Chapter 1
“Viv,” Kelliegh says, dragging me from my thoughts “Here, here’s your cup of sugar.” I smile at her, taking the cup and rolling my eyes. I pull the cup to my nose and breathe deeply, the smell of strawberries making me smile. “A Grande strawberry and crème Frappuccino, just like you wanted.” she scrunches her nose, taking a drink of her venti soy black coffee, triple shot, the same thing she always gets. I check my watch, I still have twenty minutes until I need to head towards Stryder Corp for my interview. I have no idea how I landed a slot, I know I’m not qualified, but when I got the call, I jumped at the opportunity.
“So, do you think you’ll get the job?” Kelliegh asks, reading my mind.
“Honestly? No.” I sigh and take a big sip of my Frappuccino. “If I don’t get this job I think I’ll have to move back home.” I vocalize the fear I’ve had since I lost my job a month ago.
“No way, we’ll figure something out Viv, you can’t move back in with your mom and deadbeat brother.”
“I don’t want to talk about them.” I give her a look that says I mean business. “I just don’t think I can afford to live in the city anymore if I don’t get this position. Might as well admit defeat.”
“You could still get this job. You are really good at what you do.” I half smile at her, I know she means well, but I already know there’s no chance that I’m going to walk away employed today.
“Thanks for the confidence, Kell. Are you gonna wait here or go find something to do for a while?” I say, standing and running my hands down, straightening the skirt of my gray skirt-suit. I watch her turn and rummage through her too big purse, a curse slipping from her before she finds what she’s looking for, holding up a gift card to The Gap. I smile and shake my head.
“I’ll meet you back here?” she smiles, tilting her head, her short blonde curls bouncing when she does.
“See you later.” I say, turning and walking away, tossing what’s left of my Frappuccino in the trash can by the door.
The walk isn’t too far, only about a block, but I could see the building from the coffee shop, the tall sleek gray skyscraper standing out. I take a deep breath, my lungs feeling like they’re shrinking with every step I take towards the place. I push myself through the doors and towards the desk. The small man sitting behind it is talking into an earpiece when he holds up a single finger. I wait, trying not to listen to his conversation, his tone cold and uncaring. It only takes a minute or two for him to usher whoever off the phone before he turns his fake greeting towards me. “How can I help you?”
“I’m here for an interview with Liam Stryder.”
“Top floor, elevator’s there.” he points, a sneer on his face.
The elevator seems to take forever as it rises, up, up, up, finally dinging and opening to another desk. A pretty redhead sits perched, typing something when I walk up. She instantly stops and smiles at me, completely opposite the man downstairs already. “Hi, welcome, what can I do for you, dear?” Her lips are painted a bright red, matching her hair and her smokey eyes are killer, complimenting her pale blue eyes.
“I’m here for an interview with Mr. Stryder.” she nods and turns to her computer, typing something.
“Name?”
“Vivianne Pierce” I try to stand as straight as I can, avoiding dropping myself onto one leg. I watch as she types something else, nodding and reaching for the phone to her right.
“Mr. Stryder, your next interview is here.” she smiles, nodding. “No problem, sir.” she says, hanging up. “Just have a seat over there, Mr. Stryder will see you shortly.” she points towards a small couch against the wall before returning to her typing. I sit at the edge of the couch, leaning on the arm and pulling my phone from my bag and checking my watch. I pull up my messages and find Kelliegh’s contact typing “Must be running behind, I’m waiting to see him” it doesn’t take long before my phone dings, “You’ll do great! See you for coffee later.” I sign and turn my phone off, slipping it back into my bag.
Ten minutes pass, twenty minutes, thirty minutes, forty minutes, my patience wearing thin. I’m about to stand and ask the woman behind the desk how much longer it should be when two men stride into the room, laughing with each other. I watch the shorter man turn, offering a hand, shaking with a “See you later, Liam” before heading off towards the elevator. I smile, and straighten, waiting for him to ask me to come back with him.
“Jenna,” he turns to the redhead.
“Yes, sir?” her cheeks are flushed, and I don’t blame her, Liam Stryder is hot. His suit gives him a put together look, but it’s tight enough to show he’s built under there. His dark hair is slicked back, a few strays falling in his face. I could live my life as those hairs and be happy.
“Reschedule the rest of my appointments, please, I’m heading out for the rest of the day and won’t be available” his words hit me like a ton of bricks. I’m one of the rest of those appointments. No way am I rescheduling this appointment, I’ve spent the last forty-five minutes waiting on him.
I scoff and grab my bag, standing. “That’s just great” The words tumble out before I can stop them.
“Excuse me?” he says, glaring daggers.
“I was your next appointment, I’ve been out here waiting to meet with you.” my confidence grows with each word.
“So reschedule, I’ll meet with you whenever my next available slot for interviews is.” he says, practically shrugging me off. My jaw ticks, is this how he treats people? Is this the way the company deals with these situations? No thanks. I ignore a pang, deep in my gut, telling me to shut up, squaring my shoulders.
“No thanks.” I say, looking at Jenna before narrowing my eyes on Mr. Stryder, a slightly stunned look on his face. I have nothing to lose at this point anyway. “My butt if I will reschedule, I carved out time to meet with you, and if this is how you regard people’s time then no thank you.” I turn and stalk towards the elevator, hitting the button a few times, my confidence long gone now. Why did I do that? That was so stupid, now I really have no choice but to move back home with momma.
I feel him walking up, taking the spot next to me, I steal a glance. I see a small smirk, my eyes darting down to the floor. The elevator dings and the doors slide open, I quickly force myself in, turning and hitting the button for the ground floor. He glides in, taking the spot next to me again, but doesn’t reach for a button. Great, now I’m stuck in here for the eternity it takes to reach the ground. A fire in my belly starts to boil into a rage inside of me as thoughts tumble through my head. I glance up at him again and the small smirk still sitting on his inviting lips pushes me over the limit.
“What?” I bark out. A small cough escapes him.
“Sorry. Uhh, I should have handled that better. Look, let’s start over?” I look at him, confused. “Hi, I’m Liam Stryder, pleased to meet you,” he eyes me, reaching out his hand. I can’t help but smile a little as I shake his hand.
“Vivianne Peirce” I say, watching as he nods, I can almost see my name tumbling around in his head.
“Well, Vivianne, I am on my way to a coffee shop about a block from here, if you would like to join me, we can talk about that job.”
“Sure, I was headed there anyway.” I say, proud of myself.
“Do you have a copy of your resume?”
“Yes, in here” I pat my bag as the elevator dings, opening. We walk to the coffee shop, making it about half way before either of us speak. “I really am sorry for what happened back there. I didn’t mean to waste your time.”
I nod, “It’s fine, you didn’t totally waste my time, at least I’m still getting interviewed.” I chuckle a little. He opens the door, stepping out of the way and I smile, walking in, headed straight to the counter. He follows, staring up at the menu when the barista comes up to me.
“Hi, I’ll have a Venti Caramel Macchiato with a double shot, two extra pumps of caramel with whip and caramel drizzle please.” I pull my bag onto the counter and grab my wallet, listening as Mr. Stryder orders a tall black coffee. I pull my card out and go to hand it to the barista, who already has a card. I look up at Mr. Stryder, confused.
“I’ve got it.” he smiles and my world almost stops, he is so gorgeous.
“No, please.” I say but he holds up a hand.
“Consider it another apology.” he says, putting his card back and slipping the wallet back into his slacks.
I fold my wallet and put it back, waiting for my coffee. I look around the room and easily spot Kelliegh in the corner, her face a look of pure shock and excitement. I scowl at her, trying to convey a mean message with my eyes to get her to stop ogling us like that.
“Where do you want to sit?” I ask when the barista hands us our coffee. He points and starts towards a table, I follow behind him taking the seat across from him. From where I am I can still see Kell, a smug look on her face, her eyes bright with excitement. My stomach turns and I force myself to look Mr. Stryder in the face. Insecurities fill me; I’m not the typical and obviously beautiful type. My icy blue eyes are too big and my lips are too thin. Where Kelliegh is naturally in-your-face beautiful with her shoulder length blonde hair and pretty green eyes that have just enough of a tilt. Even Mr. Stryder is obviously attractive, and not just because his suits are tailored just right. I struggle to push the thoughts aside and focus on what I’m good at. Work has always been something I’ve done well, no matter where it was. Even when I was a barista at Starbucks, I was the one to watch.
I slide my resume across the table, watching his large hands pick it up, his eyes focusing. His face turns to stone, no emotion or tell to find, my stomach starts to roll again, thinking about earlier, when I insulted him. It was a stupid thing to do, and now I’m not going to get this job and I’ll have to move home and work at the Walmart.
His expression changes quickly, and he looks at me. He sets the paper down, and clears his throat, my stomach stops turning and instead plunges itself to my toes.
“I… You aren’t qualified for the position. Sorry.” My cheeks burn, I knew I wasn’t qualified when I got the interview. “I don’t know how you even got through our vetting process,” he continues. I nod, taking a big swig of coffee. Nothing new, nothing I didn’t know, I remind myself again.
“Well, thanks for at least meeting me.” I stand to leave, my pride in pieces on the floor. My insides feel like they’ve been jumbled and jostled and are ready to come out through my mouth.
“Wait, I can,” he pauses and I stop moving, waiting for him to finish. “I can ask around, see if any of my connections have any openings in their companies.”
“You don’t need to,”
“No, please, I want to, especially since I was a dick this morning.”
“You’ve already done plenty. Please, don’t trouble yourself.”
“It’s no trouble, really, let me help. I feel bad dragging you in like this.”
“Okay, if it’s really no trouble.” I say.
“Now, please, sit back down, have coffee with me.” I sit, letting my bag fall to the ground again and taking another swig of coffee. My body must be at least two thirds caffeine by now, I smile to myself, readjusting my position. “So, how long have you lived in New York?” he asks, making beautiful eye contact, his green eyes holding just a second longer than they probably should.
“About a year now, how about you?”
“All my life, I was born down the street. Have you had a chance to fall in love yet? With the city I mean,” he smiles, effectively freezing me.
“Uh, somewhat. I like New York but…” I shrug, not sure what I’m holding back.
“But?”
“Well, I moved here for a job, I was busy, and now I think I might have to move back home, before I really even had the chance to love it here.” My shoulders sag a little, feeling a little lighter. I peek up at him, embarrassed I said anything.
“Why do you have to move back home?” curiosity fills his voice, making it sound sweeter somehow.
“I can’t afford to stay here. I lost my job last week.” a scowl forms on his face. I sip my coffee, looking away from him, back to Kell who is watching us intently. She might as well have a bag of popcorn, she must be loving this.
“Maybe…” he starts, my eyes darting back to him. He looks unsure, his features looking younger, I don’t like it. A puff of air seems to force its way between his lips. “I personally have an opening for a position, and I need it filled very soon.” His eyes meet mine, my breath hitching for a moment.
I nod “Okay, what is it?”
“Look, this isn’t something I would normally… I just… You know what? Can I send you the contract?” he holds eye contact, almost pleading.
“You don’t sound very convincing here, Mr. Stryder.”
“Liam, call me Liam, and I know, but it’s a little difficult to explain, so please. Let me email the contract over and take some time to read over it. Let me know what you think, whether you want the job or not.”
“Okay? Uh, my emails on the,” I point to the paper he still has “There.” I touch my email. He nods.
“I have to go now, but I hope we can do this again sometime, Vivianne.” I smile at him and nod.
“Of course, anytime you need someone to insult you, you can count on me” he chuckles and I think my lungs stop functioning.
I watch him walk away before I reach for my bag and head towards Kelliegh who is practically jumping in her seat. “Quit.” I say, scowling.
“God, he was HOT!” She says leaning in, bumping my shoulder.
“I know,” I smile. “But he was weird at the end, he was giving me a little serial killer vibes.” She laughs at me, but I can’t help but replay the last few minutes. What could be so horrible he couldn’t even say it out loud?
