Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25739 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25739 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Of course hanging out with my favorite people in the entire world made the time fly and yes, Julien and Jack had plenty of friends for me to meet, but I hadn’t given any of them more than five minutes of my time because my mind kept going straight to Wyatt King and what today would bring.
Would he see me and feel the instant attraction that floods my bones every time I see him, or would he just treat me like every other employee and work me to the bone until I quit?
Only time would tell.
My hands were shaking as I made my way off the train. It wasn’t the icy cold of January, but rather the nervousness of being Wyatt King’s office assistant that had them quivering. Working for him wasn’t a simple task, and I’m not sure I’m up for it. Not that I’d been given a choice in the matter.
As I reach the ten-story building entrance, a harsh wind burns my skin and I wish I’d worn a scarf. My cheeks are going to be flush all day now.
I barely make it through the revolving doors when I’m met by an exasperated Agnes. “There you are. We need to get upstairs quickly.” She grabs my bicep and quickly ushers me to the bank of elevators off to the side of the security desk with no more explanation.
She jabs the button to the top floor like it will make it go any faster. The doors finally shut, and we rode up. It was a brief trip, but every time I was about to speak she’d mutter something to herself, so I’d bite my tongue.
Seriously, what the hell was going on today?
We barely step off the elevator to flat ground when she drags me through the glass doors to a woman I’ve seen before but never met. She quickly introduces me to a buttoned-up woman in her mid-thirties to late thirties as Ms. Glenda Dalton.
Ms. Dalton presses her hand to my shoulder, leading me down the corridor, leaving Agnes behind who is already making her way out to the elevators as fast as she can. “Ms. Pernetti, Mr. King is at the courthouse today and won’t be in until this evening, so we have a few hours to prepare everything.” A few hours? A whole workday is more like it. “He’s a busy man and has a full caseload this month. Unfortunately, his law clerk quit joining a less fast-paced firm this morning. You and I will be putting together the required case files, including any necessary affidavits, transcripts, and statutes pertaining to the case.”
Outside the double doors, I pause. “Ms. Dalton, I’m not prepared to be a law clerk. I came here as an office assistant to Mr. King.”
She smiles, shrugs her shoulders, and then opens the doors to the large library area. “Yes, well.... things change. Consider this your crash course; you’re now Mr. King’s office assistant with temporary needs elsewhere. Set your coat and things down there for now.”
I came to answer phones, sort mail, smile, serve coffee, and be the little helper, not all these extra, advanced tasks they handle. It’s bad enough that I was already jumping up a level or two with this group versus my team downstairs. Now I’m forced to take on tasks that I’d never attempted before.
I’m overwhelmed with the amount of self-doubt that floods me, but she looks me in the face. “You are able to read and alphabetize, correct?”
“Of course,” I bite out, annoyed and frustrated by this turn of events and her snarky tone.
“Then relax; I’ll ease you into what needs to be done.” I take a deep breath and listen to her instructions, and like she said, she does just that.
When I prove myself after the first thirty minutes, I relax and gain more confidence. Perhaps this job won’t be as difficult as I’d presumed.
We spend almost all day and into the late afternoon working without taking a break. Even two other clerks, Jason Maxwell and Tom Johnson come upstairs to lend a hand. They worked with me downstairs.
We’ve been busting out butts, and I haven’t had more than a bottle of water all day. I’m exhausted and hungry. All I can think about is sinking my teeth into a giant, greasy cheeseburger until the sharp footsteps click through the marble tiles and into the conference room.
“Mr. King,” Ms. Dalton gasps. I lift my head to find this six-foot-two beast of a man in all black, looking extremely fierce. Dark eyelashes highlight his killer gray eyes, screaming dangerous predator with just a gaze. His hair is a dark brown, almost black, with hints of gray streaks coming in on the sides. I swallow hard and look around, wondering if anyone can hear the sound my throat made. When our eyes meet for just a moment, I know he did.