17 SIGNS

Chapter One

I walked over to the window and reflected on my classy surroundings, leaving the big crowded and bright room where everyone was drinking, laughing, and talking. The starry sky teasing the darkness over the colossal city like never before. 

Tonight was the introduction and welcome of the recent members of the staff. And I was one of them. But I felt somehow overwhelmed and came here to clear my mind of all the names and all the potent perfumes. I wasn't yet used to this world. I loved it, but tonight I wasn't feeling it at all. The party has just started and everyone was excited about getting to know personally the best lawyers in the country. And here I was, wasting my chances, but I didn't really care.

From everyone else's perspective, I was just in Nelson's Associates for the money and attention. The glamor of being a socialite, going to galas and charity balls. Flying private to beautiful beaches and exotic jungles, but that had nothing to do with it. This was my dream job and the life I wanted, but my mood tonight wasn't just matching the aura in the other room.

Sighing, I tried to distract myself from those thoughts. Then, I saw something in the distance, or rather someone. It was the figure of Ryan Nelson. My boss. The owner of the enterprise. 

He had the kind of face that stopped you in your tracks. The kind of body to make you become a sinner without regrets. He had tousled dark brown hair, which was thick and lustrous. His eyes were a mesmerizing deep green. 

His face was robust and defined, his features molded from granite. He had dark eyebrows, which sloped downwards in a serious expression. Well defined, with a sharp jaw and angular cheekbones. 

The complexion of his skin going well with the rest of his personality. I sighed, not looking away from him. There was something about Ryan, slight confidence and inflated ego, that had me muddling my words whenever he's around.

He looked down for a moment, pouring himself a drink and bringing the alcohol to his lips. He hasn't seen me yet so I gaze freely. Suddenly, he made eye contact with me and smirked slightly. His colleagues didn't notice he was looking at me. And I gulped. I was totally not prepared for Ryan and his powerful aura. So I decided it was better if I left the party. 

As I stepped outside, I felt Ryan coming closer behind me, I could sense the wet and quirky smile on his face. He's not usually the kind of guy I fantasize about. For starters, he's brunette and I've always liked blondes. I used to lust after blue-eyed men with a handle on the world of business. 

Until I met him.

Ryan's steps were really silent; like I wouldn't know he's right behind me if it weren't because of his scent and the fact I could sense his eyes all over me. He said, to my surprise, in hushed tones, "Where do you think you're going, miss Godfrey?"

I looked back, freezing in my spot. "I-" I cleared my throat to not sound like a dork. "I'm going home, I'm tired" I replied.

We looked at each other and I was mesmerized and mystified by how his eyes shone, the light in here remarking his face features, and I couldn't look away from him. I regarded Ryan's lips, biting my lower lip softly. 

"You're... tired?" He mumbled softly with a delighted grin that made me miss a heartbeat.

Ryan looked calm, his eyes on me like he was trying to figure me out, or at least the truth of why I was leaving this soon when he had just officially introduced us. When I said I was tired I wasn't lying, but there was something else about tonight that was making me feel a bit uncomfortable and out of place.

"Why don't you go with me and I introduce you to a couple of good friends? I'm sure they'll be enchanted to meet you" He suggested, which made me arch my eyebrows in disbelief. Was he serious? Did he truly think they would be interested in meeting me? I still wasn't so sure, but the fact he was interested in making me feel better being here, made me smile and I agreed to his suggestion. I would give tonight another chance.

Ryan came inside for a nice glass of wine for me and an old-fashioned for him. He placed my free hand in his forearm while he took me to the room everyone was in and introduced me to every person right there that didn't work in the office since I already knew them. I couldn't stop laughing and smiling at the jokes they made, the nice comments, and, although I didn't like to admit it, I was enjoying Ryan's presence next to me.

And then the alarm went off. 

I opened my eyes not knowing exactly where I was and I groaned in annoyance when I realized it was all a f*****g dream.

It's been the second time this week I had dreamt with my boss, Ryan Nelson. It has been nearly a month since that welcome party happened and I was having dreams about it now. Why? No idea.

Yes, he existed, not only in my dreams, and I was working for him at Nelson's Associates. I looked around and saw the bottle of Vodka I drank last night along with my takeaway. My head was thumping like it had a few drummers inside.

While I got up and tried to find my pen skirt and a blouse, I wondered why I kept dreaming about that night for the second time this week. While I got dressed, I was trying to find a suitable answer as to why did I think it was a good idea to get myself drunk on Vodka on a Sunday when I had to work today.

I put in my high heels and nearly lost my balance, alcohol still running inside my system, which made me think I had to take a couple of coffees at work so I could be focused and ready to face the long week waiting for me.

I tried not to scream while brushing my hair. My head still hurt like hell and my hair was a complete mess. Giving it up, I brushed it lightly with my fingers, thanking God he gave me wavy hair so I could get away without brushing it.

Sighing, I checked the clock, nearly passing out when I saw I was already running late. New York's traffic wasn't made so you could go out of your home peacefully, no. It was made so you had to run. And that's what I did, I picked my stuff, keys, phone, food, and lipstick, and ran like the devil was chasing me. 

I called a cab and gave them directions in a rush, feeling breathless already, ignoring the pounding in my head. I was, sadly, used to it as much as someone can be. Surprisingly, there wasn't as much traffic as other times, I thanked whoever that was up for this and applied my lipstick on the way, trying to do it correctly so I didn't look like a cheap w***e who had just made out with a few c***s in her mouth.

I didn't know how but I arrived in time. Just five minutes before my shift started officially. I had enough time to sit down, calm down my breathing, and go for a coffee.

When I entered the mini-kitchen that was next room to my desk, I couldn't help but gasp when I was startled by Ryan's presence there. 

There was no one else around and I wondered why everyone was late today, or was it that it was too early?

"It's good to see you, Miss Godfrey, how come you decided to do extra hours on a Saturday?" Ryan spoke as I poured myself a black coffee, dark enough to make my hangover disappear in a couple of hours. I looked at him, confused, while he was smiling. 

"What do you mean with extra hours on a Saturday?" I asked suspiciously. If he was trying to get me to come to work on a Saturday, he went mad overnight. I was new to the staff and willing to work but I wasn't going to do any extra hours. 

"Well, since you're here I thought you were in it." I opened my mouth to reply when something clicked in my head. Wait, did he mean what I really thought he meant?

I checked my phone just to make sure, maybe he was being a smart-ass with one of his jokes. But what I read on my phone wasn't pleasant at all. Saturday, 23rd of March.

Groaning, I put it down, and I drank my black coffee in just one big sip. Putting my cup down, I glanced at him, resigned.

"Well, now I'm here there's no way I'm going back home now, so just tell me what's to do."

He smiled at me. He didn't seem surprised by my answer. I made sure since I started working here there was no way someone could call me lazy.

"There's a big project in my office waiting for the perfect candidate." He replied, guiding me to his office, my heels being the only noise in the building, or at least on this floor.

"By perfect candidate you mean me, right?" I snapped back. He's been talking to me about this project for so long I really thought he was trying to assign it to me, and now I was certain he didn't just want to give it to anyone else.

"You know me too well already, Sophia." He laughed quietly. 

We sat down in the big crystal table. I opposed him.

"The details are right there, I'm sure you're smart enough to read it well and come back to me on Monday for the details, am I right?"

Reading superficially everything in the documents, I agreed with him. "Exactly."

Sighing, I got up and walked out to my desk. I left the documents there and stared out the window for what seemed hours. At least I wasn't going to be the joke of the office for confusing Saturday with Monday. 

And, after all, it wasn't too bad spending extra hours at work when all I could concentrate on was the way my body reacted when Ryan's eyes were all over me from his office. But I didn't dare to look back at him.

I wasn't ready to explore this thing between us, yet.