Mr. Big Shot: An Enemies To Lovers Romance (Kinda Cocky Book 1), стр. 29
I paused. “I’m sorry, interesting interactions?”
“Oh, you know how Zane is.”
“I don’t think I do.”
“Well, you’ll definitely figure it out soon, then.” She looked over at me and winked, and I wondered if Zane had slept with her, too.
Am I not the only one?
“Anyway, a word of caution? Don’t talk to Zane on his bad days. If he comes in grumpy, try to do as much from your desk as you can. It’ll make everyone’s day a bit easier until he snaps out of it.”
I nodded mindlessly. “Noted.”
Ava stopped typing and looked up. “And… here we go! Okay. You’re going to fill out these next three pages. This is your health insurance paperwork, and you can choose from three tiers. They’re not much different, except for copayments and deductibles. But, if you have any questions, feel free to ask. After this, we’ll get your W-2 stuff filled out and chisel away at your retirement account next.”
Ava turned a laptop in my direction and pushed it toward me. I kept studying her, raking my eyes over her prominent bosom and tiny waist. She was gorgeous. Every single part of her was breathtaking. It made me want to take a look at the rest of the women that worked here. I felt something akin to anxiety rush up my spine. On the one hand, I didn’t look like any of the women I had seen at desks in this building. Did Zane expect me to dress and look like these women? However, on the other hand, I felt anger percolating in my gut.
“Miss Rosehill?”
I swallowed my frustration. “Yes? Sorry. Just thinking through some things.”
The woman’s face softened. “Don’t let him intimidate you. If he offered you the job, he thinks you’re capable. And don’t take my word for it. I just don’t do well with moody men.”
“Ah.”
“Plus, if he really becomes an ass? I can teach you how to make his favorite after-hours drink. That usually loosens him up a great deal, especially if you’re working overtime.”
I had to hold back a grimace. “Thanks for that.”
She smiled. “Anytime! Girl, we have to be here for one another. Because those boys upstairs are insane some days.”
“Can I ask you a question?”
She nodded. “Shoot.”
“What percentage of the employees here are women?”
She giggled. “I like you. You have a sense of humor.”
I blinked. “I don’t follow.”
Ava giggled again, and my eyes shifted back and forth between her and some papers on her desk. Finally, she looked up and nodded at the computer. “Anyway, go ahead and get started on that while I fill out your basic information on your W-2. That’ll make all of this go a bit faster. Chop chop!”
I plucked the laptop from the desk and settled it against my thighs. I tried not to let her blossoming perfume distract me, but it was hard. I tried to ignore the fact that she was beautiful. I tried to ignore the sneaking suspicion that she and Zane had slept together.
But it was hard.
“All right. Here you go,” I said.
She took the laptop. “A fast worker. I like that. He’ll like that about you, too.”
“I’m sure,” I replied trying not to roll my eyes.
“I’ll give you the W-2 information and the retirement account stuff. Knock it out, and you’re free to go!”
My fingers had never flown so quickly over a keyboard in my entire life.
“Wait,” I said.
“What’s up?”
I pointed. “This number is wrong.”
“What number? Let me see.”
I turned the laptop to her. “I’m supposed to be salaried forty-five grand a year. Not seventy.”
She furrowed her brow. “That’s not what Zane told me.”
“What do you mean? That’s what he told me?”
“Well, in the email Zane sent down after calling, he has your base salary at seventy grand a year.”
I blinked. “Are you sure?”
“I can take another look, but I’ve already looked at it three times to enter it in on all this paperwork. I’m sure.”
“Oh. Well, that will affect the percentage of pay into my retirement account, then.”
“Do you want to adjust it?”
I nodded my head. “Yes. I’d like to max it out at six percent each paycheck.”
She smiled. “Great! I can get that changed. Leave it to me.”
Before I left Ava’s office, she handed me the official list of my duties and responsibilities along with copies of the other paperwork. And still, I was stunned. What in the world happened between the time we talked and the time I got down here? I needed to ask him about it. Not that I wasn't grateful for the surprise raise. But, it seemed like an odd hike.
A little over two-thirds of what he initially offered me.
As I rose up the elevator to go back to the top floor, my eyes scanned my list of responsibilities. It was extensive. It was almost as if I’d be a personal assistant as well as a secretary. Which I didn't mind, but that would definitely come with overtime. I grinned to myself. If I could get the hang of that job and hold onto it for a few years, I’d be in a much better place financially. No debt, I could save for a down payment on my own home, and the skills would transfer wonderfully if I chose not to stay in Vegas.
“You can do this,” I whispered to myself.
The elevator dinged, and I found my heels clicking along the flooring as I made my way to Zane’s office, back down the muted, soulless hallway that led straight to his door at the end. As I passed by my new desk, I ran my fingertips along it. The smooth, glazed, blonde hardwood was a bright contrast against the wall. And the top shelves were practically begging for some flowers. I