Everything for Her Read online

  When I’m finished, I slip on my heels and pull on the matching suit jacket, standing in the mirror to check myself out. I look so grown-up. Before I can stop myself I go over to my bedside table and grab my phone. I send a quick text to Oz.

  Me: Thank you. And I’ll consider it.

  No sense letting him know I did what he asked. I just agreed with his idea, that’s all.

  I grab the last of my things and head out of my bedroom to the kitchen. When I walk in, Paige is holding out a to-go thermos of coffee for me.

  “I’m like a proud mom on your first day of kindergarten,” she says, beaming at me.

  I can’t help but giggle and shake my head. She’s truly adorable. Taking the coffee from her, I give her a hug and give silent thanks that I have her in my life. I don’t know what I’d do without her.

  Pulling back, she hands me a brown bag, and I laugh. She packed my lunch?

  “You did not.”

  “Oh, I did. Peanut butter and strawberry jelly. Doritos and a banana.” She crosses her arms and looks at me with the smuggest face. “I’m the best mom ever.”

  “Thank you.” I take the lunch and slip it into my shoulder bag. It’s a designer purse Paige got me for Christmas and wouldn’t let me refuse. She said if I didn’t keep it, she would never speak to me again. It’s nice because it’s big enough for lunch and a couple of necessities, but looks stylish.

  “Wish me luck,” I say, heading out the front door. I hear her say it as the door closes behind me. I take the elevator to the first floor. Our building is around ten stories, and we live on the third floor.

  We’re three blocks up from Osbourne Corp, and the heat isn’t too crazy this morning. Putting in my headphones, I switch on an audiobook and make the easy walk to work, trying to focus and pump myself up. I’m smart; I’m confident; I can do anything in the world. My superhero underwear cheers me on as I take the final steps toward the building.

  I’d timed it once before, just to be on the safe side, but it looks like I’m only about a fifteen-minute walk from work, which is great. The front of the building is a bit intimidating, but I’m about to be a part of this machine, so I try to step through the glass doors with self-assurance.

  Once I’m there, I do as instructed in my new-hire email and head to the front security desk. One of the guards at the desk gives me a temporary pass and takes me up to Human Resources, explaining what’s on each floor as we go up.

  The building is twenty floors, with the top three floors reserved for the executives of Osbourne Corp. Human Resources is located on the fifth floor, with a cafeteria and company gym located on the floor below. I may have Googled the building just to find this all out. I might have gone a little overboard with studying. I’ll be working on the tenth floor in accounting, and interning with their comptroller on statistical trajectory for the company, along with fulfilling everyday duties.

  I’m introduced to Agatha, head of HR, and I like her immediately. She’s like a grandmother with a wicked sense of style in her blue suit and red heels. She has a soft smile, and I want to give her a big hug, but I think it might be inappropriate. Agatha takes her time going over my new-hire paperwork, insurance benefits and my bank account information.

  Once Agatha is finished, she introduces me to the two other interns who were hired with me for this program.

  “Mallory, this is Eric and Skyler.”

  We all say hello, and I stretch out my hand, greeting each of them.

  Skyler looks like a cool kid. She’s got on a plum pantsuit with hot-pink heels, and her jet-black hair is stick straight and pulled back in a low ponytail. Her almond eyes are warm, her handshake is firm and her smile is genuine when she greets me. I like her, and I like that there’s another girl in the program with me.

  Eric seems normal enough. Average height, dark blond hair and blue eyes. He looks like an all-American Abercrombie boy. Definitely the kind of guy I’ve seen before, and avoided. His eyes move down my body when we shake hands, and I pull my hand back quicker than I intended. He flashes his megasmile at me, which I’m sure has some girls swooning, but I just give him a tight-lipped one in return and pretend nothing happened. I want to make a good first impression, especially with Agatha here, so I keep my mouth shut.

  We’re taken to our floor and introduced to our supervisor and head of accounting, Linda Green. She’s short, and well dressed, with a professional smile. She’s enthusiastic about us being on board and welcomes us to the company. Afterward, her assistant shows us to our cubicles, and we all settle in. My desk is between Skyler’s and Eric’s, but thankfully it’s not too cramped.

  They drop a stack of work for us to do for the day. I dive right in, going over the numbers in the spreadsheet and even finding a way to do them faster if we just reformat the spreadsheets. I show both Skyler and Eric how I have all of mine done before it’s even lunchtime so I decide to write up how to do the sheets faster so everyone knows.

  * * *

  Eric asks us out to lunch, but Skyler brought hers, too, so we opt for eating in the cafeteria together. I’d rather stay at my desk and keep working while I eat but they don’t have any more reports for me to do since I finished mine so quickly.

  At lunch, I learn that Skyler was valedictorian at Stanford and turned down a job at the White House to take this internship. We talk a lot about school and what led us to this job, thankfully steering clear of family talk. I never have much to contribute when people ask about my parents, and when I tell them I’m an orphan, they always look so sad. I grew up in a big foster home, and while it wasn’t the greatest, I had nice people who took care of me, and I never had anything bad happen. I’ve heard so many horror stories that I consider myself lucky.

  “You got a scholarship? From Osbourne Corporation?” Her tone of voice makes it sound like she thinks I’m joking.

  “Yeah. It was a big shock. I didn’t even apply for it. I competed in a couple of state-level math competitions, and afterward, it was offered to me.”

  “Damn, girl, you must be something special. I’ve never heard of them doing that.” She cocks her head to the side, and then smiles like she’s happy to be next to someone she considers her equal.

  “From what I was told, it’s very rare. And I’m pretty sure that’s how I landed here. Either way, I’ve worked hard to get here and I’m excited to see where it takes me.”

  “Me, too. I’ve worked my ass off, and I just hope Pretty Boy didn’t skate in on his daddy’s name,” Skyler says, putting away her lunch wrapper.

  “Who, Eric?”

  “Yeah. Did you not catch his last name? Westmoreland. If I had to guess, he’s related to the governor. That’s probably how he ended up here. I could be wrong, and I hope I am, but I’m usually not.”

  I nod, not commenting as she stands up. She takes out her phone and looks down at it. “We’ve got fifteen minutes left. I’m going to respond to a few emails and play some Candy Crush before I head back to work.” She looks up and smiles. “See you up there.”

  She winks and walks away with such confidence, it’s like she’s been working here her whole life. She must have on superhero underwear, too.

  Reaching in my bag, I pull out my phone thinking I’ll send a text to Paige about the first part of my day. When I swipe the screen, I know I’m grinning like a loon when I see that Oz has texted me.

  Oz: How’s your first day?

  Me: Going good. Just had lunch.

  Oz: Good. Let me take you to dinner to celebrate.

  My cheeks burn from the blush, and a shot of disappointment hits me as I answer.

  Me: Sorry. Already promised my roommate dinner out.

  Oz: How about a celebratory breakfast before work?

  Me: Maybe.

  Oz: Maybe? It’s better than a no. I’ll come pick you up and have you at w
ork on time. Scout’s honor. No funny business.

  I laugh out loud at the words funny business. He’s definitely not giving up.

  Me: It would have to be really early.

  Oz: You name the time and I’ll make it happen.

  I bite my lip hesitantly but am way too excited to say no.

  Me: Okay. Breakfast.

  I text him my address, and he agrees to pick me up at seven in the morning. I get up from the table and head back to my cubicle, and my smile stretches from ear to ear. I have a date. A breakfast date, but still a date.

  Before I make it back to my desk, I look down at my phone and see I have a new text. I check it quickly before putting it away and see that it’s from him.

  Oz: I like the hair up.

  As I’m about to ask him how he knows I wore it up, Skyler comes around the corner. Not wanting to look like I’m playing on my phone on company time, I slip it back into my bag and let it go. I’m sure Oz was making a joke after I’d said I would consider wearing it up.

  The rest of the day is spent with Eric and Skyler as we’re taught a few of the programs used in the company, all three I’ve already practiced using. I’d seen them mentioned in the folders they had sent me and looked into them all. We also go over what’s expected of us each day. There’s a lot of grunt work that we’re expected to do, but that’s part of earning our chops here. I notice that, as we work and things are delegated, Skyler and I seem to agree on it, taking notes, while Eric makes irritated noises. I think she may have been right about him.

  When I make my way home after the day is over, I have a bounce in my step and a smile on my face. I impressed a few of the department heads with how quickly I caught on to everything and my knowledge of the programs. Day one down and I’m excited for what’s to come. And a little part inside of me is humming with happiness, because in the morning, I have my breakfast date.

  Chapter Five

  Miles

  * * *

  One would think that having Mallory so close to me after all this time would take some of the edge off. To know I can see her at any moment because she’s only a few floors away would help. It hasn’t. If anything it’s gotten worse.

  My already-short tolerance for bullshit is at an all-time low. So much time has already been wasted. I don’t want to do this right now because it’s something that should have been done weeks ago. Before my Mallory even came to New York.

  I was sick of this game I was having to play. Sick of pretending she isn’t mine, and making her and I together, common knowledge. It was time everyone knew the truth. These final pieces finally coming together so I could have her.

  “These are the final terms you’re prepared to offer?” The lead attorney in the room, Mr. Ware, looks up to me for confirmation. Something he shouldn’t need at this point. We have been after the deal for months. Fuck, it should have been locked up from almost day one. He knows how bad I want this. I shouldn’t even have to have this discussion. We should be on to the next thing already. No wonder lawyers get paid by the fucking hour.

  “As I’ve stated several times today and days before, I’m prepared to offer whatever is necessary to purchase this company. This isn’t a negotiation, and if you don’t understand what that means, then I can find someone else to manage this deal.” I toss my pen on the table, giving him a hard look. I don’t like repeating myself over and over again and that seems to be what I’m having to do here. What’s the point of hiring the best if I have to go behind him? I would call and make the deal myself but I’m trying to keep it hidden that Osbourne Corp is the one after the deal until it’s done. “Ask them what they want and give them the fucking money.”

  “Yes, Mr. Osbourne. We’ll present this new deal and let their team know that we are more than happy to entertain any offers they have.” He looks sheepish and goes back to the papers in front of him, straightening them. I don’t know if I’m impressed I’ve intimidated one of the best lawyers in New York or annoyed.

  “We aren’t happy to entertain.” I clip the last word to get my point through as I stand. “The only deal I want is the one where you ask them how much and give it to them. In fact offer over their asking price.”

  “But sir, I think we could get it for less, maybe even—”

  I slam my hand down on the table making the whole thing rock. All three of the attorneys give a jerk back, surprised at my reaction. My assistant, Jay, doesn’t even flinch, the bored look on her face not changing.

  “You seem to have no problem wasting my money when it comes to your services, Mr. Ware.” I flatten my hand on the wood table, edging forward. My palm still stings from when I hit the table, but that helps dull the pain I’ve had deep inside me since I saw Mallory Friday night.

  “Sir—” he tries again, but I don’t let him. He’s wasted enough of my time on this, and either it ends right now, or I’ll end him.

  “Get it done or.” I flip my wrist in a tossing gesture not finishing the sentence. He gets it. I can tell by the widening of his eyes he does. Everyone in the room does. He might be a top attorney but if anyone knows that I get my way, it’s him. He’s been working with me for years. No one stands between me and my end result. Maybe for a moment, but in the end I get what I’m after, and Mr. Ware has witnessed many of those dealings.

  Maybe the threat is fucked-up, but when it comes to this, to her, I don’t care. I’ll do anything including getting my hands dirty if I have to. A trait I clearly got from my father.

  “Now, next item on the agenda. Sarah, would you please inform the room about our next potential acquisition. The details are outlined on the PowerPoint.”

  I click the remote before dropping back down into my chair and the room turns to the screen on the other side of the room. Sarah, our head of purchasing, presents the data I went over and sent her at the end of last week. On what will happen when we acquire the businesses. All the different options available. I told her everything I wanted and that she needed to put it in a presentation for everyone to see, but I’m still toying with the idea of getting what I need from them and burning them to the ground. They’d probably be better off that way.

  I think of Mallory and wonder what she would say about the numbers I came up with. Would she be impressed or offer her own opinion? It’s a funny and foreign thought to me, considering someone else’s opinion when making a decision. It’s not something I’ve ever done before, because I never cared what people thought of my ideas. But I find myself listening to Sarah go over everything I’d pulled together, and wondering if Mallory would agree.

  Then my mind wanders further, and I think about Mallory in my bed after I’ve thoroughly loved her. Her mouth still swollen from mine, her hair messy from the things I’d done to her. We would lie there and I would talk about work. Share things with her I’d never shared with anyone else. I push the thought away when my body starts to react to the image in my head.

  I wait for Sarah to finish the slides so I can answer any questions the room may have. But I’m comfortable there won’t be any. Sarah has been with me for years and I’ve never had to repeat myself with her. Ultimately I make all the final decisions at Osbourne Corp, but I understand what having a team around me can do.

  I try not to think about Mallory because she’s been consuming my thoughts all day. I run my hands through my hair to calm myself, and try not to rush through this important acquisition meeting because I’m dying to get to her. Even if it’s only a glimpse. I look down at my phone to see if I’ve gotten any messages, but nothing.

  The room goes over the proposal, each of them asking questions while I make notes. This is one of the last buyouts I’ll make before my plans are fully in place. I acted too soon with Mallory, and now I’m pushing hard and fast to clear everything up. I’ve had meetings all day to make this go forward, but I think things are finally settling into place.
I’m cleaning up the mess I’ve made by striking quickly, and doing something I told myself I’d never do again. I showed my hand, and that has to be rectified.

  * * *

  With the sun setting, I dismiss the group, which is all too eager to leave. Even I can sense the tension that’s coating the room. I let them know I want responses by tomorrow with concrete plans in place. On the way out, my assistant follows behind me taking notes.

  “I want the Harford deal closed by the end of the week,” I tell her, hitting the down button for the elevator.

  “Hmm. How did you know I could move mountains?” she teases but I keep going, certain that she will in fact move one if need be. Jay might come off a little peppy but it’s actually her strong suit. She’ll annoy and bug anyone and everyone in this office until she gets what she wants, and that works for me because she’s getting what I want.

  The elevator dings and we both get on. She hits the button for the lobby.

  “What about Mr. Carson? This really is a problem. I still haven’t got an email back from him about the Stine project.” She lets out an annoyed huff. I know it’s because he’s working away from the office, meaning she can’t go knock on his door every five minutes.

  “Fire him. Problem solved.”

  She smirks. “Someone is extra perky today. Oh, and Taylor Campbell called. Again.”

  I level her with a stare. Taylor Campbell is an up-and-coming politician and I can smell his shit a mile away. He keeps trying to get me to come to his events. Something I hate doing. All the people trying to get close, wanting to rub elbows with you. Always wanting something you can give them. I think about Mallory and how she would look all dressed up and on my arm for everyone to see. The thought is appealing but I liked the look of her in my bed more. Just the two of us.

  The elevator dings, breaking me from the thought, and I exit. Jay doesn’t follow me. I turn and grab the door before it can close. “I left a few things in our share box I need you to clear out. If you work late, have one of the guards walk you to your car.”