her messy hair, I giggle; she seems to have had a fight with her pillow last night. Caressing her hair, I kiss her cheek. “Good morning, Granny. Isn't this outfit a bit much?” I spin around, showing her what I'm wearing.
“Are you ready to go to work already?” she smiles, nodding in approval.
Wearing the blazer, I wink at her. “Yes, but don't worry, Laura will be here shortly.”
“Oh, you shouldn't have bothered her. I don't need a caregiver.”