The Billionaire Affair, page 2
I take a sip of my coffee. Whoever invented coffee deserves an award.
“Hey, there’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about,” Dylan says, his face solemn.
“I’m listening,” I say.
“I have this idea to have a one-day free clinic where people from disadvantaged backgrounds can get a chance to be treated at our clinic. You know fertility issues don’t care about financial backgrounds. It’s a wide spread problem and we can help,” Dylan says, his face intense.
“Wow,” is my first reaction. Where did that come from? A one-day free clinic? I’ve heard of the concept and I know that a lot of big hospitals are doing it these days but because of their size, they can absorb that loss. I’m not sure about a specialist clinic like ours.
Dylan frowns. “Is that a positive wow or a negative one?”
It’s not the first time that one of my brothers has come to me with an idea for the clinic. There was the time Alec wanted us to expand to other areas of surgery and not limit ourselves to gynecological issues. I vetoed that by having them go back to the clinic’s core mission which is to help families grow.
Our clinic has won several patient care awards over the years and it’s thanks to my brothers. Alec and Dylan excel in that area. I, on the other hand, excel in the overall management of the clinic. Given our different areas of strength, we are bound to clash sometime. I see one coming up now.
“Well?” Dylan prompts when I don’t immediately respond. “Why are you hesitating? Is it the funding?”
“We can afford it at least in the short term,” I reply. My concern is difficult to put into words and I don’t want to pour cold water on Dylan’s idea. “It’s a noble idea.”
He stares at me, impatience written all over his face.
I choose my words carefully. “I’m not sure that’s the direction we want to take as a clinic. We cater to a completely different demography.”
“You are such a fucking snob,” Dylan explodes. “So what are you saying? That our paying clients are more important than the people who need our services but can’t afford them?” Dylan is the most explosive of the three of us. Add impatient to that list and that’s our youngest brother. When he puts his mind to something, he wants it done today.
“Hey, cool it,” Alec says. “You’re not being fair to Jace.”
Dylan raises his hands in the air. “It’s just that it’s important to me.”
Like Harper, Dylan is drawn to philanthropy. So much so that he has gotten a few awards for it. He does voluntary work on his days off from the clinic. Sometimes he’ll take an extended leave to focus on voluntary work. He says it restores his soul. I get that. I also get this need to give back as a clinic but my primary responsibility is to our current patients. The paying ones who keep our clinic running and profitable.
“It’s not my decision to make,” I tell Dylan. Even though our parents are not involved in the day-to-day running of the clinic they are part of the board and any major decisions must go through them. When we have a pressing issue, we hold a family meeting to discuss it. We haven’t had to do that in months.
“We all know that mother and father will support any decision that you support,” Dylan says.
My brother just does not know when to stop. Alec tells Dylan to give me time and he changes the topic. I drain the last of my coffee and excuse myself. I’m in a foul mood when I return to the office. I feel like an asshole for not being enthusiastic about Dylan’s idea.
It’s not the first time that he’s suggested that we do something for our community as a clinic. I love helping as much as the next guy but there’s a lot to consider from the financial aspect to how it will affect our existing clients. I feel a headache coming on.
“Jace, I have three candidates for the PA position ready for you to interview,” Sarah, my PA says following me into my office.
“Why?” I ask as I go around to sit at my desk. I’ve never been involved in recruitment ever.
“Why?” she repeats after me. “So that you can pick the most suitable.”
Sarah is going on maternity leave in the next couple of days and I need someone to cover for her during the three months she will be away. “Can’t you make a final decision?” She’s better placed to know the kind of person I need.
Sarah looks exasperated. “No, boss. This is something you’re going to do yourself.” She lets out an exhausted sigh. It’s only a few days until she gives birth and her belly looks like it’s about to explode. The sooner we get a temporary PA, the better.
I know better than to keep arguing even though the last thing I want to do is to conduct interviews. “Fine. Give me ten minutes and show the first one in.”
I log into my email and for the next ten minutes, I respond to emails. Sarah has already filtered them and dealt with the ones that do not require my personal attention. In a day, I receive approximately two hundred emails and I have to keep on top of them otherwise my inbox will become unmanageable.
Time flies and before I know it, Sarah knocks on my door and places three folders on my desk. “Shall I send the first one in?” she asks.
I nod and reluctantly tear my attention away from my computer screen to the first folder. Marion is her name and a flip of the file tells me that she’s more than qualified to work as my assistant. She’s held the same position in different companies though working in a hospital setting is more demanding.
“Have a seat and tell me why you want to work at The Anderson Clinic,” I tell her.
She smiles and sits down. Everything about her on paper is right and when she starts talking, that is right too. She’d be perfect for the job. I give her five minutes and then I ask Sarah to send the next one in.
I go through Amanda’s file. Like Marion, she’s qualified as well. I’m perplexed as to why Sarah couldn’t make the final choice. They are suitable and any of them will do and besides, it’s just for three months. I’m bored and itching to get back to my work by the time the third woman walks in. I don’t even look up when she enters.
“Have a seat.”
She shuts the door behind her and walks to the visitor’s chair and sits down. “Thank you,” she says in a voice that makes me look up. She smiles.
I meet a pair of amber eyes, looking straight at me and I suck in a breath. Her smile smashes into me and my heart hammers in my chest. Sweat forms on my brow. Puzzled by my reaction, I stare at her closely. Maybe we’ve met before, perhaps had an affair. No. If I’d met Olivia James before, I’d remember it. She has an innocence about her that tugs at my heart. That must be it. She’s younger than the other two women. I check the folder for her age. Twenty-four. She looks it too.
She has silky dark brown hair which is tied in a ponytail, making her look even younger than she is. My eyes are drawn to her lips and I find myself thinking how it would feel to suck on her lower lip. I chastise myself immediately, feeling like a dirty old man.
“Tell me about yourself,” I say. I’m all ears, my interest piqued by the gorgeous creature in front of me. She has an unforgettable face with perfectly shaped features. She could easily be a model if she wanted to.
She smiles and my heart pounds faster as if that smile is meant for me and me alone. Insanity. I’m losing my fucking mind. Maybe I’ve been overworking myself if a twenty-four-year-old female can affect me like this.
“My name is Olivia James,” she says in an unexpectedly husky voice. It’s so different from how I imagined her voice would sound. It’s sexy and deep. I can imagine her whispering in my ear, urging me to do dirty things to her. My dick hardens and I’m grateful for my desk which covers up the evidence of my shameful thoughts. I’ve never been attracted to a female at work. I’ve learned to compartmentalize my life but my brain seems to have forgotten how to do that with Olivia.
I force myself to listen to her. She’s the least qualified of the three candidates. I now get what Sarah meant when she said that I would know the right one when I met her. Olivia feels right to me and not because she’s goddamn sexy and appealing. I like the friendly vibe she gives off. Being a PA is more than a list of formal qualifications. A person’s personality matters and how well it matches the boss’s. Sarah and I work perfectly together. Olivia and I will be just as well-matched.
Mind made up, I bring the interview to a close, even though I could listen to her voice all day. I stand up and she does the same.
“Thanks for coming,” I tell her and offer her my hand.
She folds it into mine and something sharp and sweet stabs me in the middle. “Thanks for inviting me to interview,” she says and then turns away to leave.
My gaze is drawn to the curve of her ass encased in what women refer to as a pencil skirt. I quickly sit down. It’s suddenly too warm in my office. Fuck. I’ve never felt such a physical attraction for a woman I’ve just met. A warning goes off in my head, even though it’s unnecessary. I don’t date employees. Period. But a man can fantasize.
Sarah comes in, walking slowly due to the size of her pregnant belly. “So, what did you think?”
“They are all qualified,” I tell her. “But I liked Olivia’s friendliness.”
Sarah shoots me a mischievous smile. “She’s also the prettiest.”
Like Rosa in the cafeteria and a few others, Sarah has worked at the clinic for almost a decade, and in all that time, she’s worked for me. It’s taken years to achieve the level of closeness and trust that we now enjoy and she can get away with telling me stuff that no one else can.
Still, I frown at her. “I didn’t notice her looks and frankly, that’s neither here nor there.”
“I was teasing but I can tell that I’ve hit a raw nerve,” she says unapologetically, then she grows solemn. “So I’ll hire her then?”
Do I really want to work with a woman I’m crazily attracted to?
Chapter 3: Olivia
I rinse my damp hands again and then slather lotion on them. I’m a nervous wreck and it’s barely seven in the morning. I stand in front of the mirror and stare at myself critically. The turquoise skirt suit that I’m wearing is one Chris and I bought at the department store. I have to say that it looks great on me. I’ve paired it with a cream blouse and killer red heels. Nothing gives a woman a dose of confidence like high heels.
“There’s nothing to be nervous about,” I tell my reflection and square my shoulders. I’m going to ace this assignment and Amelia is going to be floored by my work.
With that pep talk, I leave the bathroom and grab my phone and purse. I’m too nervous for coffee and I leave my apartment on an empty stomach. As I ride the elevator to the basement I check my phone. There’s a message from Chris.
All the best today. You’ll be great.
I smile and text him back. I don’t know what I would do without Chris. He’s my biggest cheerleader and somehow he always knows the right thing to say and when. We would have made the perfect couple if the chemistry had been there. Like with…no, I can’t think of that now. I have to start this job the right way, not lusting after my boss.
I caress the side of my little red Ford Fiesta, as one would a lover. It’s my proudest possession, bought in cash after years of saving for it. I press the ignition button and it roars to life.
I’ve kept thoughts of Jace Anderson at bay but as I drive to work, he fills my mind. God, he’s handsome. But that’s not what is worrying me. I remember my reaction when our gazes met. A zip of electricity shot through me and my heart kicked up several notches. Not the right reaction to meeting your boss. I inhale deeply and exhale slowly. Okay, I need to cut myself some slack. My reaction was perfectly normal for a single woman confronted by a ridiculously attractive male.
I show my security badge at the entrance and navigate my car to the employee parking area. I turn off the engine and sit in my car hyperventilating. Guilt constricts my throat. Sarah was so good and welcoming to me. As was Jace Anderson. I feel horrible that I’m lying to them about who I am. I remind myself that it’s for the overall good of future patients to know that they are safe in the hands of the clinic. It’s my job to investigate and write a well-informed piece. This is the kind of assignment that will open up doors for me at the magazine. Guilt is replaced by determination and my muscles tighten in readiness. All I have to do is to keep the bigger picture at the front of my mind.
I enter the building and wave at the two women manning reception. I take the elevator up to the third floor where the executive offices are. As I exit, I flash my badge at the security guard and walk down the hallway, the click of my heels swallowed by the thick carpet.
Sarah is already at her desk. Shit.
“Am I late?” I blurt out.
She smiles. “No, I just like to come early. So does Mr. Anderson. Your official starting time is eight. But I’m glad you’ve come early; I’ll have time to show you around.”
Relief surges through me. At the magazine, I’m almost always the first to get in after Amelia. I enjoy the quiet time before the office comes to life. It’s a lot quieter here at the clinic with just Amelia and Mr. Anderson on this floor.
“You’ll sit next to me today,” Sarah says, gesturing at the chair next to hers. “Do you want to have a coffee first before we go for the tour? We have a kitchen down the hallway and the best coffee machine.”
“I’d like to do the tour first,” I tell her. I’m looking forward to knowing my way around the clinic. I glance at her belly. “Are you sure it’s not too much?” Sarah carries pregnancy well and I hope that one day in the distant future, I’ll be the same way. She doesn’t have that weary look that expectant mothers in their last trimester usually have.
Sarah makes a face. “I know I look as if I’m about to pop at any moment. The walk will do me and the baby good. Get him or her moving.”
“You don’t know whether it’s a boy or girl?”
“We want it to be a surprise.” Sarah grins.
I find myself wondering if she got pregnant naturally or if she used the clinic’s services. Her journey would make for an interesting story if she got pregnant via IVF or even better, sperm donation. I swallow down my curiosity.
We continue the conversation as we leave the office and take the elevator down. Baby talk is alien to me. Sure it’s on my list of things to do, like six years from now, as is marriage. Right now my career comes first and I want to have made a name for myself by the time I think of settling down.
“When Mr. Anderson is not in his office, you’ll find him walking through the clinic, talking to the staff and the patients,” Sarah says. “He’s a hands-on CEO.” She clearly likes and admires her boss which means I’ll probably enjoy working for him as well.
The Anderson Clinic is a lot bigger than I expected. We see the operating rooms which rival those at any big hospital, several ultrasound scanning rooms, and now we’re walking through a ward with private rooms for each patient. The atmosphere is not that of a hospital. With neutral colors and classy furniture, it feels more like a home away from home. If it weren’t for the equipment, you’d be fooled into thinking you were in a hotel.
My interest is piqued when we get to the waiting room of the fertility wing. There are already two women waiting and a couple all engrossed either with a magazine or their phones. Sarah calls out ‘good morning’ as we walk past.
She stops at reception and introduces me to the nurse manning it. “Liz, this is Olivia James. She’ll be working for Mr. Anderson while I’m away,” Sarah says.
Liz gives me a friendly smile. “Welcome to The Anderson Clinic. Come down for a coffee or a chat during your breaks. I know it can get lonely up there.”
“I will, thank you,” I tell her, glad for the invitation which I’ll definitely take her up on. We say goodbye and leave the fertility clinic.
“Are all the patients in there looking to have babies through sperm donors?” I ask Sarah.
“Most of them,” she says. “They are the bravest women I know. It’s a rigorous process and some women change their minds halfway though. Don’t blame them though.”
I’d give anything to interview such women but that will take time. I’m in no rush. I’m tempted to ask Sarah if mistakes happen but she’d immediately get suspicious and the last thing I want is to have them probe deeper into my identity.
A doctor, complete with a white coat and a stethoscope hanging from his neck slows down to speak to Sarah. He smiles at her, reminding me of Jace Anderson. He has the same neatly arranged teeth and a smile that immediately puts you at ease. He must be my boss’s brother.
“Hi, Doctor Anderson,” Sarah says with a huge smile.
“It’s Dylan,” he says in a teasing tone and then glances at her pregnant belly. “Not long to go now, huh?”
Sarah pats it and lets out a sigh. “Can’t happen soon enough. I’m tired of being pregnant.”
Dylan chuckles. “Less than ten days to go.”
“Yeah,” Sarah says with a nod and then turns to me. “This is Olivia James. She’ll be covering for me while I’m away.”
Dylan smiles and offers his hand. We shake. He exudes warmth and friendliness. Despite his physical similarities to Jace Anderson, there’s a marked difference between them. Dylan is open while Jace has a closed-off look. He’s a mystery. You can’t tell what’s going on in his mind by looking into his eyes. Jace Anderson gives nothing away.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Anderson,” I tell him.
“Please call me Dylan. Dr. Anderson makes me feel like my father and I’m not that old yet.” He winks at me. He’s a charmer all right. His pager goes off and he excuses himself.
Sarah and I return to the office, having finished with the tour. “You’re going to enjoy working for Mr. Anderson,” she says, moving around her desk to sit down.
