Something About Lorelei
Read Something About Lorelei Online
Authors: Sandi Lynn
Something About Lorelei
Sandi Lynn
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used factitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Photo & Cover Design by: Sara Eirew @ Sara Eirew Photography
Models:
Vincent Moreau & Marie-Lise Therrien
Editing by B.Z. Hercules
If you haven’t already done so, please check out my books. They are filled with heartwarming love stories, some with millionaires, and some with just regular everyday people who find love when they least expect it.
Millionaires:
The Forever Series (Forever Black, Forever You, Forever Us, Being Julia, Collin, A Forever Family)
Love, Lust & A Millionaire (Wyatt Brothers, Book 1)
Love, Lust & Liam (Wyatt Brothers, Book 2)
His Proposed Deal
Lie Next To Me (A Millionaire’s Love, Book 1)
When I Lie with You ( A Millionaire’s Love, Book 2)
A Love Called Simon
Then You Happened
The Seduction of Alex Parker
Second Chance Love:
Remembering You
She Writes Love
Love In Between (Love Series, Book 1)
The Upside of Love (Love Series, Book 2)
Jack
“Have you found someone yet?” I asked my friend and Human Resources Director, Garrett.
He took a seat across from my desk and sighed. “Not yet. Your reputation sucks, Jack. You go through personal assistants faster than I can change my underwear.”
I shrugged. “It’s not my fault you hire incompetent women who can’t do a simple task.”
Garrett rolled his eyes. “The women I hire are more than capable of fulfilling the tasks necessary for the job. It’s you who scares them off. Amber was in my office a few days ago crying her eyes out because you were so mean to her. You told her that if she didn’t correct the mistake she made, you were going to bury her alive. You can’t say shit like that, Jack. Are you looking to get sued?”
I picked up my coffee mug, sipped from it, and chuckled. “My thought is if you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen. I’m a perfectionist and I want things done right. If these women can’t do exactly as I say, then to hell with them. Why is it so hard to understand a simple task?”
“People make mistakes, Jack. How many times do I have to tell you that?”
“There’s no room for error in this business. My mother never put up with it and neither will I. Now find me someone competent, quick. I hate using Coco’s secretary because she’s not any better than the last employees that have worked for me. I pay these people well. More than the average industry pays, and I expect them to do a good job.”
He shook his head as he got up from his seat. “Will anyone ever do a good job in your eyes?”
I shrugged. “Probably not.”
“Fine. I’ll go find your next victim.” He sighed as he walked out of my office.
I chuckled because that was exactly what my previous personal assistants were. Every time I’d walk past their desks, they’d cower and look down in fear. I loved that control over them. But if they had done their jobs correctly in the first place, I wouldn’t have had to be so mean.
As I was looking over the magazine layout for approval, my sister Coco walked in.
“Franny tells me you have her running around town doing your personal errands,” she spoke in irritation.
“Good morning to you too, sis.”
“I’m not having a good morning, so let’s hash this out now. Just because you’re a dick to your PAs and force them to quit, it doesn’t give you the right to use my secretary for your own personal satisfaction. She is one of the best ones I’ve had in a long time and I’m not going to lose her because of your pompous ass.”
“Calm down. I won’t let her quit. I’m just really busy and I need her to pick up a few things for me. I promise if you let me use her until Garrett finds me a new personal assistant, I’ll be as sweet as pie to her. So does this bad morning have anything to do with Joshua?” I asked with the hopes that she broke it off with that asshole.
“Maybe.” She looked down. “He didn’t come home last night.”
“Where the hell was he?” I asked as I leaned back in my chair.
“I asked him that this morning when he finally decided to walk through the door. He said that he fell asleep on the couch at his office.”
“Do you believe him?” I scowled.
“A part of me does. He’s been working long hours and I know he’s really stressed about making partner at the law firm.”
I waved my hand in front of my face. “Believe what you will, sis. You’ve known my feelings about him from day one. He’s no good for you. He’s a cheater, a liar, and a scum-sucking moron who continually hurts you.”
“Hmph. Sounds like someone else I know.” She glared at me.
“That wasn’t nice and I have never hurt you. I tell you like I see it so you’ll wake up and realize that you’re making a mistake by staying with him.”
“Face it, Jack. You’ll never approve of anyone I date. You never have.”
“True. So you need to stop picking the wrong guys.” I smirked.
Rolling her eyes, she walked out of my office.
I loved my sister and all I wanted was for her to be happy. She wasn’t happy with Joshua, as much as she tried to convince herself she was. She was a beautiful woman who stood five foot eight inches tall with long brown hair and big brown eyes. She was slender and fit and could have any guy she wanted. So why the hell was she settling for Joshua? The man was a lawyer and as crooked as they came. I knew for a fact he cheated on her because I saw him once coming out of a hotel room with another woman. I threatened his life after I punched him and he begged me not to tell Coco. He told me that he loved her, but they were having problems and he made a mistake. I gave him one chance and he knew never to cross me again.
As for me, I didn’t get involved in relationships. They never worked and they weren’t worth the hassle of the fights, jealousy, and anger. My mother was a prime example of that after she married and divorced her sixth husband. Women to me were merely toys. They were meant to be played with for my own personal pleasure and, when I was done playing, they got tossed to the side. They knew exactly what they were getting into by getting into bed with me. Some cared, some didn’t. Those who didn’t got fucked by me more than the ones who cared.
Lorelei
“Now it’s time for you to go to sleep. You have school in the morning.” I smiled as I tapped Hope on the nose.
“One more story, Mommy. Please,” she whined.
“Story time is over for tonight, baby.” I leaned down and kissed her head. “Go to sleep and when you wake up, I’ll have chocolate chip pancakes waiting for you.”
“Okay.” She smiled. “I love you. Good night.”
“I love you too, baby. Good night.”
I got up from her bed, turned off the light, and pulled her door, leaving it open a crack. I poured myself a glass of wine and took it over to the couch, where I opened up my laptop and began searching again for a job.
It had been two months since I lost my job at Praline Inc. The company was going under and they had to cut expenses; me being one of those expenses. My bank account was drained and I had to borrow the rent money from my mom and Nick. I felt bad asking them because they had done so much for me over the past seven years since Hope was born. I was holding my own for the past couple of years until this sudden layoff occurred. I hadn’t been able to find a job since because the fashion industry was flooded with people who had the same ideas I did. As I was looking online, my phone rang. It was my best friend, Stella.
“Hello,” I answered.
“I found something that you might be interested in,” she spoke in excitement.
“Oh? What?”
“A girl I work with was saying that there was an opening for a PA job over at Sutton Magazine.”
“Seriously? Why haven’t I seen that online?”
“It just became available a couple of days ago. Maybe they haven’t posted it yet.”
“How does she know this?” I asked.
“A friend of hers is one of the secretaries there and told her that the last PA just up and walked out without any notice or anything. I guess the guy is a real asshole to work for.”
“I don’t care about that. I need a job now. I had to ask my mom and Nick if I could borrow money to pay the rent.”
“Shit. I know that must have been hard for you. You should have asked me. I would have lent it to you.”
“Thanks, and I know you would have, but I didn’t want to ask. You know I try to do everything on my own.”
“I know you do, sweetie. Here’s the number to Sutton Magazine. Call their Human Resources department tomorrow and see what happens.”
“I will. Thank you, Stella.”
“You’re welcome and if you need anything, you better call me.”
“I will. I’ll talk to you later.”
Stella Bay and I had been best friends since we were ten years old and pulled each other’s hair on the playground in elementary school. It was hate at first sight, but then after the principal of our school made us sit down and talk to each other, we hadn’t left each other’s side since. Stella became like a second daughter to my mom and she spent a lot of time at our house since her father was an abusive alcoholic. He passed away a few years ago from liver failure and she didn’t even attend his funeral. She said if she had, she would have spit on his grave. As soon as we graduated high school, she attended NYU, worked two jobs, paid her own tuition, lived on campus, and had been on her own ever since. Until she met Sebastian, the love of her life who appeared three years ago and rescued her. She had the kind of love I once had, which was quickly taken away from me at the age of eighteen. Then, a new love of my life appeared; my daughter, Hope. She was everything to me and my life revolved around her and her only.
****
The next morning, after dropping Hope off at school, I decided to head to Sutton Magazine in person rather than calling them on the phone. As I stepped into the large building, the nice man at the door smiled at me.
“How may I help you, miss?”
“I’m looking for Sutton Magazine. Their human resources department, to be exact.”
“Take the elevator up to the tenth floor. That’s where Human Resources is located.”
“Thank you.” I smiled as I walked towards the elevator.
Stepping off onto the tenth floor, I opened the door that was labeled “Human Resources” and stepped inside. When I walked over to the redhead who sported some really tight curls, she smiled.
“How may I help you?”
“I’m here to inquire about the personal assistant job that is available.”
“Do you have an appointment?” she asked.
“No. A friend of mine told me that there was an opening, so I thought I would come down here and apply in person.”
“I’m sorry—” She blankly stared at me.
“Lorelei Flynn.”
“I’m sorry, Lorelei, but you must call for an appointment. We don’t take walk-ins.”
Suddenly, a man appeared and shoved a file inside the filing cabinet. “What’s going on here, Amanda?” he asked.
“This woman was inquiring about the personal assistant job and I told her she has to call and make an appointment.”
“I see.” He smiled as he stared at me. “Did you just walk in here?”
“Yes. I thought maybe I could apply in person. I’m sorry to have wasted your time.” I began to walk away and he stopped me.
“Wait. Lorelei, correct?”
“Yes.” I turned around.
“Come with me. I’ll have you fill out an application and then I’ll interview you. Since you’re already here, why have you come back?” He winked.
“Thank you, sir.”
He held out his hand. I shook it. “I’m Garrett Sullivan. Amanda, get the application and bring it to my office. “Follow me, Lorelei.”
I followed him down the long hallway and into his office.
“Please have a seat at the table and as soon as Amanda brings in the application, you can fill it out.”
“I appreciate this, Mr. Sullivan. It really means a lot.”
“No problem, and you can call me Garrett.”
The redhead named Amanda walked in and handed me the application and a pen. Garrett took a seat behind his desk while I filled it out. Once I was finished, I got up from my chair and handed it to him.
“Have a seat, please.” He motioned for me to sit across from him.
He studied my application for a few moments before speaking. Garrett Sullivan was a handsome-looking man. He stood about six feet tall with short blonde hair and green eyes. He looked to be in his early thirties and he was dressed in a nicely tailored dark blue suit. There was something about him that made me feel comfortable.
“What exactly did you do over at Praline?” he asked with a smile.
“I was the administrative secretary. I did just about everything.”
“How organized are you?”
“I’m a bit OCD when it comes to organization.”
“Are you a perfectionist?” He smirked.
“My mom says I am. I wouldn’t exactly call myself a perfectionist,” I spoke as I reached over and straightened the Statue of Liberty paperweight that sat on his desk.
The grin on his face grew wide. “You studied fashion design at Parsons?”
“Yes. I love fashion and I love to design clothes.”
“And you were working as an administrative assistant. Why?”
“I had to drop out of Parsons because my daughter got sick and I needed to be with her at all times.”
“You have a daughter?”
“Yes, she’s seven. Her name is Hope.”
“I hope she’s better now,” he spoke.
“She is. That was a couple of years ago. I wanted to go back to Parsons, but I had lost my scholarship when I left. I’m a single mom and every penny counts when you’re raising a kid.”
“I understand. You’re twenty-five, correct?”
“Yes.”
“I’m going to be blunt here, Lorelei. This job is working for Jack Sutton, CEO of Sutton Magazine. You seem like a great woman with a good head on your shoulders and it seems you’ve had to grow up quick. I’m not sure Mr. Sutton is the right person for you to be working for.”
“Mr.—Garrett, I’ve heard about Mr. Sutton and, to be honest, he doesn’t scare me. I’m not a weak and frail girl. Like you said, I had to grow up quick since I had my daughter at eighteen. I only want what’s best for her and, right now, I’m in desperate need of a job. It’s been two months and my bank account is nearly depleted.”
“You live in Harlem, which is forty-five minutes away. You’d have to be here by eight a.m. and your shift would end at five p.m. with an hour lunch. Would that be possible for you with a daughter?”
“I would do whatever I had to do to make sure my daughter was taken care of. So to answer your question, yes, it would be possible. In a perfect world, I’d love to be able to stay home and devote every single minute to my daughter, but we don’t live in a perfect world, do we? So I have to do whatever I have to in order to give Hope everything she needs.”
He studied me for a few moments before speaking. “I’m sure you get child support from Hope’s father. That should help some.”
I gently smiled at him. “Hope doesn’t have a father. He was killed in a car accident before she was born.”
He looked down and then back up at me with pity. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.” I looked down at my sweaty palms.
“You’re hired, Lorelei.”
My eyes darted up at him with excitement. “Thank you. Thank you very much, Garrett!” I exclaimed.
“You’re welcome. Listen, I’m going to give you a separate monthly check for cab fare. It’s for your own good. Trust me. If you take the subway in, you’ll probably end up being late. This is between me and you, and Mr. Sutton is not to know.”
“I promise I won’t tell him. That’s very kind of you.”
“Good. Can you start tomorrow? He’s really anxious to have a personal assistant again.”
“Yes. Tomorrow will be perfect.” I smiled as I got up from my seat and shook his hand.