Page 4 of Dante (Members From Money Season 2. #153)

She was prepared, or so she kept telling herself.

She had spent the night going through her closet to select the perfect outfit and brushed away the thought that several months from now, she would be wearing maternity clothing.

Not if she could help it, she thought fiercely.

She was going to be a classy pregnant chick with outfits that highlighted both her pregnancy and her curves.

In the meantime, she had selected what she thought was the perfect ensemble.

A chic blend of cotton and wool dress in navy blue.

It had straight lines and a narrow skirt and had red inseams running on either side of her narrow waist. A scooped neckline just flirted at the shape of her small, yet full bosom.

It would not do to show cleavage, and she was too professional to resort to anything like that anyway.

The color looked great against her coffee and cream skin.

She had also chosen a red, white and blue silk scarf to complement the dress.

Discreet diamond knobs were at the double piercings on each ear.

The necklace, one her brother had gifted her with on her eighteenth birthday and her smart watch were the only other jewelry she had on.

She also did not believe in over accessorizing.

Her hair was short and glossy from the deep conditioning she had given it. The streaky blonde mixed well with the dark brown and the pixie style suited her narrow face. Makeup was minimal. She also did not believe in slathering her face and spending an hour applying junk. She did not need it.

Stepping back from the mirror, she took a deep breath and went to get shoes.

That and handbags were her one weakness.

She was petite, barely topping five two and would make up the height by wearing impossibly high heels.

Brushing away the thought that in a few months, she was going to have to start wearing sensible heels, she went for the glossy black Christian Louboutin which had set her back several hundred dollars and slid them on.

Her perfume was light and slightly masculine.

Taking one last look at herself in the mirror, she grabbed a matching bag, a light jacket and made her way out.

She had also decided to get to the office an hour earlier to get acquainted.

Ms. Carstairs had sent her several emails as reminders to apprise her of what to attend to and she had studied those thoroughly.

But she wanted to get familiar with the layout.

She had seen photos of the towering building in several magazines but had never been inside.

Ms. Carstairs had her way of setting up her office, but that did not mean it suited her, Courtney thought.

Taking a deep breath and saying a prayer, she left the house.

It was worse than she anticipated. The wide sweep of the parking lot and she was astonished to realize that a place had been specially designated for her to park.

Well not her specifically, but for whoever the admin was and it was a prime parking spot beneath a gently waving palm tree and was a few feet away from the towering glass and chrome building.

A doorman or security guard stood by the automatic glass doors and was wearing a spiffy olive and tan uniform, with the name of the company stitched on the breast pocket. No outside help for Dante Livingston.

The front office, and it was exactly that, had a wide granite counter where four receptionists, looking cool and confidently beautiful manned the desk and all of them were blondes. Interesting, she thought as she stepped towards the desk.

She had yet to be issued an ID.

"Hi." She smiled easily as one of the blondes wearing a blazing red and green sweater looked over at her. "Carly. My name is Courtney Vernon. I'm the person replacing Ms. Carstairs."

The tone was more than professional. It was icy with disapproval and had her lifting her brows. It also occurred to her that any one of these women would have been interested in the position.

"You're early."

"Well, I need to get acquainted with the office layout and..."

"Take the private elevator at the corner. It will take you straight up." Light blue eyes flashed at her before the woman returned to her keyboard.

"I guess I won't be receiving any welcome bouquet," she muttered as she made her way towards the elevator. Determined not to allow the frosty reception to worry her, she punched the button and was further amazed when she was shot up to the top with incredible speed.

The car opened to quiet breathtaking elegance.

Moss green carpet covered the floors and had her feet sinking into its softness.

When she had had the informal interview with Ms. Carstairs it had been in a conference room on the first floor.

But the woman had told her that the entire top floor comprised of the suite of offices belonging to the CEO, which included her office, his and a few conference rooms he used for meetings.

Pushing the double mahogany doors open, she stepped into a large room with wide windows overlooking the city and a work area that had her rushing over to sit behind the shiny oak desk.

A bank of steel gray cabinets was at her back.

A mini fridge stood on a table, including a fancy coffee maker and a refreshment stand.

The computer was top of the line of course, and so was the fax machine and the printer.

She had her own bathroom, bigger than the one at her home and done up in the sleek elegant color of the company.

Easing out a breath, she sat back down on a chair that ergonomically molded to her shape and sighed.

"Wow!" she whispered.

Taking a moment to appreciate the art on the walls, the deep cushioned sofas scattered around the room and the table stacked neatly with magazines as well as the bookcase, she booted up the computer and within minutes was familiarizing herself with the operating system.

Twenty minutes in, she had printed out the boss's itinerary and familiarized herself with his schedule.

She had also walked into his magnificently turned-out office and amazed herself with the simple elegance and spectacular view from his windows.

The man had everything for his comfort. A large bathroom with a big walk-in shower.

A fully equipped gym, a small bedroom complete with a closet with designer clothes hanging inside and a sitting area with a big screen television mounted on the wall.

Ms. Carstairs informed her that Mr. Livingston sometimes spent time at the office if he had a late meeting.

Rubbing a bolstering fist over her chest, she went back to her desk.

She got the heads up when he entered the building and had time to compose herself.

She also had the day's schedule sent to his desktop and a hard copy on his desk.

He had a board meeting in ten minutes, and she had personally seen to it that the room was set up.

Pastries had been placed on the table in the corner of the room.

The tea, coffee and juices, three different types were on a separate table.

He would be going straight from the board meeting to one with his CFO.

She also had that covered and the notes from their last meeting.

What she wasn't prepared for was Dante Livingston in real and incredible life.

He walked into the outer office with a phone at his ear and the man was so dangerously and potently male, she had to take several breaths as her carefully composed expression took a shaky dive.

He had on a thin silk sweater that molded to his very impressive upper body.

His raven dark hair was ruthlessly brushed from a broad forehead. And he was tall.

When he lifted his head, tawny eyes, piercing and lethal bored into hers before sweeping over her face and then back to her eyes.

"I'll get back to you." Shoving the phone into the pocket of his dark dress pants, he strode forward. "Who the hell are you?"

Of all the things she expected to hear coming from him, that wasn't one of them. Pushing back the chair, she got to her feet slowly, willing herself to be calm.

"I'm Courtney Vernon. Ms. Carstairs..."

"Get her on the phone." Without waiting for her to respond, he turned into his office and slammed the doors shut.

Taking a deep cleansing breath, she sat down and placed the call. As soon as Ellen answered, she transferred the call and waited and watched the steady red light. When it blinked off, she was prepared for the intercom.

"Get in here!" he barked.

Lifting her chin, she took her time gathering up her device and made her way into his office.

He was standing behind his desk, his attention on his desktop.

She stood by one of the deep cushioned chairs and waited him out.

Lifting his head, he jerked towards the chair and waited until she was seated.

"Ellen, Ms. Carstairs informed me of the transition three weeks ago and reminded me a week ago. It slipped my mind. She also informed me that she told you what this position entails." His eyes wandered over her face and what he saw pissed him off royally.

She was too attractive and too damn young.

In fact, she looked like a damn model. He wanted middle-aged and had specifically told his former assistant that detail.

Keeping his temper under control, he sat.

Ellen had assured him that the woman seated across from him was one of the best and he did not have the bloody time to interview anyone else.

"I don't want a personal relationship. You do your job to my specifications, and we won't have a problem.

I don't want a card for my birthday or a cake.

" His eyes became icy cold. "And most of all, I will not tolerate you thinking that there's something personal between us.

I don't date my employees. I... What the hell are you doing? "