“Me? Isn’t that HR’s responsibility?”
“Yes, but they don’t know me as well as my sister does. Since you’re complaining, I’m sure you’ll find the right person.”
“No. Your wife should be handling this.” She wiggled her brows, expecting me to argue. I merely shrugged. Disappointed by my response, she grimaced. “Anyway, I called Jenna earlier and asked if she could help. She’s working for a recruitment agency now, and I promised to send our business her way.”
“Jenna? Your ex-boyfriend’s sister” My bottom lip twitched.
Tamara’s short-lived relationship with David ended after she caught him in bed with her friend. “Well, he deserved what he got. Jenna and I are still friends, though.”
“I’ve got an external meeting. Dinner later?”
“Not going home to dinner with the wife?” she taunted. I scowled. “Anyway, I have a date tonight.”
“Are you trying out a dating app? This is like, what—” I broke off, trying to recall how many dates she’d gone on in the last couple of weeks.
She glared at me. “No dating app. If you must know, this is the third date we’ve been on, and you’ll meet him at the anniversary party.”
“Anniversary party?”
She slapped a hand to her brow, her eyes wide. “Seriously, Drake? Mum and Dad’s fiftieth wedding anniversary party. Please don’t tell me you forgot. It’s in your calendar.”
I pulled on my coat, offering her a sheepish grin. “Sorry. Completely slipped my mind.”
“I’ll make sure you have an assistant by next week even if I have to interview them myself. Given there’s only a couple of weeks to Christmas, I doubt we’re going to get anyone.”
“I’ll leave it to you.” Grabbing my briefcase, I headed for the door.
“And what about these?”
Turning, I stared at the shoes in her hands. “Could you put them in a box for me?”
“Safekeeping, just in case?” A mischief smile dimpled her cheeks. “Would you like me to send out some flyers asking if anyone knows the owner, or I can post it on Facebook?”
“No.” I laughed at her absurd suggestion. “Everything happens for a reason, Tam. You never know.” I exited on my sister’s soft chuckle, wondering about my optimism. It was unlikely I’d run into Cinderella again but looking at those shoes would bring a much-desired smile to my lips. In the basement, I slid behind the wheel of my silver Aston Martin and, a couple of seconds later, cruised out the parking for Leighton.
Sianna
AS THE CAB PULLED UP to the curb, I stared out the window at Princeton Incorporated. The large silver and glass building, with its unique lighting, stood out among the other corporate offices flanking the monstrosity. I’d spent the last two weeks avoiding my aunt's nagging and hounding recruitment agencies with persistent emails of my cv and follow up calls to no avail. The only positions available now were temporary. But they wanted a reason why I’d left a permanent job position. ‘Fired’ wasn’t an option most agencies considered viable for their clients.
Thanks to Ruvash’s promise of Knicks box seat tickets, his friend, Jenna, promised to find me something. Surprisingly, she’d called an hour ago, having secured me an interview slot at Princeton Incorporated with no guarantee of a job. The last-minute call gave me ten minutes to dress and another forty-five minutes to get my ass to Manhattan. There wasn’t time to do a quick google search of the company either, since my aunt monitored my computer use. According to her, I watched porn in her absence. As luck would have it and having not anticipated Jenna’s call, I hadn’t charged my phone. It left me with one bar, which killed that option of searching the company history in the cab. I had to save it in case of an emergency, given my recent unlucky streak. On the plus side, Jenna said the woman I was meeting would understand. Due to the last-minute request, and especially with the holidays looming, they were desperate.
I paid the driver and slammed the door. Awed by the modern building's impressive architecture, the sudden tug on my ruffle skirt and what followed took a moment to register. I turned, catching sight of the garment, snagged in the door of the cab. Oh shit. “Hey, wait,” I yelled, but the car was already moving, and the driver couldn’t hear me. Desperate, I tugged at the skirt while jerking the handle of the locked door. Another second and he floored the accelerator. My eyes widened, and horrified, I watched him drive off, taking half the ruffle of my skirt with him. Frozen, I couldn’t take my eyes off the cab until the taillights disappeared. Mechanically my gaze dropped to my now exposed legs draped by frayed pieces of material like streamers on a Christmas tree.
I bit my tongue, holding back the scream that threatened to burst out of my chest. “This shit is not happening right now,” I muttered instead. My vision blurred, and for one stupid moment, I stared at my watch, resisting the urge to stomp my feet. Twenty minutes before my interview, and there I stood, nerves frazzled, wearing my best interview outfit in shreds. If that wasn’t enough, the abrupt chill of the evening gave me a conscious kick up the ass, reminding me that I’d forgotten my coat in the cab. “Jesus, Sia, you’re such a dumb shit.” Covering my face with my hands, I shook my head in frustration. “God, what do I do now?” I couldn’t walk into an interview looking like I was ready for a position at some strip club.
The unexpected weight on my shoulders had me whipping around. I gasped. Stunned speechless, I stared. Although I’d only seen him once, his was a face I’d never forget. There was no mistaking the desire lurking within those silver depths shrouded in mystery I wanted to explore. Tell me your secrets. I wanted to say. Instead, I offered a hesitant smile.
A lazy smirk slid across his full lips. “Hello, Ella?” the deep voice rolled over me as smooth as finely tempered chocolate.
Ella? I frowned, feeling the heavy coat he’d placed on my shoulders. “H-hello.”
“We meet again.” His gaze dropped to my torn skirt.
“More like you rescuing me again,” I uttered a nervous laugh pulling the coat to cover my bare thighs. What were the chances of being rescued by the same person in two hugely different situations?
“Can’t say I’m not pleased.”
He laughed—the low, husky sound resonated through my body, rousing goosebumps. Something about him made it impossible to look away. The way he held himself, the power of his build, almost regal in appearance and starkly contrasted by how the silken strands of dark brown hair matched the silver flecks in his beard. But it was the look in those translucent eyes that somehow reminded me of a caged wolf. Wary within the confines of its walls yet eager to devour when released.
I shivered. Not from fear but the idea of what desires a man like him would unleash. Startled by my runaway thoughts, I smiled. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure, Ella. Although I must say, I preferred the thank you I received at the airport.”
Hot color stained my cheeks. I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. “Why are you calling me Ella?”
“Do you believe in fate? Princesses do.”
Ella? Princesses? Was he likening me to Cinderella? Considering my recent spate of unfortunate events, I wouldn’t put it past him if he did.