in front of his office, it’s occupied now where it wasn’t when I interviewed. A woman who appears a few years older than my mother sits behind the gleaming cherrywood desk.
Slowly, steadily, I make my way toward her. When I stop in front of the cherrywood, she doesn’t even flinch. She doesn’t move. Her eyes are focused on her computer for what feels like a lifetime, then slowly she shifts her gaze toward me.
“May I help you? Are you lost? The mailroom is downstairs, not up,” she practically snaps.
“Ummm.”
LANDRY
“Julie,” I warn when I hear the way she’s talking to Tennessee from across my office. “That’s Tennessee, my new assistant.”
Julie’s spine straightens, it’s visible, she is not happy. I don’t know why she gives a fuck, it’s not like I’m replacing her, I never would. Julie is my right hand, my lifesaver, she’s in it for life here. She makes more money than most of the other employees, she’s a fixture and an asset that I could never get rid of.
Standing from behind my desk, I pray to fuck that my cock stays down as I walk toward Tennessee. Flicking my eyes down the length of her body, I let out a grunt. There is no fucking way I can work closely with her, not without having a permanent goddamn hard-on.
Christ.
If I thought that she was a knockout before, I was mistaken. Her outfit today hugs all of her curves perfectly. Her shoes are about three inches taller than the ones she wore for her interview, and goddamn, she looks like she was carved from stone, fucking perfection. And fucking young.
“Mr. Astor,” she says cheerily.
Her voice, the happiness it holds, it reminds me of her age. She hasn’t lived, yet. She hasn’t felt the disappointments and stresses that life has to offer, yet. I have no doubt that she will, and something about that doesn’t sit well with me.
I don’t want her to be dragged down, just by the way she is looking at me, the way hope is alive in her gaze, she’s far too soft for the world we live in. She is far too young for me, this moment, the look in her eyes, all the proof that I need.
My cock may need the reminder though, because it is willing and ready to teach her everything it knows. I grunt, giving her a frown before I force myself to smile in her direction. She takes a step toward me, her eyes bright, so fucking bright and excited.
Julie clears her throat and the staring contest between us ends. “Julie, this is Tennessee Bradley, my new assistant. She will be helping me with things that you don’t have the time or inclination to do. Hopefully, it will free up some of your workload,” I explain.
Expressionless, Julie watches me. She’s trying to figure out exactly what I’m up to. Good luck to her, because even I haven’t figured it out yet. Ignoring my body’s desire for Tennessee is going to be difficult, but she’s my employee, she’s young, and I need to repeat to myself that she is far too young.
“Nice to meet you, Tennessee,” she says, her voice wary and unsure. I feel the same.
Clearing my throat, I stand to the side, extending my arm toward my office. “I have a few things for you to do this morning. Julie can set you to filing after lunch. I know she always has filing that she needs help with,” I say, giving her a grin.
Julie rolls her eyes. She knows that she does have filing and I know she despises it and often requests a filing clerk just for herself. Tennessee continues to keep her bright smile as she walks toward my office.
Unable to stop myself, I tilt my head to the side at the sight of her gorgeous ass as she walks away from me.
“Landry,” Julie hisses.
With a jerk, I straighten, turning to look over to Julie who has her gaze narrowed and focused on me, her lips pinched together tightly.
“What are you doing?” she snaps.
“She applied for an intern position. I knew she wouldn’t get it. She’s the daughter of a childhood friend of Susan’s. It was a final favor.”
Julie doesn’t say anything right away. She knows that the attorney’s papers were drawn, signed, and delivered. Considering she’s the one who sent the go-ahead to have Susan served.
As my secretary and office manager, she oversees every aspect of my business and personal life. In fact, I think that Julie