Daphne Vs. Daddy

"Wow Alicia, just the starry look on your face tells me all I need to know," Ashley says, finishing up the last of her food and closing the container and still somehow staring at me. "You look like you just want to be such a slut for his cock."

I'm about to protest, but I look at the time. Shit. I have a meeting with Nadia.

"I gotta go, babe," I tell Ashley, finishing up the rest of my food in several quick gulps. Ashley looks a bit surprised.

"Hey Alicia, it's okay," she says. "I'm actually happy for you, babe. You know that right?"

I look over. There is genuine concern and care for me. We're like sisters. We may tease each other mercilessly, but at the end of the day, having Ashley in New York City makes the big city feel so much smaller.

"I know babe, but I have a meeting with my manager in like 5 minutes," I tell Ashley as I get up.

"Okay," she says. "Try to not think about billionaire cock all day, babe," she tells me and smirks. I guess that's her form of goodbye.

Whatever. My mind has already switched back into work mode as I cross the street toward where the Carter Jeffries headquarters sits.

I mean, I wonder why Nadia called me in for a meeting. I'm thinking about it every step of the way. Even in the elevator. And with each step to her office.

"Alicia, good you're here," Nadia says getting up from her desk when I step foot in her office. She walks over and closes the door as I sit down. "We only have half an hour so I'll keep this brief," she says.

I nod. Most internal meetings usually last for half an hour nowadays. Everyone is always so stressed out with too much to do.

"I know you've been...close...to Derek Lowell," Nadia starts and I look up at her with alarm. Is she going to chew me out for yesterday night? My heart starts to beat. Adrenaline starts coursing through my blood.

"And that's why I need you to work on a special project for me," Nadia finishes.

I look at her with curiosity. What could she want from me?

"There's a delicate situation with the Lowell accounts, and I need someone I can trust to do a line by line and thorough analysis on it," Nadia says.

I can't believe it.

Am I being given like more responsibility?

"This is a great deal more responsibility for you," Nadia says, almost reading my thoughts. "And it's very sensitive. You can't tell anyone what you're working on. Including Derek Lowell, himself."

I nod. A lot of things the company does are on a need to know business. I can handle that!

"Because of the higher level of access required, I'm promoting you from an Analyst to an Associate, effective immediately," Nadia says, her eyes twinkling. I sit there in shock as she continues. "HR will get all the paperwork by the end of the week and your new title will be effective in two weeks. I'm sure they'll have to bump your salary to match the promotion," she says.

All I can do is sit there and nod. Like an idiot. I mean, you're usually supposed to spend three years minimum as an Analyst before even being considered for a promotion. I've spent a year and a half.

"That's all," Nadia says. "Go celebrate for a few minutes. Call your folks if you want. Then get to work. And congratulations."

I walk out of Nadia's office in a daze at so much good karma happening.

I mean, the best sex of my life last night.

Promotion this afternoon.

What could possibly be next?

138

Derek

“How much?” I ask Anderson, one of the most loyal lawyers in my retinue. We’ve been working hard on trying to track down the embezzler—and the extent of the damages—but the whole thing is proving to be trickier than I thought.

“From what I’ve gathered so far… I’d say $30 million at least, and that just over last year. Of course, that’s just an estimate; I’m not really sure on how deep the rabbit hole goes at this point.”