Kitabı oku: «From Boardroom To Bedroom»

One

Sophie barely recognized herself in the reflection of the mirrored elevator doors. Flying across the country, getting a complete makeover, and coming up with a whole new identity had been quite the feat.

But persistence paid off...or at least she hoped it would.

She’d traveled to New York to spy on Miranda. She had tried chasing down every possible lead in Royal...but none of them had panned out. After two months of failed attempts, she’d realized she needed to widen her net. If she was going to find anything, it would have to be in New York—and it would have to be in a different persona. No one was willing to spill secrets to the stepdaughter who was known to hate Miranda—but perhaps a new identity would let her slip in under the radar. Sophie had no other idea how to find dirt on her stepmother, so she’d taken a very hands-on approach.

For a week now, Sophie had taken on this new look and role, but she still hadn’t gotten used to being someone else. She’d never been this deceitful or this scheming before.

But desperate times and all that.

As the elevator continued to climb toward the floors that housed Green Room Media, Inc. building, she wondered exactly what she’d be doing. She knew she’d landed the job as a temporary consultant, so she hoped this was a position that would get her close to some cutting room floor footage. Maybe she’d even come in close contact with some of the camera crew from Secret Lives.

She needed to find some juicy tidbit on Miranda. Something to hold over her or, better yet, to expose her for the gold-digging, conniving attention seeker Sophie believed she was. Something that would let Sophie challenge the will and put Blackwood property back in Blackwood hands, where it belonged. A woman who always flaunted her life and her material possessions all over television didn’t need anything more.

Sophie and her brothers deserved their due inheritance. She didn’t want to be a whiny child about it, but she’d grown up in Blackwood Hollow and the home held so many memories...memories that shouldn’t have been just handed over to Miranda Dupree. Memories she and her brothers made with their wonderful late mother that Sophie wanted to carry over into her own family or her brothers’ families one day. That legacy belonged to the Blackwood children, not a second wife. Sophie wanted to do this for her brothers; she wanted them to have what they deserved. They all had plenty of money... This wasn’t about that. This was about family, which they’d never considered Miranda part of.

Sophie didn’t believe Miranda’s sweet and innocent public persona...not one bit. The woman wouldn’t be on one of the most scandalous reality shows on television if she were that perfect. There had to be something. Unfortunately, Sophie had made a point of avoiding Miranda as much as possible during her father’s short-lived second marriage. She just plain didn’t know the woman well enough to know which closets to search for Miranda’s carefully hidden skeletons. But surely they were around here somewhere, in the offices of the show that had been the centerpiece of Miranda’s life for the past few years.

Secret Lives was a popular reality show based on divorced women living in Manhattan. Of course, ratings hinged on how many scandals the ladies could cause while displaying their lavish lifestyles. It was tacky and tasteless—but it was popular, and it came with a big staff of people behind it, all working to keep it going. That was where Sophie had found her “in.”

Sophie had applied for a personal consultant position within the company that produced Secret Lives. The security in the place was top-notch, so she’d had to get creative on getting in. No way would a Blackwood be allowed in this office. Not with the death of Miranda’s husband so recent. Just the word Blackwood would raise too many red flags and Sophie would be shut out before she could even get started.

A temporary job was the perfect opportunity to get inside.

The only glitch? Sophie’s popularity from her interior design YouTube channel, Dream It, Live It, forced her to alter her look. Usually, popularity was a great problem to have—but for the time being, it was getting in her way. If she didn’t have so many loyal followers, she wouldn’t have had to go to such great lengths to disguise herself.

Nothing a little hair color, some carefully applied makeup, a sexy pair of cat-eye glasses, a polished jacket and skinny jeans couldn’t fix. She typically wore fun dresses because she always found a dress to be much more comfortable than pants. So this outfit was definitely outside of her norm. So was the makeup. She much preferred a natural look, so the red lips were completely out of her comfort zone.

And the hair? She was kind of digging this style. A little fringe around her face and the bold shade of ashy blond made her feel a little sassy. The self-esteem boost was much needed because her nerves were all over the place.

She was hopeful and quite certain nobody would recognize her now.

So here she was, day one of her new job and fully embracing her new identity. Maybe blondes would have more fun.

Oh, and of course her name was the biggest adjustment. That was something she had to fully embrace and always be aware of because if someone tried to get her attention and she wasn’t focused enough to recognize her faked name, her cover would be blown.

The elevator stopped and Sophie pulled in a deep breath.

No. She had to stop thinking of herself as Sophie. In this building, and for the next week, she would have to think of herself as Roslyn Andrews. She could remember that, right? A nice combo of Sophie’s middle name and her grandmother’s maiden name. No problem. At least she’d chosen something somewhat familiar. And she wouldn’t have to get used to it for long.

She’d given herself a week timeline to get in, find the scoop and get out. She didn’t like being sneaky—that was quite the opposite of her personality—but she also felt that she and her siblings had been wronged. So, one week. Surely she could do some quick snooping?

The elevator doors slid open and the posh offices of Green Room Media greeted her. The elegant white decor and semicircular desk in the middle of the spacious floor plan were simple, yet classy. The receptionist glanced up from his computer and smiled. She’d talked with him before when she’d come for her interview just days ago. They clearly needed someone fast because they’d hired Sophie on the spot.

“Ah, Miss Andrews. Welcome back. Are you ready for your first day?”

More than he knew. Would it be too obvious if she asked to view cut footage right off the bat?

“Let’s do it,” Sophie said with a smile. “Just tell me where I’ll be.”

Craig, she believed his name was, came to his feet and gestured toward the long hallway. “You will actually be working right alongside Mr. Townshend, you lucky girl. He’s amazing, but he demands loyalty and precision. His personal assistant is out on maternity leave, but that’s no problem. If you need anything, you can always come find me.”

Working with Mr. Townshend? As in Nigel Townshend? She would be his temporary personal consultant? Sophie didn’t know if she was thrilled or terrified to be put in the most inner circle of the entire company...and with the sexiest mogul to ever grace the covers of magazines. He was known as the British Billionaire Bad Boy. Any woman with breath in her lungs knew who Nigel was.

Sophie’s heart fluttered and her stomach got a little schoolgirl giddy. Nigel was one very dominating, very powerful man. When Sophie had interviewed, she’d thought for sure she was just going to be a gopher or someone to answer phones. She’d hoped for more, but she also had to be realistic. She’d only been trying to get her foot in the door.

Well, she was in all right. Now she only had moments to mentally prepare to not only meet the sexy Brit but also to compose herself so she didn’t come across as some nitwit who didn’t deserve this position. She couldn’t afford to be let go before she got what she came for.

Sophie hurried to catch up with Craig as he made his way down the wide corridor.

“Are you sure this is the position I’m here for?” she questioned.

Craig came to a halt so fast Sophie jerked to a stop to prevent running into him. He glanced around before leaning in and whispering.

“You didn’t hear this from me,” he started. “But Secret Lives has dipped a little in the ratings and Nigel is taking it upon himself to find out exactly why. He needs fresh eyes to help him fix the situation. That’s where you come in.”

Well, that was no pressure at all. Nothing like being thrust right into the thick of things on day one. But at least it was a problem that didn’t make her feel out of her depth. She did know a little about ratings; after all, she’d built her channel into something of a phenomenon. Maybe she could actually make a difference here, too, and get the scoop she needed. A win-win.

“Does he not have anyone who has tried to help so far?” Sophie asked, still positive this position was a mistake.

“His assistant would probably have been a good asset, but she’s unavailable and Nigel wants someone from the outside.” Craig lowered his voice even more. “I think the show is in jeopardy. He didn’t tell me that directly, but... Well, I have some sources.”

Oh, she had no doubt the receptionist knew all the ins and outs and was one of the best sources of gossip. Perhaps starting with a little break room talk over lunch would be a good starting point for her own project.

Things were already starting off better than she’d hoped. Surely if Sophie was dealing with the head honcho himself, she could gain access to all the cut footage. But she still had to be careful and calculated about this. There was no room for errors and no way could she raise suspicions. Above all, she couldn’t run into Miranda. Even with the blond hair, glasses and completely different wardrobe, Sophie knew her step-monster would recognize her.

“Mr. Townshend is waiting,” Craig said as he turned and put his hands on the gold handles of a set of white double doors. “Welcome to Green Room Media.”

The doors swung wide and Sophie/Roslyn pulled in a deep breath.

Showtime.

When he’d asked for help, he hadn’t expected a lush supermodel turned librarian. The sight of the curvaceous blonde with sultry glasses and a confident smile hit him right in the gut. He was also a fan of glossy red lips.

Those jeans should have been illegal, but he certainly wasn’t complaining.

Bloody hell. He didn’t have time for this distraction. He hadn’t even had time to interview anyone for himself and had trusted his most loyal, dependable employees to do that. But he’d only asked for someone well qualified, professional and polished.

He’d certainly gotten that last part; he had to assume the rest of her credentials were just as impressive as the outward package.

Might as well embrace his new temporary consultant. Temporary being the key word. Off-limits was also another key word because he never ever fraternized with employees. He liked to date, but he’d never gotten too serious...much to his family’s dismay and disappointment.

Most times the Townshends didn’t understand why Nigel was in New York, growing his empire, and not back in England, settling down and working on new heirs. He loved his family, he truly valued them and missed them like crazy. But he wanted to branch off from the dynasty and create his own legacy. This company and his shows were bigger than anything he’d ever dreamed. He just needed to continue that trend of growth and success in order to show his family that his goals and dreams truly were worthwhile.

Pushing the family issues aside, Nigel kept his eyes locked on the striking woman in his office. Talk about a test in willpower. If she was going to be working alongside him for weeks or months to come, he would have to remember this was a professional environment. He demanded as much from each of his employees and he would never let them think that he was incapable of meeting those standards himself.

Nigel came to his feet and rounded his desk. He was the boss, time for him to act like one and put these adolescent hormones to rest. His family considered him the infamous black sheep for breaking away, and he was doing his best not to live down to that reputation. Just because a man didn’t want to get married and produce a litter of children did not make him a failure.

Of course, his sister was getting married next week and he was a groomsman, so that certainly didn’t help matters.

All the more motivation to turn these dwindling numbers around and get Secret Lives back on top of the rankings. Maybe then his family would be proud of the work he did.

“You must be Roslyn Andrews,” he greeted, turning all of his attention to the new employee. “I’m Nigel Townshend.”

Her smile widened as she crossed his office and extended her hand. “It’s a pleasure, Mr. Townshend.”

“Mr. Townshend is my father,” he corrected. “You will call me Nigel.”

With a delicate nod, she replied, “Alright, Nigel.”

His name sliding through her lips was just as magical and potent as he’d expected. And all of his employees called him Mr. Townshend. He couldn’t quite justify the reasoning behind his quick response to her calling him Mr. but here they were.

“I had no idea I would be working with you directly,” she added. “Can I be honest?”

The combination of that sultry voice and the confident firm grip of her handshake assaulted every nerve ending he had. Her dark eyes flared when he slid his hand into hers.

Well, wasn’t this interesting?

She snatched her hand back and adjusted the purse strap on her shoulder. He had to give her credit, though, her smile never faltered.

Self-assurance was a sexy trait. Add that to the alluring outward package and he might be in trouble with this one. Hell, he was already in trouble since they were on a first-name basis after a one-minute meet. He had employees who had worked for him for over a decade who still didn’t call him Nigel.

“Please,” he replied. “Honesty is our key policy.”

She adjusted her tortoiseshell glasses. “I’m even more nervous now that I know I’m working directly with the boss. But, I promise not to let my nerves get in the way of doing my best work.”

“I hope you’ve saved your best work for me because I need the best.”

“No pressure,” she joked. “I hope I live up to your standards.”

“I have no doubt you’ll do just fine. I’ve seen your résumé. The fact that you work in interior design actually appealed to me because I believe designers look at every detail in all aspects of life and that’s exactly what I need. And, I’m not sure if you’ve heard anything, but I’m not difficult to get along with, though I’ve been told I have a dry sense of humor.”

“I have two older brothers. I’m pretty good with holding my own, no matter the jokes.”

With her honesty and sense of humor, Nigel could see they’d get along just fine...so long as he kept reminding himself this arrangement was professional and temporary.

How many times could he use those two words?

Probably not enough, because he had a feeling he needed to keep those in the forefront of his mind as long as Ms. Andrews worked by his side.

“Have a seat,” he told her, gesturing to the leather chair opposite his desk. “Since I didn’t sit in on the interview process, I’d like to get to know a little about you before we begin our day. Like I said, I’ve seen your résumé, quite impressive, and I’ve heard my crew speak your praises.”

“I’m flattered.”

She should be. They’d interviewed a slew of people for this position, but Nigel had put out very specific requirements. Interesting that the most striking, intriguing woman he’d ever met was the one who had landed in his office.

He worked with beautiful women every day. The entire cast of Secret Lives consisted of stunning ladies. But something about Roslyn seemed almost wholesome...which was quite refreshing in this field.

Nigel unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt as he went back to his desk chair. Distance from her would help him keep his head in the game, so would focusing on the sole reason for her employment. He needed a new vision for the show and the only way he could see that happening was to bring in an outsider.

There was no room for attractions or office escapades. The last thing he needed was a sexual harassment lawsuit. Of course, bad press would drive up ratings, but he wasn’t about to embarrass his family, put his own reputation on the line or degrade any woman.

He respected women and his new consultant would be no different. There’s no reason he couldn’t find her attractive and keep a level head about himself...right?

“I saw you recently moved to New York,” he began, leaning back in his seat.

Roslyn nodded. “About a month ago. It was time for a change.”

“You came from Texas?”

“I did. My family owns a ranch.” She eased her purse onto her lap and crossed her legs. “My brothers still live there.”

“So why the drastic change?” he asked.

A sadness swept over her face for a second before she tipped her chin and silently gathered herself together. “My father recently passed and it made me realize how fragile life is. I’d always wondered what city life was like and I decided to take the risk.”

Taking risks was certainly something he could understand and appreciate. He hadn’t gotten this far without stepping outside the proverbial box and taking his own chances in business. He understood her need to be out on her own, away from her family, and he instantly admired her drive and independence.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” he told her. “I have to admit, I’m impressed that you took such a leap.”

“No time like the present,” she stated with that same confident smile that punched him with another dose of arousal.

“You have a degree in design.” Nigel glanced at the portfolio photos on his computer screen he’d been looking at before she’d arrived. “These are pretty impressive. Why the switch to media? Did you just want to make a change?”

She shrugged one delicate shoulder. “Why can’t I do both? I’ve always loved design and I’m fascinated by media. Who knows? Maybe one day I can design living spaces and work areas for the stars. This is a good step in that direction.”

Nigel leaned forward, lacing his fingers together on his desk. “Is that what you’re hoping to gain here? The chance to meet celebrities and get your foot in the door?”

Roslyn opened her mouth, but he quickly held up his hand. “I’m not judging,” he added. “I think it’s brilliant.”

“You got me,” she laughed. “I’m always thinking ahead. I figure if I’m going to take the leap into a new kind of market, why not make it a big one? I want to cover a wide variety and when I have my own company, I’ll be well versed in all the things.”

“That’s exactly the type of asset I want on my team,” he told her. “What’s your favorite food?”

Roslyn blinked, then laughed. “Excuse me?”

“Favorite food.”

“Um... I don’t know. I guess sushi. Why?”

“I like to have dinner meetings and I want to make sure I choose something you’ll enjoy.”

He hated most kinds of sushi, but this was New York. Plenty of places served a wide variety that could accommodate both of them. For now, though, he wasn’t quite ready to end this talk and he wasn’t ready to dive right into work, though that’s exactly what he should have been doing.

“Why don’t I show you around,” he said, coming to his feet.

Craig would’ve normally tour new employees, but Nigel had already blocked this morning off because he wanted to do so personally... Now he wished he had let Craig retain that honor.

“There are aspects of this company that you should know from day one,” he continued. “I want you to be comfortable and think of this as your second home for as long as you’re employed here. We’re all friendly and, for the most part, we all get along.”

Roslyn stood and eased her purse back onto her shoulder. “That’s impressive with such a big corporation. I’m excited to be part of something so positive.”

As committed as he was to making sure his staff all worked well together, he wouldn’t settle for anything less, Nigel needed a little more drama and action on the set of Secret Lives. The show couldn’t afford to be all sweetness and niceness all the time. There needed to be a reason for viewers to tune back in, excited to see what would happen next—but right now, he just didn’t have the answers.