The bright red numbers shined in the dark room. The annoying buzzard kept going off, reminding Ayanna that yes, she needed to get up finally. Six o'clock in the morning. This is bullshit.

Hitting the snooze button for the umpteenth time, Ayanna finally rolled out of bed at 6:30. Before she was hired at Parker-Williams, she read an article online about how people in between jobs should keep their regular schedule. It was an article that Ayanna did not take to heart. She could finally stay up to watch Leno and Letterman. She could finally knock back a few cocktails with some friends and sleep it off the next morning.

I kinda liked not having a job. Nice little vacation for me.

Taking a quick shower, Ayanna stared at herself in the mirror. Ever since she was a little girl, she always spent at least 20 minutes dissecting her features. She never considered herself beautiful. Cute, definitely. Beautiful? Not by a long shot. And she when she worked for her old boss, Kristal Marshall, the scrutiny picked up ten-fold.

Kristal was probably a size 3 at her heaviest, compared to Ayanna's fluctuating weight. Normally she was a 14 but she often went to a 16. Ayanna knew if she wanted, she could easily be a size 8. But that would mean I have to give up French fries and fried zucchini. Hmm…I don't think so.

Ayanna continued to stare at her face when she applied her makeup. She had deep brown eyes that were almond shaped. Her full lips had a rosebud quality to them, being soft and pink. Her dark brown hair was in numerous ringlets, spurring the nickname, "Curly Sue." And then there was Ayanna's skin.

She praised her Black mother and White father for her soft hazelnut skin color. Yet, she praised Victoria's Secret, Aveeno, and whatever beauty product on the market for making her skin so supple. Her numerous ex-boyfriends and several friends often wondered how she managed to have the "softest skin known to man." Ayanna just smiled at the compliments. It was either slab on tons of lotion or look like she got into a fight with flour and lost.

Deciding on a final outfit of a black skirt, white top and matching heels, Ayanna headed out the door. She didn't know what to expect or what not to expect. But as long as Dave had no idea who she was and the connection between them, there was going to be no problems.

Now let's see if that's really going to happen.

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Parker-Williams was one of the world's leading aerospace companies specializing in jet cabin interior products for executive jet planes. Parker-Williams was especially known for the high quality standard across the board. From leather-heated seats and sofas to custom bedrooms and bathrooms to small full-size kitchens, Parker-Williams were known for their style and class.

No one better personified that then David Batista. Coming from a poor background in Washington D.C., Dave spent most of his youth in and out of jail. Wanting more out of life than a longer rap sheet, he went to Boston College and proceeded to go to Harvard Business School. He scored a lucrative job at Parker-Williams upon graduating.

Within his first year at the company, there were whispers that Dave would run the company one day with his expertise and precision thinking. Dave always wanted it to happen, but he also knew not to get his hopes up. When the last president resigned due to flagging sales, Dave was immediately appointed. The choice could not have been wiser. Sales immediately went up and Parker-Williams were scoring corporate clients such as Johnson & Johnson, Wal-Mart, and Mitsubishi. Dave's claim to fame was designing the new corporate jet for Google. Many people have claimed that it was nicer than Air Force One.

Dave was also known for being intensely private. Ever since his relationship with Kristal ended, Dave has dated many women but none was serious—serious as in none of them lasted past the first date. Rumor had it that there was a competition of sorts between him and his protégé, Randy Orton.

"Now over there is Randy Orton." Melina Perez whispered as Ayanna looked over to her right. Melina was the office manager of Parker-Williams and had worked for Dave and Randy for the past five years. She got along famously with Dave but Randy was something else to be desired for. "He'll try whatever he can to fuck you within the first month. He has come onto every girl here."

Ayanna admired Randy from a distance. He was definitely striking with his gelled hair and crisp blue eyes that mediated between sky and sea blue. He was tall, probably over six feet and definitely built. He had a structured jaw line and high cheek bones, reminiscent of someone who does not take no for an answer easily. I wonder what kinda game he's going to use on me. "Has he been successful?" Ayanna asked.

"Unfortunately." Melina sneered.

Randy spotted Ayanna and approached her. "I haven't had the pleasure to introduce myself." He smiled as he stuck his hand out. "Randy Orton."

"Ayanna Martin." She smiled.

"I see you've met the office gossip, Melina." Randy smirked.

"Fuck you, Orton."

"You know I would, but I already hit that and I got bored." He retorted. "Are you Dave's new assistant?"

"Yes. Today is my first day."

"Well, I'm Dave's right-had man so you'll be working with me a lot, too." Randy smiled. "Ayanna, pleasure to meet you."

"Pleasure." She replied softly.

Melina smirked as Randy walked back to his cubicle. "Asshole. He'll try whatever he can to get into your pants."

"I think he just tried." Ayanna smiled and shook her head.

Melina walked Ayanna to her cubicle and stopped. "Well, here you are, my dear. The instructions to turn on your computer and log onto the network are on the keyboard. I tried to score all the supplies I could but if you need anything, just let me know. Other than that, welcome aboard." She smiled.

"Thank you." Ayanna smiled. She sat down and looked around. There were the bare necessities as the computer and chair, other than that, the desk was completely empty. Ayanna was definitely happy that she managed to get a whole deskful of supplies from her last position so she was already set on what she needed. Once she got her desk set up, there was no time to spare as Dave called her into a meeting right away.

Ayanna didn't realize how desperate Dave needed an assistant until she walked into his office. He sputtered a lengthy list that didn't seem it was going to stop any time soon. From arranging meetings with several other corporate offices to filing several documents that was scattered around his desk to picking up coffee, Ayanna was having a hard time not getting a sore wrist from writing so much.

"Is that all, David?" Ayanna asked.

Dave looked up at the ceiling and contemplated anything else he might have missed. "No, that's it."

"Okay, then. I'll get started on arranging the meetings with the other companies now." Ayanna got up and headed towards her desk.

"How's Kristal?" Dave asked.

Ayanna stopped cold in her tracks and turned around. "Who?"

"You know, we can stop pretending we don't know each other. I know you are and you know who I am. Kris told me everything about you."

"Oh really? Like what?" She asked.

Dave smiled as he reminisced to a moment when Kristal called him from home.

"How was work, Baby?" He asked.

"Interesting." Kristal replied.

"Interesting in what way?"

"Interesting that I heard Ayanna fuck her boyfriend in the supply room. At first I thought they were rearranging things in there until I heard her scream, 'Oh yes! That's it! Fuck me!'"

Dave smiled as he stroked his chin. "She told me a lot about you."

Ayanna didn't care for Dave's smile. It suggested that he knew something a lot more personal than he was willing to share. "Well, I know a lot about you, too." She scoffed.

"Oh really?" Dave seemed intrigued. "Like what?"

"From your favorite foods to the specific cologne you wear to everything else in between." She folded her arms.

Oh, you and I both know she told you a lot more than that, Sweetheart. Dave flickered a pen between his fingers. "This could be really a comfortable or uncomfortable situation between us."

"I am an absolute professional, David. I will not let my personal feelings dictate my work environment."

"Thank you for the vote of confidence." Dave smiled.

"Are we done here? I need to get started on that project." Ayanna stated.

"Oh, we're done with our meeting." Dave replied. "But I think we're just getting started on each other."