Chapter 1

Sofia

 

Every day is the same in this office for the three months I've been working here. The highlight for me is always when Brandon Reeves shows up. The boss always arrives punctually at 10 to 9, takes a brief look around at the employees, and then heads for his office. Is it crazy to imagine that his eyes linger on mine for a few seconds longer? This man has haunted my nights since I first saw him. In the office, he's impersonal, distant. But in my dreams… he's warm, passionate!

The elevator arrives and wakes me from my reverie. It's him! I feel heated. I hope my face isn't flushed from the effect of my memories. 

And here he is! The impeccable, tailored gray three-piece suit, shaping a perfect body. The determined walk, the head held high, of someone who knows his place, his power. His suitcase in one hand, in front of the men jostling for his attention. His well-trimmed beard makes him look even more manly. Dark eyes and hair, always well combed. How many times have my fingers run between the strands… In my imagination. 

The air hangs in my lungs as he passes the staff tables. Mine is at the back, near the windows. 

As usual, everyone gets up to greet him. But my legs refused to obey me this morning when his eyes rested on mine. This time I wasn't wrong! Mr. Reeves looked directly at me! He noticed me. It was only a few seconds, but this time a little longer than usual. I also noticed a slight narrowing of his intense eyes, or was that my brain's creation?

Brandon

“Does that girl know how transparent she is?” I ask myself, putting my briefcase on the table as I smile sideways and unbutton my suit. Her eyes and expression exude pure lust. I hope for her sake that the others in the room aren't as observant as I am. 

What is it about this woman who moves me so much? I frown, hanging the expensive suit on a rack in the corner of the room. As I roll up my sleeves, I chance a glance in her direction. She's now concentrating on something on her computer screen, biting the end of a pencil. Does she realize how sexy she looks doing that? Or is it only me who is affected in this way by the gesture? I smile subtly again, nodding my head. 

I settle into my chair and turn on my computer. Furthermore, I remember the first time I saw her. Besides, I was trying out for an employee who had been promoted. And that's how Sofia Shaffer came into my life. To take away my peace. 

I have a photographic memory, and I'm used to the faces in the giant room below. So when I caught my first glimpse of her, it was like being hit. I can't say exactly what caught my eye so much. Perhaps her insecure, nervous manner. A bit lost. Well, that was natural, since it was his first day. But… there was something else. She was beautiful. There's no denying that. She dresses in sobriety, her suit, and skirt outfit outlining a body with soft curves. 

I ended up asking my secretary for her file. And I'm not one to do that. Lucky for me, Shane, my clerk was very discreet and didn't pepper me with questions. 

So she's 27, holds a degree in business administration, several other courses on her CV and a degree in gastronomy to finish. And she's single. That last piece of information pleased me more than I'd like to admit. As if that weren't enough, I asked an investigative friend to gather more information. Sofia was a partner in a small restaurant that ended up going bankrupt and leaving her with a lot of debts.  

I've had a lot of women in my 34 years. I'm a very busy man, but I don't shy away from having a few good moments in the company of a beautiful female specimen. Furthermore, I just don't take anything too far. I don't have time for relationships. That way, I'm not in a sex-deprived state or anything, so that girl can swing me around so much!   

Sofia Shaffer isn't even my type! I usually like voluptuous blondes, and Sofia has beautiful dark hair and a mignon body. So why the hell can't I stop thinking about her? I've even ventured out with a woman with the same dark hair… yet I ended the evening frustrated, feeling guilty. She wasn't Sofia Shaffer… 

My cell phone screen lights up and the name Lee Ann flashes across the screen. It's my mother! No, I didn't save her name as “mom”. She doesn't deserve that title. 

Sighing, twisting my lips in disgust, I put my phone on silent mode and turned the screen down. I know why she's calling. It's because I didn't authorize the self-promotion that my half brother, her favorite son, wanted to give himself. I've already done a lot by employing him in a fantasy position in my office in L.A., since he doesn't actually work! And maybe he thought I wouldn't find out about his shenanigans, but little does he know that I'm watching his every move. Tell him not to play games with me, or I'll throw him out without a second thought! The person is such a coward that he doesn't have the guts to contact me personally! He's not an idiot, either! He knows he was screwing up! 

I don't usually eat breakfast at home. Just a black coffee in the office. So, at 9:20, Shane comes in with a cup of steaming liquid and the day's agenda.

“Sir, your mother has already called three times, insisting on speaking to you. “He tells me, handing me the cup. 

I turned my chair and looked down at the floor through the glass wall, taking a sip. Shane knows better than to pass on Lee Ann's calls.

“Just tell her I'm busy and can't come to the phone. 

“I've already done that, sir. 

I'm not surprised by my secretary's efficiency. That's why he's been with me for years! I'm very demanding, I admit that. I work like crazy, I like perfection and I demand no less from my employees:

“Tell reception that she's not allowed in the building.

“I'll do that. 

Anticipating that this woman is very likely to show up at the time I leave for lunch, I'll ask her to order a meal at the restaurant I usually eat at. I want to avoid her for as long as possible. She sucks up all my energy. 

“Can we go over the schedule, sir? “Shane asks.

“Of course, sir.  

The man starts to speak, but I already know everything I have to do today. Then, almost automatically, my eyes return to that soft figure who is intent on her work at the moment. 

Pretending to be indifferent to her presence is proving very difficult. But with the lascivious look, she threw at me this morning… it really messed with my system. Yes, I'm used to being the target of female gazes, but until today, no other had messed me up like hers. 

Sofia Shaffer's hot gaze decided everything. I have to make a move… 

Sofia

It's not until Mr. Reeves climbs the steps to his office and closes the door that I breathe again, but gasping. My throat is dry, and my hands are shaking. What an effect the mere sight of that man has on me! 

Luckily, no one noticed my lack of respect in not getting up to greet him. That feeling of heat haunts me all day. I didn't see him leave for lunch, no matter how many times I curled up, losing a few minutes of my schedule. Mr. Reeves is always punctual, but it looked like he was having lunch at the office. 

I never exchanged a word with him. The closest I got was when we were in the same elevator. I was at the bottom, leaning against the metal wall, when he entered, followed by his secretary and two other men. His voice… It's so beautiful, so strong! He seemed upset about something, but even though he was firm, he didn't change his tune as he instructed his employees. You must not have noticed me. I did my best to smell you, discreetly. However, there were other people between us, a mixture of smells and I couldn't identify which one was his. I remember lowering my head and discreetly snorting out a laugh. What point had I reached?

Soon the doors opened, and he left, walking straight out of the building and into the back seat of the latest car.

That night, my dream was a little more detailed, as I was able to appreciate the texture of his hair more closely. Even her nape seemed sexy. The long fingers that ran along it, ran along my skin, while I slept… 

Towards the end of that day, I got a phone call. It's Shane, Mr. Reeves' secretary.

"Miss Shaffer?

"Yeah? 

"Mr. Reeves would like to see you in his office. 

My heart almost stops. My breath catches. 

"I'm sorry… what? "I find myself asking because I'm uncertain if I heard correctly. 

"Mr. Reeves wants to see you. "the young man, who looks no older than thirty, repeats patiently, as if I were a two-year-old child. 

For at least ten minutes, I remained static, staring at the phone, trying to absorb the news. Realizing that I'll keep him waiting if I take too long, I run to the bathroom to check my appearance. I'm dismayed! The beige outfit is professional, but very unflattering! My hair is messy, there's not a trace of make-up on my exaggeratedly pale skin. I haven't had a bit of sun in months. I think about resorting to lipstick, but that would be too much. What will he think if I go into his living room wearing freshly applied lipstick? 

But for a few more moments, I stopped myself. Why am I being called into your office? Is there a reason for this? Good God, what if he's going to dismiss me? God, I can't even think about that. I need this job too much. My financial situation is desperate. 

I look at myself in the mirror again. Am I in trouble? 

I know I do my job well. I've always been good with numbers and I do my job well. That's why I was hired after a month's trial. And I don't remember ever seeing you fire anyone personally…