Page 2 of Love Unexpected

Emma

I wake up on Monday earlier than I had planned. Picking up my phone from the nightstand, I groan when I see the time: four-thirty. I didn’t sleep well, I tossed and turned all night, and now my stomach is churning with anxiety and nausea. My confidence has completely vanished. “No, no, no, no, no. I can’t start my first day feeling like this. God, please help me,” I whine.

I throw the covers back over my head, searching for the will to get out of my warm cocoon. It’s too early to get up but too late to go back to sleep. I allow myself to linger in bed for a little while longer. Eventually, I swing my legs over the bed and plant my feet on the ice-cold floor. A shiver runs through me, jolting me into action.

I take my time getting ready in front of the mirror. With my commute only being about twenty minutes, I don’t have to rush. I meticulously curl my hair and decide to go with a more natural makeup look—subtle highlighter on my cheekbones, a few strokes of mascara to emphasize my dark eyes, and a natural toned lipstick. I finish getting ready and spritz my curls with a little extra hairspray before heading to my walk-in closet. I settle on a pair of black heels, a fitted black pencil skirt that complements my curves, and a long sleeve cream top. What’sthat saying? You look good, you feel good? Well, it’s true and I feel unstoppable as I take one last look at myself in the mirror. Grabbing my purse from the table, I stride out the door.

On my way to work, I decide to stop at a local café for a pastry and a hot cup of coffee. I had promised myself I would stop wasting money, but I reasoned that treating myself on my first day was necessary. Besides, I still had plenty of time to kill. The scent of a freshly baked croissant fills the car as I drive the rest of the way toward the business district. The bread helps ease my nausea, but I’m still full of anxiety and a little excitement.

By the time I figure out the parking garage situation and make my way up to the fiftieth floor, I glance at my watch: seven-thirty. Not a bad start for my first day. This is it, the moment I’ve been anticipating since I landed the job two weeks ago. Taking a deep breath, I approach the receptionist.

“Good morning! My name is Emma Sterling. I’m the new assistant for Mr. Lawson,” I say, my voice much steadier than I feel on the inside.

“Good morning, Emma!” she beams at me. “I’m Kassandra. We are so excited to finally have you here!”

I shake her hand as I return her smile. Her warmth reassures me and my heart gradually returns back to normal. Kassandra is an attractive woman, I’m guessing she’s in her thirties, possibly early forties; she has curly and thick auburn hair that must be a pain to style in the mornings.

Kassandra hands me a badge on a lanyard. “Here’s your ID. Let me show you to your desk. You’ll love the view of the city.” She leads the way down the open hall, the sound of people typing quietly echoes behind us. “Mr. Lawson’s flight landed earlier this morning, so he should be in shortly.” She lowers her voice before continuing, “just between you and me, he can be a little difficult to handle. Don’t let him intimidate you. You will do great.”

As we reach my desk, I take a moment to admire the view she was talking about. My desk sits directly in front of Mr. Lawson’s all-glass office. Not much privacy for either one of us—I’m hoping he usually keeps the blinds closed. The floor-to-ceiling windows to my left offer a breathtaking panorama view of the city.

“Wow, I wasn’t expecting this. I could stare out these windows all day,” I breathe in awe.

“Oh, I know. The views are one of the best perks of this place,” she winks.

Feeling a little put off by her innuendo, I follow behind her as she gives me a quick tour of the office. She shows me around the pristine bathrooms, large break rooms, and sleek conference spaces. It’s all beautiful and modern, the building is truly impressive.

“I’ve written down your username and passwords for the programs you’ll need in this notebook. Once you log into your email, be sure to complete the forms sent from HR first thing. By the time you get those completed, Mr. Lawson should be in,”Kassandra says with a friendly smile, laying the notebook on my desk. “Just let me know if you need anything until then.”

“Thank you so much, Kassandra. I really appreciate your help.” As I settle into my new desk, I take a moment to fully absorb the stunning view. To my right, there are more floor-to-ceiling windows that line the halls, showcasing the vibrant cityscape. I could spend hours staring at the world below. I imagine curling up with a good book next to these windows during a thunderstorm. What a dream that would be.

Chapter 3

Emma

A throat clearing beside me pulls me from my trance. I jump up from my chair, feeling my heart racing in my ears.

“Good morning! You must be Mr. Lawson,” I say, extending my hand. “I’m Emma Sterling, your new assistant.

His large hand envelops mine and his grip is firm as he shakes my hand back. “Good morning, Ms. Sterling. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he replies, his deep voice sends chills down my spine. “Now, I have a meeting in ten minutes, so please inform me when he arrives. We will go over my expectations and schedule after.” Not bothering to wait for a response, Mr. Lawson strides into his office and shuts the door.

I watch him disappear, feeling a twinge of disappointment. He seems nice enough, I suppose, maybe he just has a lot going on right now. I’m sure we’ll get to know each other later on.

My new boss is unrealistically handsome—almost too handsome for comfort. I knew he was attractive based off his profile on the company website, but he’s even more so in person. His tall frame towered over me. He had to be over six-two. Witha sharp jawline, tousled dark hair, and hauntingly dark eyes, he checked every box I didn’t realize I even had until now.

He's the type of person whose age is impossible to guess. He seems much older than me based on the confidence he exudes and the way he walks with his head held high. But physically, he looks extremely young and healthy.

Judging by the way his clothes fit him, he clearly takes care of himself. And let’s be honest, there’s nothing quite like a man in a custom fitted suit. My heart is still racing from the nerves and the undeniable attraction I feel for him.

“Oh my God, snap out of it,” I mutter under my breath, chiding myself for acting so unprofessional. I settle back into my desk and try to focus, but the lingering scent of his cologne surrounds me. It’s intoxicating and distracting. I try to ignore it and get back into work mode.

I’m not sure how he expects me to know who his meeting is with when I just started two seconds ago. Pushing that thought aside, I log into the computer and find the documents Kassandra was talking about. While wrestling with my HR forms, an instant message pings on my laptop.

Kassandra: Marcus is headed your way. He has a meeting with Mr. Lawson now, FYI.

Emma: Thank you!! I appreciate you more than you know.

I quickly stride into Mr. Lawson’s office. Trying to avoid looking foolish for not knowing Marcus’s last name, I lamely say: “Your eight o’clock meeting is here.”

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