I had all the training I needed to be a legal aid, so the interview wasn’t a problem. They didn’t even call me back for a second interview, I just got the job right there on the spot. However, I didn’t really fit in at work.
It was partly because Vicky and the other girls at the office looked like they could have been supermodels. I wasn’t hideous, more average, but I knew what I looked like, especially next to them. “Softy pretty” was what my dad used to say. I could honestly see his point.
I also didn’t dress as fancy as the native city girls. I had gotten used to buying my clothes second hand and doing my best with what I could find. Even so, I felt like people knew. Like they could still smell the distinctive thrift shop smell on them, no matter how many times I put them through the dryer.
It also didn’t help that most of the other women at the firm didn’t socialize with me. The only ones I talked to were Ann and Vicky, and that was mostly business. They also had their sister-in-law thing going on, which made me feel very much on the outside. It was okay, I was used to being a loner.
I had just gotten back into Ms. Howell’s office with a fresh batch of thrilling photocopying. There was quite the little powwow going on with Ms. Howell, Vicky, and a man I recognized immediately as Liam Adams, founder, and president of Black Flag Security. The sight of him stopped me in my tracks.
The man was hot, unbelievably hot. His sharply carved face and bright blue eyes had been on the cover of the last issue of Forbes, and I had bought three copies just for that photo. However, the picture did not do his muscular body justice. The former soldier was fit with his tailored suit showing off every perfect line. The profile had put his company’s value at $5 Billion. A true example of the triumph of the American Dream, or so the writer had said. I wasn’t sure what that meant.
They had clearly been talking about something before I came in. Something about me considering how Vicky and Ann had said my name when I stepped in the door and how Mr. Adams had looked at me with intense eyes.
“Hayley, is it?” he asked as he stood, his voice soft and smooth, making me tingle all over.
“Yes,” I said.
He reached out a large hand. “I’m-”
“I know who you are,” I said, a bit too quickly, and then shook his hand just as quickly. “E-everyone does, Mr. Adams.”
“I see that my reputation precedes me,” he said with a deep chuckle.
“Yes,” I said, looking at the floor and wishing I could sink through it.
Mr. Adams let out another laugh. “And you seem to have me at a disadvantage,” he said.
“Oh, right, I-I’m Haley Booth,” I said after I finally put the file folder onto Ms. Howell’s desk.
“Pleasure to make your acquaintance,” he said, taking my hand again, firmer this time, and kissing the back of it, making me blush furiously.
“I-I-”
Desperately nervous, I glanced around the room. My boss, Ms. Howell, was totally ignoring the situation. She had her chair turned slightly and was looking at her computer as if she was trying to give us privacy. I didn’t understand why.
Pulling slightly on my hand, Mr. Adams made me turn back towards him. “Would you like to go for coffee?” he asked.
“I-I have to work,” I said, nodding my head towards Ann.
“It’s okay, it’s about time for your lunch break anyway,” my boss said, suddenly paying attention to us again.
“O-okay,” I said, trying not to cry, taking her easy dismissal as an indication she didn’t think much of my work.
“Splendid,” Mr. Adam’s said, seemingly overjoyed.
I wasn’t sure why he was so excited. It never even crossed my mind that it might actually be me. He was so handsome and rich he could have almost any woman he wanted. Why on earth would he want me? Was it some kind of joke? A hazing for the new girl? I’d never heard of that happening at law firms, but I could have been misinformed, or things could have been done differently in Los Angeles.
Grabbing his cane, Mr. Adams turned towards the door. “Ann, I will be back up after lunch to finish the paperwork.” He held out his arm for me to take. “Hayley? Shall we?”
Still feeling awkward, I gently wrapped my arm around his, touching as little as possible.
As we walked out of Ann’s office and towards the elevator, Mr. Adams leaned in and whispered, “You can call me Liam.” I could feel his minty breath on my ear. A shiver went through me, and I hoped that he didn’t feel it.