Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

SPENCER

I still wasn't convinced Marlow was going to actually take the job offer. I had a feeling she wasn't serious. I still had no idea what happened. One second we were kissing and having a really, really good time and the next she was literally running from me. I had not talked to her since.

Now it was Monday morning and I had no idea which way my day was about to go.

I worried I had really screwed things up. If she told Rhett I groped her, once he got his cast off and his ribs healed, he was going to try and kick my ass. That was fair enough. I didn't know what had come over me. She was looking so pretty in that dress, and in the moment, she felt like she was mine. I hadn't been able to control myself.

I couldn't get Marlow out of my mind. The way she had looked at me before running off had haunted me. Did I misread the situation? Was she not as into me as I had thought? Or was there something else going on that I didn't understand? I needed answers, but I was too afraid to reach out to her. The thought of facing her rejection or worse, her accusations, paralyzed me. But deep down, I knew I couldn't just let things go unresolved between us.

If she didn't show up today, I was going to have to send more flowers and apologize for overstepping. I would withdraw the offer and stay away from Stone Ridge for a while. I respected the Graylan family too much to crawl back there after putting the moves on their daughter. She had certainly seemed on the same page at first. And when she backed off, so did I.

With a storm of emotions inside me, I headed to my room to get dressed for the day. In case she did show up, I wanted to look good.

I pulled one of my custom-tailored suits from my wardrobe and clad myself in it like armor. My life might be spiraling into chaos but I could damn well look good while it happened. As I straightened my tie in the mirror, my mind raced with scenarios of what could happen when I saw Marlow again.

Would she be angry, hurt, or indifferent? Would she want the job or had I driven her away for good? The uncertainty gnawed at me, but I pushed it aside as I grabbed my car keys and headed out to face the day.

Traffic was a bitch. If a teleporter was ever invented, I was positive New Yorkers would be the first to jump on the invention. Despite the clogged streets, I made it to the office with plenty of time to spare. I wanted to make sure I was in the office early just in case Marlow showed up.

My assistant looked shocked to see me. "Looks like someone got kicked out of bed early," Janet said.

"Believe it or not, I was all alone this weekend."

She shook her head. "You're finally losing your touch. Oh, how the mighty have fallen."

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes and grinned. She loved giving me a hard time and I got a kick out of it too. Plus she was a damn good assistant.

"Coffee for the early bird?" she asked.

I nodded. "Please. You're the best."

"And don't you forget it," she said.

When Janet dropped off a steaming mug on my desk, along with a protein bar, I thanked her and tried to focus on work. But every sound outside my office door made me look up, hoping it was Marlow walking in. I was like a dog running to the window every time a car drove by.

I pulled up a client file for our upcoming meeting, hoping to force myself into being productive. I leaned back in my chair, flipping through the notes on the screen with my mouse. The company was gearing up to launch their new flagship product, and while their business was lucrative, they had been tedious to deal with. Their demands were extensive, and I needed to ensure we were fully prepared for the meeting.

The intricate details of their product launch were spread out on my desk. I liked digital and physical copies. Sometimes I needed to see things in person, get my hands on it. I picked up one of the pages and stared at it for several seconds, my mind analyzing and considering the plan.

My assistant knocked on the door and I jumped.

"Mr. Kane, Ms. Graylan has arrived," she announced.

I looked up, stunned and excited at the same time. "She has?"

"Yes." Janet looked confused. "I figured you had left your cufflinks at her apartment or something. Should I tell her to make an appointment?"

"No. I'll be right there." I straightened up, setting the file aside. "And I've never been to her apartment."

Janet shrugged and walked out.

I stood and adjusted my tie, taking a few seconds to calm myself down. She had shown up. At that moment, it was clear I hadn't believed she really would. My heart galloped like a runaway racehorse, and I drew in a shaky breath, willing my tense shoulders to relax.

Heading out to the waiting area, I thought about Marlow. At the gala, I had her breathless, turned on, and right in the palm of my hand.

Who would she be today? Was it going to be the girl I knew from Stone Ridge, or would it be the sultry woman at the ball?

I stepped into the lobby with the coffee bar and spotted her right away. She was dressed in white pants that hugged her curves before flaring out like bell bottoms, cherry-red heels, and a black shirt with a modest neckline. Even dressed for business, she looked sexier than sin.

"Good morning, Marlow," I greeted her, offering a professional smile, though I knew my cocky smirk was hard to hide.

"Good morning, Spencer," she replied, her tone polite but distant. She met my eyes briefly. I could feel only a hint of awkwardness.

"Let me show you to your office," I said, leading her down the hall. I had chosen an empty office for her near mine. It was fully furnished and had a stunning view of the city.

She took a moment to look around, taking in the space without saying anything. The walls were painted a crisp white and decorated with abstract paintings in vibrant colors. A sleek white desk with a matching chair sat against one wall, while a comfortable-looking black leather couch was opposite it. A few potted plants added a touch of green to the space, giving it a modern and trendy feel.

"Nice view," she commented, setting her bag down on the desk.

"You can decorate it however you want," I told her. "Any office supplies, the office manager's number is on that pad on your desk. She can take care of you."

Just then, another young woman walked in carrying an office box and a small plant. I arched an eyebrow in surprise.

"This is my assistant, Kyla," Marlow introduced. "She's one of my non-negotiables, and you'll pay her salary plus benefits. I emailed her contract to you on the elevator ride on the way up."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Damn. You mean business."

"Always," Marlow replied with a confident smile.

"Good," I said, crossing my arms. "I respect a woman who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to ask for it. Welcome aboard, Kyla."

"Thanks, sir," Kyla said, her eyes darting between Marlow and me.

"Spencer," I corrected her. "We're not much for formalities around here."

"Of course. Spencer." She nodded, smiling nervously. "Is there a spot for my stuff?"

I froze. "Actually, no, Kyla. But I'll get something set up for you. We're nothing if not adaptable."

"I'm going to need her close," Marlow said firmly. "Is there an empty office nearby?"

"Typically, our assistants are either in the common area or situated near the front of our offices," I explained. "I'm not sure where we can put a desk. I'll see what we can do, but have no fear, there will be a place for you."

"No need," Marlow replied, stepping to the window to look out at the streets below. "We're very capable. We can handle things from here."

"You can?" I asked. "Because the desk is no problem."

She looked over her shoulder at me. "You doubt me?"

I chuckled. "Definitely not. You just let me know what you need. For now, I'll give you a tour. Both of you."

"It'll need to wait a few minutes," Marlow replied. "More like thirty minutes."

Again, I was confused. "Okay, sure. We're not on a schedule, I suppose."

Just as I thought things were under control, a moving company showed up with a bunch of furniture. They began clearing out everything I had in Marlow's office, replacing it with her own furnishings, including collectible artwork, new drapes, more plants, and colorful furniture. The transformation was swift and efficient. I watched the efficient ballet of movers, impressed and mildly stunned. Marlow sipped her coffee, watching the transformation with satisfaction in her eyes.

Kyla was darting around the office, directing the movers where to put each piece and how to set up the desk area. Her efficiency was impressive.

"Well," I finally managed to say after the office had been transformed into something bright, beautiful, and unapologetically feminine. "This is unexpected."

Marlow turned to me, leaning against her new desk which was now a stunning piece of mahogany instead of the sleek white one I had provided. "You said I could decorate as I wish. Is this not what you meant?"

"No. I mean, yes. Whatever works for you. I just wasn't expecting you to bring in your own things so quickly."

"Is there a problem, Spencer?" Marlow asked, noticing my surprise.

"I didn't realize you were so high maintenance," I said, unable to hide my amusement.

She lifted her chin, a twinkle in her eye. "Perhaps you should have asked more questions before you bullied me into accepting the job."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Fair point. Welcome to the team, Marlow. And Kyla."

As the movers finished up, my two new colleagues settled into their space. Despite the unexpected changes, I had to admit the office looked fantastic. It reflected Marlow's vibrant personality and her meticulous attention to detail. Hiring her had been the right call.

"Alright," I said, clapping my hands together. "We have a meeting with a new client in an hour. They've been a bit demanding, so we need to be on our A-game."

"An hour?" she questioned.

"Are you saying you aren't up for it?" I challenged.

"Did you hear me say that?" she retorted.

"Can I get the file?" Kyla asked.

I nodded. "I'll have my assistant send it over. Should I give you that tour now or will you need me to come back and lead you to the conference room?"

I knew that would get her. She was a woman that wanted to do for herself.

"Yes, please," she said. "Kyla will need to know where the copy room is as well as the break room, unless we'll get coffee from the place out front?"

"They sell better coffee, but we do have a break room that is very well stocked with all kinds of drinks. There are snacks and we do have a sandwich cart that comes around at eleven."

She nodded. "Great."

"I'll show you the offices for myself and my partners," I said. "As well as Conference Room A, where the meeting will be held this morning."

"Sounds good," Kyla responded, grabbing a sleek leather notebook from one of the newly moved-in boxes, ready to jot down any important details.

We exited Marlow's office, stepping into the open and vibrant workspace that was typical of the advertising sector. I led them past desks where my team members were already hard at work, answering phones, tapping away on keyboards, and discussing strategies over cups of coffee.

"Over there is the design team." I pointed to a corner where artists huddled over tables draped in color swatches and sketchpads. "You'll often see them debating over shades of colors more passionately than people do about politics."

Marlow chuckled at that, her eyes scanning the busy room with evident interest. "I like the energy here," she noted, still looking around as I led them to the area where my office was.

"Here's my office," I said, opening the door. "Your office and mine are at opposite ends of our work floor for a reason. It gives us both some privacy while still being accessible to our teams. I don't want you to think I'm babysitting you."

Kyla jotted something down as Marlow glanced around my office with a discerning eye. My office was adorned in dark, serious tones. No frills, just business.

"Quite the contrast from my office," she quipped lightly, but I could tell from her gaze she was taking it all in—the stacks of papers, the massive desk littered with reports, and the corkboard on the wall filled with design concepts.

Next, I led them across to another large room with a vast table around which chairs were arranged neatly. The projector was at one side, and a screen pulled down at the other end. "And this is Conference Room A," I announced. "All our major meetings and presentations are conducted here. The other smaller rooms are used for internal discussions and brainstorming sessions."

Marlow circled the room slowly, her heels clicking against the floor. She ran her finger over the polished mahogany table, her gaze taking in every detail. I watched as she moved, a sense of anticipation building within me. I had no idea how she would fit into the team, or more importantly, how she would alter the dynamic. But change was inevitable, and I welcomed it.

"Great," she said. "I'd like to see the break room and then get back to my office to prepare for the meeting. I'll find my way around later."

"Okay." I nodded, appreciating her willingness to get right to work.

I had wanted to stir things up around here, and Marlow was definitely doing that.