THE BILLIONAIRE'S BABY (A Secret Baby Romance) (7 page)

Despite my nerves about Braden and being the company’s newbie, I was fascinated by everything I’d learned on the tour and excited by the atmosphere of creation that I’d felt in each department. Apparently, everyone was gearing up to begin shooting their newest project in Rio, a movie called
Hot on Her Heels
.

I couldn’t believe I was actually going to be a part of making this new, big-budget movie, even going to Rio to help oversee the shoot in two weeks. Aside from that excitement, I was elated by all the perks of my new job—the incredible office, the huge salary with quarterly bonuses, an actual wardrobe allowance that I’d just noticed in my contract, and most importantly, the family health insurance for my dad.

I’d just swiveled back around to face my desk and to look over my notes on what all the departments were and what they did when a knock on the door caused me to jump in my seat. “Come in,” I called as I straightened up in my chair.

A tall, skinny guy with floppy hair walked in and said, “Hey, Lexi. I’m the IT guy, Ian. Let’s get you hooked in.”

***

By the time Ian had finished setting up my account access, starting my work email, and loading my desktop with shared files for each department at Huntington, it was time for the big department heads’ meeting in the conference room on the third floor. Braden had pointed out the room to me on my tour and asked me to meet him down there at 12:15. I’d take notes on everything and officially meet all the department heads.

With a fresh set of nerves coursing through my veins, I took the stairs down to the conference room, my stomach growling on the way down. I’d had a quick granola bar and coffee for breakfast and wondered whether we’d break for lunch or if there’d be food at the meeting.

When I entered the room, the only other people there were Braden and a skinny, pasty-looking guy with dark, messy hair and warm brown eyes. “Hey, Lexi.” Braden stood up and flashed me a wide smile, his eyes lighting up. I offered a shy smile and a wave as I made my way to sit on Braden’s right at the far end of the long oval table.

Braden pulled the chair out for me as I sat down, then gestured to the other man and said, “This is our very talented head of the graphic design department—which is part of post-production—Scott Levante. Scott, this is Lexi, my new assistant.”

Scott stood up and reached across the table to shake my hand with a grin and a brief, appraising look. “Welcome to the Huntington team, Lexi,” he said warmly and sat back down.

I’d brought my laptop in order to take the meeting minutes in an attempt to look tech-savvy and professional, though I had no idea if I could keep up. As more and more people trickled in and sat around the table, my pulse picked up. Everyone looked at me curiously—not unfriendly, but I felt self-conscious.

Braden leaned towards me, his forearm resting on the table mere inches from mine, which sent a different kind of jitters racing through my body. He said in a low voice, “It’s okay, Lexi, you’ll do fine. Just remember to breathe.” His tone was kind with a hint of teasing, and his eyes met mine, gleaming ice-blue.

I caught my breath quietly and responded with a simple, thankful smile. The meeting began, and after Braden introduced me to the group, I typed the notes on my laptop. I tried to keep all the names and departments straight, as well as follow progress reports and the list of what still needed to be done for the upcoming shoot in Brazil. Not only was it difficult to keep up with all the new information and details, but I had trouble deciphering which to-do tasks needed to involve Braden or me, either directly or indirectly. My mind and notes felt like a jumbled mess when we broke after an hour to grab coffee and pastries brought in by a delivery guy.

I was ravenous and exhausted as I took replenishing sips of dark roast coffee and bit into a fresh cheese Danish. Braden leaned towards me again before the meeting resumed and said, “Almost there. I’ll get us sushi for a late lunch afterwards while we go over everything. Sound good?” I nodded in agreement, my mouth too full of the Danish to answer.

***

One more confusing and equally tiring hour later, the meeting was finally over, and I sat with Braden outside on a back patio behind the building. We were under the shade of an umbrella at one of the picnic tables with a selection of spicy tuna rolls, avocado rolls, and crazy Maki rolls from a nearby takeout place.

Braden and I were alone on the patio, but I was too drained and hungry to feel as anxious about being alone with him as I had that morning. After I virtually inhaled half of the rolls, I sat back and looked sheepishly across the table at Braden. “Sorry. Guess I was hungry.”

He laughed and sipped a cup of steaming green tea that we’d ordered with the sushi. “No apology necessary. I’m sorry to make you wait so long for lunch. So, were you able to glean anything from the meeting, or are you completely lost?” Braden asked in a compassionate rather than condescending way.

I pulled out my laptop, which I’d brought with me to go over the makeshift to-do list and scanned that very long list. Some of it made sense, but I’d added a lot question marks after many of the tasks or details to denote that I wasn’t sure what it meant or whether Braden and I were supposed to take care of it or not.

I cleared my throat and looked from my laptop to Braden with a sigh. “Well,” I began, “I think there’s some useful information, but I’m definitely going to need guidance on most of this. I’m still not sure what we’re supposed to take care of and what’s left up to others. I guess as the owner, you need to know about everything going on?”

Braden took a thoughtful bite of sushi and responded after he swallowed. “Not a problem. I can go over those with you and answer any questions. It’s your first day, after all. I’m impressed by how much you’ve learned and how hard you’ve worked already.” His eyes were clear and his tone sincere.

He really had behaved like an understanding and caring boss rather than a womanizing asshole, and he’d treated me with the utmost respect thus far. Though I wasn’t completely off my guard around Braden, I felt much more at ease about working with him. If he kept this up, there’d be no problem on the respectful behavior front. Yet the powerful pull I felt towards him was still there, which I’d simply have to control. I could handle this job, which was the perfect stepping stone into my screenwriting career, as Carla had pointed out.

After we discussed my notes, and I took even more from Braden’s helpful answers and comments, I got ready to go home for the weekend.

Braden wasn’t ready to leave yet, but he walked me to the elevators. “Thank you for taking this position, Lexi. I truly do think you’re a great fit for the job. So get some rest over the weekend, and I’ll see you at eight-thirty Monday morning.” After pushing the elevator button, he asked tentatively, “Any big weekend plans?”

At first I wasn’t sure how to answer, since it was the first personal question he’d asked today, though any co-worker or boss might ask the same thing casually. I decided it was an innocent question. I shrugged and answered as the elevator doors opened. “Nothing exciting. No celebrity parties or anything.” I tilted my head towards him to suggest he’d have star-studded gatherings to attend, then stepped onto the elevator, turned to face him, and added, “I’ll probably hang with my dad and younger brother, maybe surf a little.”

Braden’s expression flashed with defensiveness at my party comment but changed to impressed at the mention of surfing. He replied just before the elevator doors started to close. “I’ve actually only surfed a few times and sucked at it. That’s impressive. And as for parties, maybe you’ll be going to a few celebrity events yourself soon… for business purposes, of course.”

He raised his eyebrows, and his eyes danced brightly as the doors closed. My eyebrows lifted at his words as I rode down to the parking garage where I now had a designated spot. Me, at a Hollywood celebrity-filled party? That was something I never thought I’d do, not in a million years. However, I worked for a big Hollywood production company now, so it would make sense to attend some of those hot-shot functions. I’d better use that wardrobe allowance soon—over the weekend, as a matter of fact.

***

I mostly rested that night, exhausted from my first day. I had a fun weekend, free from cleaning jobs. I practiced soccer drills with Sean, who would finish his summer league soon and gear up for the school’s varsity team.

Saturday night, I watched an old war movie with my dad and Sean, and Sunday, I shopped and then surfed with Clara. I even got to work on my new screenplay Sunday night, and by Monday, was rested and ready—with stylish new work clothes—for my first full week at Huntington Productions.

Braden

I was in a great mood all weekend after the Friday with Lexi had gone so well, though I hoped I hadn’t messed things up by being overly flirty at the end when I’d asked about her weekend plans and made that celebrity-events comment. I felt that my parting words hadn’t been too bad, though, and besides, I’d learned she could surf. We could have a potential future date with her as my surf instructor, which was hot. That must be where she got her gorgeous figure, complete with toned legs and butt. But if I wanted to get a surfing date, I had to keep my feelings checked and under control.

Both Adrianna and my mom noticed my high spirits, and while Mom didn’t know their source, my sister teased me about it all weekend after she’d heard a detailed report of the day and my behavior. “I have to meet her soon, seriously,” she’d told me on Sunday in private after our family dinner. “I’m dying to meet the young lady who’s apparently changing my big playboy brother into a relationship guy.”

To top off my good mood, I’d won the silent auction bid from the charity Wednesday for a set of three private cooking classes with Chef Henri. My first lesson was Thursday evening in my own kitchen at the Malibu house. Henri said he’d go over his specialized French-Lebanese styled dishes, a culinary revolution of his own creation.

The week passed smoothly as Lexi learned more and more every day and proved how smart and creative she truly was, which in turn made me fall for her harder. Yet our conversations were strictly respectful and above-board, and I only secretly checked out her hot-as-hell ass, legs, and boobs a few times.

I couldn’t help myself, especially the day she’d worn extra-high strappy heels, a snug gray skirt, and a gauzy, partially diaphanous white shirt with only a thin-strapped camisole underneath. If you looked closely enough, which I hadn’t meant to do but had done while she focused on typing more notes with me, you could see a lacy pink bra strap peeking out from the cami as she bent forward.

I had fantasies every night after, and I felt particularly glad I’d given her an ample wardrobe allowance. Late Thursday afternoon, I walked with Lexi to the elevator, having to head home for my Chef Henri cooking lesson. As we waited for the elevator, I said, “There’s a fancy dinner thing tomorrow night with a lot of film people going, including one of the most highly regarded screenwriters I know.”

I bit back a laugh as her eyes rounded like a kid’s in a candy shop. “Are you serious? And is this an event that would be important for me, as your personal assistant, to attend? As a necessary business gathering, of course.”

I laughed. “It’s absolutely necessary, of course.” The elevator doors opened, and we both stepped in, Lexi’s eyes sparkling with excitement. I added, “You’ll need to wear something a little fancy, so if a shopping trip is in order, then here.” I took out a company credit card and handed it to her. “Just use this company card for it, and any other work-related wardrobe items. It’ll be simpler than you having to submit receipts for reimbursement.”

Lexi stared blankly at the card in my hand for a moment. She gazed at me. As she took the card from my hand, her fingers accidentally brushed against mine, and heat flooded through my body. I noticed a light shiver ran through her body as well before she withdrew her hand quickly and put the card in her purse. “Thanks, Braden. This will be an easier process.”

The elevator doors opened onto the garage level, and we stepped out, which made her turn to me in surprise. “You’re not staying later today?”

I shook my head and said, “No. I actually have a private cooking lesson with Chef Henri today. I won it in a silent charity auction last week.” We walked towards Lexi’s car as we talked.

“Cooking lessons?” She glanced at me, her head tilted in surprise. “I could use a few of those. All I know are simple recipes like salads and pasta with store-bought sauce. Do you like cooking?”

My gaze followed her as she walked to her driver’s side door and looked back at me as I stood near the trunk of her old car. The image of giving Lexi cooking lessons at my place—alone and in a very hands-on way—popped into my head, and I pushed it right back out just as quickly. “I really enjoy cooking,” I answered. “I’d actually say it was one of my favorite hobbies, so I’m excited about learning from Chef Henri. I’ll give you any tips I learn.” I grinned and began to back away towards my Ferrari.

“That would be cool.” Lexi smiled and waved. “See you for work tomorrow. What time is the event?”

I called over from the length of two parked cars, “Starts at seven, and if you want, you can ride with me straight from work. It’s in Beverly Hills.”

As I reached my Ferrari four cars over, she offered a hesitant smiled and called back, “Okay. Thanks. And have fun cooking.”