unconditionally. **completed**

"ugh!" I slam my hand down on the alarm. 6 am comes too early every day. " at least it is Friday. " I drag myself out of bed to shower and start my day before joseline has to be woke up and I rush her around to daycare then myself to work. I make my way around the tiny three bedroom apartment to the kitchen. " coffee, I need coffee. " I start making a pot and then head to the shower. nothing beats the hot stream of water pouring down my tight muscles. My thoughts wander as I shower. they usually do ever since the accident happened. Loosing Luke was one of the hardest things we have been through. the nightmares keep me awake at night. it's been a year now since he died. he was a firefighter for the city and died trying to save someone trapped. the child survived. Luke was a hero that never made it home. Joseline is all I have left of him. " damn it Luke." the tears start coming again. I have to pull it together and get ready. toweling dry and getting my undergarments on again my thoughts head to Luke. Sometimes I'm angry that he left us. I know it's irrational. maybe Stephanie is right. I need to just go get laid. Stephanie is my best friend. she was a blonde bombshell with a sassy attitude and very loyal to a fault. she was there through all of it. she moved in shortly after Luke died to help pay the bills. the life insurance allowed me to buy a small apartment in the city free and clear but there were still bills to pay and a mouth to feed. after dressing I go to Joselines room and wake up my little sleeping beauty. " hey princess it's time to get up. we have to hurry ok baby?" I rush around like normal trying to get ready to go. " Come on princess grab your back pack. mommy is just grabbing her coffee." I watch as she trotted out of the bedroom curly hair bouncing around. " ok let's go! got to get you to daycare." We rush out the door. after dropping Joseline off I take a taxi to stone Corp. Being a secretary isn't what I had planned for after college. I have a masters in technology but after joseline was born I took a job that allowed me to be with her more. The office was chaos today. walking through the security people were buzzing around like bees in a shaken hive. I see Stephanie and rush up to her. " what's going on steph?" " word in the office is that Josh stone lost another secretary. they want to hire with in the company this time and it comes with a huge pay raise. Emma you would be perfect. you know your s**t and then some." " yeah no thank you! being that man's secretary would be like career suicide. I can't afford that." we clock in and wave goodbye as we head to our work areas. it would be nice to have the pay raise but in the last year he has gone through three other secretaries that quit crying on their way out. No thank you. I start going through the emails for my boss and sorting through his agenda for the day. I'm working diligently not even noticing the head of HR coming to my desk. " Emma strong?"she is a short mousy older woman with a tight bun and glasses perched on the brim of her nose. she had always been sweet but definitely takes no crap from any one. " depends on what I did." I look up from my work to see she was not amused. I managed to smile at her. " yes, sorry. that's me." " can you come with me please?" crap! what did I do wrong. I get up and follow behind her kind of like the walk of shame after coming home in the same clothes you wore the night before. she had seen Stephanie do it plenty of times. once in her office she pointed towards a chair as she made her way to her desk. damn it I can not get fired. " we want to promote you to personal secretary for Mr stone. it comes with a significant pay raise effective immediately and a bonus of $10,000 and another bonus after 6 months. " my mouth dropped. " umm, thank you so much for considering me but I really like my current position." she was still emotionless as she looked at me. " Emma, I'm going to be honest. we poured through everyone's background and you are the perfect match for this job. you would start today and we need you." nothing like putting me in the hot spot. I don't really want the job. the money and raise sounds amazing but all the rumors makes me feel like I'm selling myself to the devil himself. " I'm not sure I even have a choice here." I'm fidgeting nervously. I have a bad feeling about this offer. " what if I don't work out in this position. I have a 4 year old at home and bills to pay." " we would keep you on in the company we would not reduce your pay. we understand that Mr stone can be... difficult. " I couldn't help but notice the way she said it. I face palm myself. " If you can guarantee that and put it in writing including still getting both bonuses then I will take it." she nodded her head at me before going over the contract. " let's go meet your new boss and get you set up and he can go over things with you. " it was the first smile I got out of her. probably because she knew I was being thrown into the lions den. my stomach was in knots. I followed her to the elevator and she took out a special key card. " you will have your key card with in the next hour it is the only way to access the executive suite and his living space while at the office. he often stays here working late so he has a living space for that. only you and he and a few select people are allowed in these areas and on this floor. you will know who and have a schedule every day of his daily meetings, appointments etc. " I smiled at her trying to keep my thoughts on the task at hand. the elevator dinged and the doors slid open. a gentleman was there in a nice Armani suit with a hot coffee and a key card for me. the area was large. with several doors to offices and conference rooms. it was all tastefully decorated and definitely screamed rich people are here. suddenly my above knee a line skirt seemed cheap. I let out a sigh following the older lady to a large wooden door. she knocked and entered with me behind her. there behind a large mahogany desk and cushy leather chair was none other than Josh stone. " I'm busy what do you need?" He was definitely gruff and rubbed me the wrong way. he was rude and arrogant and damn was he hot. chiseled face and beneath his tailored suit you coukd definitely make out his tight body. omg I need to stop ogling this jerk on the first day. she turned to me with a half smile and patted my hand. " good luck dear." she left me to the fire. he looked at me for a long time after she had left. I started getting uncomfortable under his scrutiny. wtf is his problem? " Mr stone. my name is Emma strong and I'm supposed to be your personal secretary. " he threw his pen down on the desk leaning back in his seat. I couldn't help the look of annoyance that flashed across my face. what a freaking jerk! " are you going to get to work or am I paying you to Stan there?" at this point I had enough. I woukd rather go back to my old desk job than deal with this. I out my hand on my hip as I turned around to walk out of the room. I put my hand in the door know and turned around. " you're kind of an arrogant jerk who forgets you needed me I didn't need you so if you need someone that has a decent education and can work let me know but if you are looking for some bimbo who will let you verbally abuse them I'm not your girl. I definitely have more self esteem than that." I watched his mouth drop open as I walked out of the office walking towards the elevator. swiping my card and waiting. " miss strong I need you in my office." " hhmmm, I didn't hear please." " what?" I didn't even bother to turn away from the elevator doors. I wasn't going to be disrespected by anyone. " I said, you didn't say please." my hand was still on my hip. " you have until these doors open before I quit on the first day here." I could hear him grit his teeth as he spoke to me. " please come to my office miss stone." I smiled sweetly at him as I turned around the doors dinged but I walked to his office sitting in a vacant chair. he came back and sat in his chair. " my secretary quit. I'm swamped and behind on a few projects and no one has ever talked back to me like that. everyone is always afraid of me. I'm intrigued by your file. you have a great education why such a low entry job?" I hated having to talk about me or my past. everyone always treated me like that poor girl that lost her husband. " does it matter? look I work hard and I learn quick. show me what you expect and it will be done. " he definitely understood I wasn't talking about my personal life with him. " I need to know we can have a good working relationship here." je was starring at me intently. I can do this job even though je definitely needed to be knocked down a few pegs. " I can do the job Mr stone but please do understand I expect respect. if all you need is someone to degrade that's not me but if you need someone who can actually do the job then I'm your girl." did he just smile? it was very brief but I swear he just smiled. damn he really is sexy. I need to get laid. " alright let's get to business then." we spent the rest of the afternoon going over what he expected and then I was released to start on my own. going through files it was a nightmare. no organization at all. I sent out all the schedules for his next week of meetings and appointments and then started organizing all the files for his accounts. using color coded sticky notes for important dates I would need and notes on how to do certain things. I needed organization in my work life since my personal life was chaotic. my phone dinged notifying me that there was a text message. Stephanie: b***h you got the promotion? me : girl I did not want it stephanie: so why did you take it? me: I don't think I had a choice but I signed a contract so my pay is secure no matter what. Stephanie: sooooo give me the details. what's he like? me: he is arrogant and a jerk but s**t he is freaking hot! I think you're right I need to get laid! Stephanie: maybe he can take care of that. me: absolutely not gonna happen. got to go I have a lot to do before getting joseline.