Chapter 3

TREVOR

I woke up before my alarm went off, having tossed and turned most of the night. There were too many thoughts racing around inside my head for me to get any real sleep. Excitement and nerves battled for position even in my dreams until I'd finally given up any hope of having a restful sleep.

I'd been busy the previous week training my replacement who shadowed me out in the field. As glad as I was to be done with that job, I'd hated the idea of leaving the company in a lurch, so it was a relief that they'd found someone so quickly. He'd been a nice guy and was fairly knowledgeable about computer systems, which made me feel a lot better about having him take over for me.

I jumped out of bed, anxious to get started on my first day with Marshall Industries. I showered and shaved then got dressed in my new navy blue suit. Even on clearance, the price had been enough to give me heart palpitations, but I'd somehow scraped together enough money to purchase a couple of different ones, which would have to do until I got my first paycheck and could buy more.

I had to admit, I looked and felt more professional wearing it, and the pale blue button up shirt I wore underneath brought out the color of my eyes. I made sure my tie was on straight then I quietly made my way to the kitchen, trying not to wake Doug.

I reached inside the fridge and pulled out a can of soda. My lack of sleep meant I would need the caffeine to make it through the day and since I couldn't stand coffee, soda was my best bet. I took a drink then peered around the fridge when I heard the shuffling of feet.

"Sorry if I woke you. I was trying to be quiet."

Doug ran a hand over the back of his head, his hair was mussed from sleep and his left cheek still bore a crease from his pillow. His pajama pants hung low on his waist and as usual, he wasn't wearing a shirt. "S'okay. I wanted to see you before you left anyway. Wish you luck and all that."

Warmth settled in my chest with his words. Growing up, I'd never really had much family, no one to watch over me or even care what I was up to. Except for Doug and his family.

He came from a loud, loving, tight-knit family who gave affection freely and were supportive and protective of one another. With three older brothers, two older sisters, and Doug as the baby, his parents already had their hands full, but they treated me like one of their own. Always ready with a kind word, a spot at their dinner table, and a place to stay when things got too bad at my own house.

"Thanks. I'm nervous. What if I fuck up?"

"You're going to do great. Besides, the guy knew you had never done this before and he still hired you. The way I see it, if you mess up, that's on him."

"Not sure he'll see it that way. He seemed pretty uptight."

"Oh, well if that's the case then maybe I should bring lunch. I know plenty of ways to loosen him up." Doug waggled his eyebrows at me, making me laugh. The knot of tension in my belly loosened as I gave him a playful shove.

"Not that I don't appreciate the offer, but I think I can handle it. You working today?" I asked as I reached for my laptop bag. If I was going to be taking notes for Mr. Marshall again today, I'd prefer to do it on a laptop instead of paper and pen. That shit had killed my hand.

"Yeah, I've got an engagement party I'm catering later this afternoon, so I've got a couple of hours before I need to head in."

Doug had been lucky enough to find what used to be an old Chinese take-out restaurant a few blocks from our apartment. The restaurant had closed a couple of years before and sat empty since, so the landlord was happy to negotiate the rent in order to get someone in there again. The space was small, but perfect for what he needed.

"Okay, well, I'm not sure what time I'll be home, but I'll see you sometime tonight."

"Good luck!" he called out as I headed toward the door. His words cut off as he was suddenly hit with a loud yawn.

"You need more sleep. Go back to bed," I scolded affectionately.

I saw him wave a hand in the air before I shut the door. I walked several blocks until I reached the subway entrance. I cringed at all the dirt and grime along the steps leading down to it. I wasn't necessarily a germ-a-phobe, but I liked things to be clean, and the subway definitely wasn't. Still, it was the fastest way to get across town without having a car.

When I got to my stop, I jumped off and climbed the steps to the street above. I made a quick stop at a corner coffee shop then walked the rest of the way to work. It was strange seeing the lobby so empty when it had always been such a hive of activity every other time I'd been there.

"Good morning," I said to the security guard who eyed me suspiciously as I approached. He was tall with big, thick muscles and looked like he probably bench-pressed cars in his spare time. "My name is Trevor Reed. I was hired to be Mr. Marshall's personal assistant."

"You got a badge?" he asked gruffly.

"Oh, yes. Sorry." I fumbled with my laptop case, trying not to spill any of the hot coffee as I reached inside and grabbed the temporary badge I'd been given.

He looked it over, his eyes darting between the photo on the badge and my face. Satisfied, he handed it back. "Okay, you can head on up."

"Thanks," I murmured. The nerves I'd been battling all morning came back with a vengeance as I rode the elevator up to the top floor.

I needed this job to work out. It was too good of an offer to let pass me by, which meant I needed to get over any anxiety I felt and focus on being the best personal assistant I could be.

With that thought in mind, I stepped out of the elevator, straightening my shoulders as I walked down the hall to Mr. Marshall's office, and knocked on the door. Just as I'd suspected, he was here before everyone else.

"Yes?"

I opened the door and popped my head in. "Good morning, sir. May I come in?"

"Ah! Mr. Reed. Of course."

I smiled as I pushed my way inside. Mr. Marshall was exactly as I remembered, dressed impeccably in a black suit and white button-up with a sleek black and gray striped tie. His thick black hair was styled perfectly, and his green eyes gleamed with sharp intelligence. He looked sophisticated and formidable, the king of this castle.

"I got you some coffee." Forcing myself forward, I set the cup down in front of him then took a seat across from his desk.

His brow furrowed as he looked at the cup. "Thank you, but how did you?—"

"I asked Kelly when I was here the day of the mix up. Grande Americano with oat milk. Is that correct?"

He nodded, surprise slipping over his face before he once again schooled his features. "Yes, it is. Thank you, I appreciate it. But for future reference, I don't expect you to get me coffee."

"I don't mind."

"There's only one. Did you already drink yours?" He asked as he took a tentative sip.

I shivered. "God no! I can't stand coffee."

Mr. Marshall lowered his cup. "Wait…so you went there just for me?"

"I, uh…I wanted to make a good impression." Heat infused my cheeks with the admission.

He arched an eyebrow. "Is that why you're here so early?"

"Well, you told me not to be late, and I had to take the subway here because my car died but I wasn't sure how long that would take with all the stops so…anyway, yeah. Here I am," I ended feebly when I realized I was rambling.

The moment seemed to stretch as he continued staring at me and I felt an odd buzzing sensation right under my skin. "Well, since you're already here, I suppose we should go over the schedule."

"Actually, I asked Kelly to send me a copy of your schedule for the week so I could become familiar with what types of things you have going on. The first thing today is a meeting set up for nine o'clock. Would you like me to be present to take notes?"

I thought I saw the hint of a smile, but it was gone before I could tell for sure. "That would be good. Thank you. Until then, you can take some time to look around, see where everything is and ask questions."

"Thank you, Mr. Marshall. And where should I put my things?"

"That will be your workspace." He pointed to a desk in the corner of the office.

"I don't remember seeing that last time."

"Yes, well, I found it bothersome with my previous assistants to have to call their office every time I needed them. I think it will prove much more efficient to have you right on hand."

"That makes sense." Trepidation filled me at the thought of sharing a space with this man, but I tried not to let it show. Everything about him screamed power and money, two things I knew nothing about. It was intimidating as hell, and I was going to have to be in his presence all day every day.

I walked over to the desk and set my laptop case down then looked around the office, reacquainting myself with the space. My eyes slid to the floor-to-ceiling windows, and I moved closer to get a better look.

The morning sun streamed through the glass, warming my face as I looked out over the city I called home. A smile teased the corners of my mouth as I took in the spectacular view.

From up here, I could see many of the city's famous landmarks. Times Square, Radio City Music Hall, and a large portion of Central Park. Down on the streets, hearing the shouting and blaring of horns, it was easy to forget how breathtaking New York really was, but seeing it all from up here served as a great reminder.

I turned and gave my new boss an impish grin when I caught him watching me. "Sorry, I just had to get a closer look at that view first. The city looks so different from up here. It's quite remarkable."

He continued studying me as if he was trying to figure me out and I realized how childish my words must have sounded to someone like him. He'd probably traveled all over the world, while I'd only been to Indiana, New York, and the states we'd driven through to get here.

Feeling my face heat with embarrassment, I rushed out of the office, murmuring something about having a look around. Soon, the office started to come alive as people began trickling in to work.

I was in the staff lounge when two women walked in. They were dressed similarly in black slacks and silk blouses, one blue and the other in soft pink. The one in pink was shorter with a round, friendly face and dark frizzy hair. The one in blue appeared to be around sixty with soft wrinkles lining her face and snow-white hair tied up in a knot.

"I told her she better clean her room or—Oh! Hello!" The frizzy haired woman's eyes went wide when she spotted me standing there.

"Hi! Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I was just getting a drink." I held up the bottle of water in my hand.

"Hello. I don't think I've seen you here before. Are you new?" asked the older woman.

"This is Trevor Reed. He's Mr. Marshall's new PA." I smiled when I saw Kelly come sweeping in.

She looked lovely in a deep purple skirt and lavender blouse. Her blonde hair lay in soft waves down her back. She really was quite beautiful, and I appreciated her bold, straightforward attitude.

The two of us had hit it off quite nicely once she realized her mistake and that I hadn't actually done anything wrong. We'd ended up talking for nearly an hour as I filled out paperwork and then worked on their computer system like I'd actually gone there to do. She was smart, had a quirky sense of humor, and was fiercely loyal to our boss who she'd worked with for over ten years.

"It's nice to meet you, Trevor. I'm Jean. I work in the legal department," the older woman explained, extending her hand towards me.

"And I'm Sabrina. I'm Ms. Cartwright's PA. She's the vice president of Marshall Industries," the woman in pink supplied when she saw my blank expression. "We've heard so much about you."

I tossed Kelly a questioning look as I took turns shaking each of their hands. She winked at me, humor shining in her blue eyes. "Don't worry, it wasn't anything bad. I simply told them about the mix up between you and the other Trevor, and how Mr. Marshall ended up letting him go and hiring you instead."

Jean gave me an appreciative look. "Mr. Marshall doesn't usually do anything impulsively."

"Yeah, you must have really impressed him," Sabrina added.

I reached up with my free hand and scratched the back of my neck, my eyes darting down to my feet. "I don't know about that."

"It's true." Kelly's voice was muffled as she rummaged around in the fridge for something. She popped back up a few seconds later with a bottle of French vanilla coffee creamer in her hand. I took a sip of water as she moved around the small kitchenette, starting a pot of coffee.

When she was finished, she turned to me. "Mr. Marshall is a shrewd businessman. He doesn't make any moves unless he's fairly certain there will be a good outcome. Clearly, he noticed something in you that day that told him you were the right person for the job."

I couldn't help the smile that stretched across my face, my confidence bolstered by their words. "Thanks. I hope I can live up to his expectations."

"You'll be fine," Jean reassured me. "But try not to take it personally if he gets a bit…prickly. That's just who he is."

"I can handle prickly," I assured them. I thanked the two women then followed Kelly back to her desk where she got me set up with a new ID badge and a company issued laptop and tablet.

I spent the rest of the day getting acquainted with the office and everyone who worked on that floor, and sat in on a couple of meetings where I took a copious number of notes on my new laptop.

During a break, I did some research online, wanting to understand more about Marshall Industries and what exactly it was my boss did. What I found was rather fascinating.

Marshall Industries was in the business of acquiring companies from around the globe which others considered "sinking ships." They would take them apart, restructure them, and make them profitable again.

It was a risky endeavor, and any mistake could prove extremely costly for the company, which was why Mr. Marshall preferred to oversee all acquisitions personally. According to an article in Forbes, he had an uncanny knack for determining which companies had the potential to thrive and which were simply lost causes, a skill which had made him exceptionally rich over the years and had earned him the respect of the business world.

I could see why so many people wanted to find out more about him. Besides being extremely wealthy and handsome, he was somewhat of an enigma. Like Doug had said, not one article or recorded interview revealed anything about the man's personal life.

The only thing anyone knew about him for sure—outside of his business dealings—was that he was gay…or at least bisexual, thanks to a few photos taken of him at various charity functions and business openings.

There was always a handsome man by his side, but never the same man twice. The public, of course, gobbled it up, loving what the press had labeled a billionaire playboy.

That level of mystery in a highly public figure was rare and only made him more intriguing to people, but it made me feel sorry for him. What would it be like to have people watching your every move? To have to have everyone around you sign an NDA just so they wouldn't sell personal information about you to the highest bidder. How would you ever trust anyone if that was your life?

I didn't have a lot of friends, but I had Doug who I trusted with my life. Did Donovan Marshall have anyone like that in his life?

I arrived early again the next morning, this time with two banana nut muffins. I placed one on a napkin and laid it on his desk. "Don't worry. I didn't buy them," I rushed to assure him when he looked like he might protest.

"My best friend is an amazing chef. He made these for a brunch he was catering for and had a few left over. Oh, wait. I suppose I should've asked if you have any allergies, especially to nuts."

"I don't have any food allergies. Thank you. This was thoughtful of you." His words sounded stilted, and I wondered if perhaps he wasn't used to anyone doing nice things for him. The thought caused an odd ache in my chest.

"Oh, thank goodness. You're going to love these then. Go ahead, try it."

With a bit of a put-upon expression, he picked it up and took a bite then glanced up at my expectant face, his throat bobbing as he swallowed. "This is excellent, actually," he admitted, almost begrudgingly.

I practically beamed at him. "Isn't it? Doug is a magician when it comes to cooking and baking. He wants to open his own restaurant one day, but right now, he's saving up and working on getting his name out there by catering…"

My words trailed off when I caught the frown on my boss's face. I'd been rambling again. I only ever did that when I was nervous and something about Donovan Marshall made me nervous.

"Anyway, I should probably get to work now. We have a full schedule today," Moving over to my desk, I picked up my tablet. "You've got a meeting with the Grayson company at eight-thirty, then a video conference with Mr. Wu at eleven. I made reservations at De Marco's for your lunch with Erikson's Shipping at one, and four o'clock is the ribbon cutting at Holland International."

When I glanced up, his emerald gaze was fixed on me. I thought he almost looked pleased, but I had yet to see him actually smile. In fact, I wasn't convinced he knew how. The man had probably come out of the womb with a scowl on his face.

Suddenly, a picture of my boss as a little boy, dressed in a three-piece suit and carrying a briefcase into school popped into my head, and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.

Although, that image may not have been all that far off. After all, he probably came from money, his parents paying for him to go to the finest private schools.

He spoke, pulling me from my internal musings. "I'll need you with me most of the day. However, it's not necessary for you to attend the ribbon cutting, so you can stay here and focus on your other tasks."

"Yes, Mr. Marshall," I answered dutifully.

The rest of the week was fairly uneventful, but for whatever reason, I seemed hyper aware of my boss's presence at all times. I wasn't sure what it was about him that unnerved me so much, but I was fucking exhausted by the time the weekend rolled around.