Page 19 of Sweet Little Thing

“You can start tomorrow; however, after you’re done inside, we can ride over to the office, and I can show you everything, introduce you to the staff, and tell you what staff I currently have.”

“Okay,” I replied, standing up. “I should be ready to go in two hours.”

“Very well. See you then.”

Hurrying from the pool house, I couldn’t get the silly grin offmy glowing face. I was going to be okay. We were both going to be okay. I’d make cupcakes this week. Although Heidi would never understand we had a reason to celebrate.

This Jasper was so different than the former Jasper. The one I thought he was when he arrived. He’d been all business and mature in there. But the party he’d held displayed a much different Jasper. The spoiled trust fund kid with nothing to worry about. I liked this Jasper much better. I just couldn’t figure out his choice of friends. I guess the wealthy all gravitate to each other.

The next two hours flew by as I hurried to get everything done. I then changed into the only nice dress I owned. My mother made the pale blue sundress three months before she got sick. For a job interview at the bank. A job I didn’t get because I had needed Saturdays off to take care of Heidi and couldn’t abandon that.

Mom would be so excited about my new job now. She’d love that I wore her dress. She had also bought the silver flats I reserved for special occasions. I slipped them on, and my toes thanked me. I then quickly made my way outside to meet Jasper, passing Portia coming down the staircase with her white tennis outfit on. Her hair was gathered in a neat ponytail. She was scowling at me.

“Why are you dressed like that?” she snapped.

“I’m going to the office with Jasper. He needs me to organize and file paperwork.”

She rolled her eyes. “Sure, he does. He’s just like his father.” She then stalked past me, and her expensive perfume filled the air. I wanted to defend myself. Tell her that, in fact, he did need me to organize things for him. But she was gone. Maybe, perhaps, I should’ve apologized earlier.

Chapter

Fifteen

Beulah

When Jasper spoke of the offices being new and small, I imagined something different from the twenty-story glass building we were currently walking into. Van Allan Industries was on the front door, and the sign out front was massive. Upon entering, a doorman and a young brunette, whose eyes rapidly locked on Jasper, greeted us from behind a large desk. She was attractive and smiled brightly. “Good afternoon, Mr. Van Allan.”

He paused at her desk and replied, “Brandy Jo, I’d like you to meet Beulah Edwards. She’ll be coming in a few hours every day to do some work for me.”

Brandy Jo gave a faux smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Beulah.”

“It’s nice to meet you too,” I said, with a sincere smile and small wave, hoping I could thaw her out.

Her gaze swung right back to Jasper. Her genuine smile returned. “Can I get you a coffee, sir?”

“That’d be wonderful, Brandy Jo. Thank you. I’ll be in myoffice.”

She blushed, and I wondered what exactly Brandy Jo did for Jasper. He hadn’t seemed very upset about Jed having an affair. Maybe they all hooked up in the workplace? Frowning, I thought to myself, that’s not fair to think. Jasper wasn’t married and could sleep with who he wanted.

When the elevator doors closed behind us, Jasper turned to me. “I fucked her last week. Late night. We had some wine, and she got naked and climbed up on my desk. She then spread her legs, and I went with it. It was a one-time thing.”

“Oh,” I replied, wondering if I’d mumbled my thoughts out loud.

Jasper gave me a crooked grin. “You’re expressive, Beulah. I could see what you were thinking. Thought I’d clear it up for you.”

Because my mouth had a mind of its own, I then blurted, “Do your employees often get naked on your desk?”

He laughed and responded, “No, but I’ve only had employees for two weeks, so I’ll let you know in a couple of months.”

I nodded as if that were reasonable. Jasper then laughed harder. “God, you’re fun.” The doors opened onto the twentieth floor. There was an expansive open area with a few sofas, tables, and magazines. It was all very fancy and impressive. A chandelier hung from the ceiling. Two large wooden doors lay ahead of us. Jasper pulled a card from his pocket and touched the metal box on the door. A light turned green, and it opened.

“I’ll need to get you a key before you leave,” he said, holding his up. We then entered an enormous room. Shelves lined the right and left walls as we walked. They were filled with books, and then we came to a well-stocked bar with an opening next to it, a door there standing inward, and his elaborate bathroom with a spacious view of the city and the Atlantic in the distance. He motioned for me to go straight ahead. “Go on in. I’ll show you myoffice. Then we’ll cover the filing area.”

We walked in the next door. The masculine scent of oak and cigars did not fit Jasper at all. The entire back wall was windows overlooking Savannah’s business district. My gaze fell to his desk, and I couldn’t help but picture Brandy Jo and Jasper going at it. Right there, there was the night view of the city behind them.

“As you can see, it’s a large desk. Plenty of room for a wild, crazy fuck.” Jasper spoke from behind me, and I jumped, my stare leaving the desk, cheeks auto-heating, caught again thinking about it.

“I. . .uh,” had no response.

---