No Love Attached

chapter four : the office perv

| No Love Attached |
chapter four : the office perv

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   There's nothing quite like that new-office-smell. It's almost as enticing as the scent of a brand new car. But when it's your office, it just feels more rewarding.

   As I stood in the middle of a huge room with windows that took up an entire wall, that's how I felt. There was a sleek black desk to one side of the room, which held my laptop and some books on top of it. To the other side was a large bookshelf filled with -- you guessed it, more books. The books on the desk were manuscripts that needed to be read, while the ones on the shelf were ones we published and became huge sellers.

   I earned this. This penthouse office was mine. It was very similar to my office back in New York, but something was different here. Not only did my office face the heart of London instead of busy Manhattan. But this felt sweeter. More accomplishing for some reason. Maybe because it was my idea. Our dream. And I made it happen.

    My heels clicked against the black hard-wooded floors with every step I took. A few yards down the hall, past a couple of other offices, was Penney's office. Penney and I met in college, both majored in literature, and then ended up interning and working at the same firm.

She probably wouldn't have been asked by the board to come to London if it wasn't for me taking her, though. Penney isn't as high up in the company as I was. Since her work ethic was similar to how it was in college: binge drinking and blowing people for their homework.

   Before I got to Penney's office, I was stopped by a tall man's stature. To my surprise, I looked up to see one of my bosses. Mr. Alec James. Co-owner of the publishing house. He and Josh's dad were the only people who were above me.

    Alec was a little younger than Mr. Lewis. But his salt and pepper colored hair and a certain charisma about him, told me he wasn't exactly young. Probably late forties, early fifties. Meanwhile Josh's father, Matthew was well into his sixties. 

    What was he doing here? He was barely a part of the company. All he really did was show up once every couple of months for a meeting and sign everyone's paychecks. He's always used his undeniable charm and flirted with me, but I didn't take it personally. As he literally flirted and had banged almost everyone in the office.

I frowned, knowing Matthew didn't trust me to do this on my own and probably sent James to check up on me.

    "Mr. James," I greeted him in a professional manner.

    "Miss. Larson," he spoke in the same tone as I did, although his eyes glistened with mischief. 

   "Let me guess, Matthew thought I needed help? Which, I don't."

    His bright smile flashed before he spoke. "I know you don't, Vera. But Matthew's old school. Doesn't think an intelligent young woman like yourself could get an office running. Of course, he's wrong."

"Well, I appreciate that --" I started, but was quickly interrupted by him again. And because he's technically my boss, I didn't call him out for it.

"But that doesn't mean I won't just stick around for a few weeks to make sure things run smoothly and keep Matthew happy. Don't worry, I'll stay out of your hair," he chuckled. "Unless you want me in it, of course."