Chapter Two
I let Bryce's door close a little harder than I should have behind me.
"That man is absolutely impossible. I swear he is a prick on purpose!"
"What happened?"
"I have to set up the board room for a catered lunch by one," I grumbled, slumping into my seat in front of his door.
"Ouch."
"Plus I have to have all of these files copied and bound by then." I dumped everything on my desk and sighed heavily. "I swear he hates me."
"At least he's not old and ugly like Mr. Winters." Alyssa stuck out her tongue and rolled her eyes toward the door by her desk.
"I'd rather have old and ugly."
"And not Mr. Dreamy eyes?"
"Mr. what?"
"Dreamy eyes. You could get lost in those eyes forever! I mean come on how can you not want to stare at him?"
"Calm down, Alyssa."
She bit her lip and looked longingly toward Bryce's office door. "What I wouldn't do to run my hands through his hair and stare into his eyes."
"Oh come on. He's not that good looking."
"Are you kidding me? You hit the hot boss jackpot!"
"He's still a complete douche."
"Yeah, but he's hot." She smiled wickedly.
"When does the doucheness outweigh the hotness?" I asked, letting my chin rest in my hands.
"It doesn't. You simply deal with it." She shook her head and tusked me.
"What if I don't want to deal with it?" I sighed heavily and shook my head. What am I saying? I can't quit! This job is gold on my resume. Even if I am just a coffee and copy bitch.
"You've already been here six months longer than any other assistant. You have a way with him."
"A way of pissing him off."
"Troy!" His booming voice came through the door.
I let my head fall to the door.
"Oh come on!"
"Get moving, Troy," Alyssa giggled.
"Coming, Mr. Thompson."
"Don't come in! Did you get your ass moving to get that board room set up?"
"I'm going now, Mr. Thompson."
"See ya later." Alyssa whispered.
"Much," I groaned, grabbing the stack of files on my desk, giving her the look, and heading for the elevator.
Bryce Thompson was CEO of Thompson Enterprises, Inc. He was an exceptional entrepreneur and despite his personality he was a major benefactor for my alma mater. He contributed to every charity known to man. How a man who sent his secretaries to the nut house was considered to be such a saint was beyond me.
Stepping out of the elevator I smiled wryly at the security guards who sat at the front desk, then headed out the door into the warm summer morning. The sun had crested the horizon and was shining off the buildings of downtown Pittsburgh. Thompson Enterprises building looked like an enormous black, glass castle in the center of Market Square. It was gorgeous.
Fucking, Bryce. Maybe I'll get him coffee. That should sweeten him up.
I walked quickly across the square making my way for the closest copy shop. Anywhere that can make thirty copies of the presentation and bind them nicely within two hours. Perhaps deliver them to the office.
The small shop sat on a corner six blocks away. There were always three people on staff and they were fairly efficient. I opened the door and my heart dropped to the pit of my stomach. The copy shop was packed.
"Are you serious? Why are there so many people?"
I bit my lip and tried to think of some way to get to the front of the line, or at least as close as I could. This is so wrong, but I need to get up there.
I dropped a few of the files on the floor in front of two guys ahead of me. "Oh excuse me! I'm so sorry."
Thank God for pencil skirts! I bent down to pick up the colorful pie charts hoping that my endless lunges and squats would pay off.
"Not a problem," one of them said.
"The boss sends me down with all of these files to be copied and bound by one." I shook my head and stood up. "Hold these for a sec?"
"Uh, sure."
"Thanks a bunch." I winked at him and bit my lip a bit as I straightened out my skirt. "Is it straight? Nothing worse than being sloppy for the boss. He hates sloppy employees."
"You look great."
"Good."
"You can, um, go ahead of us. Your boss sounds like a hard-ass."
"You have no idea. I'm Piper by the way." I held out my hand to tall, black haired man.
"I'm Allen."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Allen."
"Where do you work?"
"Thompson Enterprises."
"Oh really? What's that like?" he asked, licking his lips getting close enough to me that I could smell his after shave.
"Very busy."
"Want to get a drink after you get off work?" He put his hand on my shoulder as we stepped forward in line.
I shrugged it off and moved to the side a bit. "Thanks for the offer, but I already have plans."
"Maybe after?"
"I have a very early day tomorrow." I pulled my cellphone out from the pile of papers and put it up to my ear as though I had a call. I shrugged and mouthed a sorry.
I listened for a few long minutes until Allen and the guy he was next to had started chatting again. Once I was sure he no longer had me in his sights I put my cell phone away and made my move. I slowly made my way up the line. Within five minutes I was the front.
"Piper, you're back."
"Hi, Jack," I said, dumping the papers on the counter.
"Same as usual?"
"Thirty by one?"
"For Thompson?"
"Who else?" I asked.
"I'll put it on the account and have everything couriered over to you." The old man smiled warmly at me.
"I owe you, Jack!"
I scurried out of the copy place and made a bee line for Gloria's. It had the best coffee in town and I wanted the asshole on my side. At least for the day. I grabbed the biggest cup of caramel macchiato that I could get.
"Mr. Thompson?" I knocked lightly on the door, pushing it open with my hip. "Everything will be delivered by noon. Here's a proper cup of coffee. I'm going to make calls to Vincent's for catering."
"Mm," he mumbled not even bothering to look up at me.
What the fuck? I rolled my eyes and headed back to my desk.
"Miss Troy?"
"Yes?"
"Not bad."
I stopped mid-stride and my eyes popped. Was that a compliment? Did Bryce Thompson just compliment me? Not bad?
I sat at my desk staring at the rolodex. I knew what I had to do, but I couldn't do it. My brain had melted and felt as though it melted out my ears.
"What's wrong?" Alyssa asked.
"I think Bryce just complimented me."