1. Sabrina

What was I doing here? Good God. I was going to puke all over my spiked heels. “Keep it together, Sabrina.” The pep talk helped calm my nerves as I stepped through the glass door and into the lobby at Grady International. My heels clicked on the white marble floor, and I caught my reflection in the glass walls spreading out on either side of me. Damn. I looked good. The red dress was definitely the right choice. I lifted my chin and squared my shoulders as I approached the mahogany receptionist’s desk where a petite blonde sat with a headset dangling from one ear.

“Can I help you?” Her perfectly polite answer helped my nerves settle even more.

I could do this. No one knew me here except for my best friend, Miranda. “I’m Sabrina Roberts. I’m scheduled for an interview at ten.” I kept my hands loose by my sides, resisting the urge to fiddle with my dress and show how nervous I felt.

The woman’s nose scrunched a tiny bit, but she clicked onto the computer and scanned it. “Right. There it is. Take the elevator up to the tenth floor. Someone will be with you soon.”

Just like that, I’m dismissed.

I would be irritated, but this woman was not my problem. She’d done her job and directed me where I needed to go. With a clipped nod, I spun on my heel and marched to the bank of elevators tucked into a recess between two massive white pillars. The entire building was white marble and glass. And quiet. Other than the receptionist, I didn’t see a single other person on the open floor.

One elevator door stood open, and I stepped inside, pressing the button before the doors whooshed shut. One hurdle passed. My stomach dipped hollowly as the elevator ascended. I placed a hand over it to ease the bubbly feeling but dropped it at the ding announcing my arrival.

The doors opened to reveal a luxurious space with thick blue carpet that muffled my heels. A wall of windows overlooked the cityscape, the view partially blocked by a new skyrise that went up last year. A single door on my right opened, giving me a glimpse of what looked like a conference room as a tall man with salt and pepper hair and a thin smile buttoned his suit jacket before holding out his hand. “Sabrina?” He shook my hand when I nodded. “I’m Chase Grady. I understand you’re applying for the open position here at Grady International.”

Chase Grady? As in the Chase Grady? My father’s best friend and the owner of Grady International? Holy shit. I couldn’t talk. My words died in my throat the minute he touched me and sparks raced up my arm.

Bad Sabrina. I shouldn’t be attracted to Chase. For multiple reasons. But damn it all to hell and back, he was one fine specimen of a distinguished businessman.

“Everything okay?” Concern drew a line between his intense blue eyes.

I managed to yank my thoughts back to business and forced out a small smile. “Just surprised. I didn’t expect to meet the CEO during my interview.”

“Ah.” He slid his hands into his pockets, causing the jacket to tug tight over his shoulders. “You know a bit about the company?”

Only everything. I couldn’t tell him that he knew my father, Leon Adams. Or that I’d applied for this job to spy on him so I could find out if he was the one stealing technology from my dad’s app company.

“I like to know who I’m working with.” My smile widened just enough to flash the dimple on my cheek, and I tipped my head to the side to peer up at him. “Grady International made quite the splash in the app world when you revealed your latest AI firewall technology.”

Chase matched my smile, and I relaxed. If he realized who I was, he didn’t mention it. “Why do you want to work at Grady?” He motioned for me to follow him and stopped to open the door leading into the conference room.

I smelled his cologne as I walked past, a spicy mix that I didn’t recognize but one that caused my heart to flutter. “Grady International has been the leading innovator in new apps for the last fifteen years.”

The conference room housed six luxurious leather chairs spread evenly around the oval glass-top table. A TV hung on one wall, the screen blank. Pale gray walls contrasted the blue carpet, and a single landscape painting of the city at sunrise decorated the wall opposite the TV.

Chase closed the door, sealing us in together, though a window to my left looked out onto the lobby where I’d entered.

I settled into one of the large black leather chairs and crossed my legs in a move that sent my dress sliding up past my knees.

Chase followed the movement, and I swore I caught a heated look in his eyes before he blinked it away. “We have an excellent team here.” He unbuttoned his navy jacket and sat across from me. A tablet rested on the glass table in front of him, and he flicked it awake with his index finger. “Your application says you’re studying for your MBA. What do you plan to do once you obtain your degree?”

A perfectly legitimate question, and one I’d expected. Any good employer would want to know if I planned on running off the minute I graduated. Going after my degree was the first real thing I’d done for myself. Sabrina Roberts, the Adams screwup. The only child of Leon Adams that no one knows about because he’s ashamed of my birth. I didn’t help matters by getting into trouble my whole life. I shouldn’t have to keep paying for that, and I’ll be damned if my son has to pay for my mistakes too. The thought of Keith steadied me, and I returned to Chase’s question.

“The end goal is to work with a business like Grady. This place is all anyone in the tech world talks about.” I tested the waters, needing to see how he’d react to having his ego stroked. There’s something else I’d like to stroke. Not now. Stay focused.

Chase leaned back in his chair with a casual grace. “You don’t plan on starting your own company?”

“I’m not big into risks, Mr. Grady.” Not true. Like, at all. Coming here was a huge risk. If Chase found out that I’m Leon’s daughter, he’d want to know why I’d come here for a job instead of Dad’s company. Not that Dad would give me a real job. He doesn’t trust me enough for that. He’d figure I’d screw it up like I have everything else. This was a calculated risk that I found more than worthy of my time. Spending time with a man like Chase made it even more palatable. He had a presence, a confidence, that I found insanely attractive. The pictures I’d seen online didn’t do the man justice.

Chase’s firm lips turned up in a sardonic smile. “Isn’t all of life a risk?”

“That’s one way of approaching things.” I smirked at him. “I prefer to know what’s coming, within reason, of course.” Lies and more lies. They sounded good, though, and I enjoyed the way Chase’s eyes lit up when I challenged him.

“Tell me more about your work history and schooling. I’m looking for someone who can handle challenges and isn’t afraid to step up.” He sat in that same casual pose, a king in his domain. “I can’t say this job is risk-free. There may be times when you’re asked to do something you’re not familiar with. Are you willing to learn?”

“Absolutely.” I’d let this man teach me anything. I dragged my mind back out of the gutter and gave him the speech I’d prepared for this exact moment. I listed my qualifications, glossing over my lack of a work history by blaming it on my intense studies. I left my eight-year-old son out of the conversation, not willing to risk losing my advantage by mentioning I had a kid. I knew the statistics. Women my age with a young child were easily passed over in favor of childless women … or more often, less qualified men.

My having Keith held no bearing on my ability to do this job, and I refused to let that become an obstacle I had to leap over.

Chase listened and nodded along, asking a few questions here and there, but the look in his eyes told me I’d made an impression.

Good or bad remained to be seen.

After I exhausted my list of accomplishments and accolades, he waved a hand and tapped the tablet again. “The position is a standard eight-to-five, Monday through Friday. There’s the occasional work retreat, but those are scheduled in advance to help compensate for any weekend plans you might have. I think you’ll find the pay rate more than adequate.”

He spun the tablet around and pushed it across the table with one finger.

I couldn’t look away from that single digit. He had gorgeous hands. Long fingers with thick knuckles and clean, blunted nails. They were a real man’s hands, and I bet if I flipped them over, I’d find them strong but smooth. A man could do wonders with fingers like that. What was going on with my libido?

Chase was twice my age. My body didn’t give a damn. He was sexy as hell in that suit, and the slight graying at his temples made me want to dig my hands into the wavy strands threatening to flop over his forehead.

I forced air into my lungs and leaned over the table to eye the tablet. The numbers staring back at me wavered. I blinked to make sure they were real. I’d never been offered that much.

Dad paid my bills—much to his wife’s dismay—but I knew it wouldn’t last forever. My stepmother had been making my life a living hell this last year, to the point that I knew I’d have to figure out how to make my own money. I tapped my fingers on the table. Should I ask for more, just to test him?

No. I pushed that idea aside. The offer was more than fair. It would keep me and Keith going for a long time if things went sideways between me and dear old Dad. This was the first thing I’d truly done on my own.

Chase watched me, his eyes hooded and his hands clasped on top of the table. Sun streamed in through the windows behind me, warming my spine and casting my shadow across Chase’s face.

“I think this will do.” I slid the tablet back and relaxed in my chair. We’d passed the worst part of the negotiations. I wouldn’t let myself think I had the job in the bag, but things looked good.

“Great.” Chase stood. “I’ve seen all I need to see. You’re hired.” He stretched out his hand and I slid my palm over his.

Warm fingers engulfed mine, his handshake firm as it sent those delicious tingles up my arm and throughout my body. I definitely had to get some quiet time with my vibrator tonight, and I knew whose face I’d be imagining as I got myself off. I couldn’t wait. “I appreciate the opportunity, Mr. Grady.”

“Please, call me Chase.” He released my hand and paced toward the door, giving me the chance to eye his back and shoulders all the way down to his tight ass encased in that slick suit. “You’ll start tomorrow. I expect to see you in my office by 8:00 a.m.”

“Yes, sir.” I quipped automatically and heat rose to my cheeks. I fanned it away before he turned to face me with the door held open. “I appreciate you taking a risk on me.” My voice was flirty, and it took effort to keep from winking. He’d never take me seriously if I came off acting like a hooker trying to score a ride into his wallet. Horny Sabrina needed to take a hike and let me keep this job.

“I don’t see a risk.” He tucked his hand into his pocket and leaned his shoulder on the door, his other hand still wrapped around the handle. It was a power pose if I’d ever seen one. “I see a sure thing.”

I walked past him, holding my breath this time so I didn’t sink into the smell of his cologne.

“Oh, Sabrina?” He waited until I’d almost reached the elevator.

I spun slowly on my heels and met his gaze.

“It wasn’t posted what the exact position was. But you should know, you’ll be my administrative assistant.” He pushed off from the door and straightened his tie. “You’ll be working directly under me. You think you can handle that?”