With Grace

Chapter 6 - Grace

I was dead on my feet as I stepped into my small apartment that evening. I'd taken advantage of the gym membership every employee of Montgomery Corps got and went straight there after the day ended to run on the treadmill for an hour. It was a good distraction for a while.

I dumped my handbag on a counter in the kitchen and made my way to the bed immediately face-planting and groaning.

When I walked into the tall building that morning, I was prepared to work under Gabriel Montgomery, the cold twenty-five-year-old that had built his company from nothing to one of the leading multi-purpose corporations in the world. I was excited to work under someone that would no doubt become a legend among men but instead, I was placed under his COO.

While not a bad position as Archibald Williams had as much credibility as Mr. Montgomery, since he has been with the company from the beginning as well; I hadn't anticipated him being as gorgeous as he is when I turned around to meet him.

I had to force my eyes to stay connected to him instead of raking down his body. I did get the chance to check him out multiple times during the day without anyone noticing and let's just say his light stubble and tight suit pants made him look like the perfect rugged boss that should appear in every woman's dreams.

I groaned into my pillow again. I couldn't find my boss attractive; it would just make everything so awkward for me. I had at least another three months working literally in his office; if he ever got an inkling that I went weak at the knees when he grinned at me, I would immediately get fired or worse.

I sat up straight and stared at the wall, sighing. I knew this would cause issues when I returned from lunch after I'd been denying it all morning.

"Feel free to take lunch whenever you're ready." Archer told me as he stared between the different screens and files on his desk. I was about to reply that I'd take a break when he took one as he hadn't stopped for a sip of his now cold coffee since nine-thirty but I didn't get the chance, which was probably better in the long run as I would have just embarrassed myself with the intended words.

"Hey, come with me. I'm heading out now." Nancy said, standing from her desk with a handbag in hand.

"Er...sure." I replied, looking between Nancy and Archer who looked up briefly to give me his toothy smile that I couldn't help but return. "Just give me a second, I'll meet you downstairs."

"Don't take too long or the line at Assagio's will be too long to wait in." She said, raising her eyebrows suggestively before heading to the elevator.

I put a few of my things back in my bag and stood up, standing in front of Archer's desk.

"Can I help you with anything before I leave?" I asked.

"No, I think I have everything set here for the rest of the day. Even if I don't, it can wait for an hour." He said, smiling up at me. That was the third time today that I nearly fell to the ground at his smile but I just returned it.

"Do you want anything from Assagio's?" I said, only partially succeeding to not stumble over my words.

"I'm happy with an apple. Too much to do to take an hour." He waved an apple that sat beside him up at me but quickly his face fell as my own became unsure. "Not that you shouldn't take a break, you deserve it on your first day but there's a lot to catch up on for me today and things that the construction site in London needs consolidation on..."

"It's alright, sir." I reassured. "I'll see you in an hour."

I smiled to myself as I turned and walked out of the office, quickly wiping it off my face as the floor came fully into my line of sight, rushing off to meet Nancy.