Tanner
990 Words
I am exhausted, irritated and badly in need of breakfast, and all that is courtesy of my best friend and Co-CEO, Paul Raegan.
To be fair, dealing with the demise of his mother and a breakup right after was enough reason to suffer a mental breakdown.
But I still can't see why buying and running a ranch in Texas was better therapy than seeing an actual therapist. Not only did they cost less, but he could remain in the city and continue with the management of our engineering firm, the one we started together and jointly owned.
Raegan has been my best friend since college ten years ago, and I understand him better than anyone else. I know he needs the break and will probably race back to Jacksonville once he gets bored or misses his favorite strippers. But that doesn't stop the steady influx of clients and investors every day, nor reduces the heavy workload and meetings left for me to handle.
Hopefully, the new assistant will be efficient and capable, as HR recommends. I have no time for mistakes or to begin lecturing anyone on how to do their jobs properly.
A few minutes into studying a new business proposal and I was certain on the urgency of breakfast.
"Hold off all calls until I'm back," I instruct Charlotte, the firm's lifelong secretary and a dear friend on my way out.
"What about your new assistant? She is due any minute now," Charlotte asks, studying my face with curiosity and concern.
"She can wait. I skipped dinner last night poring some architectural plan and now I'm hungry enough for two English breakfasts."
"Alright, soldier. Go get that belly filled," Charlotte hollers dramatically but in a weird, whispery tone.
"You're such a dork," I say with a smile, heading out of the reception for the elevator.
I enjoy a close, cordial relationship with my employees because it gets the job done faster, more efficiently and without resentment, contrary to popular opinion. Of course, there are times to set the hammer down, but I've learned appreciation, rewards and general cheer makes for a better working environment rather than being the boss from hell.
While replying to instant messages from Raegan regarding his recent horse acquisitions, l fail to concentrate on my steps and surroundings until it's too late.
A mass of body slams into me and I look up to behold the sharpest set of hazel eyes I've ever seen.
She is breathtakingly beautiful, hot and achingly familiar.
"I'm so sorry, mister. I was on my phone and quite distracted," she hastily apologizes, clasping well-manicured fingers together in beseech.
I feel a sudden bolt of attraction and desire at such an obsequiously submissive response until I glimpse it.
The tiny tattoo of a unicorn on the insides of her wrist jolts my memory at once. A tattoo gotten on a dare so long ago. Almost a different lifetime from now.
“Valerie.” I say her name almost compulsively.
She looks up, eyes widening as recognition registers. “Tanner….”
A strange look steals into her expression but it disappears quickly as she smiles.
“What are you doing here? It’s been forever...” She says in surprise, looking hastily around the lobby and back at my face.
“I should ask you the same question. I truly wasn’t expecting to see you just around the corner after ten years, trust me.”
“You’ve not lost your sense of humor,” she laughs in that familiar breezy manner that has never failed to send electric signals skittering through my skin, submerging and drowning me in the sweet, consuming sea that is her.
“And you, your allure…” I say in my head, eyes locked on those deep, hazel orbs that did keep me awake for nights on end. It was almost unbelievable to think that after all the years gone and everything that had happened between us, she still maintained such heavy effects on me in person.
Valerie and I had dated for almost two years back in college and had been practically inseparable. She is still as beautiful as she was back then, but more elegant, refined and curvier now—just as I like my women.
The red suit and matching stilettos, along with that come hither smile, sends a thrill snaking through my spine.
A fierce, strong need to pull her into my arms and see if those lush lips still tasted the same took over me, but in the habit of practicing restraint, I only smiled and nodded. “Well it's a good thing isn't it?"
"It is truly," she says with a nervous smile, her eyes almost pleading to be released from the firm hold of our locked gaze. I enjoy watching her fight and struggle for a few moments, before deciding to release her.
"It's quite nice to see you again, Tanner," she says breathlessly, unwilling to meet my gaze again. "But I'm afraid I could be late for my first day of work."
"Work?" I feel unease creeping up slowly. It can't be what I'm thinking, or is it?
"Yes, I just got a job here as a personal assistant and today happens to be my first day."
Valerie is my new personal assistant. The urge to cuss is almost overwhelming. Whatever fire that has started inside me burns and fizzles into a careful smolder at this knowledge.
I have never subscribed to the idea of mixing business with pleasure, especially pleasure of the s****l kind. It always grows complicated very quickly and boundaries are almost always breached.
Meeting Valerie's gaze, I see a host of expressions flicker through her features as the realization of who I am slowly sets in.
"Yes, I'm the Sullivan in Sullivan&Raegan, and your new boss, Valerie." I confirm her suspicions with a polite, reserved smile. "I guess this is an official welcome to the team."
- Writer
