17. Carter

Chapter 17

Carter

T he laptop in front of me whirs to life as my desk phone rings. Peering at the caller ID, I find myself sucking in a short breath. It’s Anna.

This isn’t a normal reaction I have when Anna calls me, but my new assistant is starting today, and Anna said she’d give me a quick call before she arrived.?

Truthfully, I haven’t decided how I feel about this whole situation. Do I really need a stranger coming in and attempting to keep me organised? I’m a grown man; I’m almost positive I can handle it by myself.

Reminding myself she’s never given me a reason to doubt her judgement, I pick up the phone.?

“Morning, Lawrence,” comes Anna’s cheerful voice through the line. “Are you ready for this?” I can hear the teasing tone in Anna’s voice, and I have to try awfully hard to keep the breath I let out inaudible.

“Remind me again why we’re hiring someone Emilia knows?”

A light laugh rings out.

“Humour me, please.”?

“Because she seems organised to a fault, something you need, and gave me the impression she’d be able to handle you, even on your foul mood days.”

The last part has me chuckling while I close my eyes and lean back in my chair, deciding perhaps Anna has a point.

“She’ll be here any moment, so we’ll see you soon.”?As I reach to disconnect the call, Anna’s voice sounds again. “Oh, and Carter? Be nice.”

With that, she hangs up.

“Always,” I say to myself with a smirk.

Some days I wish Anna didn’t know me as well as she does, and today is one of those days.

The only thing I know so far about our newest recruit is her name—Lara. There must be thousands of Laras out there, but that doesn’t stop me from wondering—what are the chances?

A soft knock interrupts my train of thought. Shit, I’m really not ready for this. How am I supposed to cope working with this Lara whilst mine occupies my every thought??

Mine? Where the fuck did that come from?

“Come in.”

Standing in place, I slide my hands into my pockets and turn to face the window. The sound of the door handle opening has my heart skipping a beat. After taking a long, deep breath, I turn around.

“Carter, meet Lara—your new EA.”

If I were a cartoon character, this would be the moment my jaw smacks onto the carpet, and my eyes bug out of my head.

Standing before me, looking dangerously good, is Lara. My Lara.

Again with the possessiveness, what is happening to me?

The answer is standing right across from me.

My whole body stiffens as if not one part of it knows how to react to this. Even the air in the room has changed. It’s charged and thick with unspoken tension. My mind is racing. Is this some bizarre dream I’m about to wake up from?

Lara’s expression morphs from a polite smile to one of sheer horror. Her eyes are wide, mouth slightly agape, and I realise she’s probably the mirror image of me 30 seconds ago.

Whoever is pulling the strings of my brain cells makes the reckless decision to flood my mind with thoughts of the stockroom encounter with Lara. The way I feasted on her and how our time was cut painfully short.?

As the initial shock begins to subside, my gaze rakes over her for a moment and really takes her in. Time stands still as our eyes meet. Those beautiful blues are most certainly still processing this development because she doesn’t blink once.

I take in the black and white tweed blazer and skirt set; the way the latter hugs her figure so perfectly. I almost short-circuit picturing how incredible her arse must look right now. My mouth lifts in a half smile at the thought.

Anna clears her throat, reminding me of her presence. The moment Lara entered my space, it was just the two of us.

I’m entranced by Lara, and it’s impossible to look away. Because of this, I witness the exact second Anna’s throat clearing breaks her out of her trance. Right before my eyes, she processes that I’m standing here, her new boss.