1. Emily

1

EMILY

I knew taking the job as an assistant at a law firm wasn’t the best use of my degree in business management, but the pay was decent and I hadn’t gotten any other call backs. I stood near reception of the prestigious firm and waited for my boss to greet me. The interview had gone well. She liked my resume and the fact that I could type more than fifty words per minute. So, here I was, ready for my first day.

Olivia strolled out of the office with a file in hand, staring down at it. She wore a Casper suit, red with a cream silk blouse beneath it. It put to shame my black slacks and white button-down, but I hadn’t had time or money to go shopping for a new wardrobe. I knew everyone in this place would be better dressed than I was the second I saw the receptionist with her Prada bag.

“Ms. Carter, it’s so good to see you again.” I offered my hand, but when her eyes popped up from the file in her hand, she barely acknowledged my presence. I stood patiently, retracting my offered handshake, and clutched my purse in front of myself. My friendly, down-home personality might not fit in among powerful attorneys, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to be polite.

“Follow me,” she said dryly. Without looking up, she turned and headed back into the office. I glanced at the receptionist who was busy typing at her computer and smacking her gum.

It was an odd greeting for the first day of work, but I hadn’t known what to expect. Life in Monroe County was much different from here in Chicago. Everyone knew everyone, and that was why I left. Well, one of the reasons. I had many—including overprotective parents and a thirst to see the world. Chicago meant a fresh start and the beginning of a great adventure. Besides, my best friend, Charlotte, lived here, which made it all the more appealing.

We walked past offices with plaques on the doors indicating whose office they were. Most of them had windows, but the blinds were shut. When we got to Olivia’s office, she pushed the door open, the file in her hand finally tucked under her arm. She waltzed in and dropped the file on her desk. A small desk sat outside the door with a cup of pencils and a phone. I glanced at it as I followed her in.

“So, you’re four minutes late on the first day. Not a great impression. I’ll overlook that because traffic is a bitch in this city at this time of day. Don’t let it happen again.” She had her blonde hair pulled back tightly into a bun which made her eyes draw out into thin slits, making her look of Asian descent.

“Of course, my apologies. I’ve only lived in Chicago for a few months. I’m still learning the ropes.”

“Good, well, enough with pleasantries. Today will be about meeting everyone, learning their roles, and your position in helping them. I want to take you to meet the directors and officers, but first you need to understand that I am your boss. You’ll assist me, mainly, though there will be days when you are needed elsewhere.” She tapped her long, manicured fingers on the corner of her desk and stared at me as if she needed a response. I had no clue what to say to her.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Well, follow me.” She charged out the door into the hall again and tapped the desk. “Purse here.”

Her gait was so quick, I had to scurry to keep up after stuffing my purse into the top drawer of the desk. I straightened my top and raced after her. “This is Tony’s office, and Grace is here.” She pointed at doors that were clearly labeled as if I couldn’t read. I wasn’t offended by that. I had no time to be. She opened the door at the end of the hall and stood in it. “This is the conference room. Get used to delivering coffee here.”

I nodded. I knew I was just an assistant, and I figured my role wouldn’t be glamorous, but I’d hoped for more than coffee duty and making copies of files. She breezed past me and back up the hallway, so I scurried along, making a mental note of each office door and whose name was on it. Most had no title along with the name, but a few did. Grace was a junior partner—good to know. Tony had no label. Michael Blake and Benjamin Jameson both had “ Sr. Partner ” emblazoned on their placards. I had a lot of names to memorize.

Olivia led me past reception and down a shorter hallway the opposite direction. We passed another room that had a large table, perhaps a board room. Then we approached an office with a bright gold plaque on it.

“Here is the office of our head partner and CEO of the firm, Daniel Jacobs.” She knocked quietly and waited. “Mr. Jacobs doesn’t like to be disturbed, so never enter his office without being requested. Also, be very direct with him, no games or being vague. You’ll likely end up helping each of the partners at some point, but as the head of the company, Jacobs comes first. Anything he asks, you do it. Got it?”

I opened my mouth to answer as I heard a voice call from the other side of the door. Her pep talk was intimidating. Everyone in Chicago knew the name of the firm, and Jacobs’s face was plastered on billboards and city buses. I thought I’d be working with paralegals and secretaries. I had no clue I would be required to assist the partners, which made my stomach flip-flop when I followed her into the room and saw the man himself seated behind his desk.

“Sir, this is…” She turned and snapped her fingers as if having forgotten my name, so I supplied it for her.

“Emily Kline, sir.” I stepped forward and thrust my hand out again, only this time, it was received. “Nice to meet you.”

His hand was soft but strong. Olivia continued introducing me based on my accolades, which weren’t many, but Mr. Jacobs never broke eye contact. There was a mischievousness there in his gaze that sparked my interest. He was striking, dark hair, dark eyes. For a man almost fifteen years older than me I found him very attractive. I wasn’t sure if it was I who was still holding his hand, or if he just hadn’t let go yet.

“So, for now, she will work solely with me, but I will make her available to you whenever you need copies made or if Jill is out.” Olivia’s introduction concluded, and I stepped back. My fingers tingled where he’d touched them. He gawked at me for a moment like I was a piece of meat, but a guy that hot… I didn’t mind.

“Welcome to Jacobs, Blake, Jameson and Gonzalez, Ms. Kline.” Mr. Jacobs stood, pushing his chair away. “I hope Olivia has treated you kindly.”

I felt acutely aware that the top button of my blouse was open. I had debated whether to button it or leave it open before leaving the house. In Monroe County, I’d have been the talk of the town. Mrs. Grubel would have called me the town slut for sure, but here in the city, I noticed most women weren’t afraid to show a little cleavage. Olivia paid no attention to it, and I could see why. Half of her chest was exposed beneath her silk blouse.

“Yes, she’s been very kind.” I lied. She hadn’t been kind, nor unkind, just curt. I clasped my hands in front of myself and swallowed hard. He was definitely looking at my breasts. My cheeks burned because I liked the idea that he was attracted to me.

“Well, if you don’t have anything for me, I’ll show Emily the rest of the office.” Olivia crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot.

“I’d like to ask her a few questions, Olivia. You are excused.”

Her eyes flicked from Mr. Jacobs to me, and she pursed her lips, but she did as she was told and left, closing the door behind her.

If my nerves had been heightened just meeting the man, they were frazzled standing here alone with him. His crystal blue eyes had a dark ring of cerulean around them, and they locked on me again. My chest fluttered. No man this gorgeous had ever taken notice of me, and the fact that he wasn’t just a powerful attorney, but my boss’s boss, made my insides melt.

“Sir?”

“Sit.”

I swallowed hard and obeyed, grateful I had worn sensible shoes and not three-inch stilettos like Olivia. I’d have fallen on my face and made a fool of myself and this man would never look at me twice. I wasn’t sure whether I should be flattered by the way he drank me in or intimidated by it. I had no intention of staying an assistant anywhere for very long. My degree should have communicated that to anyone who looked at my resume.

Mr. Jacobs sat and smoothed his tie. “Emily—may I call you that?”

“Yes, please.” I nodded, biting my tongue. I sounded like an idiot.

“Emily, I looked over your resume.” My chest tightened as he spoke. “It says you have a master’s degree in business management from UC Berkeley. You did that all during the pandemic? Incredible. Why do you want to be a mere assistant?” He leaned back in his seat and studied me while I collected my thoughts.

“Well, sir, I don’t. I might not be able to use my education here, but I am not planning to be an assistant for life. I moved to Chicago where there are more opportunities, and I accepted this position because it pays well. I will be able to support myself. But it is just a stepping stone to my future. I want a career, not a job.”

He nodded appreciatively, and the gleam in his eye only brightened. “Such a wise plan…” His eyes grazed over my chest again, and I looked away nervously, not stopping the grin that spread across my face. “I think it’s fantastic that you know where you’re going and you’re making strides to get there.” He stood again, this time reaching out his hand to me. I rose with him and took his hand, which this time was much gentler.

“Emily, if you need anything” —he leaned closer, and his voice thickened into a sultry tone— “and I mean anything, you come to me. I’ll make it happen.”

I bit my lip and batted my eyelashes. Right now, I needed him to let go of my hand because I was feeling things no assistant should ever feel about their boss, and I could see the hunger in his eyes.

“Uh, thank you, Mr. Jacobs.”

“You should call me Daniel.” My fingers tingled again as he drew my hand to his lips and kissed them. “It’s what my friends call me.”

My heart almost stopped. I thought I’d cream my panties right there. My conscience told me that a boss shouldn’t act this way toward an employee, but damn if the attention wasn’t nice. My sister Evelyn got every boy who ever crossed paths with her. I, however, had been the homely daughter—never dated, never had a boy ask me to a dance. The one time I had a fling was at a college party when Evelyn forced me to go with her, and I had a one-night stand with a frat boy which I later regretted miserably. So this man, with his suave, wavy hair and eyes that bored into my soul… well, he could be obsessed with me if he wanted.

I liked it.