Chapter One

"Get your ass out of bed!"

I am awoken this morning with the ever pleasant sound of Kate shouting through the house. I groan as I roll over in bed. All I can think of is lucky people who can have a lie in today or people who are nicely awoken with breakfast in bed. Hell, I would even settle for an alarm clocked constantly bleeping in my ear. But no. I get Kate bellowing so loud I'm pretty sure hundreds of birds flew off our building.

I drag my sorry corpse from my bed and pull on a robe. Many times I have forgotten to do this vital task, and end up walking out into the kitchen naked. As you can imagine Kate's "shouty" voice came out then too.

"Good morning to you too, my fabulously quiet friend." Kate notices the clear sarcasm in my voice and rolls her eyes at me.

"I wouldn't have to shout if you could manage to get yourself out of bed. You have a job to get to, remember?" Oh shit. I can't believe I had forgotten. Last Friday I was promoted to Editor at SIP after Jack, the old editor quit. I don't blame him to be honest. From what I have heard the new guy who just brought SIP is a mega asshole, Chris… Christopher… Kristoff…Christian… something or other. Usually, I wouldn't rush to get to work so hastily but today was important. Editor. Fucking Editor! It's not every day you get a chance like this and I do not intend to fuck it up on the first day, especially when my future at SIP potentially relies on the success of my meeting with whatshisname this morning. The meeting I have to be in in just under an hour. Fuck.

"Holy crap!" Before Kate had even finished pouring me a coffee I ran to the bathroom and hurriedly showered myself. Jesus Christ, Ana. You need to shave your legs more often. That settles it, I am definitely wearing tights today. There is no way I can get them shaved to a standard where they can be seen in public. As I step out of the shower, inevitably, I slip, only to be saved by my tight grip on the sink. Start as I mean to go on, eh?

Twenty minutes it took me to find a suitable outfit, put it on, take it off, choose another, try it on, ponder over it, take that off again, and then ultimately asking Kate to dress me. It was like I was starting a new job!

Soon enough, I am squeezed into one of Kate's tight blue, interviewing dresses, accompanied with some ridiculous heels, nude-coloured tights (I am hoping you can't see my hair) and a business jacket, which seemed out of place at first, but looked rather reasonable now I am wearing it. Obviously, I won't dress like this every day. Neither I nor Kate has enough clothes for me to be dealing with that. It is only because he is going to be there. The man Kate seems to be swooning over without ever having a conversation with him, meeting him, or actually even seeing him in person.

"Well then explain to me what is so brilliant about him! He can't be that great. I've never heard of him." I tug at the hair brush handle as I spoke, which then, with much effort, tears through my brown hair in an attempt to make it look appropriate for work.

"I don't understand how you don't know him! He owns half of bloody Seattle! Not to mention he is, pants-droppingly gorgeous. Even you will fall for him, Steele. His eyes alone bear enough sexiness to make you come there and then."

"Kate!"

"It's true! You'll believe me when you see it. Trust me." I had known Kate since we started University together. Seven long years on, and not once have I trusted anything she adds "Trust me" onto the end of it.

"Whatever, Kate, you are always right, aren't you?" I smirk at her followed by her death glare. She loves me really.

"Shut your noise and get to work. T-minus 20 minutes. Chop chop!" Kate hurried me from her room and was soon laden with breakfast. I swiftly grabbed by car keys and my work bag before finally sitting inside my car. I really did love Wanda, but something is telling me that it isn't really suitable for Editor at SIP.

Kate and I lived on the borough of Seattle, not quite in the heart of the city, but still pretty close. Usually, it took only ten minutes down the right road to get me to work. However, something today was out to get me and not two minutes into my journey and I stuck in traffic backed up seven miles.

"Fuck." I say aloud to myself. My first instinct was to immediately call Andrea, the company's main secretary and whatshisname's assistant. Hopefully, she will understand and try not to get me into too much shit. I doubt it though. She is still pissed at me for throwing up in the back seat of her car at the last Christmas party. Oops.

As I finally speed away from the traffic, I glance at the clock that reads 09:08. Fuck. Again. I did have hopes that I wouldn't be that late, but they have just been crushed by those little lights in my dashboard. I was already 8 minutes late for the meeting, and I hadn't even got to the tricky bit yet.

Seattle is a big place, but does it have anywhere close to SIP for me to park? You bet it doesn't. I have to park 30 blocks away from SIP and walk the rest. I once again risk the sight of my clock and the light flashes 09:22. Fuck…

All I can think of as I dash down the streets of Seattle is the fact I shouldn't have worn fucking heels. I hate you, Kate. I really do. Shouting to wake me up, an hour later than I should. Making me squeeze into a dress so tight I am physically unable to run to work, and now, the bloody heels. What did I do to deserve this?

Panting and sweaty, I relax as I stand in the SIP elevator, rising up to the top floor where my new office resides. Next to his office. I take out my phone and read the numbers 09:33. I am half an hour late, which will probably haunt me for the rest of my working life.

The doors of the elevator slide open and I am greeted by Andrea's smirking face as she taps into the computer.

"Good morning. Wait, it is still morning, isn't it?" I shake my head and lean against the desk.

"Remember this is your boss you are talking to. And I am not that late. Half an hour isn't that bad. I'm sure he will understand. I just need to go and send some emails before I go into his office though. Cover for me?" I start to wander to my office when Andrea's voice delays me.

"Ana, he already—Never mind. I won't breathe a word." There was a puzzling grin on her face, but I ignore her and give my thanks through a smile. I push the door and glide into my new office. Without thought, I dump my bag on the nearest chair and look up to my surroundings, only to be greeted by a figure over six feet in height, with dark, cooper hair and piercing grey eyes. His lips part of breathe the words that tingled down my neck.

"You're late."

So, there is my first Chapter. Let me know what you think. Do the usual. Do your worst. Hope you like it!