Personal Assistant to the Alpha (Book 9 of the Regal Eclipse Pack Series)

Chapter 5

Mr. Abbott had taken her to an awfully fancy restaurant, and she felt completely under dressed and like she didn't belong. She was from a small town in North Carolina, not New York high society.

Mr. Abbott, though, was very attentive to her, and it made her a bit nervous, especially since she knew he was married. She noticed he wasn't wearing a wedding ring. Did he ever?

He placed his hand on her lower back as they walked over to a small table for two. He seated her in the chair, then settled down himself across from her, his gaze on her the entire time.

He placed an order for a bottle of wine, and the server left the table. Mr. Abbott poured her and himself a glass each.

Cassidy turned her attention to her menu. She opened it and almost had a heart attack. She could NOT afford to eat here. So much for going shopping this weekend for anything new. She was already committed.

"Order whatever you want. I'm paying," Mr. Abbott said quietly, his eyes still on her.

She looked up at him. "Sir.."

"We're still working. Get whatever," he said, smiling at her.

She nodded, but she felt incredibly uncomfortable. Nothing on the menu was anywhere near remotely cheap, and she finally gave in and picked something. Hopefully, at this price, the food was good.

The food arrived finally and was absolutely delicious. Mr. Abbott spent the first half of the meal discussing business with her before he finally turned the conversation. "So, where in North Carolina are you from?"

"I'm from a small town on the coast called Swansboro," she said. She actually missed living there. She missed her family, her mother and father, her sister and brother-in-law.

"Never heard of it. You still have family there?" Mr. Abbott asked.

"Yes. My father runs a fishing charter and my mother works at a bank." Talking about it made her homesick. She hadn't been home in quite some time.

"And you went away to NC State and got offered an internship in New York City," he said.

He'd looked at her background. "Yes."

"How come you quit there?" he asked curiously.

She didn't want to tell him that it all came down to money but she wouldn't lie to him either. "I um.. I was barely making ends meet. I just couldn't make it work."

"Typical. Get an intern, hire them in with a bit more pay and hope they stay." He shook his head. "And then you worked for Madame Alexandria?"

"Yes, as her personal assistant," she said.

"She highly recommended you," he said.

"She did?" That surprised her.

"Yeah. I think that's why Lori hired you," he told her. "So what did you think of Madame Alexandria?"

Why did he have to ask? The woman was rude and demanding and had seemed to take joy out of making Cassidy miserable and stressing her out. "She was nice to work for."

Mr. Abbott busted out laughing. "The truth, Cassidy. I'd rather you were candid with me."

She sighed. "She stressed me out."

"I think you're still being nice. I know how she is. Did she make you cry?" He sat back and folded his large arms across his chest.

"Yes," she admitted.

"Well hopefully I don't stress you out," he grinned.

"You don't, Sir," she said.

"You can call me Clay," he told her, his brown eyes twinkling.