Girl Crush (Redwoods Book 1) Read online

  “Kerrigan Marks,” She looks down at some paperwork on her desk and hands me a folder, “Take this and go down the hall and make a left, head into the human resource department and they will tell you where to go.”

  I grab the folder from her, mumbling under my breath, “Thank you.” I plaster a fake ass smile on my face to match hers before spinning around and heading in the direction little miss attitude pointed out. Once I see the sign reading Human Resources I open the door and walk inside.

  “Hello, dear, you must be Miss. Marks?” The nice older lady behind the desk asks.

  “I am, I was told to come in here with this folder, but that was about all I know. I’m hoping you can help me by pointing me in the right direction, I don’t want to be late on my first day, but I have no idea where I’m going.”

  She motions for me to take a seat, “Sit down dear, my name is Ruth and I’m head of the HR department. Don’t worry you’re not going to be late, Mr. Vaughn already knows you’re here and knows that I need to keep you for a little while to go over paperwork.”

  “Mr. Vaughn?” I ask, thinking back to my conversation with Bryce about the owner being a jerk.

  “Yes, Kerrigan, that is who you will be working with. You were actually going to be assisting one of our head analysts, but I received a call right before you came in saying Mr. Vaughn’s last assistant just up and quit and he needed someone right away.”

  I’m nodding my head, I’m not really sure what I’m supposed to be saying, not only do I get to work with someone high up at Vaughn, but I’m going to be working side by side with the founder of the company. I’m nervous and I feel completely out of my element and I have no idea why.

  “Don’t worry, Kerrigan, coming with the new responsibility of being the personal assistant to Mr. Vaughn, the salary that you were initially told will increase dramatically due to the fact that you will be called on for travelling from time to time with him and most likely working more hours as well.”

  I nod once more, I love the fact that I’m going to be making more money, it only helps me out in the future, but I could honestly care less. “Sounds great, Ruth.”

  “Wonderful.” She claps her hands and starts going over all the paperwork with me.

  Once I have signed everything and she hands me my ID badge we stand up, “Let me take you to Mr. Vaughn and show you around on the way.” She motions toward the door for me to go out into the hallway.

  She shuts the door behind herself and walks in front me telling me everything as we pass by. We walk toward the elevator and when she gets on she pushes the forty-ninth floor, which also happens to be the top floor. Ringing my hands together, trying to calm my nerves, I take a deep breath just as the elevator doors open and follow Ruth down the short corridor leading to what I assume is Mr. Vaughn’s office. There are no other offices on this floor except for the two at the end of the hall and a secretary’s desk sitting off to the side with a very nice looking lady sitting at it.

  For someone who’s supposed to be an asshole, he certainly has nice people working for him, well except for the chick at reception.

  “Good morning, Stella.” Ruth says to the woman behind the desk.

  She gets up from her chair and heads around the desk and her and Ruth hug. When she turns to me she has a smile pointed in my direction. Extending her hand, “You must be Kerrigan; I’m Stella, Damon’s secretary.”

  Shaking her hand, “Yes, it’s nice to meet you, Stella.”

  “Well you’re in good hands, I’m going to head back to my office and Stella will tell you what you need to do from here.” Ruth says as she pats my shoulder and heads back to the elevator.

  I look over to Stella and she still has a smile on her face, like she knows something that I don’t, but I shrug it off as she speaks, “Why don’t you follow me and I will show you your office, that way you can put your things down before meeting Damon.”

  “You keep saying Damon. I’m assuming that would be Mr. Vaughn?”

  “Yes, sorry honey, I’ve been with Vaughn Enterprises since the day it opened and he’s always been Damon to me. He’s my nephew Kerrigan, so for me it’s a little hard to call him Mr. Vaughn.” She laughs which causes me to join in.

  “I completely understand.” I say to her.

  Turning on the lights to the office that is right next door to Mr. Vaughn’s she steps back and lets me enter. The first thing that catches my eye is a door off to the side, which I’m guessing leads to his office and then against the opposite wall sits my desk. It matches the rest of the building with the deep cherry wood finish. Setting my purse down on my chair, I run my fingertips against the wood, admiring how amazing it feels.

  “I noticed all the wood in the building is the same. Do you happen to know what it’s called?” I ask Stella.

  She nods and smiles, “It’s actually from the Redwoods here in Redding. Damon loves the look of it and had a custom wood worker make everything out of it, only adding a shiny finish to it.”

  Wow, that’s amazing. “Did you say Redwoods?” Stella nods, “That’s actually what drew me to come here. I saw a photo of my mother when she was younger and she had told me it was taken at the Redwoods. I instantly fell in love with the forest.”

  Stella smiles, “Then maybe the Redwoods are your destiny, Kerrigan.”

  I get the feeling there is something she wants to add to that but doesn’t instead she continues to smile at me. “Let’s go introduce you to Damon.” She motions to the door and I follow her. She doesn’t even knock before walking in, something I would never dream about doing.

  Mr. Vaughn’s office is amazing, there is more of the cherry wood furniture and when I look up at my new boss sitting behind his desk, I’m frozen in place. I swear something in his eyes shifted when he looked at me, but before I could look again it was gone.

  “Damon, this is your new assistant, Kerrigan.” Stella says pulling me out of my thoughts.

  I walk toward him ready to shake his hand when his voice stops me, “Sit down, Kerrigan.” I immediately sit my ass down in the nearest chair. What the hell was that?

  Stella pats me on my shoulder before heading out of the office, “Don’t let my nephew fool you, he’s not actually as tough as he looks.” She whispers in my ear and winks at Mr. Vaughn before leaving me alone with him.

  I hear the door click shut and I’m instantly nervous. I can’t seem to make myself look at him, almost like something is keeping my eyes off of his. But I can feel every inch that his eyes are roaming over me, like I’m getting poked with a pin needle up and down my body; sharp tingles are everywhere his eyes are. I don’t understand why.

  I feel whatever tether that was holding me in place loosens and when my eyes meet his all the feeling of being wanted vanishes and it’s replaced with an uneasy feeling. The look on his face tells me I had everything wrong when he was looking at me, he looks completely void of any type of emotion.

  Well what did you expect, Kerrigan, look at you and look at him there is no way you’re his type.

  We have been sitting in silence for what seems like hours when he finally speaks. “Welcome to Vaughn Enterprises, Miss Marks.”

  Holy shit what his voice, the deep baritone sends chills up and down my body, making me want something I haven’t wanted before. I try to swallow the lump that has formed in my throat before speaking to him.

  “Thank you, Mr. Vaughn.” I take a deep breath, “Is there anything you need to go over with me? I understand your last assistant left without warning?”

  “Yes, she did luckily for me you have the perfect qualifications to fill her spot.”

  Before I can speak he continues, “I will need you to be at my beckon call twenty four hours a day. Do you have a cell phone, Miss Marks?”

  I nod my head and pull out my completely old school flip phone and hand it over to him. He looks at it like he has no idea what to do with it. Practically throwing the phone back on my lap, “I will provide you with a new phone, one you
will be able to handle all my emails and calendar on.”

  I know my phone is old, but at the time it was all I could afford and I haven’t needed anything else since then. I nod letting him know I understand. He gets up out of his chair and walks toward me. I have to look up to see his face, I didn’t realize he was so tall, he’s got to be at least six and a half feet tall and the way his suit stretches across his body, I’m guessing completely built. His messy but made up hair is past his ears, but completely fits him. His eyes look mysterious and I can’t tell the color right away. I was expecting him to be clean cut, but he has this rough edge to him that makes him look even more dark and mysterious.

  “These are all the new clients my last assistant was supposed to be working on. I need you to go through all the information and highlight anything that stands out if you feel there is any reason you would think someone wouldn’t make for a good candidate. We only take on a particular type of client.” He hands me the paperwork and I guess I’m dismissed since he says no more.

  I head back to my office and get to work. I’ve been working on this stack of potential clients all day, only breaking to eat the sack lunch I brought with me. I haven’t heard a word out of my boss since I left his office this morning.

  A knock at the door pulls my attention away from my work. I get up and head to the door and open it, standing on the other side is a gorgeous blonde woman, with striking blue eyes smiling at me. She’s wearing what I’m guessing is a designer tight fitting dress and fuck me heals.

  “Can I help you?” I ask.

  “Hi I’m Lucia Reynolds and Damon asked me to deliver this to you.” She holds out a box to me. “He said everything you need is already installed and the phone number is written on the box.”

  I take the box out of her hand, “Thank you.” I smile and start to shut the door, but she doesn’t seem to be moving, just standing there smiling. What is with this company and people constantly looking at me like they know something I don’t?

  “Did you need anything else, Lucia?” I ask, trying not to sound completely rude.

  “No sorry, have a nice day Miss Marks.” One last smile and I watch her walk toward Mr. Vaughn’s office.

  I shut the door and head back to my desk trying to finish the first stack before I head home for the night. The rest of the afternoon went by quickly and when I look up at the clock I see that’s it’s already close to six o’clock, I should’ve been out of here at five. Shutting down my computer, I grab my purse and new phone before I head out.

  I knock on Mr. Vaughn’s door to make sure it’s okay for me to leave for the night but I get no response. I slowly open the door, “Mr. Vaughn?” I ask but still hear nothing. His office lights are off which only means he left without saying a word to me. Spinning around I see Stella is grabbing her things as well.

  “Did Mr. Vaughn leave for the night?” I ask her.

  “Did he not tell you?” She shakes her head, “He left a couple of hours ago with Lucia.”

  Of course he did.

  Nodding my head, I realize that she’s probably still here because I am. “I’m sorry I kept you here. I didn’t realize the time had come and gone. Next time, come tell me it’s time to leave. I don’t want to hold you up.”

  “It’s alright honey, I had a few things I had to turn in downstairs and figured I would come get you if you hadn’t come out by then.”

  We walk toward the elevator, “How was your first day, Kerrigan?”

  I smile at her because I really do feel comfortable with her, “It was great. I had an internship my last semester back in Kentucky and I was basically doing exactly what I did today, looking over potential new clients. So it came easy to me.”

  “Wonderful news honey, I really do hope you enjoy it here.” She says just as we reach the bottom floor.

  “I’m sure I will, Stella.” I smile at her.

  We walk together to where our cars are parked, “Have a good night, Stella.”

  “You too, Kerrigan.”

  I get in my car and notice she’s still watching me as I pull away with a smile on her face. It’s strange that I’m being so obliviously watched, but yet I don’t have a fear in my body all I feel is safety around these people who are virtual strangers to me.

  I pull into my parking lot and see Bryce’s car in his spot, he said he would check in when I got home to see how my first day went. I walk toward my apartment and he comes down from his and stops mid stride almost falling down the steps.

  “Oh buttercup, please tell me you did not wear that monstrosity of an outfit to work today.”

  I look down at my outfit, “Why? Nothing is wrong with what I’m wearing.” I practically pout.

  “Kerrigan…” He shakes his head and looks at me. Something in my face must tell him to stop because he doesn’t continue.

  I know I don’t look like the bombshell who knocked on my office door earlier, but I also know my clothing is something I’ve grown up with and it’s definitely not the first time someone has said something about it, I truthfully just don’t care.

  “How was your first day?” He asks.

  “It was good. I was only there for a minute before I got moved around and a pay raise.”

  His eyebrows rise up in question, “Well that’s good. Did you happen to meet Mr. Vaughn?”

  “I work for him, Bryce, of course I met him.”

  “I know you work for his company…”

  I stop him, “No I work for him directly. I’m his new personal assistant.”

  “Wait, you’re what?” He asks in a high tone.

  “I guess his last assistant quit without notice and they moved me over there.”

  “Hmmm… Interesting,” He rubs his hand along his chin.

  “Why?” I’m curious as to why he’s acting this way.

  “No reason.” He says before changing the subject, “Let’s have some dinner shall we?” He takes my arm in his hand and begins leading me toward the stairs and up to his apartment.

  After helping him set out some ingredients he needed for dinner I decide I want out of these clothes. “Hey Bryce, I’m going to run back down to my apartment and change real quickly while you’re cooking dinner.” I say as I’m walking out the door, I hear him say okay and head back downstairs.

  I change into a pair of black yoga pants and an oversized pink shirt and slipping on some flip flops I head back upstairs to help finish dinner. I’m almost to the top of the stairs when I get the feeling I’m being watched, goose bumps run up and down my arms and the little hairs on the back on my neck stand up. I look around to see if I can see anyone and when I don’t I shake the feeling off and head inside Bryce’s apartment.

  I walk into his kitchen, “So what are you making me for dinner tonight.” Even though I helped set out the ingredients doesn’t mean I have the slightest clue what he’s making.

  He spins around wearing that silly apron that says kiss the chef, “Chicken Parmesan. I figured we could celebrate your first day.”

  “Aw, thanks Bryce, Do you need any help?” I ask.

  “No, just sit at the table and keep me company.”

  “I can do that, so I have to ask. How do you know Damon Vaughn?” I can’t keep my curiosity quiet anymore.

  “We grew up together.” He says without turning around.

  “Interesting, is that all I’m going to get? You seem to think he’s an asshole, there’s got to be more to the story then you grew up together.”

  “Nope, just that,” he says as he comes toward the table with two plates full of food.

  We make small talk throughout dinner, but I really am wondering what happened between the two of them to make Bryce think he’s an ass. Maybe I will have to wait and see, from what I was able to read off of him today, he didn’t seem to be an asshole just someone who gets what he wants.

  I help him clear the table and put the dishes in the dishwasher, it’s only a little after eight o’clock and I’m not ready to head home yet, “Wa
nna watch a movie?” I ask him.

  “Sure, but I get to choose. No chick flicks tonight, I need action.” He laughs and walks over to his movie collection.

  He holds up Fast and Furious Six and I laugh, nodding my head. I actually love this movie series, and I can’t complain about the sexy men in it either. While he puts the movie on I make us some popcorn before taking my seat on the couch. He plops down next to me and throws his arm around me and pulls me close to him, the peacefulness I feel with him is crazy since we only met a week ago, but it feels like I’ve known Bryce my whole life.

  I feel myself floating through the air and realize I must’ve fallen asleep and Bryce is carrying me downstairs to my apartment, I swear I hear him talking to someone, but I’m just too tired to make out what and to who.

  “What happened to her, Bryce?” I think I hear an angry voice ask.

  I feel Bryce shift me closer to him, and my body feels heavy as I snuggle closer into his chest. “Nothing, D. Relax.” I hear before I’m completely out.

  I feel the cover coming up over my body and lips press to my forehead, before hearing what sounds like a growl, then I hear Bryce whisper, “Goodnight Buttercup.” I swear I hear more muffled noises but I’m too gone to care.

  Over the next week I’ve basically done the same thing I did on my first day. Mr. Vaughn has only been in the office a few times due to meetings and appointments, but when he comes in the office he always seems to be followed by his girlfriend, Lucia, the gorgeous blonde with legs that go for miles.

  What I wouldn’t do to look like her and get a man like Mr. Vaughn or be able to get the man himself.

  Today is finally Friday and isn’t any different from the last four days. Mr. Vaughn hasn’t been here all day and it’s now close to five o’clock. Stella left about an hour ago for a doctor appointment so I decide to make sure I get out of here at a decent hour. I shut down my computer and grab my purse and head out. I’m momentarily stunned with what’s in front of me when I walk toward the elevator.