My hands fidgeted in front of me. That’s how nervous he was making me, like I was back in school being told off by a teacher.
“Jamie.” He sat forward in his chair. “You disrespected me back there by walking into my office unannounced. You should know you’re supposed to knock before you come in.”
“Your dad wouldn’t appreciate you—”
“My dad will never know, because you won’t tell him a word about this.”
“Or what?” I challenged.
“Or I’ll fucking fire you.”
My jaw almost hit the ground. “That’s…”
“Illegal?” He smirked, standing up from his chair and walking toward me. He loomed over me, trapping me against his office door. “You think that matters to me? You don’t think I could bury you if I wanted?”
My knees began to shake as he held me with those dark, intense eyes of his. He was so close I could feel the heat radiating off his body and smell the intoxicating scent of his cologne.
For a second, I could understand the allure of having Mason Knight above me. To feel his weight pushing down on me as he held me with those powerful arms…
“Do you understand me?” he asked, his voice like velvet.
“Y-yes, Mason,” I stammered, clearing my mind of that crazy idea.
“It’s Mr. Knight. I’m your boss. Get used to calling me that.”
I just nodded, afraid that I’d blurt out another sarcastic remark.
“And just to make sure you don’t squeal, I’m going to be keeping a close eye on you.” He leaned even closer, his biceps bulging against the sleeves of his dress shirt. “Congratulations, Jamie, you’re going to be my personal assistant.”
But looking up at him, seeing the expression in those dark, bottomless eyes… Did I really have a choice?
“Aren’t you glad?” he asked. “I don’t usually have a personal assistant. You’re the exception.”
“Yes,” I said drily.
“Yes, what?”
“Yes, Mr. Knight.”
He smiled at me, dark and dangerous.
“Good. You start now.”
I’d been slaving for Mr. Knight all day.
Not the father—the son.
Since I caught him and Jen, he’d had me running around like a headless chicken. His way of punishing me.
It was quite clear that he had it in for me now, and I was not all that fond of him either.
Personal assistant? More like personal slave.
Mr. Knight—the father, not the son—walked up to my desk, a kind smile on his face.
“Are you okay, Jamie?” he asked. “You seem a little tense.”
“I’m fine, Mr. Knight,” I said. “Just a long day.”
“Please, just Harry is fine.”
I smiled back at him. How could father and son be so different?
I had to force myself to not roll my eyes while Harry was right in front of me.
“You sure you’re okay?” Harry asked, looking between me and Mason. Could he feel the tension between us even on opposite sides of the office?
“Yup, totally fine, Harry. Do you need anything else?”
“No, I’m fine, darling. Thank you.” He gave me another encouraging smile before frowning in the direction of his son and walking toward his own office. The father was a joy to work for. The son, on the other hand…
“Jamie! Where’s that coffee?”
The rest of the day went by like that. I tried to get my work done while Mason just kept piling on more things for me to do. The hours blurred by, and before I knew it, the day ended.
Well, not for me.
I still had a few things to do for Mr. Jerkface.
My phone rang on the desk beside my computer. I glanced down at the caller ID and saw it was Ethan. I was supposed to be meeting him and Carmen for drinks after work; he was probably calling to ask where I was.
A throat cleared behind me.
I turned and saw Mason Knight standing by my desk, arms folded as usual, the most pissed-off expression on his face.
I quickly lifted the receiver, then dropped it again to stop the ringing. Ethan would have to wait. I stood on shaky legs, not knowing what to say or do.
“Is—is everything okay, Mr. Knight?”
He glared at me for a few seconds. “I’m going to need you to stay a little longer, Jamie. There’s something that needs doing for Monday morning.”
“But…I…”
“But you what? Have better things to do than save your brand-new job? Don’t make the mistake of getting on my bad side twice in one day, Jamie. It won’t end well for you.”
“Okay, um, sure. I can stay.”
He handed me a small binder. “Fifty copies. I’m sure you’re okay with that. And make it snappy. I’ve got appointments for you to set up afterward.”
I mustered a smile, trying to show that I wasn’t bothered by him, which of course I was.
An hour later, I walked across the office with a stack of files in my arms so high I had to peer around them to see where I was going.
Juggling the stack, I knocked on Mr. Knight’s door. I hoped to god I would face his wrath again.
“Come in!”
I was sure he knew I had a stack of files but decided not to get up and open the door to help me.
I fiddled with the handle until I eventually got it open and pushed it the rest of the way with my bum. I was sweating as I turned around and walked toward him.
“I see you’ve learned your lesson.” He leaned forward in his chair with a smirk. “I guess there’s hope for you after all.”
“Well, I’m not one to make the same mistake twice.” I set the files down in front of him on the dark wooden desk. “I made fifty-five copies just in case.”
It was taking all the willpower I had in me just to be nice to him.
His eyes scanned the stack. “I thought it looked like a lot. Your little arms must be tired after some hard work.”
Really?
I took a booklet from the top and leaned forward slightly, placing it down in front of him. “So, this bit here, I did it in bold to draw more attention.”
“Well, you’re certainly drawing my attention.” Mr. Knight’s smirk was still firmly in place. “Did you mean to leave that button open?”
He pointed to my blouse with the pen he was holding.
I looked down and noticed my white blouse was gaping between buttons, putting my baby-blue bra on show.
I mean, it wasn’t as if it was avoidable; I was right in front of him.
“Oh!” I straightened up and fixed the gap.
“Did you do that…for my benefit?” He sat back in his chair, his eyes scanning my body. “They’re just breasts. I’ve seen plenty of them.”
I folded my arms over my chest. “Do you need anything else from me, or is it okay that I leave?”
“I don’t need you for anything else. You did better than I thought. I was expecting you to be useless.”
“See you Monday morning, then.”
I strode out, grabbed my things from behind my desk, and left in a hurry before he could change his mind.
Ten minutes later, I entered the wintry street outside Knight & Son. December was absolutely bitter, so much so that I was covered up head to toe.
I held my phone against my ear, chatting to my mum while I sheltered in the space just outside the office doors. She was doing her usual thing: trying to set me up on a date.
I really hated it when she did this, but the woman was on a mission to get me married off before I hit my thirties. It was all part of the successful family image my parents aspired for.
I loved my mum and dad, but living up to their expectations could be stifling at times.
“I don’t know… I don’t really like the idea of going out with a man I’ve never seen before, Mum. What if I don’t like what he looks like?”
I didn’t mean to sound shallow, but I was going to need some encouragement if she wanted me to do this.
“Oh, Jamie, looks aren’t everything. But if you must know, he’s a handsome lad…”
Mum’s explanation faded as my mind drifted. The generic imagined face—the kind she always suggested for dates—dissolved and was replaced by something far more potent.
Mason Knight.
Maybe a blind date wouldn’t be so bad if the man on the other end of it possessed even a fraction of his magnetism.
“Jamie—Jamie, are you there?”
“Sorry, Mum, I was…distracted. What was it you were saying?”
Mum clicked her tongue off the roof of her mouth. “I was just saying, Ryan is very good-looking, and I think you would like him. He seems very eager to meet you, Jamie. Won’t you give him a chance? One date? I can send you a picture of him so you can see for yourself.”
I heard a chuckle beside me, and I looked over.
Mason Knight’s muscular frame was standing right next to me, bundled up in an expensive woolen coat and merino scarf—and with a huge smirk on his face. I assumed he’d overheard my conversation.
“I have to go, Mum. Call you back.”
I hung up while she was still chatting away and placed my phone back in my bag.
“So, your mum is setting you up on a date. That’s a bit weird. You can’t find a date for yourself?” Mr. Knight turned his head in my direction, waiting for an answer.
I was biting my tongue. I wanted to tell him to keep his opinions and rude comments to himself. Instead, I said, “It’s a blind date. I’m just going to humor her. It’s worth it to keep her off my back about my dating life.”
“Or your lack of…” He chuckled. “I’m guessing you don’t do much dating. A word of advice? Wear something a bit revealing and try not to talk a lot. A man is only interested in looks, after all.”
At that moment, a black BMW pulled up in front of us. “Good night, Jamie,” he said, leaving me standing there in the cold but feeling far too hot.
On Monday morning, I pressed the button continuously for the elevator to come down. It was quiet in reception, a change from the usual rush, but I’d still been waiting at least five minutes for the darn thing.
I sighed as I smashed the button again, just as a shadow descended over me.
“Such impatience, Jamie.”
My cheeks flared crimson, the heat spreading rapidly down my neck. I fought not to whirl around and slap the audacity from his mouth.
Mercifully, the elevator doors opened.
Not so mercifully, no one was inside. No one waiting to get in but us.
Just me and Mr. Knight to ride forty-eight floors alone.
I could have groaned, but that would have been both unprofessional and unladylike.
“Are you coming or what?” Mr. Knight held the door open. “I’d advise that you get in. Unless you want to stay late again.”
He had me there. I would rather be in a confined space with him for a couple of minutes than stay late again.
“Yes. Thank you.” I stepped in and stood next to him. Mason pressed the button for the forty-eighth floor, and up we went.
“I’m going to need you to set up that meeting with Mr. Morrison for some time this week.” He was tapping his screen lightly. “Make sure it’s at the Bradford. And make sure it’s not too late.”
“Yes, Mr. Knight.”
All of a sudden, the elevator shuddered and came to a halt, causing my heart to jump up into my throat.
The doors didn’t open. It was quite clear that it wasn’t just stopping at another floor.
