Chapter One

One, two, three, four, five, six. I counted the people in front of me at Starbucks. It was only my second week at my new job and already I was growing tired of being an errand girl. I mean, at least Matt - my boss, and the editor-in-chief at Sports Vibe Magazine - was attractive. It made it easier knowing I had to do every little thing for him. Including stopping each morning to pick up his Venti black coffee from the Starbucks near our office. I had wanted to work for Erin Lewis - the editor-in-chief at my favorite fashion magazine, Purple Blazers - but when I met the CEO of Marston Media, Steve, he told me he thought I was better suited to be Matt's assistant. I wasn't about to argue with the man who was ultimately in control of my job.

My best friend, Tana and I met Steve when we were out at a bar and he hit on us. It wasn't the first time a guy hit on the both of us, but it was the first time I felt creeped out by one. When he spoke to Tana or I, he would slightly brush up against us. At first, he was after Tana, telling her how he loved her vibe and thought she would be a great addition to his sports magazine. As a writer. Something Tana absolutely hated. Tana went on a five-minute-rant about how she would never work for him or the "corporate world" because it's "so corrupt."

Steve laughed at her for implying that he was a greedy old bastard. That's when he turned his focus on me and told me I had been giving off the same vibes. I didn't believe him, but I needed a new job. Having quit mine a month prior, I was getting desperate. He had me come into his office the following morning where I told him about how much I loved Purple Blazers and Erin.

"But you'll fit in so much better at Sports Vibe." He had said. "Besides Erin isn't going to need a new assistant soon." The next day I was in Matt's office, meeting him for the very first time.

I walked out of Starbucks, coffee in hand and headed for work. When I got there, Matt pulled me into his office to discuss what I would do that day. Most of it I already knew as I had planned the night before so it was just repetitive and I caught myself zoning out.

"And I need you to send out the next issue's theme. I want everyone to get a head start on what they are planning to write for next month." Matt said, pulling me back in. He rolled his sleeve up and I could just see the end of the snake tattoo that ended on his forearm. I had never seen the entire thing before as he always wore long sleeve shirts that he'd roll up to his elbow. Giving off a laid-back-professional vibe.

I nodded my head. I was staring again. It was hard not to. He was a hard ass and I was getting irritated with his requests, but he was total eye candy. I swore I got heart palpitations just from being in the same building as him.

"Oh, and can you pick up my dry cleaning after lunch? It's at the dry cleaners next door. So you won't have to go very far."

"Yes, I can do that," I said. Even though what I really wanted to do was roll my eyes. He was a grown man but couldn't seem to do some of the simplest tasks.

"Yes, what?" He asked.

I blushed. "Yes, sir."

"That's better." He said.

I swore I saw a flash of something in his eyes. Something that told me he wanted me far more than he was letting on. I wanted to ask him, but the door to his office opened. I turned around in my chair to see Erin enter. The white pantsuit she wore looked flawless on her. It was baggy, yet in an elegant, sophisticated, sexy way. I could never pull it off the way she could.

"Matty, hon. Are you ready for lunch?" She asked him.

I had unfortunately, found out when I was hired that Erin was in fact his fiancee. So he wasn't just my boss, he was also engaged making him even more off limits to me. But a girl could daydream.

He nodded and stood from his seat. "Thank you, Amber. I'll have more for you to do, later." He said.

I stood up and caught Erin giving me a once-over.

"Who's this?" She asked.

"Oh, yes. This is my assistant, Amber. Steve hired her last Monday." Matt said. Erin had been in Paris meeting with the Paris edition's editor-in-chief when I had started last week.

I held my hand out. "It's so wonderful to meet you, Erin. I've followed your career for the last three years. In fact, I told Steve I wanted to be your assistant but I guess there were no openings." I realized I was rambling and closed my mouth as embarrassment washed over me. Why was I so awkward?

Erin took my hand and smiled one of the most fake smiles I had ever seen. Forcing herself to pretend to be nice and I suddenly felt more awkward. "Nice to meet you."

I let go of her hand, smiled and let Matt know I'd get everything done that he had asked me to and we could regroup after lunch.

"Have a nice lunch," I said and walked out of the office, leaving them to be alone.

I sat down at my desk and worked on the email that Matt wanted me to send out. A few seconds later Erin and Matt emerged from his office and walked by, he had his hand on the small of her back, right above her surprisingly flat ass, and it made me jealous. I wanted to be the one walking with him. I wanted to feel his hand right above my ass. Just inches from being able to squeeze it. I was jealous of Erin over more than just her job and her life. Despite Matt tasking me to get his laundry and coffee, he seemed pretty fucking amazing.

I watched as they stepped onto the elevator, Erin was nose deep in her cell phone and Matt looked at me and smiled. I wished that Erin would realize what she had. She was so lucky, and she wasn't even aware of it. I looked back down at my paper, tearing my eyes away from the couple, and when I looked back up, the doors to the elevator were closing and Matt winked at me. I felt the tingle of desire in my core and had to shake my head to focus my attention back on the email.

But it was hard because Matt had just freaking winked at me.