Chapter 1

It was raining the morning that Lana Moss was released from rehab and was on her way home; that 'home' of course being that of her close friend, Denise Hathaway, who would be helping Lana continue on her road to recovery.

It had all started when Lana had gone through an acrimonious breakup, along with the stresses of the job she'd had at the time as an administrative assistant at a firm run by a well-known local. Her doctor had prescribed a low dose of Valium to help Lana cope, and over the coming year, she had found herself relying more on it.

And then she had injured her knee and been prescribed a painkiller on top of that. From that point, there hadn't been a day gone by that Lana wasn't in a drug-induced fog.

When she had eventually lost her job during her downward spiral, it had been Denise that stepped in. Had it not been for her, Lana would have been homeless.

It had also been Denise that had done an interaction, gently telling Lana she had a problem and needed to get some help. To Denise's amazement, Lana had agreed and had entered the first thirty-day inpatient program that was available.

Now clean, Lana needed a new outlet to keep herself that way outside of the meetings she would be going to. Little did she know on her way home that Denise had arranged that too.

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"I don't even know why we're bothering with this shit," Paul London snorted. "First of all, who came up with the idea that I needed a secretary? And second, there isn't one chick in this pile that has qualified yet."

"Well," Denise said to him, "there is one more person you definitely need to have look at. If her qualifications don't blow you away, I will eat my hat." She handed over the resume Lana had Denise develop shortly before entering rehab.

He gave a low whine as he took it from her. "Dee, why are you people putting me through this?"

"Because even you have admitted being too busy to get around to things. Just think how much better organized your life will be once you get a secretary that knows what the hell she's doing." She pointed to the resume in his hand. "And if I were you, I'd read that one over very well. Miss Moss is beyond qualified for what little you need done."

"Not anything I can't take care of myself."

"Yeah, maybe two or three weeks later. At least interview the woman, if not for yourself, for me. Please?"

"Why are you so fascinated with this particular person?" he wondered.

"Actually…..Lana is a friend and she's had some rough times lately. I figured I'd get some resumes out there for her so she can get at least something part time and get on her feet."

"So you're kind of doing her a favor?"

Denise nodded. "She could use a few right now."

He spotted something on the resume. "Training as an executive secretary and worked for the last five years as an administrative assistant? Holy hell, Dee, you don't aim for the top when looking for someone for me, do you?"

"Lana was pretty efficient at her work until she…..well, until she became ill and lost her job."

"And you want to help out a friend."

"Yeah."

"With all this going for her, you tell this Lana I'd like to have her interviewed. She may be the best candidate yet. I can't offer a great salary, but—"

"I don't think she's going to care at this point, Paul. To be totally honest, if she gets the job, she may enjoy the work. The check will be just a bonus."

He grinned at the company assistant. "I have some time the next couple of days. See if you can arrange an interview or whatever it's called."

Denise beamed. "I sure will, and I have a feeling this will be a decision you won't regret."