More Than His Assistant

Chapter Two

Gina’s POV

“Well isn’t this surprising?”

I thought that would be his first words, then some sort of smug comment followed with a notice telling me to get out and disappear off the face of the earth.

But he didn’t say a word to me.

He glanced past me and asked the receptionist to let the applicants in.

His eyes flicked to mine for half a second before he turned and walked back into his office.

This was just great Gina, you tossed a stone at the one man who could change your life.

I followed the others down the hallway. No one else would be aware that my morning had already gone off the rails. To them, this was just another interview. To me… well you get the gist.

We were seated outside his office and called in one by one.

When it was my turn, I stood, smoothed my blazer once, and walked in.

He didn’t look up right away.

He was seated behind his desk, reviewing something on his tablet, posture relaxed in a way that felt deliberate. It was like he was purposely trying to make me feel uncomfortable.

“Sit,” he said finally.

I did.

Only then did he lift his gaze to me. His expression was neutral as if we hadn’t crossed paths at all. As if there wasn’t a cracked window somewhere with my fingerprints all over it.

“Gina Moretti,” he read aloud. “Your résumé is… concise.”

I waited.

“You’ve held three positions in four years,” he continued. “None of them particularly impressive on paper.”

Still nothing about the street. Nothing about the stone. Nothing about the way his eyes had looked when he stepped out of that SUV.

I didn’t think I wanted to even go on with this interview anymore.

“But,” he added, setting the tablet down, “you’ve never been fired.”

“No, sir.”

“And you applied for an executive assistant position at a company you have no prior corporate experience in.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Because I need money… why else would anyone apply for a job?

“Because I learn quickly, I don’t waste time, and I don’t panic under pressure.” I replied with an uneven smile.

His mouth curved slightly.

“Interesting claim,” he said. “Given what I witnessed earlier today.”

There it was.

My pulse ticked up, but I didn’t look away.

“I don’t make a habit of throwing stones,” I said. “But I do react when people are careless.”

His eyes sharpened.

“Careless,” he repeated. “That’s what you’d call damaging private property.”

“I’d call it a response,” I said evenly. “Not my best one. But an honest one.”

Silence settled between us again. He leaned back slightly, studying me.

“You’re aware,” he said, “that most people in your position would be apologizing.”

“Yes.”

“And yet you aren’t.”

“I don’t think you’d believe it if I did.”

That earned me another long look.

“Bold,” he said. “Or reckless.”

“Depends on the outcome.”

For the first time, something shifted. He picked up his tablet again, eyes dropping briefly before returning to me.

“This position requires discretion, adaptability, and control,” he said. “Do you believe you can separate personal emotion from professional responsibility?”

“Yes.”

“And if I were to tell you that your job would require long hours, unpredictable demands, and absolute loyalty to the company?”

“I’d ask when you expect me to start.”

That finally did it.

A slow exhale and a measured pause.

Then, “You’re hired.”

The words landed heavier than I expected.

I blinked once. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” he said calmly. “You start today.”

Now on a normal day, that would make me extremely happy…. But considering the situation, I felt more nervous and scared about it.

I nodded instead. “Thank you. I won’t disappoint you.”

“I expect you won’t.”

He stood, already moving past the moment like the decision had been settled long before I walked into the room. I followed him out, still trying to catch up mentally, still unsure whether I should feel grateful or concerned.

He stopped just outside his office and turned back to me.

“There’s a gala this evening,” he said. “You’ll be accompanying me.”

I hesitated. “Tonight?”

“Yes.”

He reached into his wallet and held out a sleek black card.

“Get yourself something appropriate.”

I stared at it.

“Something… appropriate,” I repeated.

“For the event,” he clarified. “And something you won’t feel uncomfortable wearing.”

The card felt heavier than it should have when I took it. I was still processing the word hired. Still adjusting to the idea that my day had shifted direction entirely.

Before I could respond, footsteps approached from the opposite end of the hallway.

A woman’s voice followed.

“Alexander.”

She slipped into his space like she belonged there, fingers already curling around his arm. She didn’t look at me at first. When she did, her eyes skimmed over me quickly, dismissing me.

Then she smiled at him.

“I didn’t know you had meetings this morning,” she said, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

He didn’t stop her.

“This is Valerie Cross,” he said to me, as if that explained everything.

Valerie finally turned her full attention on me. Her gaze flicked to the card in my hand.

“Oh,” she said lightly. “You’ve hired help already.”

Her hand slid up Alexander’s chest as she kissed him again on the lips.

I felt something tighten in my chest. Didn’t she have any sense of decency?

“This one looks… temporary,” Valerie added, her eyes cutting back to mine. “They usually are.”

Alexander said nothing.

That told me enough.

I stepped back, clutching the card before I said something I couldn’t afford to say on my first day.

“I’ll prepare for this evening,” I said evenly.

Then I turned and walked away.

I didn’t look back.

By the time I reached the elevator, the card was still in my hand, the job was still real, and whatever I’d just stepped into felt bigger than I was ready for.

*********************************************************************

Office hours closed and honestly I wished he hadn’t.

I stepped out of my office and came face to face with my new boss, Alexander Harrignton.

It was just my first day but I’d heard a lot about him from the staff. He was from a rich and disciplined family, seemed to be perfect and none to be usually cold to every single person.

Which I considered odd, if he was that cold, why would he let me have this job considering I broke one of his windows…..

“Are you ready?” His voice brought me back to the present.

“Yeah…. Yes sir, I am.” I replied quietly. We walked a few steps forward and that was when I realized I had no idea where we were going.

We walked a few steps forward, and that was when I realized I had no idea where we were going.

“Sir?” I asked cautiously.

“We’re leaving the building,” he replied without slowing down.

That did not help.

I adjusted my bag on my shoulder, struggling to keep up with his long strides. “If you don’t mind me asking… where exactly are we headed?”

He stopped.

I nearly walked straight into him.

“I told you there’s a gala tonight,” he said calmly, turning to face me. “I need you there.”

A gala? He was actually serious?

My brain stalled.

“I—sir, I didn’t know that was part of the job description,” I said carefully. “And I haven’t bought any clothes for something like that. I don’t even have—”

“You’ll be fine,” he interrupted. “You can use the credit card another time”

I blinked.

Fine?

My eyes dropped involuntarily to my outfit—crumpled blouse, worn skirt, shoes that had clearly seen better days. I looked like someone who was thrown off an alley, not someone who belonged anywhere near a gala.

I looked back up at him. “Sir… this is not fine.”

His expression didn’t change, but his tone softened just slightly. “Moretti, refusing isn’t an option if you want to keep this job.”

The words settled heavily in my chest.

That was it..

I swallowed.

“Yes, sir,” I said.

He nodded once, as though he’d expected nothing else, and turned toward the parking area. I followed silently, my thoughts racing faster with every step.

A gala.

With him.

On my first day.

He stopped beside a sleek black car and opened the door.

“Get in,” he said.

I hesitated only a second before doing as told.