His Secretary: BBW Romance (Her Second Chance Book 1)
Read His Secretary: BBW Romance (Her Second Chance Book 1) Online
Authors: Harmony Raines
Tags: #General Fiction
His Secretary
Her Second Chance
(Book One)
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Note from the author:
My books are written, produced and edited in the UK where spellings and word usage can vary from U.S. English. The use of quotes in dialogue and other punctuation can also differ.
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All rights reserved. This book, or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner without the express written consent of the author or publisher.
This is a work of fiction and is intended for mature audiences only. All characters within are eighteen years of age or older. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, actual events or places is purely coincidental.
© 2014 Harmony Raines
Silver Moon Erotica
Kindle Edition
“I can’t remember the last time I was this nervous,” Helen said, looking across to Max.
“Don’t worry. It’s just routine office duties. Typing, filing, and making coffee of course,” Max joked, trying to lift Helen’s mood. It didn’t work. “Look,” she continued, “You can do this. It’ll be some easy experience to help you move on to a better career. I thought that was what you wanted.”
Helen turned to her brother’s fiancée and smiled. “I do Max. But it was a lot easier to talk about it, actually doing it ... well...”
“You are a strong woman, Helen. Look at all you’ve achieved with the girls. Being left to pick up the pieces when your husband left is not something every woman can do so successfully. This is a step forward to making a better, more comfortable life for you all.”
Helen sucked in a large gulp of air and then let it go slowly, calming her nerves. “I know you’re right. Although I’m not so sure how successful I’ve been, there were times when I thought I would lose everything.”
“But you didn’t. Now, let’s take it one step at a time.” Max opened her door. “First you have to get out of the car.”
Helen’s hand actually trembled as she pulled the handle to open her door. And when she placed her foot on the ground she found her knees weren’t too keen on supporting her body. But she summoned the strength she knew she possessed, and got out, straightening her skirt. Even her clothes felt wrong, too smart, her shoes too high.
“You look fantastic.”
“I feel like a fraud.”
“That’s because you’ve been away from the corporate world for too long. You’ll soon get back into it.”
“I haven’t done this kind of work since before Jess was born. I never went back to it because I always assumed their father would be there to support us.” The feelings of betrayal she always had when she thought of her estranged husband hit her particularly hard as they walked towards the elevator. She had lost all hope of ever having a normal family life. The life she had dreamed of when she walked down the aisle. If the man who watched you give birth to his children could betray you, then who could you trust?
“I’ll have my phone with me all day. If you need anything send me a text and I’ll help you in any way I can.”
Helen wrapped her arms around Max and squeezed her tight. “Thank you Max. I’m sorry you’ve had to put up with me moaning when you’ve worked so hard to give me this opportunity.”
“Hey, don’t be silly. We’re nearly family.” Max paled. “I think I know how you feel. Every time I think about the wedding I feel sick. I wish we could simply escape to a desert island somewhere and say our vows privately.”
“My mom would never forgive you.”
“I know. And I really don't begrudge her wanting to celebrate it with everyone. I just hope it doesn't end up being a train wreck.”
“It won’t. And perhaps that’s where I can return the favour. Since I’ve done it all before, just ask if there’s anything you need to know. Except how to keep a husband. That, I’m not so good at.”
When the elevator doors pulled back, they were giggling together. However, the scene before them soon cut their humour short.
“What’s going on?” Max asked the receptionist.
“Mr Pierceson has fallen ill.” The usually calm Miss Carter gushed breathlessly.
“How bad?”
“Heart attack they think. He was away for the weekend, and was taken ill at the hotel.”
“So who’s taking over the Clarkson meeting?”
“His nephew is flying in to take over.”
“His nephew?”
“Yes. Apparently he’s been discussing it with Mr Pierceson over the last couple of weeks, so he’s up to speed on all but the finer details.”
“OK. So why the panic?” Max looked around the office, people were scurrying around like it was the end of the world.
Miss Carter stopped what she was doing and looked at Max squarely. “It seems Mr Pierceson’s nephew has a reputation. Doesn’t suffer fools easily. Everyone is in a panic in case they get in his line of fire.”
“He’s not going to be here that long, surely?”
Miss Carter shrugged. “Who knows? There’s no news as to how bad Mr Pierceson is.”
Max turned to Helen, who had stood back out of the way, wishing she was anywhere but here. She had anticipated being out of her depth, but the atmosphere in the office was as if Armageddon had been announced over the radio.
“Are any of the other managers in yet?” Max asked.
“No. You’re the first.”
“OK. Helen, you know where my office is, why don’t you go and find my secretary, get some coffee and relax while I try to stop the panic.
Glad to be able to escape, Helen headed off, leaving Max shouting at everyone to stop what they were doing, and think like professionals.
Not for the last time that day Helen wished she had stayed in her quiet life, working a job with no responsibilities. And no future, she reminded herself.
***
“So Bob has every intention of being kept up to speed. That means his PA will fly out to him and liaise with us. It would be much easier if Bob would leave it to me, but he seems uneasy about letting the reins loose. I hope I can count on you for your cooperation in this Miss Lewis.”
“Yes, of course Mr Pierceson.”
Helen had been drinking her coffee, and admiring the view out of Max’s window when the door opened and Max walked in with a man.
That was all she could think to call him. Everything about him was masculine, his well toned body, his well cut suit and the air with which he held himself. This was a man used to getting his own way. Dark haired with a steely expression, only his deep brown eyes offered a hint of possible softness to an altogether hard exterior. To go up against a man like this was to offer your soul to the devil.
“Who is this?” he asked abruptly, looking at Helen, who was still staring at him.
Max cocked her head at Helen and raised her eyebrows. At that moment Helen realised she had her mouth open, and could only hope she wasn’t actually drooling at the sight of the man in front of her.
“This is Mrs Draper, she’s here as a temp for a week to cover holiday leave. I was about to assign her a post when the news of your uncle's unfortunate heart attack reached me.”
“I see. Mrs Draper, I am in need of a secretary for the time I’m here, so I suggest rather than pulling someone from their work you are assigned to me.”
Helen paled, and looked desperately at Max, who stepped in. “Mr Pierceson, surely it would be beneficial if you used one of the secretaries who have experience in the way the office is run.”
“Why?”
Max only hesitated for a second. “Because they will know exactly where to find what you need.”
“I am only here for one task, Miss Lewis. If the office is well organised then Mrs Draper will be able to lay her hands on what we need.” A thinly veiled challenge rose in his eyes. “Or is there a reason Mrs Draper isn’t up to the job? Is she a friend of your’s Miss Lewis?”
Max opened her mouth to speak, and for once she was lost for words. Helen desperately wanted to make this right, so she stepped forward. “I’m a little rusty that’s all, but I’m sure we can muddle along.”
He turned his full glare on her. “I do not ‘muddle along’ Mrs Draper.”
“And I am not a six year old child who thinks the he has to bully people to get his own way.”
Silence settled over the office. Max turned to Helen, her face shocked. Helen knew there was no way she would be working in these offices for the week, and she wanted to save Max the job of letting her go. So she said, “I’ll collect my things.” And turned to leave.
“Wait.” Mr Pierceson reached out and touched her arm, turning her back towards him. For the first time, in an impossibly long time, she felt a tingling where his fingers touched her, a heat that flared through her body, making her skin glow.
Great taste in men. One asshole who deserted her, and now she was attracted to the rudest man she had ever met. “I think it would be best if I left you to get on with your important work.”
His face cracked into a smile. She was right, those deep pools really did soften when he wasn’t scowling, and her heart jolted dangerously in her chest. “I think we will get on very well, Mrs Draper.” He walked past her and out of the office. “Shall I use my uncle’s office?” He cast back to Max.
“Yes. Certainly.”
They both stood and watched him go, Helen particularly enjoying the way he moved. So self assured, his broad shoulders swaying just a little as he sauntered down the hallway, and then her eyes lowered to his toned muscular thighs, and she wondered what else was hidden under his expensive suit.
This was going to be an interesting week.
He couldn’t remember the last time a woman, or a man for that matter, had the courage to talk to him like that. It surprised him that instead of making him angry, it had made him smile, something he found himself doing less and less these days.
He knew he had made a mistake insisting she acted as his secretary, he found her too damn attractive for it to end well. But the fact she was married should make it easy for him to keep his hands off her, there was no way he would ever sleep with a married woman. Or an employee, so what was he worried about?
She was unobtainable, a thing he always had trouble resisting.
He needed to get his professional head on and get on with his job. After it was over he could find himself an easy lay, women always fell into bed with him. It was the sense of power and money that attracted them. Traits he conveyed only too well.
And it suited him. Light superficial relationships, that was all he was after. His only commitment in this life was to his business and his family. His mom and his brother needed him to keep things going, anything else was a distraction, and that included Mrs Draper.
Although somewhere deep inside the twitch of longing that he kept so well buried nudged him. The part that remained dormant was stirring, fighting to come to life, to put ideas of a wife and family of his own into his head. The two things he had sworn never to inflict upon himself.
