Chapter 4

• "This will be your desk here." Derek says as he lets Lorna leave and head back to her department. The woman is one of the oldest employees he has at 78, but she's sweet and gets the job done. "You are to answer all phone calls that come in, greet people and help them as they enter, you will be given a few manuscripts today that you can start with and you are to get any and all messages and calls for me, there is a list here of people who you can say I'm in a meeting for and can take a message, and list here" Derek says moving his hand to another sheet of paper with more names. "Are people you would alert me are calling and I will take their call? If for some reason I don't want to take their call I will let you know ahead of time or just simply tell you I'm busy. Do you think you've got it?"
• Gemma nods. "I've got it." She points at the first list of people. "Answer and say your too busy, try again later, and these, forward them to you."
• Derek hides his amusement "Maybe a little nicer on the try again later answer."
• "Oh, of course." Gemma says with a smile and a small chuckle. "I will politely tell them to fuck off." Derek chocks on a laugh as he gives Gemma the most amused look. "I'm kidding. I've done this before. 'Thank you for calling B&H, how can I help you, oh I'm sorry Mr. Hanes is currently in a meeting, can I take your name and message and I will make sure he gets it as soon as he's done.'"
• Derek smirks. Something Laura sees as she stands in the doorway of the breakroom a ways away from the receptionist desk. Her hand gripping the coffee mug in her hand so hard the mug shakes.
• "Well then, I think I can leave you to it then. Someone will bring by your manuscripts soon."
• “Thank you. I will get started on those as soon as I get them.” Gemma says.
• “Usually, they will have a date on them that will tell you around when we need them fully looked over. Just make sure you get them done by the date and you’ll be just fine.” Derek says before he heads back to his office.
• He sits down at his desk trying to figure out what the hell was happening. No woman has ever made him feel the way Gemma was. It was weird for him. But he wasn’t going to make a mistake by trying anything. The last time he did, he regretted. And is still regretting it every day—
• “Derek—“
• “Speak of the dam devil.” Derek muttered to himself as he put his head in his head. “What?” He says annoyed.
• Laura only smiled as she walked over and planted her ass on his desk. “Don’t be like that— you know—“
• “No! I’ve already told you Laura. This—“ Derek jester’s between the two of them “was a massive mistake. I was drunk. I didn’t know it was you. And if I had I wouldn’t have let it happen. So stop.”
• “You don’t mean that.” She says with a flirty smile.
• “Oh. I absolutely mean it. So get your ass off my desk.”
• Laura sighs. She knows Derek wasn’t that drunk that night they slept together. He’s just playing hard to get. Laura clears her throat. “So— the new girl— I don’t like her.” She stares blankly.
• Derek looks at her. “I don’t care who you like or don’t like. It has nothing to do with me— now leave my office.”
• Laura places her hand on Derek’s thigh before giving him a smirk and getting up. “I’ll go get some work done.”
• “That would be good. Since that’s the only reason I keep you around.” Derek stated bluntly.