He Broke My Heart So I Marry His Father

Chapter Three

Ashton:

The paperwork Mr. Burke had sent over was finished yesterday. He reminded me to pick up my employee pass at the front desk and then gave me the codes I would need for the elevator. I had spent the next six hours after that call memorizing them and where they would take me, but I also wrote them down in my pocket pad cause my nerves were already getting the better of me. It would make a really great first impression to get stuck on a floor and have to wait for someone to help me.

"This is the one!" Syd chimed excitedly about the outfit I had agreed to let her choose for me, an outfit that had my heart in my throat.

"Syd, that is too..." my words were lodged. I didn't want to seem unappreciative.

"S.e.x.y?"

"Amazing?"

"Perfect?"

She rattled as I took in the outfit. It was absolutely all of those things. But I just wasn't sure it would be all of those things on me.

Benjamin came into the kitchen, gaming controller in hand, headset around his neck. He paid no mind to us as he grabbed snacks and drinks I would have to clean up later.

I saw venom dripping from Syd's lips and daggers throwing from Lex's. They hate him for one reason or another.

After much convincing, the outfit was a done deal, and the only thing I knew was for the first time in my life, I would be wearing a pencil skirt and heels. I crawled into our empty bed, still hearing Benjamin playing his games and yelling at the other online players over something they had done wrong. Better them than me. My nerves had settled considerably, and all that was left was the anticipation of what would happen tomorrow when I met this elusive Mr. Pike at the elevator at six thirty in the morning with his black coffee in hand and his day memorized down to the very last second.

I woke at three in the morning to Benjamin yelling about a mission gone wrong. He has to be up for work by eight. He still hasn't slept.

I got up, dressed in the outfit Syd styled, tied my hair up in a loose bun that seemed more fitting for a wedding, and slipped my red-painted toes into the studded heels I couldn't stop looking at yesterday.

When I was brewing coffee, Benjamin was off to bed without so much as a goodbye. I had packed my lunch and was already excited to stuff my face with the shrimp tostadas and avocado salsa later. Grabbed my stuff and left for the day... my first day.

Arden:

My head felt like someone was behind me, banging cymbals in my ears. My one drink with dinner turned to six quickly, and I clearly couldn't drink like I could in college anymore. My head was against the wall of the elevator, the ride up making me more nauseous with each passing floor. I didn't raise my throbbing head or open my tired eyes after the door opened. I just stayed there until the smell of soft vanilla and honey mixed with freshly brewed coffee hit my nose.

When the scents floating into the elevator urged me to open my eyes, I saw my new assistant slack-jawed and dressed much differently than she was the day of her interview when she ended her day here, calling me an attention w.h.o.r.e. The moment my eyes met hers, she quickly snapped out of her stupor, but her cheeks and nose were flushed red; she had clearly recognized who I was and remembered our last encounter.

"Good morning, Mr. Pike. Here's your coffee. Mr. Lendon will be here in two hours; he has a meeting with you about his new software. You missed a call from the long-term care facility where your mother is staying. They did add in their voicemail that it wasn't an urgent matter. Then, at eleven, you have back-to-back conference calls with Lok Inc. and Primeware, and then it looks like you're free until three when you have a late lunch scheduled with Mr. Burke." I was astonished by the initiative she had taken on her first day, but I wasn't going to let my hopes get up that this would continue. It never does.

"Ms. Baylor, please cancel the meal with Reed. We had enough of each other yesterday evening. Also, I need you to run to the convenience store up the street and get me some sort of painkiller." I was digging in my wallet, trying to find my card, when she walked back in with two extra strength Advil in her little hand.

"I don't mind going to get more. But you look like you need these now." Her red lips pulled up in a soft smile that dazed me. Her beauty was indescribable.

"Thank you, Ms. Baylor. That won't be necessary. These should do." My fingers grazed her soft palm as I took the painkillers. Her faint scent kept circulating around me, easing my head before the Advil passed my lips.

"You're welcome, Sir. Is there anything else you need from me right now?" She asked softly, her big blue eyes looked almost animated. She was excited about being here and eager to please. The way the word Sir rolled from her tongue had that better-kept secret side of me itching to praise her. I wanted to see her blood rise to stain her cheeks. I wanted to—.

No Arden.

I scolded myself for acting like the women I had been pushing out of this building for months.

"No, Ms. Baylor. Thank you very much." As she turned to return to her desk, that part of me she had woken earlier in the day than usual slipped through just a bit.

"Oh, and Ashton. I must say, I am very impressed with you. Keep up the good work." Her shoulders relaxed as she turned to me. Her big blue eyes were glowing with pride.

"Thank you, Mr. Pike. I will." She turned again, making her way back to her desk with her round ass swaying in her pencil skirt.