-1CHAPTER ONE
"Alright everybody, listen up. Today each of you will be paired up with an employee working on the assembly line who will demonstrate how…" the door at the back of the room quickly opened and closed. "Well, how nice of you to join us, Ms?"
"Fenmore." Lauren declared, straightening her skirt before looking up at the man whom she had sweet talked the day before, only to discover that wasn't who she was speaking to.
"Well, Ms. Fenmore, I hope you have a change of clothes in that pretty little purse of yours," Lauren glared up at the man in front of her, "because there ain't no way I'm letting you near machinery dressed like that." It was the plant manager who she had told off yesterday. She wanted to wipe that smug grin off his double-chinned face.
"I thought the strict dress code was for upper management only? I didn't realize that everyone in the plant was required to dress like a slob." Lauren glanced down at his faded, mustard stained dress shirt in disgust. Some of her classmates tried to muffle their laughter as the enraged supervisor glared at her in anger.
"That smart mouth of yours just bought you a double shift." He declared. Lauren merely chuckled.
"I think you've mistaken me for one of your minions," She said snidely. "In case you've forgotten, I don't work for you."
"That's where you're wrong," the older man challenged. "I am the head supervisor in charge of overseeing this student apprenticeship program, and while you are here I am to treat you as I would any other employee. For the next week of your life, you won't eat, sleep or shit without my permission. You got that?" Lauren just glared at back at him defiantly. Who the hell did this guy think he was talking to? She opened her mouth to protest, but he interrupted her before she could start.
"Of course, you do have the option to leave. But considering that this job shadowing assignment is worth 50 of your overall grade, I don't think that is an option you can afford to take." Lauren was just about to inform, she squinted at the name tag pinned loosely over his left man-boob, Mr. Sinclair that she could buy this factory and everyone in it if she wanted to, but the snide retort stuck in her throat when she caught sight of a familiar pair of hazel eyes gazing at her from the other end of the factory. A small smile spread across Lauren's face as she turned her attention back to Mr. Sinclair.
"You're absolutely right, sir. This assignment is very important to me and I intend on completing it to the best of my ability," Sinclair looked at her quizzically. "And I apologize for the comments I made earlier. They were out of line and completely unprofessional." Lauren offered her hand to the confused man in front of her, smiling as though butter couldn't possibly melt in her mouth.
"Apology accepted," he said rather skeptically as he reached out and shook her hand. Lauren tried not to grimace as his big, sweaty palm made contact with her skin. "Now, go down to the Lost & Found on the main floor and find something more appropriate to wear, then report back here immediately." Lauren nodded in affirmation and turned to leave the room.
"Oh, and don't think this little change in attitude has gotten you off the hook. You'll still be working a double shift tonight." Lauren clenched her fists as she fought off the urge to turn around and tell the jerk off once and for all. But the thought of spending all day and night with the mysterious Michael Baldwin convinced her to keep her mouth shut as she walked out of the room, shuddering at the thought of wearing lost and found clothes.
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"Nice shirt," Adam Richardson , the second hottest boy in her class, teased when he caught sight of Lauren dressed in an oversized plaid flannel shirt and black leggings.
"Thanks. I borrowed it from your mom." Lauren shot back. A few of her other classmates laughed at her retort, catching the attention of Mr. Sinclair.
"Hey! Knock it off and get back to work!" He shouted at the students who obediently turned their attention back to the job at hand. Lauren glanced around and saw that each of her fellow classmates were partnered up with a GM employee along the assembly line, all eagerly awaiting further instructions. Lauren quickly scanned the busy room, trying to spot Michael out in the crowd. But he was nowhere to be seen.
"Ms. Fenmore, I'd like you to meet Gary Pearson. He'll be your employee partner here at GM for the duration of the week." Lauren turned around at the sound of Mr. Sinclair's voice and came face to face with one of the ugliest, fattest, most disgusting looking man she had ever seen in her entire life! Gary grinned at her lasciviously and to her horror, she saw that he was missing his two front teeth. Well, screw this. Lauren thought to herself as she slowly started to back away from the freak show in front of her, intent on leaving the factory and not looking back. Just then an announcement came over the intercom.
"Would Gary Pearson please report to Human Resources immediately. You have an urgent call on line one. I repeat, Gary Pearson to Human Resources."
"I guess I gotta go." Gary declared unnecessarily.
"Hurry back!" Mr. Sinclair ordered, then looked at Lauren in frustration. "Well, someone has to train you on how to use the machinery and it sure as hell ain't gonna be me." Thank God for that, Lauren thought to herself. She'd rather be partnered with gap-toothed Gary than have to spend the day with this SOB. All of a sudden, something over her shoulder caught Mr. Sinclair's attention.
"Baldwin! Get over here." Lauren turned around quickly, just in time to see Michael making his way down a flight of stairs. Their eyes met and that same electricity that had flared up between them the day before was still there.
"Yes, sir." He addressed his superior, his eyes never breaking contact with her own. His entire being radiated nonchalance, only the slight smirk on his chiseled face betrayed his cool exterior. Lauren felt her stomach do a little flip-flop.
"Gary got called a way, so I need you to show Ms. Fenmore here the ropes. Think you can handle that without screwing it up?" Lauren caught a glimpse of embarrassment in Michael's eyes and wanted so badly to comfort him. She had no idea why this boy whom she had just met brought out such intense feelings of protectiveness in her, but the urge to rip into Mr. Sinclair was almost overwhelming.
"Yes, sir. I won't let you down." Michael promised sincerely as he came to stand beside Lauren.
"Ha! That'll be a first." The older man taunted, glancing at Lauren to gauge her reaction. She wasn't amused. "Well then, now that everything's settled you two can get to work. It's gonna be a long day and you're already behind so get going!"
"Yes, sir." They answered in unison, Lauren bit back a smile and Michael turned his face away to hide his grin. Sinclair just rolled his eyes at them impatiently.
"Get outta my sight, the both of you!" Michael immediately started walking towards the back of the factory and Lauren scurried after him.
"Hey, wait up!" Lauren called out, but he kept up his quick pace until he reached their designated area on the assembly line.
"Hurry up and put these on." Michael instructed, handing her a pair of work goggles and thick gloves.
"What's the rush?" Lauren wanted to talk, not work. Getting to know more about the enigmatic Michael Baldwin was all she could think about, but he wouldn't even look her in the eye. Seeing that she had yet to adorn her protective gear, Michael took the goggles from her hands and moved to place them on her himself. Lauren's eyes closed instinctively when she felt his hands on the back of her head, gently tightening the goggle's strap. When he was finished, she opened her eyes only to find his gazing back at her. She thought he was going to kiss her then. She wanted him to kiss her. But instead he looked away and was all business once again.
"Quickly! Put the safety gloves on and then just do exactly what you see me doing, okay?" Lauren shoved her hands in the gloves, frustrated that he seemed so unaffected by her while she felt weak in the knees from nothing more than a look. Bastard.
"There. Happy now?" She waved her now gloved hands in front of him.
"Delirious." He deadpanned, but his smile was warm and genuine. Gorgeous Bastard.
"So why the rush?" Lauren asked again. "Are you that anxious to get rid of me?"
"No." He said simply, and she knew he was sincere. "I needed to explain to you what to do before the…" His voice was drowned out by the almost deafening sound of machinery as the assembly line started working in full force, signaling the start of another work day. So much for idle chit chat, Lauren thought to herself as she watched to see which car parts Michael was attaching so that she could mimic his actions. She'd have to be content for now with stealing glances at his impressive biceps as he worked tirelessly throughout the day. But come lunch time, Lauren was determined to get Michael alone so that they could have an actual conversation. She knew there was a story behind those hazel eyes of his, and she wanted desperately to hear it. Maybe she'd even divulge a few secret chapters of her own along the way.