I rounded the corner of cubicles and saw someone seated at my desk, a man with dark hair. I almost snapped at whoever it was until I realized it was Mr. Danvers. He sat hunched over, arms crossed with his elbows on the desk as he read the beginning of my story, still on display on my computer screen. I’d been away long enough for the screensaver to kick in, which meant he’d been there long enough to keep the screen active. I blanched at the thought of his seeing my unfinished work, and my steps faltered a bit as I finished the last few strides to my cubicle.
“Mr. Danvers?”
He turned around, a stern expression on his face. The minute he saw me, his expression lightened and he actually smiled. “Ms. Spencer—uh, Haley. Can I call you that?” He got out of my chair and turned it back beneath the desk. “And I thought I asked you to call me Parker.”
His strange insistence for me to call him by his first name made me wonder what his motive was in proffering this unsought attention. He never came out on the news floor like this, except to pass through and stop at one of the editors’ offices. I hadn’t ever seen him stop at a journalist’s desk. I smiled timidly and turned my chair out, taking my seat.
“Haley is fine, and I apologize, sir—uh, Parker.” I felt my cheeks warm and looked away, toward my computer screen where instead of seeing my half-written story like I’d expected, I saw a different document, one he’d created. “What’s this?”
“You mean Tom didn’t tell you?” Parker leaned over me and my desk, hands planted on the edge of the manufactured wood, tie dangling across my shoulder. He smelled like sandalwoodand citrus and it drew me in. My stomach fluttered as I read the screen. It was a contract. “This is a contract for you to sign. It doesn’t bring you up to the level of editor quite yet, but you’ll see that we are boosting your pay here, offering a few perks, and increasing your responsibility. You’d be a fool to not want this.”
While his overconfidence smacked of an inflated ego, I couldn’t help but enjoy how near he was. I could see why some of my coworkers found him to be stodgy and mean, but I didn’t mind a man who got things done, even if he was rough around the edges at times.
“Is that the right number?” The dollar amount in question was almost double what I was making. It was shocking to see that giant increase, but not at all displeasing.
“Yes, of course it is. I wouldn’t have put that figure in the contract if I weren’t serious.” He stood and tucked his tie back into his suit coat. “If you need to think about it, take your time. I assume you’ve been informed of the new stories?”
I nodded. “I have.” I just didn’t understand why this special treatment all of a sudden. I had received an award, but not anything to really brag about yet. Then again, I showed up and did my job, never had anything bad to say about my coworkers, didn’t start trouble, and always produced top-notch work. Maybe this was just Karma’s way of finally giving back for all my hard work.
The smile on his face as he winked at me though told me maybe he wasn’t just at my desk for a business-related purpose. “Perfect, so I’ll expect regular check-ins and updates. If it’s easier, you can skip reporting to David and Tom and just come straight to me, though they’ll have final say on the particulars of your work—grammar and whatnot.” Parker’s gaze popped over to Mr. Green’s office where David was exiting, then he turned back to me. “And if you need anything at all, you come see me. Got it?”
I struggled to maintain my composure as he turned the fullness of his gaze on me. There was no guile in his eyes, only something I couldn’t place—happiness, maybe, or attraction? “Thank you, Mr.—”
“Ah, ah…”
“Thank you, Parker.” The CEO was asking me to call him by his first name, and it made my stomach tense, like butterflies tickling every cell in my body at once and stirring me up.
“Great. Well, I have to go speak with David. Let me know how you go settling into the new story.” And with that he was off, dashing across the newsroom to catch up with Mr. Wright. I watched him walk-jog, dodging in between cubicles and staff members, and didn’t even realize I was grinning until Maria leaned into my cubicle and snapped her fingers.
“Hello, Miss Sunshine. What’s the stupid grin about? What did Danvers want?” Her boldness stemmed from her upbringing, which made her a damn good reporter, but at times, I found her intrusive.
I shook my head, clearing the thought of Parker Danvers from my mind for the moment. Between the new stories and the new contract, my head was already spinning. I couldn’t afford to let sappy thoughts about my boss ruin my focus, especially after what happened to Gretchen.
“Nothing,” I said, forcing myself to look at her. Her lipstick clashed with her dark skin, making her look more like a lady of the night than a reporter.
“Didn’t look like nothing. Danvers smiled at you. What the fuck was that about? He never smiles. He’s got the tightest sphincter of any person I’ve ever met.” She chuckled, and I joined her, though my laugh was fake.
“Well, maybe he just got laid,” I joked, waving my hand in the air. “Get back to work.”
Maria shrank back around the corner of her cubicle and left me alone, but my mind was instantly filled with vivid images of Parker Danvers getting fucked. Why had I said that? I stared at the computer monitor, reading and rereading the contract until it finally made sense on the fifth pass through. I had to make myself believe Danvers wasn’t here on personal business, but maybe he just really thought I had something special. David had said as much the other day. Now I just had to believe it… and ignore the rising attraction I felt to my boss, the CEO.
4
PARKER
“Yeah, thanks, Michael.” I gave my head of security a nod as I walked out the front door. The light drizzle that had been falling all day had turned into a heavier rain, icy and piercing as it hit my skin. I opened my umbrella and hoisted it over my head. With traffic the way it was, I wasn’t surprised to see that Gordon hadn’t pulled the car up yet. Michael smiled at me as he locked up and turned his collar up against the weather, walking beneath the awnings along the street.
I checked my watch and decided it might be better to wait inside. The wind was picking up and I would be soaked if I didn’t. So I glanced at Michael’s back and shrugged. I had a key, so I didn’t need him, though he was usually the one who handled unlocking for me. I reached into my pocket and found the key and with freezing fingers, I slid it into the lock. I hadn’t realized how the temperature had dropped, either.
For the end of January, we’d had a surprisingly warm spell. I left my gloves at home, though I knew the weather forecast indicated rain turning to ice overnight and snow tomorrow.Chicago winters were bitter, and this one was no different from last year’s or the year before.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed movement, a woman hurrying up to me. “Hey! Oh, thank God!” she called, her dripping hair dangling in her face. As she took a few more steps, I watched her ankle roll to an awkward angle, and she shouted in pain. I rushed to her side, grasping her elbow to steady her. She was almost soaked to the bone. “Oh, God, Mr. Danvers.”
Haley Spencer looked up into my eyes, mascara running down her face, dark, soggy strands of hair plastered to her skin. She shivered, and I felt horrible. “Here, let’s step inside.” I pulled the unlocked door open and stepped aside as she walked in, clasping her arms over her stomach.
“God, it’s so cold.” Her steps were uneven. She’d broken a heel. She turned and grimaced. “I’m sorry, I just need to get my umbrella, and I’ll be on my way.” Haley turned to head to the elevator, one heel clicking on the marble floor, leaving puddles as she went.
“Were you trying to walk home? In this weather?” I called after her, and she froze. She turned slowly, biting her lip.
