Page 9 of Guarded King

When I fall into step beside her, she grins and slows her pace. “Sorry, you get used to moving fast around here.”

“It’s that busy?”

She grimaces, though the look is good-natured. “Always.” Then a laugh bubbles up. “But I love it. I love the variety of the work and the vibe in the office. Plus, my boss, Tate, is pretty easygoing.”

“What about Roman?”

Lips pursed, she glances at me from the corner of her eye. “Um, well…”

I laugh. “That’s okay. When I met him, I got the impression he wasn’t exactly the easygoing type.”

“Maybe not quite as relaxed as Tate.” She shoots me a teasing smile.

Her effortless warmth is reassuring, and even more of my nerves dissipate.

As we round a corner, she points to a desk. “This is yours.” Then she nods toward a large mahogany door set in a frosted glass wall across from it. “That’s Roman’s office.”

I stare at the door, my heart picking up speed. Is he inside? The memory of our meeting in the elevator—the moment when he looked at me with such intensity—comes rushing back to me.

Butterflies stir in my stomach.

With a quiet huff, I shake my head, brushing away the reaction. He’s my boss, not a prospective date.

Sophie steps behind the desk and pulls open a drawer at the bottom of it. “You can leave your things here, and I’ll take you to get your pass.”

I tuck my bag away, then follow her again as she rushes off.

Half an hour later, we’re back. My still-warm pass is clipped to my waistband, I have a brand-new tablet under my arm, and I’m holding a sheet of paper with my passwords printed on it.

Once I’m successfully logged in to my computer, Sophie leans over my shoulder and points out a few of the programs I’ll be using. I’m just about to navigate to my inbox when movement draws my attention—a man rounding the corner and approaching with powerful strides.

Broad shoulders, imposing height, and a perfectly tailored suit.

Roman.

My stomach does an odd little swoop as those piercing gray eyes lock with mine.

He comes to an abrupt halt, a line etching its way between his dark brows. Turning to Sophie, he points at me. “What’s she doing here?”

My spine snaps straight. He may be gorgeous, but clearly, he’s rude, considering I’m sitting right here.

Sophie looks from him to me and back again. “Um, this is Chloe Callahan. She’s your new executive assistant.”

That chiseled jaw clenches. “No, she’s not.”

The previous swooping sensation in my stomach turns into a sharp drop. “What do you mean?”

He stalks forward, eyes now fixed on me. “I’m afraid Lena made a mistake when she hired you, Miss Callahan. Unfortunately, you’re not the right fit for this position.” He turns back to Sophie. “Call the agency. Let them know there’s been a misunderstanding and that there’s no fault on Miss Callahan’s part.” He flicks a glance back at me. “You can…”

My heart pounds a painful beat in my temples, drowning out his next words. What is he talking about? I need this job.

Sucking in a deep breath, I shove my chair back and stand, angling my chin up and meeting his gaze head-on. “Why exactly am I not the right fit?”

He raises his brows, probably not used to being challenged by his employees. Maybe it would be wiser to keep my mouth shut, but since I’m apparently going to lose this job if I don’t say something, it doesn’t matter if I annoy him.

His jaw gets even tighter, and he gives me a once-over, his expression icy and unreadable. “You can’t have more than three or four years of experience. I need a seasoned professional—someone who can assist with business operations, provide strategic support, and be a first point of contact for contracts worth billions of dollars. Not to mention, someone who can handle clients that have more ego and power than they know what to do with.”

I barely hold back a snort. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. I’d point it out, but I don’t think it will do me any favors.

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