Naughty, Naughty Prince Charming (Charming 1)

“It’s all yours,” Celia said with a smile and a wave of her hand.

“I love it,” Lucy said with a genuine smile. “Now I just need to earn it.” Basic tools sat on top of the shiny desktop—computer and printer, tape, a pencil holder, and several large notebooks.

“I’m quite sure you will, Lucy.” Celia gave her a wise smile. “I know people, and you will do well.”

“Thank you,” Lucy said, touched by her confidence. “I hope you’re right. I certainly appreciate the support. I need all the people in my corner that I can get.” Unable to help herself Lucy walked around the desk and sat down in the high back chair. Very comfortable, and not cheap. She swiveled around to face her window. “Wow. What a great view!” Lucy peered out at the view, thrilled to see the towering skyline of Manhattan.

“You should see it at sunset,” Celia said. Lucy swiveled back around to face her. Celia continued, “I’ll help you through the first few days. Anything you need, just say the word.” Celia winked and perched her hip on the arm of a visitor’s chair. “Including the insider scoop.”

“Thank you very much. I have to admit, I’m nervous.”

“Don’t be. You’ll do great.”

For the next forty-five minutes, Celia settled into a chair across from Lucy and covered basic orientation material. She finished with, “You should have a phone list, access cards and codes, a general run-down of the staff, and who does what with explicit details.” Celia sighed. “I’ll leave you to study up and get settled. Buzz me if you need help with anything.”

She started toward the door, but stopped a moment, turning back to Lucy. “Coffee is in the kitchen by the reception area. Make yourself at home.” Then, she left.

The minute she was alone, Lucy searched through her drawers and found a pair of scissors. She quickly hopped up and cut off the tags dangling from the visitors’ chairs. She preferred to forget her newness. She didn’t need any reminders that she was the new kid on the block. Her nerves were doing that job quite well without any extra help.

Before Lucy could even get through a small portion of the staff rundown, Celia poked her head back into Lucy’s office. “Lucy you need to be at a meeting at nine o’clock, and it is already eight-forty-five. You’ll have these meetings every Monday. Sorry, I didn’t tell you sooner, but I honestly didn’t think they would have you join them your first day.”

Lucy sat stunned. “Me either. Are you sure?” There was nervousness in her voice she couldn’t hide.

“Tyler specifically asked for you by name,” she said with a shrug of her shoulders.

Grabbing a legal pad and a pen, Lucy followed Celia to the meeting location, adrenaline rushing through her body and making her heart beat double time. Moments later, she stood at the door of the gigantic conference room, silently sizing up the six men and four women who sat around the table. All eyes went to Lucy.

Tyler sat in a seat directly to the right of the head of the table. That seat remained open. Lucy looked at the empty chair assuming it belonged to the new president of Carlson. The industry was abuzz about the retirement of the former executive of the firm. His son, Logan, was now taking over, having relocated from another state.

And when she had heard his name, she’d desperately searched for a picture of him with no results. Though she knew this new president had just relocated from Los Angeles his name was familiar and a hint of fear had grown to near panic. What if? After all, he had ties in New York. It could be her Logan. Her stranger. Still, what were the odds?

Tyler pushed to his feet, and waved Lucy forward, a warm smile on his lips. He spoke to the group even as he focused on her. “This is Lucy Stark, team, our new associate. Please make her feel welcome.”

Tyler was in his mid-forties, with red hair and fair skin, and confidence he wore like a second skin. Lucy liked him from the moment she’d met him in her interview. He came off as highly professional but also approachable. Not too full of himself.

People nodded and murmured greetings.

“Grab a seat and we’ll get started,” Tyler said motioning to some open chairs at the opposite side of the long table. Before Lucy even found a place to sit, Tyler was talking. “Team, we have terrific news. We have landed a chance to pitch to BG Clothing.”

There were whispers around the table. Lucy wasn’t sure why.

“I know we thought we couldn’t get heard on this campaign, but Logan’s presence has opened doors. He pulled some strings, and the outcome is a win for Carlson. We have one shot and one shot only to prove we can handle their business line of clothing. Let’s make it a good one.”