He Broke My Heart So I Marry His Father

Ashton: I twiddled my fingers, picking at the black nail polish chipping away on each of my fingers. I looked at the other women here for this position. I took in their perfectly manicured nails, nice clothing, and perfect hair with not one twig out of place. "You're out of your league here, Ashton." "You don't belong." "You look ridiculous. Just leave." My mind berated me, shoving my insecurities into my face, repeatedly reminding me that I don't belong. I looked at my ratty Doc Martins, then at their stilettos. I let my eyes wander to their fancy dresses, each skirt shorter than the next. I wiped my sweating palms on my skinny jeans, which felt like the best option this morning, considering that I had just graduated and was trying to come out of the broke student phase. I work three jobs... three. But none of them pay enough to let me buy clothes like theirs. I looked around the lobby the receptionist led us to as we waited our turns. I was the first one here this morning, thirty minutes before the others—black tile on the floors, white walls with expensive art. "You don't belong." We were given name tags, and the folders we had brought in with resumes and credentials were taken through the double doors on the left of me. I assume someone is back there now looking at them. Choosing the ones they think would be the best candidates for the CEO's assistant. "Just leave." I stood, letting those insecurities get the best of me. I'm sure with a company like this, the people conducting the interviews would dress and be manicured just as nicely as the other applicants. Just as I took the first step to leave the lobby, a redhead, dressed to the nine as I suspected, called my name. "Ms. Baylor." She called sweetly, a soft smile on her glossy lips. Then, as I turned, her eyes looked over me, taking in my ratty appearance, my long curls hanging around my hips. "That's me." I didn't bother with polite smiles or pleasantries as she walked me through a long hallway with the same décor and vibe as the lobby. I saw how she looked at me. I knew she thought the same thing I did. I don't fit in with people like this, and it rolled from me in waves. "Have a seat. They will join you shortly." The little redhead said as her heels clicking away left me in awkward silence with sweaty armpits and bile rising in my throat. The long conference table let me see my disheveled reflection glaring back at me. My platinum blonde hair hid the midnight black layer beneath it, but my curls made it peak through. What if they didn't allow hair like mine?... I could dye it all black again... I took a calming breath, straightening my posture as a tall, skinny man about my age scrambled in, laying two folders on the table across from me. He paid me no mind, at least not at first. "Could I offer you—uh" He looked me over, just like the redhead before him. "Yes, a coffee, please... blonde if possible." I smiled, forcing my black-painted lips to spread wide across my teeth. "He thinks you look ignorant." I thought while I watched his professionalism fade to disgust before he nodded and left the room. I waited approximately ten minutes. I felt they had forgotten me here. My mind played images of the same redhead that left me here calling another name; one of those women who were so perfect for this position would strut into a room like this one. They were being interviewed right now while I waited here, looking just as ignorant as my mind told me I did. The scrawny guy I asked for coffee returned with three cups, one of which he passed to me before setting up the other two next to the folders, and then he left. Two handsome middle-aged men walked in only a short breath later, conversing amongst themselves without noticing me. "Well, hello." The man in a finely tailored navy blue suit and brown hair smiled brightly at me. I felt almost shocked at how genuine his smile was. For the first time since coming into this office building, I felt like I found someone who wasn't judging me. "Good morning." I sipped my coffee, watching him take his seat. The other man, though, I saw the flash in his eyes, the one that said I would never be hired here, that I was only wasting my time. I smiled at him, false confidence written all over my face. "My name is Reed Burke; this is my assistant, Ryan Walsh. He will be with us during the interview, but I will ask all the questions. Ryan will be the one to contact you if you are hired for the position. Understand?" His voice was kind, with no hint of disdain for me or my appearance. "Yes, sir." "We're already off to a great start." He said, opening the folder in front of him. "You have a masters in Biochemistry?" Reed settled back into his chair, seeming relaxed, exuding confidence. "Correct." "Why are you applying for a position as an assistant with this degree, Ashton?" The sound of my name rolling from his pink lips had heat pulling into my stomach. "Focus, pervert." I cleared my throat and my screaming thoughts. "I have applied for several positions with my degree, but more... qualified applicants have received those positions, Mr. Burke." I couldn't tell him I worked three jobs already or that this one paid more than all three. I couldn't tell him I couldn't use my degree because companies look over my poorly dressed yet more than qualified self. "I see," he said, fingering through his hair. "If you were hired for this position, would you be willing to sign a nondisclosure agreement?" His eyes burned into me, waiting for an answer I didn't have to think long about. "I would s.h.i.t in my hands and clap if you told me doing so would get me hired for this position." When Mr. Burke's laughter bounced off the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, and his assistant looked at me mortified. I realized my thought had slipped through my lips without warning. "You're such an idiot." For once, I could agree with the voice in my head. I am an i***t. "I'm so sorry, sir. I—I wasn't supposed to say that out loud. The answer to your question is yes. I would sign a nondisclosure agreement." I spoke softer this time, less confident, mortified at the foul-mouthed answer I couldn't hold back. "I think I like the first answer better." Mr. Burke was still laughing, but now my cheeks were heated and not from how he looked at me when he walked in with a tiny sparkle of approval in his eye. I took a deep breath. "Benjamin is going to leave your pathetic ass." The voice in my head was right again. Benjamin and I had been together for a year and three months now, and for the last six months, we had been living together in a lovely little apartment, and he had been carrying my part of the bills the whole time. I wouldn't blame him if he left right now. "How do you feel about travelling?" I tried to hide the sparkle in my eyes. "I love it." I had never been anywhere but here, but the second reason I chose the degree I did was because it could take me anywhere I wanted to go. Or, it could if I could find a job. "What does your availability look like?" "Incredibly flexible. I am not married; I don't have children." I was rubbing my sweaty palms against my jeans again. "So, you can work nights? Because Mr. Pike has events, there will be other times when you will be needed in the nighttime hours. "Yes, sir. Nights, weekends, wherever I can be most helpful." "Aren't you an eager little thing?" He smiled at me again. Approval. This was his approval, and I hated how sweet the tingles down my spine felt with his words. "Yes, sir. I know it doesn't seem like I am much, but I know I can do this job and do it well." I added degrading myself for being with Benjamin and enjoying how Mr. Burke's words made me feel. "Attention w.h.o.r.e." "Ashton, Mr. Pike and I started this company in his garage over fifteen years ago. Your appearance doesn't matter to me, and it won't matter to him. While we have a dress code, your work for this company will always matter more than the designer's name on your clothes." "Yes, sir." The corner of his lip turned up. "If you are offered this position, I will call you by the end of the day. If you don't receive a call, the position was offered to someone else. We appreciate your interest in the position." Mr. Walsh spoke as if he had rehearsed that in the bathroom mirror all morning. "Thank you for your time and consideration." I stood, politely rolling the chair back into place and taking the paper coffee cup with me, ensuring that I left no trace of my being there. "Have a wonderful day, Ashton." Mr. Burke looked me up and down, making my face flush red again. "Thank you, Mr. Burke. I hope the same for you, sir." I walked back into the lobby, where every pair of eyes landed on me. I kept my expression neutral, my eyes forward until I entered the elevator and the doors closed behind me. I was pacing the small space, talking to myself like the garbage I am. "You stupid, pathetic, attention w.h.o.r.e. You disgust me," I yelled into my reflection on the elevator doors just as they opened to the most attractive man I had ever seen. His salt and pepper hair slicked back in perfection, the sides cut neatly. His black suit fit him like a glove, lighting all his chiseled muscles. I froze when his dark gaze fell on me. The hair on my arms stood in his presence. This man was dangerous. "I'm so sorry, sir. I wasn't talking to you." I blurted, fighting back my hot tears. "You i***t, not only did you blow another interview, but you also called a complete god an attention w.h.o.r.e." Arden: Reed had called me on my way back to tell me about all the women who showed up to interview as my assistant. I told him all week I would rather not have another after the last. They all seem to sit at their desks googly-eyed, throwing themselves at me, getting zero work done. It's a distraction we can't afford right now. "I just met the most darling little thing." "I bet," I replied dryly. "She reminded me of us back in the day. Doc Martins and all." I looked at my shining dress shoes. I miss those damn boots. The elevator opened to a pair of painted black lips screaming "attention w.h.o.r.e” in my face. Her big blue eyes began to water when the words left her mouth. Was she going to cry? My eyes walked up and down her curvy frame, stopping at her Doc Martins. I muted my call, listening to Reed rave about the girl standing before me. "If nothing else, she seems to need the work," he said as she ran out of the elevator. Her cheeks and nose grew redder with each passing second that she had been in this elevator with me. "Send the others on their way. Hire the girl." I told Reed before hanging up to enjoy a second of silence locked in this box before everyone in this building is in my face for one reason or another.