Romance: Duplicity (Duplicity New Adult Romance Book 1) by K.T. Knight Page B
Authors: K.T. Knight
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us in turn.
I can't help noticing how his gaze constantly returns to me. What a brass neck! Does he know it was me in the lift earlier? I'm sure there was emphasis on 'elevator' when he replied just there, after my little speech. Is he playing games with me? I make myself lose the thought. I can rise above this.
"Always professional, always delivers." That's what Eve used to say about me. So far, it seems this strategy is getting me precisely nowhere.
Everyone has had their chance to speak and Nicholas quickly wraps it up. "OK, thank you all. I'll be meeting you individually to get to know you better but I'm certain we can all do some really great work together. Let's put this team on the map."
Just when everyone is thinking we've got a cool new boss, he sets a ton of project tasks to be completed for the next day.
How can a day that started so brilliantly turn out so bad? My promotion is doomed, my presentation totally forgotten about. I'm going to be working all evening to keep the new boss happy.
I won't be able to go to the standup gig tonight with my roommate Tara, which will really piss her off. Her friend has a slot at the comedy club and I promised I would be there for support. I've not been out with Tara in ages. Too busy with work. I hope she understands, she always does.
Worst of all - Nick the prick, aka lift hijacker / promotion thief / my new boss is actually really, really hot.
Whoa Holly, stop right there ...
CHAPTER THREE
Meeting over, we return to our desks. I can feel everyone's eyes on me again, in an attempt to gauge my reaction to the unexpected turn of events. I hate open plan offices. Soon, I'll have my own room. Just maybe not as soon as I'd thought.
Lou looks like she's going to burst. Before she can start on me, I flash her a look which says, “Zip it”, before turning away. I bury my face in my hands for a moment or two, in an attempt to regain composure. Most of the team know I've taken a knock-back, but Lou and some of the others think I'm too ambitious and won't be sorry.
I set about trying to work, hoping my disappointment isn't too obvious. What I really want to do is run out of here and scream.
I stare at the screen, not really seeing what's there. There's a storm raging in my head. All my efforts of the last months have amounted to nothing. When will another opportunity for promotion come up? Who the hell is this guy Van Hoogen anyway and who does he think he is?
I lift the phone and speed dial IT support. "Adam? It's Holly. Can you meet me in five at the usual place? Cool, bye."
After I set the phone down to Adam, it rings again immediately. I'm already getting up from the desk but something tells me to take the call. I lift the receiver in exasperation. "Holly Martin," I chirp, in my best fake, cheery voice.
"Hello, Holly Martin." My heart skips a beat as the voice registers in my brain. It's Nicholas, and he wants to see me now.
With butterflies in my stomach I carefully straighten my skirt and walk towards his room. It's one of the coveted corner offices with views across the Thames. The office that should have been mine. He's got his name on the door already. Fast mover.
I knock the door twice before opening it. Nicholas is seated at the desk.
"Oh, Holly Martin. Yes, come, come." He motions towards the chair across from him. I sit. He smiles. "I apologise for earlier ... making you go first … but you were the only one I'd already met."
"Already met?" I enquire. I am pretty sure where this is going but I want to make him say it.
"Yes, this morning … in the lift?"
An awkward pause.
I can feel myself blushing again and hope it looks like anger. I remember how this morning I had enjoyed our encounter. Funny how much can change in an hour.
"I would hardly consider that as having met," I reply, indignant.
"No, I apologise, these are my silly games," he admits, suddenly sounding very foreign.
I almost laugh aloud at the clumsiness of his defence. I'm still
I can't help noticing how his gaze constantly returns to me. What a brass neck! Does he know it was me in the lift earlier? I'm sure there was emphasis on 'elevator' when he replied just there, after my little speech. Is he playing games with me? I make myself lose the thought. I can rise above this.
"Always professional, always delivers." That's what Eve used to say about me. So far, it seems this strategy is getting me precisely nowhere.
Everyone has had their chance to speak and Nicholas quickly wraps it up. "OK, thank you all. I'll be meeting you individually to get to know you better but I'm certain we can all do some really great work together. Let's put this team on the map."
Just when everyone is thinking we've got a cool new boss, he sets a ton of project tasks to be completed for the next day.
How can a day that started so brilliantly turn out so bad? My promotion is doomed, my presentation totally forgotten about. I'm going to be working all evening to keep the new boss happy.
I won't be able to go to the standup gig tonight with my roommate Tara, which will really piss her off. Her friend has a slot at the comedy club and I promised I would be there for support. I've not been out with Tara in ages. Too busy with work. I hope she understands, she always does.
Worst of all - Nick the prick, aka lift hijacker / promotion thief / my new boss is actually really, really hot.
Whoa Holly, stop right there ...
CHAPTER THREE
Meeting over, we return to our desks. I can feel everyone's eyes on me again, in an attempt to gauge my reaction to the unexpected turn of events. I hate open plan offices. Soon, I'll have my own room. Just maybe not as soon as I'd thought.
Lou looks like she's going to burst. Before she can start on me, I flash her a look which says, “Zip it”, before turning away. I bury my face in my hands for a moment or two, in an attempt to regain composure. Most of the team know I've taken a knock-back, but Lou and some of the others think I'm too ambitious and won't be sorry.
I set about trying to work, hoping my disappointment isn't too obvious. What I really want to do is run out of here and scream.
I stare at the screen, not really seeing what's there. There's a storm raging in my head. All my efforts of the last months have amounted to nothing. When will another opportunity for promotion come up? Who the hell is this guy Van Hoogen anyway and who does he think he is?
I lift the phone and speed dial IT support. "Adam? It's Holly. Can you meet me in five at the usual place? Cool, bye."
After I set the phone down to Adam, it rings again immediately. I'm already getting up from the desk but something tells me to take the call. I lift the receiver in exasperation. "Holly Martin," I chirp, in my best fake, cheery voice.
"Hello, Holly Martin." My heart skips a beat as the voice registers in my brain. It's Nicholas, and he wants to see me now.
With butterflies in my stomach I carefully straighten my skirt and walk towards his room. It's one of the coveted corner offices with views across the Thames. The office that should have been mine. He's got his name on the door already. Fast mover.
I knock the door twice before opening it. Nicholas is seated at the desk.
"Oh, Holly Martin. Yes, come, come." He motions towards the chair across from him. I sit. He smiles. "I apologise for earlier ... making you go first … but you were the only one I'd already met."
"Already met?" I enquire. I am pretty sure where this is going but I want to make him say it.
"Yes, this morning … in the lift?"
An awkward pause.
I can feel myself blushing again and hope it looks like anger. I remember how this morning I had enjoyed our encounter. Funny how much can change in an hour.
"I would hardly consider that as having met," I reply, indignant.
"No, I apologise, these are my silly games," he admits, suddenly sounding very foreign.
I almost laugh aloud at the clumsiness of his defence. I'm still
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