Page 10 of Surprise Me Tonight
My mouth opens, but no sound comes out.
Do I want this job?
The salary is more than I expected. A lot more. Especially for someone who hasn’t been properly employed in nearly two decades. And I wouldn’t have to commute into London, which makes the offer even more generous. That alone should make this an easy yes. No long train rides. No expensive lunches. No city hustle I never missed in the first place.
It’s a chance. A real one. I could earn my own income again. Pay for my course without Jeremy’s monthly guilt money sitting like dead weight in my account. I could step out of the shadow of the person who should have no longer any hold over me… but still kind of has.
But it would also mean working forthisman.
Callum Wright.
He hasn’t said much since I put him in his place. No apology. No visible discomfort. Just that sharp, unreadablestare. Like he’s still trying to figure out who I am and why I’m in his space.
I want to say he’s arrogant. And maybe he is. But it’s not that simple. There’s something else. The way he looks at me—it’s not dismissive. It’s not leering, either. It’s... intense. Focused. Like he is trying to figure me out. It almost looks like interest.
It unnerves me.
And worse, it does something else, too.
I press my palms to my thighs and take a breath.
I can’t read him and I am not sure if he actually wants me here. He certainly seemed surprised when Jess offered me the position out right. But at least he didn’t sound angry
I clear my throat. “Maybe... maybe you should both talk about it first? And come back to me if you still want to offer me the Executive Assistant position?”
Callum doesn’t blink. “It’s a PA role.”
Something sharp rises in my chest—embarrassment, maybe, or something nearer to defiance. It slips out before I can stop it.
“PA is a rather outdated term.”
The silence stretches for a second. Not hostile. Just tight.
Jess lets out a short laugh. “God, I like her.”
Callum doesn’t respond. His jaw shifts slightly, but his face gives nothing away.
Jess continues, still smiling. “We’ll talk. I’ll give you a ring later this afternoon, but I’m fairly confident it’ll be good news.”
I nod, too quickly. “All right. Thank you.”
I stand, fussing with my cardigan, like that’ll make me feel less as though I’ve prodded a sleeping bear. Callumrises too, slower, more deliberate. From this close, his scent hits me. Clean, warm, maddeningly male.
Brilliant. Just what I need. A crush on my boss before I've even signed an employment contract.
Jess says goodbye from the screen and then the call ends. The screen fades to black, and suddenly Callum and I are left in an awkward silence.
“Thank you,” I say, looking toward Callum, though not quite meeting his eyes.
He gives a single nod. No more than that.
I gather my bag. My hands feel too warm. My spine is straight, chin up, posture perfect—but inside, I’m already second-guessing everything.
This was a mistake. I should never have applied, but I couldn’t stop myself. Even admitting that now feels like a defeat.
“Well,” I say, adjusting the strap of my bag. “No need to show me out. I can find my way.”
His brow lifts the slightest bit. “I’ll walk you.”
