Crave

Chapter 2

2

Cameron’s heels clicked as she walked up the stairs of the subway, her phone glued to her ear.

“We’ve manufactured your executive assistant background, so you’ll have to remember the secretarial training course you went through,” her boss Erika MacMillan said.

As an investigative reporter in the making for The Daily News, Cam had done a lot of things, but cloaking herself as a secretary at Calloway Corp was altogether different. She was going to be investigating Calloway’s financial dealings, trying to figure out if they were just hemorrhaging money or if there was someone corrupt at the bottom of it all.

“I brushed up on all of that last week,” Cam said. “I promise, I’ll be fine.”

“You’ll need to draw on your accounting background for this one.”

“Accounting background? I took like four accounting classes, then switched majors,” she said irritably.

“Well, you’d better put on your big girl pants and use what accounting knowledge you do have. Especially if you want to earn a spot as a reporter on the team. Or maybe you like being the team’s errand boy?”

Cam scowled. In truth, she hated being the one who made photocopies and got coffee for everyone. This assignment was her chance to rise above all that.

“Right,” Cam sighed. “I remember the basics from my accounting classes.”

“Good. When do you start at Calloway Corp?”

“Twenty minutes,” Cam said. “And I’m wearing my conservative little black dress for the first day, before you ask.”

“Hmmmph,” Erika said. “Some people like the fact that I’m detail oriented.”

Cam rolled her eyes silently. “Yeah, well. You picked me for this assignment. You’ll have to trust me a little more if you expect me to find anything out.”

“I trust you,” Erika said defensively. “I lobbied really hard for you to be put on this assignment. Hell, for this to be investigated at all is a triumph. The big bosses don’t think there’s anything in the financial statements, so they don’t believe you’ll find anything.”

“I know,” Cam said, stopping across the street from Calloway Plaza. “It’s a big deal for me, too. My first real assignment, even if it’s a little unconventional. There is something fishy going on, though. I can feel it. I'm positive money is being misappropriated.”

“Cameron—”

“I should go. I’m too close to the building to be talking to you,” Cam said.

Erika sighed. “Alright. Good luck.”

“I’ll check in with you in a couple of days, okay?”

“Okay.”

Cam hung up the phone, feeling jittery.

She looked up at the main building, where she would enter for her first day of work shortly. It was a thing of beauty, all chrome and glass and concrete, the pride and joy of some designer.

It was a real personal statement for someone, even if the statement was that a private military defense company could be represented by such beauty. She’d been here before, for her three separate rounds of interviews, but now it was real.

This was her first shot at being the journalist who cracked the case. All she had to do now was make friends with some of the higher-ups, get those people to talk about top secret financial information, and back it all up with proof.

She laughed aloud, a shaky sound. She shook out the anxiety built up in her arms and legs, an old habit from her days growing up in the foster care system.

Just shake it off! she thought, picturing her younger self saying it. She’d come a long way since leaving the system at eighteen, struggling through four years of waiting tables and night classes. Then a year ago she’d landed the job at The Daily News, trying to prove herself.

All so she could build up to this. She could do this.

She blew out a breath and crossed the street to Calloway Plaza, determined not to let her nerves show. She straightened her black dress, pulled out her brand new employee ID, and strode in through the high glass doors.

It was a couple of minutes before ten o’clock as she rode up the elevators. She got off on the fifth floor and held her head high. She could do this.

She walked through a set of doors and came to a reception desk. She looked at the elegant waiting area, trying not to lose her nerve.

“Can I help you?” asked the pretty blonde receptionist.

Cam swallowed, trying not to think about how that would be her from now on.

“Hi, I’m Cameron Turner, here to see Stephanie?” she said. She almost tripped over the false last name she was using for the job.

The receptionist nodded and picked up the phone. She spoke into the phone, then hung up.

“You can have a seat,” the blonde said.

Cam smiled and took a seat. She waited for a minute, trying not to fidget.

Moments later, a smooth wooden panel opened, and Stephanie came out. A thin, gray-haired woman with immaculate style, Stephanie had interviewed and ultimately hired her.

Right behind her was another woman, a pretty brunette. The brunette was in tears, holding a cardboard box with what looked like the contents of her desk.

Stephanie stopped and patted the woman on the arm.

“Thank you, Ingrid. You can expect a severance check along with your last paycheck,” she said.

The brunette nodded, holding back what looked like a fresh wave of tears. She turned and practically ran to the elevator.

Stephanie turned to Cam, brightening.

“Cameron! You’re right on time,” she said.

“Yes, ma’am,” Cam said, rising.

“Well, you came at just the right time,” said Stephanie. “Mr. Calloway just lost his assistant. The younger Mr. Calloway, that is.”

Cameron’s eyebrows shot up. “Mr. Calloway? Really?”

“Yes, really. Come on, I’ll get you settled,” Stephanie said, heading to the elevators. “Normally we wouldn’t put a new hire in such an important position, but you have a really excellent résumé . Besides, Mr. Calloway absolutely cannot go without an executive assistant.”

Something clicked in Cam’s head as they stepped onto the elevator. Stephanie pressed the button for the twenty-first floor, one floor down from the top.

“So when you say he just lost his assistant…”

“I mean Ingrid, the girl downstairs. Yes. Mr. Calloway didn’t find her services up to snuff, I’m afraid.”

“I…” Cam said, then shook her head.

Stephanie slid her a look.

“Don’t worry. Your résumé said you’ve worked for three CEOs. This won’t be any different.”

“Right,” Cam said. She gave Stephanie a smile, trying to appear calm and collected.

The elevator doors opened, and Cam walked out into another reception area, this one all done in chrome. There was a receptionist here too, a plump brunette. She frowned at Cam until she saw Stephanie escorting her.

The brunette shot to her feet.

“Ma’am,” she said, dipping her head to Stephanie. “I suppose you know that Ingrid just walked out?”

“Yes, yes,” Stephanie said. “Lucy, this is Cameron. Cameron, this is Lucy. Cameron will be taking over Ingrid’s position.”

Lucy’s jaw dropped. “Already?’

“Would you have Mr. Calloway be without an assistant, Lucy?”

Lucy paled and swallowed. “No, ma’am.”

“Lucy, would you get Cameron settled in? Show her around. I have calls to return.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Stephanie left with a wave of her fingertips, her heels clicking. Cameron turned to Lucy, a little wide-eyed.

“Don’t even start asking questions,” Lucy said, sighing. “Come on, I’ll get you set up.”

“Okay,” Cam said with a shrug.

Lucy led her through a set of chrome doors and down a hallway. She stopped at an empty desk beside a breathtaking view of downtown. Behind the desk was a single door, obviously leading to Mr. Calloway’s office.

“Here’s your desk,” she said, brow creasing. “There’s Mr. Calloway’s office. He keeps the door closed when he’s in a meeting or doesn’t want to be disturbed. Here’s Mr. Calloway’s paper calendar. You should probably take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with his online calendar, too.”

Lucy pointed to the computer on the desk. Cam walked around and pulled out the chair, putting her purse down.

“Okay,” she said. “What else should I know?”

“Umm… the bathrooms are at the end of this hall. Press nine to dial out. Otherwise just dial an extension number to call someone in the building. Lunch is twelve to one, unless Mr. Calloway says otherwise. Mr. Calloway will be out of his meeting in about five minutes. I would be as prepared as possible by then. And…” she bit her lip. “Well, let me just log you into the computer system.”

For the next couple of minutes, Cam watched as Lucy showed her around the company network. Using Cam’s last name and the last four digits of her social security number, Lucy gave her the keys to the kingdom.

“Okay, that’s the calendar portion. The rest of the job changes depending on what Mr. Calloway needs,” Lucy said. She looked at Cam skeptically. “But apparently you know all that.”

Cam smiled, pretending she didn’t notice the other woman’s tone.

“Yeah, I’ve worked for three high-level CEOs, so we’re probably good.”

Lucy started to say something, but just then the door behind them swung open.

“We’ll see what the market does,” said the first man to exit.

The man had a posh British accent. He talked to someone inside the office, but Cam couldn’t see who without seeming rude. Gray-haired and well-dressed, he stopped when he saw Lucy and Cam.

“Ladies?” he asked.

Lucy stood up straighter, grabbing and raising Cam by the arm.

“Mr. Calloway,” she said, nodding politely. “This is Cameron, Ingrid’s replacement.”

“Ah! Spencer Calloway. A pleasure to meet you,” he said, shaking Cam’s hand.

“You too, sir,” Cam replied. She noticed that he was tall and broad, probably quite the ladies man in his day.

Was this her boss?

The man gave her a once-over, then turned back to the office.

“Smith! Your new assistant is out here!” he called.

Cam had about three seconds to turn the name over in her mind before its owner came out of the office. She only put it together half a second before he was in her face.

It was the same Smith from last night, Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome himself. Only now he was dressed in an expensive suit, not punk rock gear.

Her mouth opened in shock.

“Hello—” he said, then paused. He looked at her, taking in her black business dress. She saw the moment of recognition, then saw him blow past it. “Uh… what was your name?”

“Cameron,” she said, blinking. She held out her hand. “I’m your new executive assistant.”

He took her hand. The moment they touched, the skin-to-skin contact caused the fine hairs on the back of her neck to stand up. Their eyes caught and held, the moment stretching a bit too long.

“All right, then. It was nice to meet you, Cameron,” the senior Calloway said. “Lucy, why don’t you walk me out? We should let her get settled in.”

“Yes, sir,” Lucy said, throwing a look over her shoulder as she escorted her boss down the hall.

She was busy trying not to eye f**k the hell out of her new boss. It was just… he wore the hell out of a suit, and she happened to know what was underneath.

Cam and Smith were silent until they were out of sight, then he turned around and picked up the phone.

“Who are you calling?” she asked.

“Stephanie,” he said, looking at her as he dialed the phone. “No need to discuss what happened last night. I’ll just have you transferred.”

“Stop!” she said, stepping over and pressing the switchhook to disconnect the call. “Wait.”

He frowned. “Why?”

She knew her best shot at finding out about financial matters would be in this office. If she let him transfer her, she was blowing an amazing chance. She scrambled for something to say.

“Look, I need this job,” she said, throwing her head back. “I really, really need this job. Without it, I’ll be thrown out of my apartment.”

“So? You can have this job and work for someone else,” he said. That British accent was so smooth, it gave her chills.

“But—” she started, then put her hand on his wrist. The contact was shocking, like licking a battery. He looked up at her, making eye contact. “I was recommended to this job by someone that works here, okay? If I’m making trouble and getting transferred all over the place, it would be… let’s just say it would be bad for me. Really bad.”

Smith grimaced, pulling away from her touch.

“So what, then? What is it that you want?” he asked.

“Just give me a week,” she said, trying not to let her excitement show. “We both pretend nothing ever happened, and you try me out for a week.”

For a moment, she wasn’t sure he was going to go for it. He ran his hand through his hair, looking annoyed. Still, he couldn’t hold last night against her, could he?

“One week,” he said at last. “You’ll be here when I’m here, yeah?”

“Yes! Thank you. You won’t regret it, I promise!” she said.

“Just… do your job, and don’t bring up my activities outside of here,” he said, shaking his head.

“I won’t,” she replied.

With one last uncertain look at her, he turned and vanished into his office. Her phone rang, and she jumped to answer it, allowing herself to get pulled into the swirl of everyday duties.