Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 20481 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 102(@200wpm)___ 82(@250wpm)___ 68(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20481 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 102(@200wpm)___ 82(@250wpm)___ 68(@300wpm)
His replacement phone in one hand and a stack of files from Carlos in the other, I stride up to Jude’s office door and knock in a very girly way, a way that will let him know without question that it’s me.
“Yes?” Jude replies with a tone that lets me know he knows. Warmth fills my chest as I open the office door and step inside.
“Hello, Mr. Crown,” I say in my best secretarial voice. “I just wanted to let you know that I have your replacement phone as well as these files Carlos asked me to bring over.”
“That’s great, Ms. Thompson. Close the door please.”
I do, and instantly both of our demeanors change.
“Fuck me, you look great, baby.”
“Yeah?” I ask, doing a little spin for him. “You saw me back at your place.”
“I know,” he says, coming around from behind his desk. “But I just can’t get enough of you. If I didn’t have such a busy goddamn day, you know what I’d do to you right now?”
Jude takes me in his arms, and goose bumps instantly spread across my entire body. His eyes let me know exactly what he’d do to me, as if I didn’t already know.
“You know I’d love that,” I whisper. He leans in and kisses me, delicately enough to let me know that we really can’t go further at this moment, as much as both of us would like to.
“I have a fundraiser dinner I have to appear at tonight, and I want you to come.”
“Oh,” I reply, slightly taken aback. “Do I need to wear anything special?”
“No. You already look perfect. I’ll send for you after work. We’ll ride together, okay?”
“Okay.” I smile.
“Great.” He kisses me again, sending a warm shiver through my body. “I need you to update my schedule on my computer for next week and help Carlos with some accounting software on my laptop. If you’re done early, just take the afternoon off. Sound good?”
“Sounds great!”
“Great. I’ll see you tonight,” he says as he grabs his replacement phone and leaves, but not before giving me a flirty little pinch on the butt.
I have to admit that even after my first few days at the office, when I arrive at the fundraiser with Jude, I feel nervous and out of place. I feel like the hired help who stepped through the wrong door and is just waiting for someone to notice. I’m surrounded on all sides by high society – politicians, entertainers, and businessmen who I recognize from magazines and interviews online and on TV. Jude is mixing with them all like it’s no big deal of course, but me? I’m just doing my best not to shake so hard my knees knock together like those weird wooden instruments they used in band back in high school.
Jude has left me by the drinks table while he goes and talks to some “finance guys,” and I’ve been doing my best to remain as inconspicuous as possible, but thankfully I see him coming back to me now, a pleased look on his face. I smile and hand him a whiskey on the rocks.
“My savior.”
“Oh, come on. It’s not that bad,” he chuckles. “Is it?”
I give him a pouty little frown and take a sip from my lime seltzer. “Not as bad as walking on mousetraps, I suppose.”
Jude laughs and sips his drink. “Let me ask you something. How much do you like your job?”
I eye him suspiciously. “Is this one of those trick questions?”
“No.” He shakes his head. “No trick question. Honestly. How much do you like your job?”
“Well, it introduced me to you…”
“Yes, but aside from that,” he replies. “Like, would you rather be at school? NYU. What I’m saying is that if I were to let you go so you could go to school, and pay for all your other expenses while you were there, would that be something you’d be interested in doing?”
Jude’s words hit me like a shot of anesthetic straight to the chest. I feel like I’ve been paralyzed – or maybe tased. I must be making quite a silly face too because Jude chuckles and pokes me gently in the tummy. “Hello? Earth to Penny?”
“Sorry!” I blurt out. “I… Wow, I guess I’d really have to think about that.”
“That’s fine,” he replies. “Just thought I’d mention it. I have to go make another appearance, okay? I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.”
“Yeah,” I reply. He gives me an adorable wink then saunters casually over to a group of important-looking people like it’s no big deal. I wish I could be as at ease as him in a setting like this, but maybe if I work as his secretary a little longer, I’ll at least overcome the overwhelming feelings of panic creeping over me.
But then again, I may not be working for Jude much longer. Not if I accept his offer to go back to NYU. How unbelievably generous was that? Sure, I have the scholarship, but his offer to handle all my other expenses while I’m there…that’s unbelievable. I would be able to get my degree and have a job lined up for me when I’m done.