Lord of Rain (The Dragon Demigods #5) - Charlene Hartnady Page 0,19
the harpy. Her eyes, although the same vivid color, were different somehow. I’m unable to put my finger on how they were different, only that they were. Otherwise, Ashley Shaw, cake baker…is Gabby’s doppelganger. If I hadn’t have seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed it.
I should contact HR and have them revoke the offer. Having someone who looks exactly like Gabby working so close would fuck me up even more…I just know it. The harpy is dead and buried. I should leave this alone. I need to get over her. Get over what happened to me…only…I can’t. I guzzle more beer as the rain lashes at the windows.
“I’m going to check on dinner,” I hear Night say.
I realize I’ve been inside my head too long and look over at him as he gets up. “Sure.” I nod, drinking my beer, surprised when the last of the liquid hits my throat. I put the empty bottle down.
My phone buzzes for the tenth or eleventh time since arriving here. Might have been more times, I’m not taking note. I have nothing better to do, and since I don’t want to keep thinking about the fucking harpy, I pull my phone out of my pocket to check my emails.
“Fuck!” I growl as I read my latest one.
It’s from her. The doppelganger…Ashley Shaw. I can’t believe what I’m reading. I feel my brow furrow.
“Something wrong?” Night asks.
I shake my head. “I thought I had a new PA all figured out, but she’s turned down my offer.”
“She’s obviously in high demand,” Night remarks.
That’s the thing…she didn’t have the qualities I would normally look for in a PA. Being able to answer a basic question when I first meet someone is a high priority. She did snap out of it and come back relatively strong. That’s the thing, relatively strong isn’t good enough. I decided from the moment I saw her that I had to have her…employ her. I have this strange notion that she could help me purge myself of the harpy, although I’m not sure how that would be possible, since fucking my PA is out of the question.
“She must be,” I mumble back to Night. Maybe I’m reading this wrong. Maybe she doesn’t want to work for me, and it has nothing to do with money. I’m hoping that’s the case. I fire back a response.
“You responded to her.” Night is frowning when I look up. “Don’t you have someone to do that on your behalf?”
“I’m drowning in work. Sick to fucking death of answering my own phone and picking up my own dry cleaning. I—”
“Must be hell.” Night is smirking.
I roll my eyes. “I have better things to do with my time.”
“Of course you do.” He’s smirking even harder.
I clench my jaw for a moment. “You know what I mean.”
“Actually, I don’t, since I don’t have a driver, a housekeeper, and someone who wipes my ass.”
“I don’t have someone who wipes my ass, and when I’m in one of my sports cars, I drive myself.” I realize how I sound. “Fine…I’m spoiled, but it’s what I’m used to and how I live. Janet ran my whole life…I’m lost without her. I need a replacement.” My phone buzzes.
Job Offer: Personal Assistant to the CEO
From: A. Shaw
Yes.
It is money. Fuck! Money is an easy solution. I can throw more at her. “She wants more money,” I tell Night.
“She must be good.”
I think about how her tits filled her shitty, polyester suit. “Must be.” I push out a breath. Another thing that’s a little different from the harpy. Ashley Shaw has curves.
“She’s standing up to you…I’m assuming that’s what you’re looking for in a PA.”
I nod. “It is.” Screw it! I want Miss Shaw on my team. It’s not a good idea, but I don’t give a damn. I type out a new offer and send it. It’s more than any PA should ever earn. I don’t care. “Fuck it!” I say to Night.
“I take it you offered more, which surprises me.” He raises his brows.
“I’m in a generous mood.”
“Then again, when you want something, you do go after it.” He shrugs.
“Yes, I do.” I’m almost hoping she turns me down. I cannot fuck my PA. I can’t go there. It would be a human resource nightmare. I could end up arrested on sexual harassment charges.
“You don’t look happy about the whole thing.”
“Maybe I should just find someone else.” I’m of two minds.