Page 12 of The Rebel

“First things first. She’s only here for a short time.”

“What do you mean?”

“She’s actually a marketing manager by trade. She was supposed to start a senior position with a beverage company, but then they had a hiring freeze.”

“So, what? She’s going to be my assistant while job hunting? I don’t like that. Why didn’t you pick someone else?”

Dorothy’s shoulders slumped. “Because there wasn’t anyone else.”

“Not a single person applied? That’s impossible,” I replied.

“It’s only been one week, Anthony. I believe your words were ‘I need an assistant ASAP.’ And with the upcoming music festival, you definitely can’t be without one. I thought this was a good solution for both of you. You’re still looking for someone to be your permanent assistant, and Daisy is looking for a senior marketing position. Her résumé is very impressive, by the way. We just have zero openings in marketing; otherwise, I’d consider her for something there.”

“All right. I’ll go check her out.”

Dorothy looked uncertain. “Maybe I should come with you.”

I stared at her. “I can handle my own assistant.”

“Please don’t scare her off. I don’t want to have to be your assistant again.” Dorothy actually looked concerned. Wow, I wasn’tthatbad.

I burst out laughing. “Don’t worry. All right, I’m going to meet this Daisy.”

I downed my coffee and headed to the small kitchen area to throw the empty cup away. I could tell my brothers were already here because the doors to their respective offices were closed, and I could hear voices on the other sides. The only exception was Beckett. He wasn’t an early riser either.

My office was at the very end of the corridor with large windows that looked out on Royal. Most of the others overlooked the inner courtyard, but I preferred my view.

The door was wide open. I noticed a smidge of blonde hair just before I stepped through the doorway. Though maybe I was imagining things because the blonde from the coffee shop had made an impression on me.

Once I could see her fully, I stopped short, stunned. The same woman from earlier was sitting on my couch, legs crossed, currently unaware of my presence because she was looking toward the window.

Fucking hell, what are the odds?

CHAPTER 4

DAISY

I bounced my leg slightly,drawing in a deep breath. Why was I so nervous? So far, everything was going smoothly. Dorothy had been very welcoming. I’d even been introduced to one of the other brothers—Chad LeBlanc. He’d been perfectly polite, even wished me good luck.

Even before then, this morning had started off well. I took the encounter with the handsome stranger as a good omen. I’d never given my number to a guy I just met, not even when I was in college. But I’d decided to be impulsive.

The sound of a man clearing his throat pulled me out of my thoughts. I immediately jumped to my feet, turning around. Then I blinked several times. Had I stepped into an alternate universe? There was no way that my new boss was the handsome man I’d flirted with just a short while ago. It just wasn’t possible.

And yet here he was in the flesh, just as attractive as he’d been in that coffee shop. He was tall, with impossibly dark eyes, light brown hair, and an angular jaw that would make him absolutely perfect for any marketing campaign. I was certain he could sell anything.

“Miss…”

Only, he seemed different from the guy in the coffee shop. For one, he wasn’t smiling. His eyes were serious, almost cold.

Maybe he had a twin brother. Yes! That had to be it.

A twin brother who’s dressed in the same suit, huh?

I was grasping at straws. This simply couldn’t be happening.

“Good morning, Ms. Evanston,” he said.

Damn, it really was him.