Page 1 of Stranded for Christmas with my Boss

Chapter one

Alyssa

New York City’s exciting chaos surrounds me as I stare up at the shiny, towering office building that belongs to Soul Flames, the latest and greatest dating and relationship app on the current market.

And also my new place of employment.

The sound of jingling draws my attention away for a moment, a smile forming on my face at the sight of a man dressed as Santa Claus raising money for charity across the street. Despite the overcast, nippy day, there is always a lightness in the air when December arrives.

Everything glitters from icy surfaces, and dashes of red and green adorn every storefront and lamppost. Don’t even get me started on the breathtaking majesty of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.

As much as I want to partake in all of the holiday spirit, I need to take care of business first.

A slightly shaky exhale drifts from me as I check the time on my phone, my breath coming out in a subtle cloud in the midst of the cold air around me. Ten minutes until the start of myfirst day. Ten minutes until a new, necessary chapter of my life begins.

A lot is riding on this, which means I can’t mess this opportunity up. I justcan’t.

My phone buzzes as a new message notification pops up on my screen, the name “Mom” appearing at the top.

Good luck today! Dad and I are so proud of you! Love you!

Warmth blooms in my chest as I read over the message one more time, my motivation resurging. I’ve been reading up on the company and doing my best to prepare for this job since getting the offer last week.

Icando this.

Heading into work now. Love you!

I send off the text message before plucking at my tucked-in, white blouse and black pencil skirt, making sure there isn’t an ugly crease or wrinkle. I’ll be the CEO’s new executive assistant, and we haven’t even laid eyes on each other yet. This will be my first impression, so I need to leave a good one.

Tilting my chin up and letting the honey-blonde strands of my hair fall behind my shoulders, I stride through the tumbling snowflakes that have blanketed the city and into the building, my heels thumping against the lobby’s hard tile flooring. A mixture of Christmas music and people speaking rings out all around me as I make a beeline to the elevator, my skin starting to warm up with nervousness.

I have to impress Jensen Riley. As my boss, he holds more than just my future in his hands. He can make or break every plan that I have.

As the elevator glides upward toward the top floor, my stomach flips, but I put on the same bright smile that I’ve used during every interview, college presentation, and professional meeting. It works like a charm.

I walk forward as the elevator doors slide open, my eyes sweeping around a large, open space. The offices of higher-ups have glass walls, making the executive floor look even more sterile and modern than it already looks with its white and dark brown furniture and towering windows.

Unease threatens to crawl up the back of my neck as I head to the back, toward the only office with privacy blinds covering the walls, concealing what and who is inside. But I already know.

Do I even belong in a place like this? Where the men wear suits as expensive as all of my monthly bills combined. Where the women seem to glow with perfect faces and astounding achievements.

I’m already an outsider coming in because I grew up in a small town about an hour from the city. Are they going to be able to sniff me out as a fraud from a mile away?

A few executives glance in my direction as I pass by their exposed offices, but I don’t get stopped as I draw closer to Jensen’s office. The closer I get, the more my shoulders square and tense.

This is it. No turning back now.

My knuckles gently rap against the office’s doorway before I poke my head inside. “Mr. Riley?”

It doesn’t take me long at all to lay my eyes upon one of the hottest men I’ve ever seen in my life. Do I tend to exaggerate at times? Sure, but notthistime.

Stormy blue eyes lift from a document I can’t read, settling on me. They narrow slightly. His stubbled jaw tenses as he sits up in his chair, his already broad shoulders seeming even larger under his black suit jacket. I just know that he must be built like a Greek god under his expensive clothes.

“I take it you’re my new assistant.”

His voice. Deep and smooth, like rich honey.

My brain malfunctions for a second as I walk toward him silently like I’m in a trance. When he gives me an annoyed look, I snap out of it and extend my hand out to him. “Yes, I’m Alyssa Wren. It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. Riley.”

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