Mr. Big Shot: An Enemies To Lovers Romance (Kinda Cocky Book 1), стр. 28

“Several. But, those can wait until I go see H.R.”

He walked over to the door and put his arm out. “Wonderful. Head back to the elevator and take it to the ninth floor. Then, follow the signs. I’ll call down and let them know you’re expected.”

I looked up at him. “Need anything else before I leave?”

His eyes found mine. “Like I said, we’ll speak once you get back up here.”

I noticed an unsettled flutter in the pit of my gut as he stared at me. Zane’s eyes were as mesmerizing as they were that night, and I had a bad feeling about all of it. It seemed weird taking the job, given our history together. But, at the same time, it was a fantastic opportunity. I didn’t live in a world where I could turn down a job like this in the hope that something else less confusing might come along.

Suck it up, Karina. You officially have a job. Celebrate that.

I figured, just because I was an asshole to him, and just because he flat-out embarrassed me at my best friend’s birthday party, didn’t mean we had to have a tense work relationship. We were adults. We could both get past that.

Right?

“All right. Well, I'll head out and be back as quickly as I can,” I said.

He nodded. “You do that. I’ll be in my office. Just knock on the door twice.”

I paused. “Twice?”

“Yep. Twice. It helps me to distinguish between you and Brenden.”

“Good to know.”

“See you soon, then.” He smiled.

Stop staring at him, idiot. “Right. Yes.”

I turned away and hurried to the elevator, exiting his sight as quickly as possible. Oh, God, how am I going to do this job? Will he be an asshole boss to me because of what I did? Or is this his way of secretly getting back to me?

I felt myself growing sick to my stomach as I pushed the button and summoned the elevator. As it rose up the shaft toward me with a soft hum, I took a second to glance around the top floor. Up here every office was lined with tinted windows and along the back wall sunlight flooded into the space. But while I’d usually enjoy that, I almost felt exposed.

Here I wouldn’t have an office like I had back home. My desk was out in the open for everyone to see. The white-and-black-swirled marble flooring had a harsh element to it that contrasted the matte-black painted walls. And the doors to every office were the same matte black as the walls, except for the stainless steel doorknobs. The space wasn't anything like Zane's office.

It was plain.

Almost as if someone had worked to keep it that way.

Huh.

The elevator dinged, and I whipped back around. I slipped inside and watched the metal doors close before pressing the button for the ninth floor. It was obvious from the smell that someone had brought egg salad for lunch. It was what I was used to smelling in an office, unlike the top floor that seemed to have a constant scent of fresh flowers.

Guess some things never changed.

I tried to focus on all the good things about the position. The salary was about fifteen grand under what I made as the head of H.R. at my old job. But, I had double the paid leave. Plus, sick leave! I’d never, ever had sick leave before. And the idea of retirement accounts? I needed to open one of those most definitely. The only thing I had was my savings account, and even that had dwindled substantially since I had moved to Vegas. I smiled to myself. It was going to be a good thing. It sounded like I’d get to travel, and the overtime would be well worth it.

If I played my cards right, that overtime might push me up to the fifteen grand I was losing out on.

I can run numbers when I get home tonight.

The elevator doors slid open, and the ninth floor greeted me. It was just as harsh, though. Same marble flooring. Same matte black walls. Only, this floor had some pictures on the walls along the hallway, and the people working kept their office doors open. The smells of decadent food delivered from up the block wafted down the hallway, teasing my stomach. I had woofed down half a container of fast-food fries before rushing my way into the office earlier in the morning.

My mind fluttered back to my space above me in the building. I wanted it to feel comfortable as quickly as possible. Anxiety always stifled my learning curve, and Zane made me nervous. Maybe I’d put a couple of pictures on my desk upstairs.

“Karina Rosehill?”

I turned around. “Yes?”

A beautiful woman beckoned to me with her hand. “Come on in. Mr. Hearthstone said to be expecting you. My name is Ava.”

I smiled. “Thank you. I think I got caught up with the artwork on the walls.”

Ava grinned and nodded. “It’s easy to do around here when the colors are so boring. Come on. We can get you situated with the basics first.”

I walked into the beautiful, busty woman’s office and sat in the chair in front of her desk. Ava’s ruby red lips were perfectly painted on, and her eyebrows had been shaded in. Her dyed red hair curled wildly around her head, and her clothes were a bit too tight. I looked down at my own outfit and was suddenly conscious of how tight my pencil skirt was.

Do all of the women who work here look like Ava?

“So! Congratulations on the job. Zane’s been looking for a new secretary for a few days now,” Ava said.

I blinked. “Zane?”

She sat down at her desk. “Sorry. Mr. Hearthstone. Though, down here? We don’t take those kinds of considerations into play unless we’re face to face with him.”

I nodded. “Any reason why?”

“Zane’s easier to say than Mr. Hearthstone.” she shrugged.

“Very true.”

Ava typed away on her computer. “Working for Zane is definitely a