Cocky, arrogant, and dropped dead gorgeous: That described my boss, Mr. Craft, to a T. His thick hair, cold blue eyes and strong jaw held power in a conference meeting, causing women to melt in his presence. I've wanted to confront him on his stubborn attitude and critical demands for employees. I'd bitten my tongue in many scenarios and held in my true feelings over a dozen times. Keeping the peace was necessary until I had enough experience under my belt to move onto bigger and better things. The only problem was; Craft Marketing was the bigger and better, and the longer I stuck it out with him, meant more opportunities would arise. I'd been the only female intern to land a job directly under him, and was also the only one who hadn't slept with him. I knew he was promiscuous with the tall and leggy blondes that breezed into his office looking immaculate, then scurried back out with mussed hair, flushed cheeks, and unbuttoned blouses. I'd ignore the magnetic pull of chemistry and curiosity between us. Unless it came to my advantage.
"Kelsey, don't forget Mr. Craft takes his coffee black."
I offered a pleasant nod toward the intern who's been here for only six weeks. She threw a wink and tossed her pin straight blonde hair my way, then swayed her nearly six-foot perfect frame toward the conference room.
My smile quickly flipped to a frown, holding in my eye roll to the best of my ability. I had been in this reception chair for almost two years, way longer than I'd planned. Knowing how my thick-head of a boss takes his coffee was a given.
Another few interns my age pranced after her, their clothing precise and professional to fit their well-kept bodies. My brand new shift dress didn't quite have the same effect when walking past any warm blooded males like theirs did.
Maybe I was stuck behind the reception desk because my confidence wasn't like theirs, or because Mr. Craft had a particular eye for his interns.
Who all happened to be tall, thin, and beautiful.
I was lucky to be chosen for the program at the most successful marketing firm in Cleveland. My test scores proved my worth, along with my killer final project. I'd pitched an idea on how to market a running shoe at an affordable cost to multiple stereotypes. Let's just say I did such a good job that employees had a hefty bonus from the surplus of sales.
While everyone else in the room was impressed, my boss, Mr. Craft, stayed straight faced, the same tense jaw and scowl firmly in place as always. I'd only amused him enough to be hired in as his personal assistant, not as one of the marketing coordinators.
I wasn't offended, but according to my new coworkers, it was rare for Craft to hire any interns into the company after they'd served their time, and I was fortunate to have the job he gave me.
I assumed I'd be hired within a year. One of those, put up with the grunt work and it'll pay off gigs. Yet still I sit, getting glares from Mr. Craft every morning, being ridiculed because I didn't complete tasks to his satisfaction. He was arrogant; always pointing out that my ideas weren't substantial enough.
It wouldn't be so bad if he weren't so attractive. Talk about being tongue tied because of beauty. It's one thing to hate an asshole who's older than dirt and not attractive, but the man had a perfectly sculpted face, and deliciously blue eyes that would draw you into hypnosis. He couldn't be much over thirty; an unlikely age for a man in such a high career place. My panties were damp after he'd walk into the room, but then he would open his mouth, and all inappropriate thoughts and fantasies would vanish in an instant.
You're two minutes late, Ms. Neely. I suggest you set your alarm earlier next time. Your coffee making skills don't match your resume. If I wanted to be a diabetic, I'd have you get me a bacon cheeseburger for breakfast. Ms. Neely, the last I knew, paper clips were made in different sizes, I'd appreciate you attempting to learn which size is appropriate for what amount of papers.
He had an opinion for everything, and the way his mouth curled before he'd put in his two cents, made my thighs tremble. His lack of empathy and self-righteousness annoyed me as much as it turned me on.
So for now I sit, making copies, getting coffee, and keeping his schedule. My parents think I'm crazy and should use my brain and transfer to another company where I'd actually be of use.
If the end of the year strolled around and I was still getting dirty looks and snide comments, I'd be long gone. Having Craft Marketing on my resume would guarantee me a job anywhere I wanted, and I was willing to put up with his bullshit if it meant I'd be able to advance myself.
"Did you see the new batch?" Mindy, the secretary to Mr. Craft's partner asked with a sneer.
"Yes, they sure seem perky," I muttered, grabbing Mr. Craft's one and only black coffee mug and headed to the work room. I had ten minutes before he arrived, leaving me time to make a fresh pot that would be at the correct temperature to his pleasing.
"Perky is right. I don't understand how these chicks can afford boob jobs fresh out of college."
I laughed, opening the door to the lounge. "They all come from money, or they worked extra hard in college for them."
Mindy rose a brow. "You mean working the sidewalks?"
I shrugged my shoulders, pulling out Mr. Craft's personal coffee tin. He didn't like to share, and had fired a poor intern who'd mistakenly made some for herself. I wasn't lying when I said he was an asshole. "Never said that."
She fluffed her curly strawberry-blonde hair in the mirror next to a motivational poster. She was more gorgeous than the interns, only a few years older, but you would never had known unless you got a glimpse of her driver's license.
She turned and eyed me up and down. "That's a new dress, isn't it? You look awesome in blue, Kelsey. You should wear it more often."
"Thanks," I beamed and smoothed over the new Caribbean blue shift dress. I'd bought it on a clearance rack at a high end boutique a few blocks down. It helped the rich color of my eyes pop out with a thin line of eyeliner and a heavy swipe of mascara.
"You know, I think Mr. Craft only uses interns to sleep with them," She huffed.
Holding my hand over my chest, I defended myself. "I didn't sleep with him when I was an intern."
Her mouth broadened into a huge smile. "Me either, which is why we both have jobs."
My shoulders sagged in realization. She was spot on, and I should have been proud of myself, but instead, a heavy pit sank to the bottom of my stomach. Why wouldn't I qualify?
Mindy marched over to me, grabbing my shoulders. "No, no, no, don't go there in your head. I've seen that, 'you don't add up to people's standards,' worried face before. You're beautiful. Twenty times more appealing than any of those girls. He chose you because you're brilliant."
I forced a grin, then sidestepped from her to pour water into the coffee maker. "If I'm so brilliant then why am I still an assistant and not a coordinator?"
She waved her hand at me. "Because he doesn't want to lose a good thing. Your time to shine will come, whether it's for Craft or somewhere else. I know I won't wait around forever for Sneed to promote me. I'm not going to be keeping his schedule the rest of my life."
Timothy, from accounting, breezed into the lounge. "Are you plotting to take over the world?"
Mindy straightened her posture and gave him a huge smile. "Only for the day." She'd deny to the end of time that she didn't have a crush on the lanky, redheaded and pale skinned accountant. I knew the truth, though. She'd confessed one night when we'd gone out for drinks.
"Mindy is next in line for a promotion," I nodded toward Mindy.
Timothy smiled in her direction, adjusting his glasses in the process. "That's great. You deserve it." He proceeded to the cupboard, pulling out two pieces of bread, then a jar of jelly.
I always thought it was odd he made and ate his breakfast at work. Mindy watched him as he pulled out the toaster and popped the bread into the slits.
"Hey Kelsey, I'm sorry the accounts from last month didn't get to you until this morning. I finished them late last night. I know how Craft can be when his reports aren't in on time."
I waved my hand toward him. "Don't worry about it. I wouldn't have gotten to them until this afternoon anyway."
Timothy's shoulders relaxed, a smile of relief spreading across his lips.
"Yeah, Craft seems to be touchy about his account slips. Gary is more flexible with those things. Honestly, I don't even think he goes over them," Mindy shrugged.
"Gary has always been kind and understanding if I'm ever behind," Timothy added.
I nodded in agreement. "And he's nice to both of you. Craft is such a pompous asshole."
Timothy grimaced while Mindy snorted. "That's the truth. Remember when some moron left a box in the middle of the hallway and you tripped, sending papers flying all over the floor?"
"Did you really?" Timothy asked.
My cheeks heated with embarrassment. How could I forget? It was only my first week, and Mr. Craft was ten feet away from me, watching in glance view as I slow-mode in my head that unforgettable moment. It wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't been wearing a skirt that day. Even if it would have been a tighter fitting dress, maybe it wouldn't have hiked over my hips to show my barely there underwear. Normally I knew better and would wear undies that covered my ass cheeks, but I was in desperate need of a laundromat and didn't have time, leaving me to wear a skimpy pair of white lace panties. You can imagine the mortification I felt when Craft's eyes left his phone to glance at my ass, then continued to walk by without debating to help me. I gave my new boss a free show.
"That was terrible. Thank God no one else saw."
She held in her giggle. "I would have helped you before I started laughing."
"At least you would have responded. Mr. Craft barely noticed me sprawled out on the floor, let alone offered to help."
"Hence, he's an asshole. He even glared at Gary when he didn't call him by his last name. I don't know how they became business partners."
I'd made that mistake before. Talk about if looks could kill. I was only complimenting him on his marketing strategy. Now, I leave my opinions to myself unless he asks for them. Which was rare, and hardly ever taken seriously.
She snickered before she spoke. "Although, if I were in a power house marketing position, I probably wouldn't like to be called Mackenzie either."
"Well, the one time I called him by his first name, I said Mack. Maybe he got so pissed off because I didn't use the full version."
"I think Mack is a pretty masculine name," Timothy offered. He wasn't one to gossip or talk negatively about anyone.
Mindy ignored Timothy and leaned into the marble countertop. "You'd think maybe he was so uptight because he doesn't get laid, but you and I both know that's not true."
Timothy's toast popped from the toaster. His face was as red as the strawberry jam he was dipping his knife into. "The ladies do tend to flock toward him."
I laughed under my breath. When I interned, he'd slept with the three other girls I'd been working with, dismissing them all with ease. He'd demand that they stay late and help him with a project. They all jumped and were eager to spread their legs. Fortunately, I never went up to the plate for that.
I swallowed, proud I'd never slept with him, yet, at the same time, offended by how I didn't meet up to his standards. The coffee was dripping into the cup now, nearly done filling. Good thing, considering I only had five more minutes before Mr. Grumpy Pants arrived.
A smirk play on my lips. "Maybe I should call him Mackenzie from now on, just to piss him off."
Mindy snickered. "Hard to piss someone off who is already mad all of the time."
A throat cleared from the doorway, startling us both. So much that when I jerked, my hand caught the edge of the coffee pot, burning the sensitive skin on the inside of my thumb.
I held my breath, shaking my hand as if that would help to rid it from stinging.
Cocky, arrogant, and dropped dead gorgeous: That described my boss, Mr. Craft, to a T. His thick hair, cold blue eyes and strong jaw held power in a conference meeting, causing women to melt in his presence. Iāve wanted to confront him on his stubborn attitude and critical demands for employees. Iād bitten my tongue in many scenarios and held in my true feelings over a dozen times. Keeping the peace was necessary until I had enough experience under my belt to move onto bigger and better things. The only problem was; Craft Marketing was the bigger and better, and the longer I stuck it out with him, meant more opportunities would arise. Iād been the only female intern to land a job directly under him, and was also the only one who hadnāt slept with him. I knew he was promiscuous with the tall and leggy blondes that breezed into his office looking immaculate, then scurried back out with mussed hair, flushed cheeks, and unbuttoned blouses. I'd ignore the magnetic pull of chemistry and curiosity between us. Unless it came to my advantage.
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashtonās uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
22-year-old Evelyn Carter is attempting to start over in California while avoiding her past. She will be embarking on a new career path as a private school teacher. She is smart, attractive, and doesn't put up with nonsense. Who wouldn't notice her? However, what happens when she attracts the attention of someone unwilling to let her go? Who wants her and nothing else after falling in love at first sight? A 25-year-old billionaire CEO and single father, Lucian Carrington. He takes what he wants and he is also a very dangerous man. All it needed was one look at a stunning woman to realize she was HIS, even though he doesn't believe in relationships because they always end. Preview: Miss Carter, you will be mine. I say firmly. "Release my arm, Mr. Carrington, before I force you to." She says, seeming to smile at me. I give her a sly smile. Squeezing my wrist with her other hand, she twists it uncomfortably. I gave a painful hiss. "Don't underestimate me, Mr. Carrington." "This is the only time I will allow you to walk away from me, Miss Carter." She glared at me as she turned. "Mr. Carrington, I am no possession of yours." I was left standing there when she opened the classroom door and left.
Her fiance and her best friend worked together and set her up. She lost everything and died in the street. However, she was reborn. The moment she opened her eyes, her husband was trying to strangle her. Luckily, she survived that. She signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and was ready for her miserable life. To her surprise, her mother in this life left her a great deal of money. She turned the tables and avenged herself. Everything went well in her career and love when her ex-husband came to her.
Sandra Hill, the long-lost real heiress of the Hill family, was shunned by her own kin. Instead of embracing her, they bestowed their affection upon an impostor. They even arranged her to marry a vegetative man in place of her so-called āsisterā. Sandra sneered, refusing to put up with this humiliation, cut off ties with the Hill family immediately and ran into the flash marriage with Wesley Cooper, her unconscious billionaire husband. With her incredible medical skills, she defied the odds and revived him. Little did she expect that her husband spoiled her with all his love... A medical genius, a computer prodigy, a national treasure in painting, and a racing legend... Her husband revealed her various identities, leaving the Hill family regretful. Her father came pleading, "It's Dad's fault. Please come back." Her mother wept, "Mom will protect you from now on. Please come back." Even her five brothers knelt before he, begging for forgiveness. Yet, Sandra's smile held a hint of mockery as she vowed, āNever!ā
6 years ago, Lydia suffered a brutal betrayal orchestrated by her own husband and step-sister, who drugged her and framed her. In a twist of fate, she ended up having a one-night stand with a stranger. Don't even remember what he looked like. Later, in the throes of death, she discovered the truth about her mother's death all those years ago. In the blink of an eye, she lost everything. 6 years later, Lydia returned with her genius son, vowing to exact revenge on all her enemies! Little did she know, she encountered an incredibly familiar man at the airport! *** The man was briskly pushing open the door to the restroom, heading to the urinal. Even with such a mundane action, he did it with unparalleled elegance and grace. Lydia, following him in a daze, saw his fierce lower body and suddenly snapped back to reality. She let out a high-pitched scream, instinctively covering her eyes with her hands, her cheeks flushed, and stood there stiffly, unsure of what to do. Lambert furrowed his brows slightly but remained calm as he continued to relieve himself. The sound of water hitting the urinal made Lydia's face even redder. She angrily shouted, "You pervert!" Little did Lydia know that Lambert, seeing her in this state, had a flicker of recognition in his eyes. Memories from many years ago flashed through his mind, and his heart couldn't help but stir. It was her!
Kara Martin was known as Miss Perfect. She was a beauty with good personality and successful career. Unfortunately, her life changed at one night. She was accused of adultery, losing her job, and abandoned by her fiance. The arrogant man who slept with her did not want to take responsibility. He even threatened to kill her if they met again. What's worse, Kara was pregnant with twins and she chose to give birth to them. Four and a half years later, Kara returned to work at a large company. As the secretary, she would frequently face their notorious CEO. Kara thought it wouldn't be a problem, but as it turned out ... the CEO was the father of the twins!