In Love With Lucy (NSFW) by C.C. Wood Page A

there were candidates like myself, who were actually somewhat qualified but ignorant of his reputation.
    I went through the files, organizing them according to interview time when I noticed that Chelsea’s name was on one of the folders. I grinned. Chelsea Archer didn’t back down from a challenge and neither did Chris Barden. It would be interesting to see who would win that battle of wills if they went head-to-head.
    I found myself thoroughly entertained by the first two candidates, both young men about to graduate from business school. They both left with their tails between their legs. The third candidate made my skin crawl. She was a tall, curvaceous, blonde, and absolutely stunning. She smiled serenely at me when she introduced herself, but I could see her bright green eyes sizing me up and finding me lacking.
    I barely refrained from rolling my eyes and snorting at her obvious attempts to make me feel insecure. While I might not have the same assets as MBA Barbie, but I was happy with what I had to work with and there were definitely. I never understood some women’s need to try and make others feel inferior.
    I grinned at her back as she swayed into Chris’ office.
    Fifteen minutes later, I wasn’t grinning. She’d been in there longer than the other two candidates and I could hear both of them laughing. Laughing . Ten minutes later, his office door opened and he escorted her out.
    She gave me a smug smile, raising a superior eyebrow at me. I crammed all my resentment down and smiled sweetly at her.
    “You have a nice day now, ya hear?” I drawled, unable to resist goading her.
    Her triumphant expression slipped for a moment, but she continued out of the office. I frowned at the blotter on my desk. I managed to school my features and glance up at Chris to find him watching me closely.
    “Should I call and cancel your other appointments?” I asked brightly. “You two seemed to have hit it off.”
    For a moment I thought I saw a fleeting expression of amusement cross his face, before he sighed. “Don’t cancel the interviews. Vonda is a nice woman, but I think she’s more interested in husband hunting than working as an administrative assistant.”
    I felt the sharp claws of jealousy dig into my back, scraping and scratching hard enough to make me grind my teeth. I had no right to be angry that she flirted with him or that he may have flirted back, but I was. The fury was like a red veil over my eyes.
    Instead of shooting out of my chair and stomping out the door as I wanted to do, I merely nodded. “Okay, well, your next appointment is with Chelsea Archer in fifteen minutes.”
    Chris was still watching me, but I pasted a smile on my face.
    “She currently works in this building, right?”
    I nodded.
    “I think I’ve seen the two of you eating lunch together several times.”
    I glared at him. I know he’d seen me eating with her and my other three friends often. We lunched together almost every day.
    “Let me know when she arrives and perhaps we can start her interview early.”
    I scowled at his back as he walked back into his office. Less than ten seconds later, there was a light knock on the door jamb between the reception area and my office. I looked up to see Chelsea poking her head through the door, her strawberry blond curls in a riot around her pretty face.
    “Hey, how’s it going?” she asked.
    “Fine,” I sighed. “He’s ready to see you if you’re good to go.”
    She grinned broadly. “Sure.”
    I led her into Chris’ office, made introductions, then left, shutting the door behind me. I tried to work at my desk, but caught myself straining to hear what they were saying to each other through the door.
    Twenty minutes later, the door opened and Chris led Chelsea out of his office, smiling at her. Not his polite smile, but a genuine, warm smile. My friend was giggling. Actually, giggling like a schoolgirl. Chelsea may have looked as though she were an innocent, sweet person, but