CHAPTER-02
1646 Words
Anna.
I sit behind my desk while Mary, my assistant and best friend, sits beside me. She has black glasses perched on her nose, her glossy lips pursed as she reviews the list of candidates. She looks just as fed up as I am. It’s been three days since the gala, and I finally managed to get rid of the migraine I had the next morning.
However, now I feel another one coming on, and I wish it were due to alcohol instead of the endless stream of people coming in and out of my office.
The ticking of the clock and the sound of the wind rushing through a vent behind me make me let out a loud sigh. I lower my head, contemplating whether to bang it against my desk.
“Go grab another one,” I say, watching her as she yawns and stretches her arms above her head before stepping out of the room. Moments later, she returns with a man who has bright pink hair.
As soon as he settles into the chair, I begin to ask him questions, and his answers follow shortly after.
“I’ve worked with Mr. Sanchez; I’m sure you’ve heard of him. He can be a tough boss, but I managed just fine.”
I have no idea who he’s talking about. The name rings no bells. His overconfident demeanor prompts a soft exhale from me in exasperation. “So, what brings you here?”
His smile falters momentarily. “He fired me.”
It’s no surprise, his irritating arrogance has already put me off the idea of hiring him, and he’s barely been in the room for five minutes.
I raise a brow. “He fired you?”
He tucks his lips in and nods. “Yes.”
“And why was that?”
“He said I was annoying.”
Mary lets out a snort of laughter, as if she agrees with the man—she’s never met. The sound brightens the atmosphere, momentarily breaking the tension.
I take a deep breath and turn to her with a serious look. “Thank you, Mr. Markle. We’ll be in touch.”
As he rises and strides out of the office, I lightly slap her arm in mock admonishment. “You need to hold it together!”
The corners of her mouth twitch up into a smile, her laughter bubbling forth again. “I think all these interviews have made me lose my mind.”
The only reason we are conducting these interviews is that Mary needs to transition to a less demanding job now that she has a child.
Finding a replacement for her is going to be a challenge—especially since today marks her last day with me.
As she hands me two more resumes, the crisp paper rustling in the stillness of the room, I ask, “How many more candidates do we have left?”
“There are 20 more,” Mary responds, her voice steady even as a tempest of emotions swirls around us.
Fuck me, ten would have sufficed. Why do I always have to go overboard?
I let out a long, exasperated sigh, shaking my head. “Why did I request so many? I have better things to do.”
Better things like crafting the simple gold band I had promised to finish by tomorrow, a task that still sits untouched on my to-do list taunting me.
The persistent tap, tap, tap of Mary’s heel striking the polished floor sends ripples of irritation through me. Each click reverberates in the quiet room, echoing the building tension from a long exhausting day.
The sound grates at the edges of my patience.
“Don’t snap at her,” I tell myself as I place a hand on her knee. Her deep brown eyes lock onto mine. “Sorry.”
Then she turns back to the papers, biting her bottom lip as she flips through the sheets with careful attention. “You wanted a variety.”
“Who’s next?”
If I had it my way, I would have postponed doing the interviews entirely until I had more patients.
I spent half the night tossing and turning, my thoughts racing like wild horses, each galloping through my mind and robbing me of the precious sleep I so desperately needed.
Mary glances at the list, her brow furrowing slightly in concentration. “Mr. Parker.”
“Go get him.”
She stands, leaving the room once more before coming back seconds later. “Miss Petrova, this is Mr. Parker,” Mary announces as she holds the door wide.
When I look up, my eyes widen in surprise. It’s the same man from the gala! Even though I’d been drunk the last time I saw him, I still remember his striking features.
He’s wearing a well-tailored suit again, adorned with diamond cufflinks that glint in the light. A confident smirk plays on his lips, and there’s an air about him that suggests he knows exactly how to make an impression. A warm flush spreads through my chest until it reaches my cheeks, but I can’t shake the feeling there's more to him than meets the eye.
His rich voice fills the room, smooth and self-assured. “It’s good to see you again, Anna. I’m Eric Parker.”
Mary glances between us, her cheeks reddening as she says, “Hold on, you two know each other?”
“Do you remember when I mentioned the man who helped me?” I reply, and Mary’s mouth drops open in an ‘o’ as she whispers, “You didn’t tell me he’s hot as all—”
He chuckles, his gaze never leaving mine. “What can I say? I try to leave a lasting impression.”
I shake my head, snapping back to business. “What brings you here? Surely it’s not for the assistant job?”
His eyes sparkle with mischief. “Actually, it is. I’ve realized that being an assistant to the right person can unlock a world of opportunities. I’m ready to leverage my experience and make a real impact.”
Inside, my mouth hangs open; however, on the outside, I say, “Really?” while taking my own seat.
Our gaze lingers a moment too long, prompting Mary to clear her throat, breaking the spell that had enveloped us. I glance down at the table, my fingers absently tracing the smooth texture of the papers before me, trying to distract myself from the magnetic pull he seems to exert.
Clearing my throat, I shift the conversation back to business, asking the same question I had asked every other person here for the position.
“My last position was at the Velvet Box, where I worked for Benny. He’s a tough character, but I learned the ins and outs of the business. Let’s just say I know how to navigate tricky waters.” Leaning forward, he lowers his voice conspiratorially. “Between you and me, I didn’t leave just because I wanted to; I left because I knew I could do better.”
Mary and I exchange glances, and I can see she's trying to hold back her laughter. “So you worked for the Kings?” I ask, intrigued.
He nods, biting his lip. “For a long time. And trust me, I got a front-row seat to the family drama. It was… educational, to say the least. But I’m done playing second fiddle. I want to be where the real decisions are made.”
“So what happened? Did you get fired?” I ask, genuinely curious.
“Fired? Benny wouldn’t dare. I left on my own terms, just as he’s about to be replaced. It’s all about timing, you see.” He shrugs, a faint smirk on his lips. “And I’ve got my sights set much higher.”
I tilt my head curiously. “Why not stay on and be his son's assistant? It’s a very big jewelry store. I’m sure you got paid well.”
He smirks, the flicker of ambition in his eyes unmistakable. “The pay was decent, but I’m not interested in being anyone’s backup plan or following someone else's vision. I’m looking for opportunities where I can truly shine.”
I scan the suit that fits him like a glove, then shift to the cufflinks, finally landing on his brown eyes. The burning question finally escapes me. “Is your family not wealthy?”
“No, Miss Petrova. If I were, I wouldn't be here right now. But that doesn’t mean I’m not resourceful. I know how to create my own path.”
“So, the gala…?”
“I was there, accompanying Benny. But I’ve got bigger plans than being tied to a family that won’t appreciate my worth.”
“Can I trust you with my work? You're not going to run back to the Kings and spill my ideas, right?”
He raises an eyebrow, a glint of cunning in his eyes. "Why would I do a thing like that? I'm here to build something with you, not against you. My loyalty lies with those who recognize potential.”
I narrow my eyes at him, sensing there's more beneath the surface. “I don’t trust easily, Mr. Parker."
“I give you my word that my loyalty lies with you. In this business, we could be unstoppable.”
I study him closely for a moment, trying to gauge his sincerity. When I don’t see any deceit, I finally declare, “You’re hired.”
Mary lets out a heavy sigh, her shoulders slumping as she leans over and says, “Thank God.”
With that sly grin still on his face, Eric replies, “You won’t regret it. I have ideas that could elevate this place beyond what you’ve imagined.”
- Writer
