Chapter One

Being twenty two and a single mother was never my ambition. My ambitions were to be someone -- someone important. Not that parenthood was a bad thing. Some people were brilliant at being maternal. I really did admire them for it. But for me, they had never really factored in with the plan. Then again, children disliked me and I disliked them – it was a completely accepted and mutual fact.

But, one fling ruined all of that.

I let a sigh pass through my lips and with my head titled to the sky, I tried to see the top of the huge building looming over the Thames. It glinted in the early morning sun, looking more like diamond as it stretched up towards the rapidly greying skies. It was an impressive sight to a person who had been born and raised in a small town that time forgot. Where I had grown  up the tallest building was a three story block of flats.

Despite being in such a lively and overwhelming place, my fingers itched to call the child minder for the fifth time in twenty minutes. Every few seconds, when the nerves became too much, I would wriggle uncomfortably in my bargain-bin heels and slip my hand into the pocket of my bag to check that my phone was still there. Nothing had been going right that day and I hadn't thought it was going to start then. I had woken up with a strange niggling in the back of my mind – the one which told me that something monumental was going to happen that day. The very thought had me shrugging my shoulders to relieve the nagging itch on my back.

Maybe this is a mistake?

Wrapping my fingers around the strap of my bag, I focused on the haggard reflection staring back at me from the overly polished glass doors. Despite wearing a freshly ironed blood red shirt and a brand new black pencil skirt, I looked a complete wreck. The dark circles under my eyes from another sleepless night made me look like I was auditioning to be in the next exorcist movie. And to make it worse, there was humidity in the air which had played complete havoc with my hair. There was only one word for the look – disaster.

My eyes ran up the length of my reflected form before I smiled. I tried to be cheery and positive but it came out as a grimace. That too fell from my lips when the effort was too much. The nerves still curling and uncurling within my stomach did nothing to help.

Shoved forwards with impatient growls rumbling in my ears, I stumbled my way into the lobby of Satani Media. I called some hasty apologies to the disgruntled suits, but they just ignored me. Each pushed past me, making sure to give a little jab into my sides with their suitcases before they speed walked through the lobby to the shimmering gold doors of the lift.

I could honestly say that I had never seen people so eager to work before.   

Shaking my head at the absurdity, I turned my head to the ceiling and prayed to whatever deity was out there. I prayed for them to give me the strength to get through the day because I had a feeling – a deep instinctual one that this was going to be a long one.

Puffing out a breath I returned my attention to the present. And then I gasped.

With wide eyes and my both of my hands gripping my black leather bag, I stepped forward. Opulent was an understatement in relation to this masterpiece. Sleek and glossy, the brightly lit lobby was seductively alluring with every polished surface and curved line. The lighting, which mainly came from a ridiculously large crystal chandelier, drew the eyes to all of the good features in the room while also making it all feel so welcoming.

 And yet, I could tell it was all farce.

It was the same itching feeling that roiled under the skin of my back, twitching and tickling so much that all I wanted to do was claw at my skin to alleviate the feeling.

Shaking off the thought as I progressed through the room, I admired the strict monochrome colour scheme. The black and white kept it all professional despite being ridiculously over the top price tag that was no doubt attached to every material used. I think the floors may even have been pure marble. And yet, each step further into the building had my instincts screaming at me.  There was something very different about it and it definitely wasn't a good thing.

 I shook my head. Day one and I'm already going crazy.

After an initial sweep of the lobby, my eyes fell upon the sleek marble topped desk. It ran the length of the wall to my right, and was manned by a girl wearing a Bluetooth headset. What struck me most about her was that she did not seem to understand the concept of working attire. The blonde slip of a woman was so scantily dressed, that I felt cold just looking at her.

Stepping forward, I plastered a fake smile on my face and clicked my way across the shiny polished floors. The queasy feeling forcing its way up my throat had me gulping and drawing breath through my nose as I tried to ease my nerves. I only paused when I stood directly before her. 

The woman, whose hair I could see was definitely not naturally blonde, just kept chatting away on the phone and staring up at her beautifully manicured nails. Wanting to make a good impression, I straightened my shoulders and tried to make my painful smile even brighter before clearing my throat loud enough to snatch her attention.

My foe merely popped her gum while her eyes lazily slid up to my face with complete disinterest. I bit the inside of my cheek until it drew blood but did not look away from her.  To be quite frank, she looked like a right nasty piece of work -- inside and out.

When she flicked her bleached tresses over her shoulder and sneered up at me, I was forced to press my lips together to keep the snappy remark within my head.  Then, to add further insult, she ignored my presence completely. Instead of doing her job, she turned her attention to the very difficult task of filing her deadly looking nails.

If I didn't have the weight of the world on my shoulders, meaning I really needed this job, I would easily have dragged the woman into a full on shouting match.

Deciding not to rise to the bait, I placed both palms on the desk and then leant forwards so I was leaning over her. Immediately those blue eyes were glaring up at me while I just stared right back with friendly smile playing on my lips. On the inside I was cheering for my small victory.

There were a few moments of huffing and puffing before she finally addressed me. Her teeth were gritted together in an uncomfortable smile – she clearly didn't like that she was forced to respond. She obviously hadn't earned her job based on her people skills.  

                "Hi, I'm here to see Mr Satani." I used my saccharine sweet tone of voice that was usually reserved for condescending idiots who thought they were better than me. This situation definitely called for it.

It was strangely unnerving how her perfectly blue eyes never broke contact with mine. I refused to back down but, in that moment, she had a strange power over me -- and I did not like it.

The sound of her continued ministrations grated on my already frayed nerves. Each grind of file against nail had my left eyebrow twitching in irritation. The smirk on her face told me she noticed and unsurprisingly enough she persisted. I clenched my jaw and looked away from the irritating woman to stop myself from spewing forth the abuse that was swirling through my head.

I gritted my teeth as once again the irritating bint shaved off another sliver of her nail with the file.

                "I'm sorry. Mr Satani is busy right now, if you'd like to make an appointment-"

                I cut off her snooty speech with a smug smile. I hated that smile, but it was worth the discomfort when the blonde opened and closed her mouth a few times in apparent shock. Apparently I looked like a walkover. Finally, when she found nothing to say, the woman slumped back in her seat with her arms folded under her overly perky boobs.

                "I think you'll find I have an appointment..." I leant forwards so that I could see her name tag which was unfortunately placed strategically over her left breast. "Kirsten." 

Her lip curled upwards, and a light snarl escaped her lips. I just smiled at her and tapped my foot against the polished floor. For a few strained seconds, I thought she would give me some backlash but to my shock, she huffed in defeat before her manicured nails tapped away at the keyboard.

                "Name?"  Kirsten drawled, her snooty tone suddenly taking on an accent that was still British but a little lower class than she had been aiming for before.

She refused to meet my glance and kept her judgemental baby blues trained upon the screen. I was slightly entranced as her over plucked eyebrows waggled in frustration. It was rather disconcerting that despite the twitch, her face never lost that permanently surprised expression.

                "Savannah Holmes." I enunciated my name as if I was talking to a complete simpleton.

Rather than getting an angry snarl which I was more than prepared for, I was startled when her left eyebrow moved into a delicate arch. To make it more frightening, she allowed her blue gaze to detach from the screen and fall upon me. Her mouth had even dropped open into a perfect 'O'.

                "You're the CEO's new PA? Bloody hell, what is this company coming to?"

For a moment, I just let my mouth open and close. I didn't even try to stop the scowl from overtaking my face as my hands moved to my hips. The indignation I felt quickly dropped away though as her words sank in.

                "The CEO? I got told that I was just a PA for the head of the department not the CEO – oh god this is going to be bad – I should have just stayed home with Danny and signed on like everyone else." My rambling continued for a while as I became more and more suffocated by my panic.

This only seemed to make the snooty blonde happy, as her face actually morphed into a smile, lighting up like it was Christmas.

                "Calm down will you, it won't be that bad."  She swept away my rebuttal with a wave of her hand. "Just do me a favour and turn around for a second and tell me what you think of that man over there." She pointed behind me, so I turned my head and followed her talons to see a ridiculously gorgeous man that was walking our way.

My eyes took in every detail of him. He appeared to work out, if his sleek physique was anything to go by, and he also had that player's air about him. Despite the beautiful lusciously dark and silky hair and his glowing blue eyes, it was the pure arrogance that radiated from his every pore that sent warning bells ringing in my head.  Even his walk was a swagger. His ego was probably bigger than he was. It's a shame because if he wore a smile instead of his smirk he wouldn't look like a complete –.

I stopped myself before I could finish the thought, and instead turned back to Kirsten.

"He's good looking but I know his type and they're all jerks." I muttered the words as my mind drifted to thoughts of my exes. Shouted arguments and false promises filtered through my mind. I could almost see the cheating gits faces.

 I blinked and met her blue eyes once more. Instantly I backed away a step when I noted that Kirsten was staring at me with what could only be awe. I frowned trying to think of what I had said that would earn that kind of reaction but found nothing.

                "Ah ha and that's why they hired you." I opened my mouth but she just nodded her head back in the direction of the hunk behind me. A quick glance revealed he was now involved in a rather deep and meaningful conversation with a petite red head. "That guy just so happens to be your boss."

My heart palpitated hard within my chest and every part of me drooped. I had been expecting a man in his fifties, balding with a slightly large belly. Instead I got him. Most people wouldn't complain, I couldn't even deny that he was attractive, but I had seen people like him in action. There was  one thing I was certain about, in no way did I want to be on the receiving end of his charms.

"He's the biggest flirt around and the board members were sick and tired of him toying with the PA's. He always took it too far. They either became obsessed or sobbing wrecks – the PA's not him. Word has it that they even tried to hire a man before – the poor guy is now in a mental institution." Kirsten clucked her tongue and then lifted her hand up for inspection. "I suppose you are their last resort."

My brows drew together into a frown. How could they possibly know that I would blow the man off with one glance?

"Oh look, here he comes." She whispered conspiratorially to me before plastering a huge smile on her face.

I could hear footsteps clicking closer to us and immediately my frame hunched inwards and stiffened. And then he was there. I drew in a sharp breath as I felt a presence behind me. Every part of me warmed in awareness and yet the sensation was accompanied with that odd discomfort I had been feeling all morning. My back itched on one side from my shoulder down to hip, but it wasn't an ordinary itch. It was bone deep and squirming.

I jumped as the steps came to a halt.  Kirsten, noting my obvious discomfort, raised one of her eyebrows at me before looking over my shoulder. 

"Morning Mr Satani. Here are your messages and your new PA is here."

                Kirsten's voice was chirpy, but her eyes were narrowed at him into a glare and there was a wrinkling to her nose. Even though she was acting polite and friendly, it was clear that there was an underlying tension between the pair and not the good kind. She kept it well hidden behind her overly bright smile, only someone well versed in helping friends through bad break ups would recognise the signs.

                "Thanks. Is the PA hot? I could do with a new lay." His voice was smooth and seductive which despite her teeth against the allure, had Kirsten struggling for her breath.

I almost jumped a foot in the air when he suddenly let out a tortured groan. His breath blew against the back of my neck causing the hairs to rise at the nape. For a moment I thought he might be ill but then realised it was just more of his theatrics. With baited breath, I waited for more offensive words from my new boss, and the man didn't disappoint.

"Don't tell me it's a guy again, if it is I'm going to kill the board. They know not to mess in my...affairs."

I didn't have to turn around to know the arrogant prick was waggling his eyebrows. Kirsten bit her lip, trying not to laugh, while her eyes watched me intently. All expression left my face as I pulled my shoulders back and clenched my jaw. And with an angry huff, I spun to face Mr Satani.

Startled by how close he was to me, I refused to let it show as my eyes bored into him. He was definitely just as attractive up close but the fact that he was inspiring any kind of attraction within me only caused my ire to strengthen.

                "No Mr Satani, your new PA would be me and I can assure you there will be no chance of you getting laid with me."

My voice was like steel as I spoke to him and I received a small bit of satisfaction at the startled expression on his face. However the smirk that quickly made its way onto his lips only made me want to go completely to town on this guy. He looked like he really needed a verbal lashing because most people probably fell for his charm or were too terrified to go against him.

It was only that fact that I really needed the job that prevented me from acting on impulse. Instead, I chose to smile sweetly at the man. He raised a brow at me, confusion causing creases to form across his forehead. He flicked his gaze over my shoulder to the woman behind me but when she didn't offer any comments, he returned his gaze to me.

"Any attempts to try and get me into bed will be classed as sexual harassment and I have no problem filing a complaint. Got it?" When he said nothing, I slapped my forehead. "Sorry I almost forgot. Did you get that, sir?"

Mr Satani's lips were pinched tight as he examined me. After what felt an age to my thrumming heart, the man gave a single nod. It looked like the gesture had caused his ego great pain. I gave him a cheerful smile while on the inside I was dancing over what felt like a monumental achievement. He did not give the impression of a man who relents easily and his eyes, which were the most beautiful azure blue I had ever seen, displayed the shock and turmoil he felt within.

Our gazes remained locked for several seconds afterwards, his gaze invading and searching through my being – right down to my very soul.

I shuddered and dragged my eyes away. I didn't like it - not one bit. Coughing, I cleared my throat, refusing to look him directly in the eyes again – refusing to be vulnerable to him.

"Good, now if you would show me where I'm working, I can get started."

Mr Satani gave a stiff nod and then spun on his heel, his lips not uttering a single thing to us as he departed. Without his gaze boring into the side of my face I felt my entire body relax. I could only hope that Kirsten's tales about my new boss were wrong and that I wouldn't have to put up with his advances for the rest of my career. It would be painful, especially when there was little chance of me finding a job elsewhere.

                "Kirsten, give me a buzz when it's your lunch hour and we should go for coffee or something."

"I have lunch at twelve thirty," Kirsten said through a smile and then nodded at the rapidly retreating Satani CEO.

With a yelp I scurried away, all the while thinking how absurd the day had been already. If I had gone on first impressions alone, Kirsten would have been the target of all my scorn until one of us left the company. Yet now I felt there was more to the situation.  Besides, it was clear that she needed a friend as much as I did – or that might just have been wishful thinking.

I readjusted my bag on my shoulder, and teetered after Mr Satani's long strides. I didn't want to give the man a reason to fire me and I knew that making him wait would be enough to irritate the grouch.          

                The doors to the lift sprang apart noiselessly just as I stumbled to a stop. A few people poured out before Mr Satani swooped inside. His presence caused the few people who were still inside to turn pale and squeak before leaping out. Thus, when the doors closed with a thump a few seconds later, only Mr Satani and I remained.

                "So what's your name?" His voice cut through the tense silence causing me to jump at the intrusive sound. I dismissed it with a roll of my eyes, and daringly met his steely blues in the reflective surface of the doors.

                "Savannah Holmes," I murmured.

Hoping to give him a much needed hint, I then turned my head away from him. He grunted, sounding much too caveman-like before the silence resumed once more.

                When the doors opened on our floor, he did not wait for me – Mr Satani just stepped out of the lift and walked off down a corridor. Scurrying to keep up, I took sneaky glances through the open doors as we passed. Judging by the mahogany desks and the state of the art computers, there was obviously a lot of money in this business. The location and size of the scraper should have been clue enough, but the plush carpet underfoot was clue that they had more money than sense here at Satani Media.

I kept on Mr Satani's trail as he approached the largest and most opulent door in the entire hall. Well, not opulent door...just different. Instead of dark rich wood the door was made of tinted glass that gleamed brightly in the overhead lighting. It just so happened to be located at the end of the corridor which widened out to create a foyer.

His footsteps never faltered until he paused by a table outside his door. I didn't like the look of that table - it was laden with mountains of paper and, despite the sturdiness of its design, it looked ready to collapse under the sheer weight.

"Here's your desk Miss Holmes, I need all of this sorted as soon as possible. The last PA was rather – lacking – in the admin department."

                A sigh left my lips as I dumped my belongings on the chair that had been hiding behind the man-made mountain. It knocked the table causing sheet after sheet to cascade onto the floor. I groaned and shook my head in dismay.

"And Miss Holmes?"

I jumped. My elbow hit another of the precarious piles of papers, knocking even more onto the floor. I closed my eyes for a moment, taking in a deep breath before releasing it slowly. Then turning on my heel, with a grim smile playing on my lips, I faced the man that was now my livelihood.

                "Yes Mr Satani?" I questioned, trying to keep up the civilities.

                "Welcome to Satani Media." He responded.

That sounded like a nice gesture, but the smirk firmly in place made it clear he was laughing at me. With no further words he retreated into his office, the door slamming closed behind him so that the floor shook beneath me.

 I surveyed the mess surrounding me.  

                "Welcome to Satani Media indeed." I muttered before dropping down onto the floor amidst the paper disaster. This was going to be a long day.