After I’m done updating the week’s appointment schedule, so we know who to expect for a meeting with one of the employees, I place an order for access cards, seeing that we’re running a little low.
“You’re really getting the hang of things,” Denise praises me.
A warm smile stretches over my face. “It’s because you’re such a good teacher. Once I get paid, I’ll take you out for dinner.” We can never take lunch at the same time so it will have to be after work.
“I’m totally going to hold you to that,” she chuckles.
When the phone rings, and we see it’s an internal call from the executive floor, Denise mutters, “It’s your turn. I got the last one.”
Scrunching my nose at her, I answer, “Kiara speaking.”
“Come up to my office,” Finn says brusquely.
I haven’t spoken to Finn since he returned from vacation and wonder why he wants to see me again.
“I’ll be right up, sir.”
Taking off my earpiece, I set it down on the counter. “I’ve been summoned to the executive floor.”
“Good luck.”
Walking to the elevators, I can’t think of a reason Finn wants to see me. Hopefully, I didn’t do anything wrong. When I step into the elevator, I press the button for the top floor, then quickly check my appearance in the mirror covering the walls. I tuck a stray curl behind my ear, thinking I should’ve clipped my hair up instead of braiding it today.
When the doors slide open, I smile at Devon, who’s wearing a light blue suit today. The man always looks like he stepped out of a fashion magazine.
“Mr. Byrne wants to see me.”
Devon lets out a heavy breath. “Rather you than me. Prepare yourself for a mountain of work.”
Work I can do. Relief slithers into my chest now that I know I’m not in any trouble.
After knocking, I push the door open and step into the office.
Finn looks up from where he’s sitting on the leather sofa, reading something on the tablet in his hands. A smile spreads over his face, and he sets the device down. “There’s the breath of fresh air this company needed.”
The sudden compliment catches me off guard, and I stand awkwardly with a mouth full of teeth.
He gestures to the desk. “How are you with capturing data?”
“Ah… pretty good.” I follow him to the desk, and when he indicates for me to take a seat on his chair, I almost frown but stop myself in time.
Once I’m seated, Finn says, “Transfer all these reports onto the system.”
Before I can reach for the first report, Finn places his hand on the back of the chair and leans partially over me, pointing at the first page. “You’ll see it’s basic and should catch on quickly.”
I nod, and glancing up, I notice how close he is to me. The spicy scent of his aftershave weaves into the air I breathe, and for a moment, everything feels inappropriate. Another wave of awkwardness sets in, making me shift uneasily in the chair.
Then Finn points to the laptop’s screen. “Type in the first row, so I can make sure you know what to do.”
“Yes, sir.” I double-check all the figures as I enter the information, and once I’m done, I glance at Finn.
He places his hand on my shoulder, and giving me a light squeeze, murmurs, “Good girl.”
Instantly my muscles lock up, and an unsettling feeling trickles into my gut.
Definitely inappropriate.
When Finn walks back to the leather couch, I take a deep breath before focusing on the work at hand. I keep double-checking everything I transfer from the report to the laptop, not wanting to make a single error.
The silence in the office keeps growing, and by the time I place the fourth report onto the completed pile, I notice it’s already ten minutes past six. My eyes dart to the couch, only to find Finn staring at me.
The uneasy feeling returns full force, making my stomach bunch up with nerves.
Slowly he tilts his head, the corner of his mouth lifting into a smile that seems more predatory than friendly. “You said you don’t mind working late, right?”
Shoot.
I quickly nod. “Do you need all the reports done tonight?” There are easily ten or more still to do. I try to calculate how much time it will take.
“Good. I’ll even be nice and order dinner for you. Any preferences?”
I don’t want to eat but just get the work done so I can stop by Dad’s place on the way home. Since I started working, I haven’t been able to visit him as often as I’d like.
“It’s okay. I had a big lunch,” I decline the offer before getting back to work.
Long after it’s grown dark outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, do I lift my head again. I check how many reports are left and feel some relief when I count four.
Suddenly I feel pressure on the back of the chair then Finn leans over me to look at the laptop’s screen. His scent fills my immediate space, and I sit dead still while waiting for him to check over the spreadsheet.
Again he places his hand on my shoulder, but this time the touch lingers well into inappropriate territory. I have to suppress the urge to pull away.
Still standing close to me, he turns his head and smiles at me. “Almost done.” His thumb brushes over the exposed skin by my blouse’s collar, then he finally pulls away.
He doesn’t walk back to the couch but instead leans against the desk by the completed stack of reports.
Try as I might, I struggle to focus on the numbers, and I end up having to triple-check the work. The atmosphere in the office keeps growing tenser, and by the time I enter the last set of digits, my shoulders and neck are aching from all the stress.
I’ve placed the last four reports on a new pile, avoiding Finn’s personal space. Pushing the chair back, I step around the other side of the desk while asking, “Will that be all, Mr. Byrne?”
He lets out a chuckle. “You did it much quicker than I’d be able to. Thank you.”
Lifting my eyes to his face, I force a smile to my lips. “Just doing my job, but you’re welcome. Is it okay if I head home?”
“If you must.” There’s a teasing tone to his voice, and now that the work is done, I start to worry Finn’s crossing the line.
“Have a good night, sir,” I say, the uneasiness I’m feeling spilling into my voice.
He just touched your shoulder, Kiara. Don’t go making this something it’s not.
“You too,” Finn smiles at me, his eyes tracking my every step until I’m out of his office.
The rest of the offices are quiet as I go down to the reception, and after collecting my purse, I smile at the night guard on my way out of the building.
Needing to save some time, I hail a cab and give the driver Dad’s address. I’ll just pop in for a couple of minutes.
During the drive from the city to the suburbs, exhaustion from the day’s work settles into my bones.
God, I’m going to sleep like the dead tonight.
My thoughts return to Finn and the uneasy feeling he gave me tonight. It’s not the typical kind when you’re intimidated by a boss, but more like dealing with a man that’s interested in you when you don’t reciprocate his feelings.
There’s nothing physically wrong with Finn. He’s attractive and obviously wealthy, and I’m sure there are many women who’d like to date him, but not me. He’s not my type.
Actually, I don’t know what my type is.
There’s just something about Finn that makes the hackles on the back of my neck rise.
Maybe it’s because this job is so important to me, and I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize it.
Yeah, that’s probably it.
When the cab comes to a stop, I quickly settle the fee and get out. Taking a deep breath of the evening air, I let myself into the house and find Dad in front of the TV.
Instantly a frown settles on his forehead while he takes in my work attire, then he shakes his head. “You’re testin’ me, lass. I told you to stop workin’ at that place.”
The last thing I want to do is fight, and after pressing a kiss to Dad’s cheek, I ask, “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine!” he snaps, anger darkening his eyes. “When are you goin’ to listen to me and stop workin’ at Byrne Enterprises?”
Adamant not to get into a fight with Dad, I give him a pleading look while saying, “Can we not get into it tonight? I just wanted to check in on you.”
His eyes sharpen with worry. “Did somethin’ happen?”
I quickly shake my head. “No.” Dad’s already against me working at Byrne Enterprises, so I’ll never tell him anything negative. It will only make matters worse. “I’m actually doing well at work.”
Dad lets out a sigh. “You’ve always been stubborn.”
A smile tugs at my mouth. “Just like you.”
My comment earns me a rare smile from Dad, then he nods in the direction of the front door. “It’s late, lass. Get goin’.”
I take a moment to inspect Dad’s coloring. He does look better, his skin not so pale anymore. “Bye, Dad.”
“Text me when you get home, so I know you’re safe,” Dad calls after me.
“I will.”
Pulling the door shut behind me, I take my phone from my bag so I can order a cab.
When I get home, I plan on showering and going straight to bed. Today’s been really tiring.
