The sound of David's office door shutting caused me to jump and I looked over to see Carter standing there facing me. He strolled up, his eyes locked on mine.
“Jane?” he said.
My hands trembled. I opened my lips to speak, but could only nod.
“You're the new girl?” he asked.
I continued to nod, then finally managed to mumble a few words. “Yes, that's me. I'm Jane.”
Carter stepped all the way up to my cubicle. Our toes were practically touching. I brought my gaze up his body, past the front of his slacks and upward along his red tie. Finally, I craned my neck enough so that I was looking in his eyes.
For a moment, I didn't even care that the most gorgeous man I had ever seen was standing so close. I was far more worried about losing my job. David's lie had the potential to ruin everything I had worked so hard for. I became scared for my future. Out of nervous habit, I bit my lower lip. Carter's gaze dropped from my eyes down to my mouth, pausing there for a moment. I untucked my lip and as soon as I did, he looked back up.
“David tells me you didn't notice the mistake on that stock report,” Carter said.
“Sir, I-” I began to say, but Carter's smile caused me to stop.
“It's okay,” he said, touching my shoulder reassuringly. “David is full of shit. I saw your email to him. I know you were the one who caught those errors.”
“Really?” I asked.
“I have access to every person's email account.” Carter glanced around the room, then leaned in a little closer. “I saw what you sent him.”
He was so close I could feel his breath against my cheeks. The smell of his cologne wafted toward me too, instantly making me horny. I felt like grabbing his red tie and pulling his mouth against my own.
“So, I did a good job?” I whispered, looking up at him with puppy dog eyes.
Carter stood back up. “Jane, what you did today potentially saved my company hundreds of thousands of dollars. I know for a fact that David wouldn't have ever caught that mistake. I don't blame him for that, though. Most people wouldn't have noticed something like that. But you did. It took a keen eye and the kind of extreme attention to detail that I thought only I possessed. I'm impressed. Tomorrow, when you come into work, I want you to take the elevator to the top floor. You're done working in accounting.”
I scooted my chair back a bit. My eyes widened and my jaw practically hit the carpet. “What do you mean?”
“I want you working for me directly. I can recognize genius when I see it. I've been looking to find someone to double check my numbers and you've just proven yourself,” Carter said, leaning against the wall of the cubicle with his arms crossed. “You'll report to my office tomorrow morni
ng. Clean out your desk here, because you won't be working on this floor any longer.”
Carter's eyes slowly dropped down my body, then back up. It was an obvious once over, but I welcomed it. In fact, it actually turned me on. I parted my lips to respond, but before I could, Carter said, “See you tomorrow.”
Then he walked off, leaving me sitting there at my desk with my mouth open. The shocked expression probably had me looking like a total fool. I watched Carter walk away, his arms swaying quickly as he marched out of the double doors on the opposite side of the room.
Did I just get promoted? I asked myself.
Not five seconds later, Maddy came running up. She grabbed my shoulders and spun me in my chair so that I faced her.
“What in the hell was that all about?” she asked, with an expression on her face that mimicked how I felt. A combination of confusion and excitement.
“I don't really know exactly,” I said, with a shrug. “I guess I'm now working directly for Carter Winthrow.”
“You've been here for two days and you're already promoted?” she asked, as she pulled me in for a hug. “See, I knew there was something special about you.”
We chatted for a bit, but agreed to talk more about it during lunch. When Maddy walked off, I turned back to face my computer. Still lingering in the air, was the faint scent of Carter's cologne. As soon as it hit my nose, a pleasurable tingle filled my body. I breathed it in and closed my eyes. I began to imagine what it would be like to be one of those skinny model girls that he dated.
Now I know why so many women want Carter, I thought. He's pure masculinity.
Everything about him screamed sex. His smell, his body, his power, his eyes. Everything.
That's the kind of man I want to be with. I closed my eyes, trying to imagine the scenario. It's just too bad that the only thing he probably finds attractive about me is my ability to work with numbers.
Chapter 3