Not Another Billionaire

EXCERPT:

Tessa

Monday morning, I walked into the tall metal building in the middle of downtown Minneapolis. I’d forgotten to tell my friends that this was the other downfall to the job. Driving around downtown wasn’t easy, and parking was almost always a nightmare. My last job had been in a suburb with a nice parking lot attached to the building. Thankfully, there was a parking garage close to the office building, so I didn’t have to go too far.

I headed to the security desk at the front. Even though the Bradford Group was a big business, they only used one floor, and the other floors belonged to other businesses. It made me feel a little better about being at this intimidating location.

“Hello. How may I help you?” the polite gentleman in a security uniform said from behind the desk.

“I am starting a job at the Bradford Group today.”

He clicked something into his computer. “Your name, please?”

“Tessa Archer.”

He scanned his screen. “Ah, there you are. Oh, it looks like you are only here temporarily.”

“Yes. I’m filling in as Mr. Crawford’s assistant.”

The guard’s eyes rounded. “Wow. The big man himself.”

Oh shit. That didn’t seem like a good response. Why was the guy so wide-eyed?

“Yes, the CEO himself.” I leaned in. “Is there something I should know before I start my first day?”

The guard shook his head. “Oh, no. I have nothing to say.”

That sounded like he had something very interesting to say but didn’t want to get in trouble.

I sighed. I hoped I wasn’t going to immediately regret this decision. The dollar amount was enticing for my business plans, but I didn’t need any workplace drama.

“Okay then. Do I need anything before I go up?”

“One second, please.” He shuffled some papers around on his desk until he found what he was looking for. “Here is your temporary pass. Once you’re up there, they will take your picture and give you a permanent ID that you can use for the elevators.” He waved the white plastic card in his hand. “This will be deactivated after twelve hours, so make sure you get the ID; otherwise, you’ll be stopping here again tomorrow.”

I held out my hand. “Got it.”

The guard slapped the card down. “Have a good first day. And good luck.”

“Thanks,” I said, heading toward the staff elevators.

Once I reached the eighth floor, there was another reception desk right at the front.

How many people do I have to go through?

The two women greeted me with smiles, and I explained who I was all over again.

“Oh, thank God you are here,” one of the receptionists—a blonde woman—said with way too much relief on her face.

Uh-oh. This seemed like another red flag.

The other receptionist—a brunette—clasped her hands together, as if she were praying. “Yes, the last two weeks have been awful.”

“Uh … I’m not sure I want to work here if it’s that bad,” I told them. I was only half-joking.

They bolted around the corner and took my arms.

“No, no, it’s not horrible. Let us show you to your cubicle, and then we’ll take you directly to HR to get your security badge,” the blonde woman said.

“I don’t even know your names.”

“Oh, I’m Rhonda,” the brunette said, “and that’s Colleen.”

“That’s great. I’m Tessa, and I am perfectly capable of walking under my own power.”

They both laughed and let go of my arms while I resisted the urge to spin around and make a dash toward the elevators.

***

After Rhonda and Colleen showed me to my cubicle, they took me by the break room and then HR. I had a new badge that was really just a white rectangle to give me access to the building. When I went back to my desk, it was only after I sat that I realized they hadn’t introduced me to my new boss.

I stood up and looked around for someone to give me guidance. Technically, I was out in the main area with the assistants and additional people who didn’t get their own private space. But Mr. Crawford’s office was in the back and around a corner, so I was secluded from the others and had some privacy.

Mr. Crawford’s door was closed, but I could see light coming from underneath, so there was a good chance he was in there. But he might be one of those people who didn’t want to be disturbed if their door was closed. One of the lawyers I’d worked with at my old job was like that. We’d all known not to even knock unless it was an absolute emergency.

I finally resigned myself to going back up to the front to find either Colleen or Rhonda when something in my peripheral vision caught my attention.

It was a man wearing a white tank top, a pair of black gym shorts, and a sheen of sweat. He looked to be early to mid-thirties with dark blond hair, styled in a fauxhawk, and a beard.

At first, I thought maybe he was a messenger, but he didn’t have anything with him, except a water bottle and a look of determination as he headed for my new boss’s office.

I didn’t know what to do. Did I let him go? Did he even belong here?

He sure didn’t look like he belonged in an office building, but what if he was Mr. Crawford’s son?

I had thought of Mr. Crawford as being in his late fifties to early sixties, making this man too old, but I could have been wrong.

And if I only asked him who he was, I couldn’t get fired for that. Right?

I bolted over to him so fast that he almost ran into me, but I didn’t want him to walk into the office, unannounced.

“Hello, sir,” I said. “May I help you?”

He took a step back and looked at the door, which was now behind me. “I don’t think so. Can I ask who you are?”

“I’m Mr. Crawford’s assistant. It’s my first day, and I apologize, but I’m unfamiliar with his clients.”

I was pretty sure this guy wasn’t a client, but it was the politest thing I could call him.

He raised an eyebrow. “Can I get your name?”

I cringed inside. Wanting someone’s name was usually a bad sign. He probably wanted it, so he could complain about me later.

“Tessa,” I answered reluctantly.

Nodding, he flipped open the lid to his water bottle and took a long drink.

It was then that I noticed this man was built well. Broad shoulders, nice biceps, and I would bet five hundred dollars that he had a six-pack under that tank top of his because his legs were thickly muscled. When I brought my eyes back up, I didn’t miss the bulge in the front of his black shorts either. The man was clearly not aroused, yet I could see a faint outline of his penis anyway.

I plucked the front of my shirt. All of a sudden, it felt warm in there.

The sound of the man’s water bottle clicking closed jolted me back to the present.

“So, Tessa, did you happen to Google the Bradford Group before you started?”

This felt like a quiz.

“Just a little.” I mean, it was my friend, but it still counted, right? “I know this company was started twelve years ago,” I said with a smile to show him I had done my homework.

I didn’t know who this guy was yet, but he must have some serious clout with my new boss if he was asking me questions like this.

But this guy didn’t seem to be impressed with my answer. “Did you happen to look at any images during your Google search?”

Oh no, this guy had to be Mr. Crawford’s son. Or what if he’s Mr. Crawford’s lover? Or best friend?

“No,” I finally admitted.

“Do me a favor.”

Do I have to?

He raised his brow.

“Okay.”

But if he asked me to go and fetch him coffee just to prove he was more important than me, I was out of there. I didn’t care how much they planned on paying me.

That was a lie. I would totally get this unknown person coffee if I had to. I just wouldn’t like it and would definitely be complaining to my friends later.

“I assume you have a smartphone.”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“I want you to look up Bradford Group, Seth Crawford. And then click on Images.”

I pointed over at my desk. “I have to—my phone is—” I cleared my throat and held up my finger. “Give me one moment.”

I left my spot that blocked him from entering my boss’s office, wondering if he’d make a break for it but he stayed where he was.

I found my phone in my purse and searched exactly what he’d asked me to. Once the search results came up, I clicked over to Images … and was flooded with pictures of the guy standing a few feet away from me, only he had on a suit and jacket on my phone.

My mouth dropped open, and I slowly lifted my gaze to his.

I had royally fucked up because he wasn’t Mr. Crawford’s son, or lover, or best friend.

“Can I go into my office now?”

He was Mr. Seth Crawford, the big man himself.

I tried to apologize, but only a squeak came out, so I simply nodded.

As soon as he was inside and the door was closed, I collapsed in my chair.

I was going to be fired, and I had barely started.