The Very Rich Man (The Very Manly Series Book 3) Read online

  Sure enough, once the door closed behind Darian, Betty turned to her. “Let’s have a seat over here, shall we?” She motioned to the small sofa in the office area.

  The leather squeaked as Chloe sat down. Her first day and already in trouble. This didn’t feel good at all. “I realize I made a mistake in knocking over my drink, but it was an accident.”

  “I’m sure it was.” She smiled and patted the younger woman’s hand. “Still, your mistake does have me questioning how well you can do this job.” She leaned back. “I’m just concerned because while I know nobody is perfect, in a company like this, they don’t. I see the potential for you embarrass yourself at an important function.”

  A chill ran through Chloe. “I hope not!”

  Betty tilted her head. “Hope is not enough. You have all the tools you need for the job here. What I would suggest is begin now to stop mistakes before they happen by reviewing old fashioned etiquette. You may not think you need it now, but better to know too much than not enough.”

  Darian allowed himself a slight grin as the elevator carried the smoothly to his offices. He had the urge to yell “Boo!” to all his employees stuck with him. Every one of them stared ahead into the dimmed mirrored walls. He could read the thoughts on all their faces, even the people who appeared bored. No one liked being enclosed with him, and he couldn’t blame them. He had avoided men like him when he’d been at their level unless stuck in close quarters with an owner. As each floor passed, the elevator emptied until he was alone.

  He walked in the top floor’s reception area. “Good morning, Marjorie.”

  “Good morning, sir!” She stood, handing him some papers. “It’s lovely today, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, it is.” He took them, not slowing his stride. Why printouts when she could have just emailed them? What a waste. He walked into the inner office to find Chloe at her desk. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning, sir. I’ve updated your schedule for today.”

  Darian caught her hint. “Changes?”

  “A few. Inconsequential.”

  “Good.” He paused. “The Sampson account?”

  “They’re the ones.”

  Darian nodded. He had expected Mitch’s waffling on the deal. “If he calls before three, tell him the offer is rescinded. I need commitment.”

  “Very well, sir.”

  He went into his office, leaving the double doors open. After powering up his computer, Darian stared through at Chloe. For the past week she had been wearing her hair like Marjorie’s and he wondered why. Her blonde curls were much prettier left loose. He shook his head at the distraction with a renewed resolve to ignore everything he found himself attracted to. Slipping off his jacket, Darian loosened his tie, ready to dig in to the day’s workload. Betty had turned the reins over to Chloe two weeks ago and like her predecessor, she kept him busy. He settled into his large leather chair. She’d blended in well and he scanned the emails, giving top priority to those from his new hire.

  By the time he finished answering emails, the sun shone white and bright in the window, the gold of sunrise’s gone. He stretched when Chloe brought him a fresh cup of coffee and took his finished to-go cup. “Thank you.” He took a test sip and found it perfect. “I’ve been cooped up in here all week.”

  “It’s only Wednesday.”

  He liked the small mocking smile that pulled at the corner of his lips. “True, but feels like a lot longer. Lunch at eleven thirty?”

  She thought for a moment. “Should be fine. I’d like to go over some things with you.”

  His assistant seemed serious, he put down his tablet. “Want to start now?”

  “We could, but they can wait. They’re just general questions. Ones I feel like I should know by now.”

  “Ah.” He shrugged. “Fine, a working lunch it is.”

  “Unless you don’t want to work?”

  He grinned at her and couldn’t resist kidding around. “I always want to work. Doesn’t everyone?”

  She gave him a wry glance. “Right. I’ll keep the work to a minimum. Betty gave me a list of your favorite personal topics in case I needed them. No need to talk golf with a tennis type of guy.”

  He laughed at his former secretary’s joke. Betty had known darned well that he wouldn’t care for either sport. “Good.” Darian turned back to his computer, giving her a graceful dismissal. Time dragged on until he gave up on concentrating. The few minutes left until eleven thirty seemed to tick by with a maddening slow procession.

  Disgusted with his impatience, he stood and shrugged into his jacket. “Ms. Anders? Ready to go?”

  “Yes, let me lock up right quick.” She bustled around, securing the desk and computer.

  Her devotion to security both amused and pleased him. “What, you don’t trust Marjorie?”

  She had a stricken expression, as if she’d done something wrong. “I do. It’s just…”

  He held up a hand to stop her. “No need to explain. I appreciate your security measures.” Darian opened the door. “Did we want to go back to The Bistro, or would you rather try something new?”

  “I’d like anything resembling food at this point.” Chloe followed him into the elevator. “I’m not big on breakfast.”

  He punched the button for the garage level. Funny how they were the only people in the small space, yet both stared straight ahead. He grinned. “So I can choose whatever I like, no complaints? I’m thinking calf fries sound good.”

  She returned his mischievous grin reflected at her in the shiny metal walls. “They do. With an appetizer of frog legs, of course.”

  “You like both?”

  “They’re not my first choice, but yes, they’re pretty good.”

  He laughed. “Fine, you called my bluff. How about going back to The Bistro? They change the menu seasonally and fall is almost over.”

  Chloe waited until his car beeped when he unlocked it. “Sounds wonderful. Do they have peppermint everything now instead of pumpkin?”

  “Probably, and I’m good with that.” Darian stayed quiet on the ride over until remembering her earlier mention of work during lunch. “Did you want to discuss anything confidential? Now is the perfect time.”

  “Oh, no, nothing confidential, much. Just a question on how you’d evaluate my work so far. I’d like to nip any bad habits in the bud.”

  “Oh. Good question.” He recognized her perfume, Ralph Lauren’s Romance, one of his former girlfriend’s favorites. On Chloe’s skin, the floral notes took on a spicy twist he found appealing. Up close, her skin looked perfect. “Let me think about it because nothing’s coming to mind.” Red alerts sounded in his mind. Since when had he cared about an employee’s complexion?

  Darian shifted in his seat. He needed a girlfriend, fast. It’d been too long since the last one left him. Her fault. She knew he hated ultimatums. “Since I’d rather not discuss personnel issues in public, let me park and we’ll talk before going in.” He glanced over at her and chuckled. “No, it’s nothing bad, just an honest evaluation.”

  She nodded and stayed quiet until he turned off the engine. “Honest is good, right?”

  “Yes, it’s fine.” He turned to her a little. “First of all is your impatience.” Darian laughed at when a panicked expression blossomed on her lovely face, then regretted it. He patted her shoulder like he’d seen Betty do. “I’m kidding, kidding. Your impatience is one of your more positive traits.”

  “How so?”

  “You don’t like waiting for answers and neither do I. It means I don’t have to ask you more than once for anything unless someone else is dropping the ball.” He looked away to think for a moment. Her eyes were a distraction. “I like how you’ve taken over Betty’s tasks, even the ones most women libbers might find objectionable.”

  Chloe narrowed her eyes. “I suppose you mean the coffee and dry cleaning?” She continued at his nod. “I just pretend you’re a woman. If I’d fetch a female boss her coffee and dry cleaning, I’d f
etch yours, too.”

  “That’s…creative. Me, as a woman.” He stared ahead at the pillar at the bumper’s edge and tried not to laugh at the image of him in a dress. “Good litmus test and it’s working. I appreciate your freeing up my time for work.” Darian took the keys out of the ignition. “Anything else I might say about your performance is non controversial. Like how fast you’ve picked up LI’s computer systems, how you’re always the first to get there, and the last to leave. Betty couldn’t do that and I appreciate how you can.” He’d always missed the gal that wore Chloe’s perfume. Until he found it again in a magazine sample and realized he liked the cologne better than the absent woman. He glanced at Chloe to see her waiting for him. “What else? Your categorizing my company email inbox helped. It was one of those things I’ve been meaning to do but never took the time.”

  She got out of the car. “Do you want my impressions of LI so far?”

  “Of course.” He waved her in to the elevator and pushed the top floor. “Criticism goes both ways. Is the position meeting your expectations?”

  Her face flushed a little. “Yes, it is. I’m working longer hours now than in my prior job, but don’t mind. The benefits are wonderful. You’ve done really well for your employees.”

  “But?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “I don’t think there’s any hidden downside just yet. Maybe Marjorie. She’s a little unfriendly and I wonder if I’m in the job she expected to get.”

  “Marjorie? She’s a sweetheart.” He caught her grimace and laughed before addressing the hostess. “Two for lunch, please.” Darian waited with Chloe, lowering his voice to keep from being overheard, “Don’t tell me she’s being a great gal only to me.”

  Her eyebrow raised. “So you suspect she’s a little insincere?”

  “No suspicions. I’m sure she is. I’ve caught her a few times being sharp with Betty.” He smiled at the maître d’ as he led them to a table near the window. “Marjorie is the best at what she does. That’s why I let her get away with the diva attitude.”

  He didn’t want to mention how close he and his receptionist might have been at one time. Or rather, one night when he wondered what could it hurt and found out she had assumptions afterward. His legal team was still frosty to him after that. He shook his head at the memory. The whole sordid affair sickened him and he’d rather be hungry at the moment. He pulled out the chair for Chloe as she sat. “Other than her, my company and its subsidiaries are smooth as a frozen lake.”

  “Really?”

  “No, but I can pretend.” Her laugh at his admittedly lame joke made him grin. She was a welcome relief in an ultra corporate world. He stared at the menu for a few moments while Chloe chatted with their server. Her voice pulled at his, pleasing for some odd reason. He’d found himself listening to her on the telephone the day before. The expressions on her face when they’d been alone in his car together intrigued him. He wanted to get her alone and learn everything a career service couldn’t tell him. A slight shiver went through him and the types of alone they could be together. He almost muttered aloud, remember the Marjorie Mistake.

  “Darian? Are you ready?”

  His mouth went dry and his brain halted. He glanced up when she said his name for the first time. He didn’t want there to be a Chloe Catastrophe. Darian looked down and realized he’d not read a word of the menu. “Whatever the special is, please.”

  “To drink, sir?”

  “Tea, iced, unsweetened.” Now, go away, he thought and as if reading his mind, the server took their menus and silently obeyed.

  She folded the napkin over her lap and gave a slight smile. “Is everything all right? You seem a little distracted.”

  Did she know her lipstick faded by midday? Darian guessed she never thought to reapply and he found her natural color mesmerizing. “I am, I guess.” She tucked a stray lock of hair, loosened from the bun, behind her ear. Her long sleeves had been rolled into a thick cuff. After lunch on most days, she’d remembered to freshen up her look. But now? He grinned, enjoying her rumpled appearance and wondered if working for him was that arduous.

  “Is there anything I should do or could be doing?”

  A thousand ideas suddenly clamored for attention in his mind, and few were decent. This attraction of his already felt way out of control. “No, you’re fine.” He leaned back a little as the server placed their drinks. Chloe sipped her water, the ice giving him more shivers than they gave her. Her tongue swept her lips, and he shifted in his seat, pants suddenly too tight.

  In a haze as the waiter returned with their lunch, Darian made all the appropriate noises. He focused on their food and conversation, not on how she smiled after every bite. Chloe was too sweet and kind, not a wolverine like Marjorie.

  The buildup of a romance with his receptionist had been fun, despite Betty’s warnings. Right up until Marjorie turned into some sort of flying monkey in human form. The Monday after their first and last date, he’d learned his lesson. Betty wasn’t his receptionist and Marjorie’s desk did not belong in his office. He shuddered at the memory of the woman’s take over.

  Tomorrow, maybe even at the end of today, he’d have to fire Chloe.

  Chapter 3

  Chloe stepped into Lawrence’s office. “Do you have a moment, sir?” At his nod, she closed the door and walked to his desk. “Marjorie just said the strangest thing about how I’m not to get too attached to you. You were hers first, she said, and I’m just leftovers.” Putting her hands on her hips, she added, “Was she supposed to be your assistant or something?”

  He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples. “She’s always wanted the current position she has.”

  She knew his tells by now. He was keeping something from her. Betty hadn’t said much about the receptionist beyond the basics and Chloe couldn’t just ask the woman about Mr. Lawrence’s private matters. She couldn’t continue to ignore the borderline rude comments Marjorie made out of Darian’s hearing, and eased down into the chair opposite him. “I’d prefer to stop problems before they start, so there’s nothing else I might need to know? Maybe something Betty didn’t say.”

  He stared at his computer and sat still. Only his finger moved as he tapped the mouse. After several seconds, he looked from the monitor to her. “Marjorie and I had a personal relationship a few years back. It was fun, mostly, but it ended. I didn’t terminate her employment. She’s a single mother and I’m a soft hearted idiot.”

  His frankness surprised her. “That’s a lot of honesty.”

  “I try.”

  Chloe ignored his embarrassed grin and frowned at him. “Then all this grade school, He’s my boyfriend and you can’t have him from her is just that, grade school?”

  The smile faded and his demeanor matched hers. “Completely.”

  “Sounds like her problem, not mine.” She stood and gave him what she hoped was a coolly indifferent smile. “Now then, have you been able to pin Watson down on a specific day, or do I need to call his assistant again and set up a conference call?”

  “He’s waffling on two dates at the moment.”

  She nodded, knowing the man’s contrary nature. “I could always pick one for him and force him to choose the other.”

  Darian laughed. “Great idea, but no. I’ll call him later this afternoon, I’m eager to get his project started and over.” He went to the door and stepped through first. “Come with me for coffee and we can discuss the Barry account.”

  She followed, catching up to him at her desk. They went to the outer room where at first Marjorie scowled at her before smiling at Darian. Chloe asked, “We’re going downstairs. Do you want anything?”

  “No, thank you. I need to watch my figure.” She smirked at Chloe. “I’m sure you know how it is.”

  She returned the snarky smile, though a scowl would have felt better. “I do indeed,” she said in an effort to play nice. No need in being honest by saying running and the company’s fitness center kept her slim. Marjo
rie had enough problems with jealousy as it was.

  As if the admission gave her a better attitude, Marjorie added, “Wait, I wouldn’t mind a plain cup of coffee. You know what I like, Mr. Lawrence.”

  “Yes, I do,” he replied, pushing the first floor button. As soon as the elevator doors met, he slumped a little against the wall. “Remind me to never hire another good looking woman.”

  “That’s easy enough.” She saw him look at her via the mirror and grin. “Maybe you should have told Betty that, too.”

  “Maybe so.” He straightened and cinched his tie. “I’ve obviously acquired a habit of employing only the attractive.”

  “Oh. Thank you. I think. I might stop interviewing with attractive bosses.” She glanced at him and almost rolled her eyes at his self-satisfied smile. “My former employer was, and is, very nice looking. We didn’t date, though.” Chloe sounded prim and judgmental even to herself and she tried to backtrack. “I mean, we could have, I suppose. We did like each other. It’s best nothing happened or else I might have been as bitter about a failed affair like some other people we know.” She waved a hand in front of her to indicate Marjorie and hit her fingers on the wall. “Ow!”

  “I heard a crunch. Are you all right?” He went to her as the doors opened and a couple of women filed in.

  Everyone stared holes through her. Chloe’s ego shrunk like a wool sweater in a hot dryer. “I’m perfectly fine. My hands need to be tied together when I talk. Otherwise, I’m dangerous as hell.” Horror swept through her at the crude language. Mistakes like this were exactly what Betty had cautioned her about. “I mean, as heck, as everything.” She took a step back. “I’m just going to be quiet for a while.”

  “Good idea,” he replied and stared ahead.

  She stood there, somewhat mortified. Turned into a bumbling fool? Check. Chattered too much? Yep. Brutally embarrassed over her silly behavior? Absolutely. The elevator opened and she sighed in relief. They all filed out, moving en masse to the coffee shop at street level.