Love In The City

The Agreement

     What Luck! I can't believe that jerk is my new boss. I needed to get out of here and quick. I grabbed my purse off the desk and headed towards Mr. Donovan's office. The walk was silent, with only the sound of my new heels clicking. Reaching the door, I took a deep breath and knocked.

"Come in," His cheerful voice carried through the mahogany door from the other side. I guess he wouldn't be cheerful for long, I thought as I opened the door. "How's your first day going?"

"That's why I'm here actually," I gulped. He stopped typing and turned his full attention to me.

"You look rather pale. Are you sick today?" He asked.

"I can't work here, I'm sorry," I blurted.

"I Don't understand. Are you going back home or something?"

Before I could answer the door slammed open bringing the smell of Raul’s musky cologne with it, “Travis, there is absolutely no way in hell I am working with that woman. Do you hear me?”

 I turned in my seat and laid eyes on the man who made me carefree for just one night, the man who just left me a cowardly note in the morning and doesn’t even remember my name. His eyes fell on mine when he realized I was sitting there, and he ran his hand through his dark hair as if that would solve everything.

“Raul, we agreed, and she is qualified,” Mr. Donovan stood and came around his desk. I took the time to send Melinda a text telling her to pick me up here immediately. After I put my phone back in my purse I stood up ready to solve the issue for them.

“I am serious about quitting Mr. Donovan,”

“Call me Travis, and no he will not bully you,” his eyes fell on Raul and I prayed Raul would have enough decency not to tell him why.

“You’re fired!” Raul yelled.

“I would never work for a pig like you anyway,” I stood up ready to leave. Out of all the places to find him in, I never expected it to be my new job.

“What is going on?” Travis yelled. I kept my eyes lowered, not wanting to see Raul when he told him I was the one-night stand he left at the hotel. I was embarrassed enough as it is. I walked towards the office I was all set on calling mine and grabbed my jacket. Straightening up the files on the desk, I then headed towards the elevator. Raul could tell him what he wanted, but I was leaving.

The elevator chimed signaling the door opening and out walked Melinda. Her face fell immediately, and I was sure she had seen how upset I was. I reached out to stop the elevator doors from closing, but a tanned hand beats me to it. I looked down to see a silver alligator skinned boot stuck between the door and knew Raul was once again right there. Before I could protest, he pulled me into the elevator. The last thing I heard was Melinda hollering, “Don’t worry, I will have my brother call security and throw that loser out.”

Raul was laughing, and I wanted to slap him again. “What is so funny?” I asked, pushing the open button repeatedly.

He held up a key in his hand and shook them back and forth. “This elevator will not open until I say so, and I own this company. Travis is my partner, but I own the majority share. Your friend can have fun trying to kick me out of my building.”

“What do you want?” I avoided his gaze.

“I remember your name. It’s Gabby, you moved here from Kansas. Gabby, I remember every little thing about you,” he pushed me up against the back of the elevator and put his hands on either side of me.

“I couldn’t care less. You were just one drunken mistake,” I tried to remain calm as my heart beat faster at his closeness.

“Don’t blame alcohol. We both know you weren’t that drunk,” He said.

“What do you want?” I asked again.

“I need you to stay, at least for a few weeks. I have an important deal coming up and I can’t do it without an assistant.”

“I don’t know I will leave you a letter on your desk and let you know,” I rolled my eyes at him.

“Would you rather I lied and pretended like we were going to be some happy couple?” he asked.

“I am not working for you, now let me out of here, please,” I pushed his arm away, but he braced the elevator wall.

“Look, I will pay you in advance and a month’s salary. It’s only two weeks,” his voice softened.

I could use that money, and it would give me income while I looked for another job. “Fine, but I am taking the day off,”

“Fine, but I will need you to take home the files you had this morning. Make sure you answer your phone if I call,” I nodded my head, and he stepped back away from me and put the key in the slot, signaling the elevator back to operate.

 I smoothed down my clothes, making sure everything was in place. When the elevator door opened Travis and Melinda were both standing there with their hands on their hips. It was so funny, I actually chuckled.

“I knew I recognized you. You’re the snake player my brother warned me about,” Melinda gritted her teeth, grabbing my hand.

“You’re not my type, so he has no worries,” Raul said.

“Oh, but my friend here is? You took advantage of her.” Melinda was always relentless, and I tried to pull her away.

“You slept with her then left her at the hotel?” Travis said.

I decided I didn’t want to be a part of this conversation, so I went and grabbed the files off the desk. It surprised me Melinda didn’t follow behind me, but then again, I was sure she stayed behind to yell at Raul more. I knew I was stupid to agree to work with him for a few weeks, but it would help me replace the money I spent from my savings. Besides, he was offering me a month’s salary for two weeks. How hard could it be?

“Let’s go before I punch that asshole,” Melinda appeared in the doorway.

I stuck the folders between my arm and followed her. I wanted to be as far away from Raul as I could when I told her I agreed to work for him for a few weeks.

“What a jerk. I knew I recognized him,”

We stepped into the elevator and thankfully Raul was nowhere in sight.

“Let’s just get out of here. We can talk later,” I said. I needed to think about what I had agreed to. Could I really work next to him for the next few weeks after what happened? I wasn’t sure, but I knew I needed the money.

“Why do you have those folders?” Melinda asked.

I knew I was in for one hell of an argument now. And we wouldn’t be leaving this damned building anytime soon.