Elle

Chapter Five

As she waited with bated breath for Dean to answer, Elle's hands shook. The ringing in her ear did little to settle her nerves. It drilled right through her, every individual ring adding to the anticipation.

"Good morning, you've reached Dean Wallace."

His deep, sultry tones drifted over the receiver. The warmth with which he spoke didn't take from the subtle power he asserted. Despite barely knowing him, his smooth-as-honey voice acted as a salve to the gnawing in her stomach, and sent a shiver up her spine.

"Hello, it's--"

"Ah Eleanor, I had a feeling you'd call," he said, recognising her voice, and she could almost see his smug smile. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Its still just 'Elle.' I wanted to hear more about that job opportunity," Elle said. Not wanting to sound desperate, she added "figured I should have at least heard you out."

"I'm glad you changed your mind," he said warmly. "My role at Investian has become somewhat more demanding, and so I'm in the market for a Personal Assistant."

"... And what would the role entail?"

"Whatever I need help with, really. I have a receptionist who takes calls for me and helps with paperwork, so you'll concentrate more on arranging my diary... all riveting stuff," he said with a laugh. "Pay starts at £35K."

Elle choked on his words, coughing and spluttering into her hand as she tried to ascertain if she had heard him quickly. With no experience in the job role, or any associated qualifications, it seemed a ludicrous amount of money.

"Did I hear you correctly? £35K?"

"Yes," he said assertively. "I have a large role in the company, and as such the role of my PA would be pretty demanding. But I think you'd be great for it."

"Why me?" She asked.

"I want to give you a chance, Elle," he said, and she could hear the sincerity in his words. "I see something in you, and I'd like the opportunity to make something of it."

Their conversation felt like a huge turning point for Elle. She'd called him in desperation expecting an illicit offer or a cleaning job or the like, and she'd have taken either - anything, after a series of bad luck, to provide for her family. What she hadn't expected was the chance to have not only a job but a career... and a well paying one at that.

"If I say you may have swayed me, then what next?"

"How about lunch today?" Dean asked. "We can have a more detailed informal chat about the company and the role, and what you want to get from the job."

Money, she thought, but she knew that wouldn't be the answer he wanted.

"That sounds perfect, Mr Wallace."

"You can still call me Dean, you know," he said, and Elle wasn't sure if she was imagining the seductive tone. "Whether or not I'll be your boss."

They hung up the phone shortly after. The smile on Elle's face was so broad and unencumbered that her face began to ache, but she couldn't help it. Dean's sunny attitude and the prospect of change meant that her smile was all but cemented across her features.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"I'll have a large black coffee and a croissant, please," Dean said as he handed the poorly laminated menu over to Sue, the waitress.

"And I'll have a tea and a blueberry muffin. Thanks."

In the centre of a small, family owned café just down the road from Elle's house, she sat opposite Dean. It was quaint and comfortable, and Mae had frequently taken her there as a child when it was just the two of them. It held fond memories for Elle of time spent with her Grandmother, long before money had been an issue.

When Dean had suggested somewhere near to her that would be both quiet and relaxed, it was the first place she's thought of. She was sure it was nothing like the places he usually visited for lunch, but he didn't show it. He seemed to revel in it, calling things 'cute' and 'shabby-chic' instead of 'old' and 'tired'.

Having come straight from work to meet her, Dean was dressed immaculately. His slim-line burgundy suit fitted him perfectly, hinting at what lay beneath it as Elle tried not to picture it. A black tie hung loosely around his neck as he undid the top button of his shirt and accepted his black coffee from a very flustered Sue. He thanked her, giving her a wink that seemed to temporarily rid her of strength in her legs as she clutched at the next table.

"Investian holds and manages investments for its clients. We invest their money in stocks and shares on behalf of them," Dean said with a barely disguised smirk as Sue walked shakily away.

"What's your role within the company?" She asked, earning a small laugh from him.

"I'm part of the uh, management."

"So, as one of the management's personal assistant... what would it be like day to day?"

"The day starts at 9am. It'd be different every day, depending on what I have scheduled, but would consist largely of liaising with Becky, the receptionist, to schedule important meeting, note taking in said meetings, running errands and arranging my diary," he said, pausing to sip his coffee. Elle watched the way his lips enclosed around the brim of the cup and squirmed uncomfortably in her chair.

"When does the working day end?"

"Hours would be 9-4 Weekdays, with the occasional evening and weekend work scheduled well in advance. Usually for events or if workload is especially high."

Nodding her head as she took a bite from her muffin, Elle tried to picture herself doing anything that he'd mentioned. A regular job was a world away from what she was used to, and she worried about how she'd cope. But the hours worked around Trent's school hours, and it paid well, so there was little doubt in her mind that she wanted it.

"We'd love to have you on board. What do you think?"

Dean watched her with a raised brow as though trying to discern what she was thinking. He wore his full lips in a stern pout, his electric blue eyes flitting between her own.

"I'll gladly accept your offer, Dean."

Giving her a smile that made her stomach clench and heart race, Dean took her hand from the table and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Great! Is tomorrow too soon a start, or would you prefer next Monday?"

"Tomorrow is perfect."

The sooner I earn money, the better, she thought. And getting to see Dean again won't be too bad either.

Elle mentally stamped on the latter thought - it wouldn't do her any good to develop a crush on her new boss.