Chapter 7
Chapter7
ELEANOR’S POV
I got home, dropped my bag by the door, and called Hailey before I could even sit down.
She picked up on the first ring. “Tell me everything. Did you get it?”
“I got the job.”
She started screaming so loud I had to pull the phone away from my ear. “Eleanor! I’m so happy for you. When do you start?”
“Monday. But—”
“But what? What’s the issue? Why is there a but?”
I sat on the bed and stared at the floor. “Remember the night I said I was coming to your apartment after Ian? But I later said I was uncertain if I would come”
“Yes.”
“Yeah, so ummm. I ended up coming over but you weren’t there yet. Someone else was.”
Hailey went quiet. “What do you mean someone else?”
“There was a man, he thought I was the woman he was waiting for. You know, one of those people from your arrangement.”
“Eleanor—”
“I didn’t correct him. I was exhausted and angry and I just…stayed. We spent the night together. And I left before dawn without giving him my name or anything.”
“Y’all cracked?”
I sighed. “Yes we did.”
“Oh crap. Okay,” she said slowly. “And?”
“He’s Mr. Pierce. The CEO. The man who interviewed me today is the same man from that night.”
Hailey was silent for a few seconds. “You’re joking right.”
“I’m not. I walked into his office and recognized him immediately. He recognized me too and I swear it was the most awkward few minutes of my life.”
“What did you do?”
“I stayed. I need this job, Hailey. The loan isn’t going to pay itself. I answered every question like nothing happened and he offered me the position.”
“Are you keeping it?”
“Yes. I’m keeping it.”
She exhaled. “Do you regret that night?”
I thought about the way he had touched me and I stopped thinking about Ian for those few hours. My body still remembered him and everything.
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “It helped me forget everything I was dealing with. Just for a little while. That’s all I know.”
“Okay. Okay. Listen to me. Focus on getting your life back on track. The job. The debt. You. Nothing else matters right now.”
“I know. You’re right.”
“Call me if it gets weird okay?”
“I will. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, my love.”
I hung up, showered, and went to bed.
I woke up early the next morning, dressed carefully, and arrived at Pierce Enterprises before most of the floor filled up.
I told myself the same thing the entire ride over. Keep everything professional, do the work and attempt nothing more.
The morning went by in a series of introductions and training.
My new team showed me the systems, the client files, and the way they tracked deadlines. I took notes, asked questions, and deliberately stayed on the opposite side of the floor from Aaron’s office.
I didn’t look in that direction even once.
Just before lunch we had a meeting about a difficult client who had been delaying payments and changing requirements every week. Everyone gave their updates.
When it came to the main issue, Aaron looked straight at me. “Miss Mae. You’ve reviewed the file. What’s your take?”
I sat up. “The client is using the changes to avoid finalizing the contract. If we keep adjusting without a firm deadline, they’ll keep pushing. I suggest we send a revised timeline with a clear cut-off date and state that further changes will move the project to the next billing cycle.”
Aaron watched me for a second. “Explain why.”
“Because right now they have no reason to stop, a tough deadline forces a decision. It’s either they commit or we stop losing time and resources.”
He nodded. “We’ll go with that. Draft the email and send it to me before the end of the day.”
“Okay.”
After the meeting I returned to my desk and got to work. I didn’t let myself feel anything about the fact that he had asked for my opinion in front of everyone.
Later in the afternoon his assistant came by. “Mr. Pierce wants to see you.”
I walked to his office and knocked.
“Come in.”
Several documents were already waiting on the side of his desk. He didn’t waste time.
“I need you to review these before tomorrow morning. There’s an early meeting and I want your notes on the risk sections.”
I looked at the stack. “Can it wait until tomorrow? I still have the client email to finish.”
“I need the information before the meeting. Tonight.”
I nodded. “Alright. I’ll do it.”
I took the documents back to my desk.
By the time the rest of the floor started packing up, I was only halfway through. One by one the desks emptied and the lights in the main area dimmed. But I stayed.
I could see from my seat that Aaron’s office light was still on.
When I finally finished I gathered the papers, walked over, and knocked again.
“Come in.”
He was still in his chair when I handed him the documents.
He flipped through the pages, reading my notes in silence and after a couple of minutes he looked up. “This is thorough. You can go.”
I turned toward the door.
“Miss Mae.”
I stopped.
“Do you have plans for the evening?”
The question caught me off guard. “I’m going home.”
He leaned back slightly. “Do you always work this late?”
I turned to face him fully. “You were the one who gave me the assignment and said it couldn’t wait until tomorrow.”
The atmosphere between us changed, it wasn’t the same as the meeting earlier. It felt closer to that night in the dark apartment.
The way he was looking at me. I noticed the tension and stepped back toward the door. “Goodnight, Mr. Pierce.”
“Goodnight.”
I left his office and walked through the empty floor. My footsteps suddenly felt significantly loud.
I kept my eyes forward and tried to put distance between myself and the memory of his hands, his mouth, the way he had felt inside me.
Behind me, Aaron remained in his office.