Chapter One
Darcy looked down at the worn newspaper in her hands, a big permanent marker circle around an ad saying, “PARALEGAL WANTED.”
She took a deep breath, turning her gaze up to the skyscraper at the top of the flight of stairs she stood before. The cars zooming behind her on the road faded into the distance as she tried to muster up the courage to take the first step. A loud honk jolted her back to reality and she made her way up the steps, her high heels clicking against the concrete.
Her stomach was doing somersaults as she stepped off the elevator onto the 10th floor. The glass door to the left read ‘Aaron Carter, Attorney at Law.’ Exhaling sharply, she stepped into the office. She hoped she was looking confident as she strode up to the desk. There was a bored-looking secretary playing on her computer.
“Excuse me,” Darcy said. “My name is Darcy Perkins. I have an interview with Mr. Carter.”
“You the paralegal?”
“Yes,” she said.
“Do you have your resume?”
She held it up and replied, “Yep.”
The girl rolled her eyes and picked up the phone, pressing a button on the base. “Yeah, Mr. Carter, Miss Perkins is here to see you. Will do.” She hung up and said, “He’s available.” She stood and gathered up her stuff. “Go on in.” She walked out of the office, letting the glass door shut behind her.
Darcy blinked a few times, but shook it off and walked up the door, knocking.
A deep voice called out, “Come in.”
Stepping inside, she squinted, adjusting to the darkness in the room.
“Shut the door.”
She did as she was told. Her eyes began to take in her surroundings – light-darkening blinds filtered the sun away from a large pane window. The office was simple, with a computer desk and chair, a couch, and a bookcase. Her blue eyes fell upon Aaron Carter, who was studying her in the dark. He bent over and flipped on a desk light, illuminating the room dimly.
“Have a seat,” he told her, sitting down, motioning toward a chair opposite his.
Darcy did as directed, placing her papers on her lap.
He started. “Darcy, right?”
“Yes, sir.”
He frowned thoughtfully, nodding. His eyes fell upon the papers in her lap. He held out his hand. “Give them.”
She handed them to him and waited patiently, nervously fidgeting in her seat. Her palms were sweating and she felt like she was going to throw up.
“Stop squirming.”
Darcy stopped, meeting his eyes from over her papers.
“Thank you.” He turned back to her resume. “Impressive. You have good credentials. I see your professors were impressed with you, given you have three letters of recommendation.”
“Yes, sir.”
He sat the papers down, looking her dead in the eye. “If you’re so qualified for this job, why are you so nervous?”
“It’s just who I am, I guess?”
“Is that a question or a statement?”
Darcy blinked, taken aback by his sharp tongue. There was a stirring between her legs that she hadn’t felt in a while. Slowly, she replied, “Um…a question, I guess. But I meant it as a statement.”
“I like you, Darcy,” Aaron said. “But I’m not sure that you’re quite strong enough for this position.”
“What does strength have to do with it? I’m a fast typist, if that’s what you’re referring to. I’m good with clients and paperwork…”
“That isn’t what I’m referring to.” He stood and circled the desk. Leaning back against the edge of the desk, he crossed his arms and looked down into her eyes. “Working for me comes with a certain set of commitments that I’m not sure you’re ready to take part in.”
Darcy frowned curiously. “Can you tell me what they are so I can make a decision for myself?”
He held her papers out to her. “No.”
The commanding tone of his voice made her pulse leap and her stomach flutter. She took the papers back, hoping her voice was steady as she said, “That doesn’t seem quite fair.”
“To be honest,
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