COMING SOON
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My ex-girlfriend dumped me at high school graduation for my best friend. She said her father didn’t want her getting knocked up by a boy who was going nowhere in life. What I didn’t realize then, is that she had done me a favor. I spent my college years working harder than I ever had before. Since then, I’d built an empire.
But it was lonely at the top. Don’t get me wrong, I got laid whenever I wanted, but there was never anyone able to fill the void that first love had left behind when it was ripped from my life. It’s been twenty years, but I still wasn’t able to trust someone new. The only thing I loved more than a good fuck was getting revenge. Luckily, I was going to be able to have both. |
ONE
“I’ve narrowed the personal assistant applications down to the top three, Mr. Westwood.”
I glanced up from the stack of papers on my desk. My eyes scanning over Mavis, her skirt slightly askew and her mousy brown hair, which was curled this morning had gone flat. “How long have you worked for me, Mavis?” I asked. She smiled nervously, her eyes flitting up toward the ceiling as she thought it over.
“Two years, four months, and a few odd days.”
I held her gaze before she laughed. “And three days,” she corrected.
“And how many of those days have I asked you to call me Dane?”
“Well, not counting weekends and holidays, which I should because I don’t think there has been a single one where you haven’t called –”
I waved my hand to stop her from doing the mental math and busting my balls. “Just hand me the applications, Mavis.”
“Yes, Mr. –” She cleared her throat as she handed me the papers. “Yes, Dane… sir.”
I smiled up at her before shaking my head. Mavis was only a year younger than I was, but judging by her personality and lack of social life, you would have guessed she was pushing eighty. That’s one of the things I liked about her. I could always count on her to pick up the phone if I needed her, day or night. But after her mother recently fell ill, she decided it was time for her to move back to Chicago. I’d been putting off hiring someone new for as long as possible, hoping there would be a miracle and she would be able to stay. There were very few people that I trusted, and Mavis was one of them. It didn’t hurt that she was absolutely terrified of me.
“You know this job is yours. It always will be. Take as long as you need.”
She grimaced, and we both knew she wouldn’t be coming back. Not in a few years at least. Her mother wasn’t getting better, and her father wouldn’t be able to make it on his own. This was goodbye, and even though I wouldn’t admit it, I was going to miss Mavis. She was like the sister I’d never had. And being an only child, it was nice to have someone around who you knew wouldn’t try to fuck you over the first chance they got.
“I’d feel better if you chose your replacement.”
She shook her head, her eyes tearing up as she smoothed the front of her pale pink blouse. “You are very… particular,” she replied, clearing her throat. That was her politely telling me I was a prick. I knew it. Everyone knew it. There was no need to sugarcoat the truth. “If you want my honest opinion,” she stepped forward and plucked the stack of papers from my hand, shuffling through then before holding one out for me to take. “I think she has potential.”
“Nova Dixon, age nineteen from,” my eyes met Mavis’, “My hometown of Dallastown, Pennsylvania. What are the odds… all the way out here in Los Angeles? On my doorstep?”
Mavis twisted her fingers together nervously as she struggled to keep from smirking. “I thought maybe it was kismet. It would be nice for you to have something in common with your new employee.”
I groaned, rubbing my palm roughly against my beard. “I’m not looking for a wife, Mav. This is strictly business.”
“You never know.”
“I do know.” I dropped the paper on my desk. “She’s barely an adult, and I don’t need any reminders about where I came from. What kind of name is Nova, anyway?”
“Nova Scotian?” She replied, causing me to chuckle.
“I think it’s time we head home for the evening. Come on,” I pushed from my seat and rounded the desk before grabbing my suit jacket. “I’ll walk you out.”
“I’ve narrowed the personal assistant applications down to the top three, Mr. Westwood.”
I glanced up from the stack of papers on my desk. My eyes scanning over Mavis, her skirt slightly askew and her mousy brown hair, which was curled this morning had gone flat. “How long have you worked for me, Mavis?” I asked. She smiled nervously, her eyes flitting up toward the ceiling as she thought it over.
“Two years, four months, and a few odd days.”
I held her gaze before she laughed. “And three days,” she corrected.
“And how many of those days have I asked you to call me Dane?”
“Well, not counting weekends and holidays, which I should because I don’t think there has been a single one where you haven’t called –”
I waved my hand to stop her from doing the mental math and busting my balls. “Just hand me the applications, Mavis.”
“Yes, Mr. –” She cleared her throat as she handed me the papers. “Yes, Dane… sir.”
I smiled up at her before shaking my head. Mavis was only a year younger than I was, but judging by her personality and lack of social life, you would have guessed she was pushing eighty. That’s one of the things I liked about her. I could always count on her to pick up the phone if I needed her, day or night. But after her mother recently fell ill, she decided it was time for her to move back to Chicago. I’d been putting off hiring someone new for as long as possible, hoping there would be a miracle and she would be able to stay. There were very few people that I trusted, and Mavis was one of them. It didn’t hurt that she was absolutely terrified of me.
“You know this job is yours. It always will be. Take as long as you need.”
She grimaced, and we both knew she wouldn’t be coming back. Not in a few years at least. Her mother wasn’t getting better, and her father wouldn’t be able to make it on his own. This was goodbye, and even though I wouldn’t admit it, I was going to miss Mavis. She was like the sister I’d never had. And being an only child, it was nice to have someone around who you knew wouldn’t try to fuck you over the first chance they got.
“I’d feel better if you chose your replacement.”
She shook her head, her eyes tearing up as she smoothed the front of her pale pink blouse. “You are very… particular,” she replied, clearing her throat. That was her politely telling me I was a prick. I knew it. Everyone knew it. There was no need to sugarcoat the truth. “If you want my honest opinion,” she stepped forward and plucked the stack of papers from my hand, shuffling through then before holding one out for me to take. “I think she has potential.”
“Nova Dixon, age nineteen from,” my eyes met Mavis’, “My hometown of Dallastown, Pennsylvania. What are the odds… all the way out here in Los Angeles? On my doorstep?”
Mavis twisted her fingers together nervously as she struggled to keep from smirking. “I thought maybe it was kismet. It would be nice for you to have something in common with your new employee.”
I groaned, rubbing my palm roughly against my beard. “I’m not looking for a wife, Mav. This is strictly business.”
“You never know.”
“I do know.” I dropped the paper on my desk. “She’s barely an adult, and I don’t need any reminders about where I came from. What kind of name is Nova, anyway?”
“Nova Scotian?” She replied, causing me to chuckle.
“I think it’s time we head home for the evening. Come on,” I pushed from my seat and rounded the desk before grabbing my suit jacket. “I’ll walk you out.”
