Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 65239 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65239 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
“Co-owns the company,” Declan corrects her as he approaches her chair. “What exactly are you doing here?”
“She’s our new marketing hire,” I tell him. “This is Calliope Morrow.”
He lets out a low chuckle. “I’ll be damned. Things just got a hell of a lot more interesting around here. Welcome aboard, Calliope.”
Her hand moves to take the one he’s offering.
She gives it a firm shake. Envy shoots through me as she gazes up at my older brother’s face.
This is all I fucking need.
I have a goddamn crush on our new employee. It would have to be the one woman in Manhattan who hates me.
“I’m excited to get to work,” she says with excitement edging her tone.
“I’ll handle Calliope’s introduction to the company,” Declan directs that at me. “There’s an issue with a shipment dropped off at reception by mistake. Why don’t you go deal with that?”
Why don’t you go to hell, Decky?
I keep that to myself as I storm out of my office.
How will I handle working with this woman when she can’t fucking stand me?
Chapter Nine
Callie
I sign on the dotted line that guarantees my employment with Wells unless I mess up.
It seems that calling the police on one of the co-owners of the company isn’t enough to warrant termination.
I’m grateful.
The salary is substantial enough that I’ll have no problem affording rent on a modest studio apartment after Grady returns to Manhattan in a couple of months.
The benefits package is amazing too.
On paper, this is the best job I’ve ever had.
Declan drops his gaze to my signature as he slides my employment contract toward him. “It looks like you’re all set.”
I nod. “I’m excited to get started, sir.”
He looks beyond my shoulder to the open door of his office. “You’ll be reporting to Delora directly. She’s been here from day one and has a firm understanding of what we’re looking for in terms of our vision for marketing our brand. It was her rousing recommendation that landed you this job.”
I make a mental note to thank her for that when I see her.
He shoves my employment contract into a manila folder labeled with my name. “It’s quite a coincidence that you live next door to my brother.”
I manage a stilted laugh. “It’s temporary. My brother owns that apartment. I’m housesitting for him until he returns to New York.”
“I apologize for my part in what happened last night.” He leans back in his leather office chair. “I wasn’t aware that you were bothered to the point that you felt it necessary to call the police on Sean.”
Sean.
Saint.
Whatever we call him, he’s still my annoying neighbor, but now he’s also one of my bosses, so I need to tread carefully.
I take a deep breath. “It was difficult to sleep with all the noise, and I wanted to be at my peak for my first day here.”
I won’t apologize for how I handled things. I did what I felt I needed to at the moment. I couldn’t have anticipated that Sean would end up in handcuffs.
“Understood.” He pushes back from his desk to stand. “I’ll walk you to the marketing department, so that you can get acquainted with your new co-workers.”
That’s another positive sign that this Mr. Wells is willing to overlook what happened last night.
I follow on his heel as he steps out of his office.
“Declan.” The deep baritone of Sean’s voice fills the air. “You’re needed in accounting. I’ll take over from here.”
My head turns to the left in unison with Declan’s as Sean approaches us.
Declan glances back at me. “If you run into any issues, Delora will always be around for you. We’re happy to have you on board, Calliope.”
Not wanting to continue being called that, I gently correct him. “I go by Callie. I prefer it over Calliope.”
“Callie it is,” he says.
Sean pats him on the shoulder. “Get to accounting, Declan. People are waiting on you.”
“Right.” He turns his attention to his brother. “I’m having lunch brought in for us. Be in my office at one, so we can go over projections for next quarter.”
“Yes, sir.” Sean laughs.
Shaking his head, Declan chuckles as he walks away.
Sean looks at me. “All right, Calliope. You’re about to get the grand tour of Wells. Try and keep up.”
“It’s Callie,” I say as I fall in step beside him as he takes off toward the bank of elevators.
His focus stays straight ahead. “I prefer Calliope.”
“I don’t,” I counter.
He looks down at me as he slows to a stop before stabbing a finger into the elevator call button. “We expect a hell of a lot from every one of our employees. My brother is a hard-ass when it comes to the small details. That means you need to be on time every day. You start work at nine. Your workday ends at six. My driver has my car at the curb in front of our building at precisely eight forty every morning. Starting tomorrow, we ride to the office together.”