“I’m telling you it’s a straight up no to Jennifer,” I inform him. “I want to control the new firm but I will not have you hang a woman over my head hoping I’ll marry her. I’m not doing it.”
He frowns and I know then he really was hoping to squeeze that in.
“Joshua –”
I hold up my hand. “No Dad, it’s wrong. Even you know that. I’ll see the associate through her training and I’ll whip the department in shape. That’s work related. You can’t rule my personal life.”
“Joshua, you are the face of the company as my son. You are always at the sex club, and the way you live is just…. Unsavory. Take it down a notch.”
Anger fills him again, and he’s about to go off into another lecture when a knock sounds at the door.
This is supposed to be the associate now. It’s nine. She’s right on time so I can give her credit for that.
“I hate associates. I hate anybody training under me because mostly they don’t get me. and… I hate Brainiac, most especially the Stanford ones who think they know it all. I went to Georgetown, and I can wipe the floor with anybody from anywhere.
He sprang this woman on me and I was hoping to get rid of her. I didn’t even bother to read her files when Dad told me she went to Stanford.
Dad looks to me and points. I hate anybody, whoever they are pointing at me.
“Remember what I said. You will not sleep with her…” he warns and I smile.
“Come in,” I say instead of answering him.
The door pushes open and for the first time in weeks I really believe God has turned his sight back to me.
I’m frozen in time, space and everything the same way I was last night when I saw her enter the club.
At my door stands a very wide eyed Giselle. Her cheeks crimson with a blush that flushes to her neck when she sees me.
I should be shocked by the coincidence but instead that animalistic part of me that wanted to take her and make her mine last night comes out.
She’s my associate.
Looks like the day just got heaps better.
Chapter Five
Josh
I try to stop grinning.
I must look psychotic with the smile that’s spread across my face.
Dad smile’s too at the beauty beckoning her to come in.
I could kick myself now for not reading the file.
I would have gotten her name from days ago. Last night I would have at least picked up on some element of coincidence of meeting two Giselles in one week. We might have had some conversation that would elude to the fact that she’s the same person I’ve referred to as ‘that woman I’m training’ for the last three days.
“Joshua this is Giselle St. John.” Dad says and I rise to my feel putting out my right hand for her to shake. In my left is the coin. Her coin.
I wonder what she did with mine.
“Hello,” I say shaking her dainty hand as she gives it to me. It feels the same as last night. Like I should take her and claim her before anyone else does. “Joshua Tanner at your service.”
“Hi…” she answers, holding my gaze.
I already know I’m holding her hand for far too long, so I’m not surprised when Dad clears his throat and cuts me a crude stare to reiterate the warning he previously issued me. I release her hand and straighten up.