Piper and the Paparazzi King

9

Rolling up the curved driveway to the huge mansion was unnerving as Piper’s hands gripped the steering wheel of the company car. She had talked with Rusty a few times in the last few days and knew this job interview was not going to be a walk in the park. Convincing Ford that she was here to do her job, and not to fraternize with the boss, was not going to be an easy task when he already had a chip on his shoulder. She couldn’t blame him though. The poor man had been through hell and back.

Due to the fact Ford kept putting off their meeting, she wondered if it was going to happen at all. When she pulled up to the large cobblestone mansion she saw the garage door open where a makeshift sparing gym was set up. If he was already keyed up from a workout, would he even be in the mood to be reasonable?

There he stood, kicking at his trainers’ gloved hands. Or, at least try his best while adjusting his pent-up injured arm. The very man who consumed her dreams and fantasies for years in all his muscled glory was just feet away. The handsome celebrity wrestler made her cheeks heat with just the sight of him, but it wasn’t the time to get doe-eyed now. If she messed this up her whole life would be in shambles.

As she watched him talking to his trainer, her eyes loomed over his fit, muscled physic. No matter how hard she tried to pry her eyes away, he was too glorious for words. When he lifted his sleeveless t-shirt to wipe sweat from his brow, she noticed his gym shorts hung low on his hips, revealing that deep V that made her gulp down a sudden tightness in her throat. He was tanned perfection, and watching the trails of sweat bead down his body made her mouth water. His long dark hair was tucked into a man bun and his panting chest made her want to run her hands over every inch of him.

“My God, he’s gorgeous. Okay, Piper. This is it. Time to meet your idol and the man of your dreams. Try not to drool all over the guy,” she whispered to herself, and she turned off the key to the car. “Be professional.”

She slowly got out of her car as the two men turned to see who had pulled up.

Ford squinted his eyes to adjust his sight from the bright sunlight that showed behind her. “Who’s that? What time is it?” Ford pulled his phone from his pocket with a huff when he saw how late it was. “s**t. We are over on time, Eric. Our workout is done for today.”

His trainer glanced over at the lady walking toward him and got a sly grin on his face. Had he known this was the woman Ford had been complaining about, he would have done more to prepare him.

She wore her wavy dirty blonde hair down in cascading curls. Her black sunglasses hid her nervous eyes, and her black bodycon dress with the off-the-shoulder neckline seemed a tad too sultry for meeting her boss for the first time.

As she came into view, Ford’s eyes followed down her curvy legs to the tall black stiletto heels with an ankle strap that made the lonely man growl a little to himself. It had been a long time since he had a woman and there was something about a sexy stiletto that got his motor running. Yet, something about her looking so alluring, and making him take notice, irritated him to no end. He knew this was going to be like any other woman he had met since his divorce and a snarl curled on his lips in response. He should have known his boss would hire the hottest woman who walked the face of the Earth.

“Damn you, Wyatt,” he mumbled to himself. “She had to be hot and curvy to boot.”

Dressed like a Kardashian clone, Piper wasn’t exactly uncomfortable being in such a sexy look for a job interview. She had just left a photoshoot gig that she’d taken for extra cash and was still dressed from her last look. She modeled on the side and needed to do something since she hadn’t started her new job yet. She normally dressed this way when with friends at the club, but not in a professional environment.

“I’ll be damn!” Eric shouted, clapping his hands together. “Piper Rose! How the hell are you, girl? You look amazing!”

Shading her eyes from the sun to try to see who was talking like they knew her, Eric came into view. As she entered the shade of the garage, a familiar face smiled back at her, making her a little more at ease. “Eric. What are you doing here? You’re Ford Collins’ trainer?”

“Yep. Hey Ford, this is Piper Rose. I didn’t know she was the chick you were meeting. Sorry girl, we are running over today. It’s hard training him with a broken arm, but he won’t stop to let himself heal.”

Quickly, Eric pulled her over to Ford’s direction, who was glaring at her with contempt. Even that wouldn’t deter her. He’d just have to get over his women-hating phase because she was determined to get this job.

Piper extended her hand, shaking like a leaf. “Hello, Mr. Collins. I’m Piper Rose. Nice to meet you. I’m a big fan.”

He hesitated, looking over the sexy outfit from head to toe. Annoyed as hell, he let out a grunt.

Her outfit wasn’t overtly sexy. It was just that her voluptuous frame made it seem that way. She was fit, but also very curvy and every inch of her looked like a pinup model, more than the fitness type he was accustomed to. He was expecting a bodybuilder, and she came in looking like s*x and smelling like candy and roses. A deadly femme fatale combination, in his eyes. She was his perfect type, and he hated every minute of it.

Walking away, he grabbed a towel to dry his face. “You can leave,” he grumbled.

“What?” She gasped, looking at Eric for a little help. She knew Ford would be reluctant, but to kick her out before she even had a chance was a bit much.

“Hey, give the girl a chance, man. Piper is a great chick and a hard worker. Don’t do her like that.”

“Stay out of this, Eric. I told Wyatt I didn’t want a woman as my assistant. I don’t need... this,” he said, waving his head toward her, implying it was because of her appearance.

“Oh, I see. It’s because of how I look. I apologize for my attire, Mr. Collins. I had just finished a catalog shoot for a client my agent sent me. I model part-time to make ends meet. They gave me the outfit. I was running late, so I didn’t have time to change it into something more appropriate. It’s embarrassing, actually. I don’t normally dress like this.”

Walking to him, she lowered her dark sunglasses and extended her hand again, hoping he would accept the gesture as genuine. Looking into his eyes, she could tell he didn’t seem convinced.

Finally, he reached to shake her hand, realizing she seemed sincere, with a hint of hesitation.

“Eric, how do you know her?” Ford asked, stone-faced. “And it better be good.”