Chapter 1
CHLOE
“Chloe Sinclair, here for my interview at Callaway & Starling Law Firm,” I state, forcing back the tremor of desperation in my voice. This is my tenth interview since graduation. Since the day my law school boyfriend told me he didn’t see a future with me and kicked me out of his apartment, leaving me homeless.
Thank goodness for my best friend Anne, who took me into her one-bedroom apartment and gave me the couch. But soon she’ll want her space back, and I’ll be forced to go back home to my small town in Missouri.
The woman at the front desk gives me a quick once-over before picking up the phone. “Chloe Sinclair is here,” she announces, taking a brief pause. She scrutinizes me again and adds, “Yes.”
I smooth my white blouse, ensuring the buttons are secure, even as they stretch slightly over my breasts. With little money and way too many student loans, I have to make do with what I have.
I glance down to confirm I’m wearing my heels. After catching the bus and walking three blocks, my sneakers sit in my large purse, which also serves as my business case for my laptop. Alright, black heels—check.
“You can head right up,” the woman says, flashing a plastic smile as she slides a badge across the desk. “Down the hall is the elevator. Use this card to access the top floor, and please return it when you’re finished.”
“Thank you,” I respond, gripping the card tightly as if it’s my lifeline, and I make my way to the elevator. Alone at the end of the hall, I take a deep breath, swipe the card, and press the button.
A wave of excitement surges through me. I glance back at the crowd, bustling in and out of the lobby, animatedly chatting on their cell phones or focused on their screens, all rushing to their next destination. I can’t wait to be one of them.
As the elevator arrives, I step inside but notice there are no buttons on the wall. Suddenly, the elevator begins its smooth ascent to the top. I take a moment to admire my reflection in the glass walls and check my outfit. Perfect!
The elevator pings as it arrives, and I step forward onto the marble tile. The only sound is my heels clicking on the surface. There’s a desk situated between two offices and a conference room. The area appears vacant, with both office doors firmly closed.
“Hello?” I call out softly, keenly aware of the silence. “Is anyone there?”
The clanking of cups draws my attention to an open door behind me. I turn and walk towards the door, the sound getting louder. When I enter the break room, my eyes land on a well-built chest clad in a suit that fits him flawlessly. Tipping my head back, I meet his clean-shaven face, where a strong jawline lifts to a friendly smile. “Hey!”
A pulse of heat rushes through my system, making me momentarily forget where I am. My heart races as I silently hope he’s not the boss, because if I work for this guy, I might never get anything done—I’ll be too busy staring at him.
He extends his hand, pulling me back to reality. I quickly remind myself how desperately I need this job. I brace myself for our hands to meet, but even that isn’t enough. The moment I touch him, I stifle a gasp as a rush of desire courses through me, making my thighs tighten as I fight to resist the urge to lean closer.
His dark eyebrow arches, and his smile widens to a dazzling brilliance. “I’m Cody Callaway, one of the partners.”
Oh no! He’s the boss.
“Hi, it’s great to finally meet you in person.” My heart races as I try not to say more than that and release his hand.
He throws his hands up in mock defeat. “Sorry, I was attempting to make us some afternoon coffee, but clearly, I’m not winning at this.” He picks up the coffee pot and the bag of coffee beans.
“Let me help,” I say, reaching out for the items.
“Nah, you don’t even work here! I can’t ask you to do that.” He places them on the counter and gestures dismissively.
“It’ll only take me a couple of minutes.”
He gives me a smile from his gorgeous lips. I can’t help but feel the warmth rise to my cheeks as he steps aside.
I grab the pot and fill it with water from the filtered spout, then pour it into the coffee maker. Next, I add the beans and press the button to start grinding.
“Oh, so that’s the button.” He leans in closer, and the intoxicating scent of his woodsy musk hits me. “How did you learn to make coffee so quickly?”
“I worked at a coffee stand in college.” I can’t help but imagine how incredible it would be to work with him—under him. On top of him.
The high-end coffee maker brews coffee in just a few minutes. I grab two cups from the shelf and fill them. “Sugar and cream?”
“Nah, I prefer it black.”
As I pass him the cup, our fingers brush, sending another jolt of desire through me.
“Come on over.” He gestures, and I follow him into the conference room, balancing the coffee cup and my oversized purse.
The room is sleek with modern black lines and a large glass table. The expansive window reveals the stunning city skyline and the shimmering waters of Puget Sound.
I could look at this view every day.
He holds out a chair for me, and I settle into it. A playful smile dances on his lips as he takes his seat across the table.
“You’ll have to excuse my partner. He’s running late due to a call with the Attorney General.” Cody interlaces his long fingers on the table—fingers I’d love to feel against my skin right now.
I push those thoughts aside. I need this job desperately and can’t afford to blow this interview. I’m not even sure if I’m qualified for the position. However, my phone interview with Paul Starling went well, and he was willing to overlook my obvious lack of qualifications.
I’m young and eager, ready to soak up all the knowledge I can. Paul emphasized that “hard work” is a valuable quality, one that not everyone has. I made it clear that I’m a quick learner, committed to delivering results.
“Why don’t you tell me about yourself while we wait?”
I cross my legs and lean forward slightly. “I graduated from Washington with a bachelor’s degree in pre-law. After spending a year in law school and interning for two summers, I realized it wasn’t the right path for me.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Why aren’t you working at the law firm where you interned?”
I take a breath to respond thoughtfully. “I’m exploring a different direction, and I believed a new firm would offer the fresh start I need. While I might have some gaps in qualifications, I assure you that I’m dedicated to hard work and eager to learn.”
“And you make coffee,” Cody smirks, leaning back as his gaze drifts down my body.
“Sorry I’m late!” I recognize Mr. Starlings’ voice from the phone. Talking to him during the interview was so easy that we went over our scheduled time by an hour.
I stand to greet him, and my knees almost buckle. He’s tall, strikingly handsome, and well-built like Cody. “Paul Starling.”
I fight the urge to fan myself and swoon. My gaze drifts down his impressive frame, and then I realize he’s extending his hand. “Nice to meet you,” I manage to say, shaking his hand as butterflies flutter in my stomach.
If I land this job and these two become my bosses, I’ll need to learn to keep my composure, as I can feel myself melting inside.
Paul smiles and takes a seat next to Cody. “I see you learned how to make coffee.”
“Our interviewee made it.” He brings the cup to his delicious lips.
“I like a girl who takes initiative,” Paul says with a wink.
My knees are grateful as I sink into the chair across these two handsome men.
“Callaway and Starling is among Seattle’s premier law firms. We’ve dedicated the last six years to achieving that recognition,” Paul states, his voice smooth and engaging. “We need someone willing to go above and beyond to meet our needs.”
I swallow against the image that pops up in my mind unbidden. I smile and nod, as that seems like the easiest thing to do right now. I thought I wanted this job, but now I would do anything to be in close proximity to these two remarkable individuals. Heat rushes to my cheeks as I cross my legs.
“We expect long hours. When we work, you work—and believe me, we work a lot.” Cody leans forward, his well-defined arms stretching against the fabric of his suit. “We may be challenging at times.”
“More often than not,” Paul quips with a playful smirk.
Cody gestures to a sheet of paper before him. “Our compensation package features a competitive salary. Given our requirements, we do ask that our assistant live nearby, specifically in an apartment directly across the hall from ours, so we have access to you at all times.”
My eyes widen as he slides the document over to me. I hadn’t anticipated that this role included housing, which is exactly what I need at the moment. I take the paper and glance at the figures, feigning indifference, even though the truth is, I was ready to say yes the moment I entered the building.
Taking a deep breath, I exhale slowly. “So, I’d be working for both of you?” I glance outside the conference room, noticing the absence of other employees. “Where are the rest of the team members?”
“We’re a very private team,” Paul says, tapping his long index finger against the polished wood table. “It’ll just be the three of us up here. Everyone else works on the five floors below.”
My heart pounds with excitement. It feels as if I’ve already secured the job—is this really happening? I can hardly believe it. I almost want to pinch myself to check if I’m dreaming.
“Did we scare you off already?” Cody asks with a playful grin.
I hold steady eye contact with both of them. “No, this feels like the fresh start I’ve been searching for. It will give me the chance to work closely with both of you and learn from the best. I won’t let you down.”
“We hope not,” Cody replies, his smile widening. “We have high expectations, which is why we prefer a trial month before you move into the apartment. This way, we can ensure we’re a good fit for each other.”
A trial period? I didn’t see that coming, but I need the work. I want to work here. If I work hard enough, I can prove myself in the month. I know I can. “I understand.” I nod.
“I think that covers everything we need,” Cody states as he stands up, and Paul joins him. The two men position themselves by the door, waiting for me.
I grab my large purse and pick up my coffee cup, but then I notice the cup Cody left behind on the table and quickly snatch it up too.
Then, I briskly walk past them and load the cups into the dishwasher. “I figured it wouldn’t hurt,” I say with a giggle.
Their gazes are fixed on me, like focused lions—silent but attentive. When the elevator doors slide open, Cody takes my hand.
“We’ll see you soon, Chloe.”
