The Kane Cross (Cross 1)

10 - First day

"Oh. Okay. I can order lunch. You can join me."

"Did you hire me for a friend or because I'm needed?"

"Both. No one wants to get close to the boss's daughter. Plus, this department is one demographic: white, middle-age males."

Eleanor cleared her throat. "What about me?"

Tate smiled. "You're not a man."

The secretary chuckled and answered the ringing phone, still smiling. "Ms. Kane, Mr. Kane is on the line for you."

"Thanks Eleanor, which one?"

Eleanor smiled. "Father." Ivy breathed a little easier.

"Give me a few minutes. I'll order takeout. Here read this."

She handed her a contract. As Ivy started reading, memories floated around her - snow outside the window, the demanding voice in the kitchen, his smile at her work, his lips, his swollen cock. She squirmed in her seat and forced herself to focus on the words.

Tate popped her head in. "Come to my office."

She picked up her bag. Tate had a gorgeous salad on her desk. Ivy reluctantly pulled out a ham sandwich. She also had a banana. Not a very glamorous lunch. Maybe she should pack a fresh salad instead. It would require a trip to the grocery store and spending money she didn't have.

As she stabbed lettuce with her fork, Tate said, "I have a phone call this afternoon, I'd like you to sit in on."

"I'm supposed to get my computer this afternoon. She also watched a video on the appropriate use of the company devices.

"How was your morning?"

She shook her finger. "No porn at lunch."

Tate looked amused. "Excuse me."

"That's what I learned. No porn at lunch and no sleeping with a boss."

"I'm your boss and I don't want to sleep with you. My boss may want to, but he's at least fifty-five. If anyone watches porn at lunch, it's him. Stay clear of him."

As they ate, each was deep in their own thoughts. Tate had her phone out. Ivy pointed to it. "Don't look at that garbage. It's all lies."

Tate looked up. "I don't know if I should hate her or feel sorry for her."

"I don't think you should waste your time and energy on either emotion."

"I know you're right. Baxter keeps saying the same thing. You two are similar. You think alike. No wonder why I like you. Oh, the call is in five minutes. I have to get ready." She closed her half eaten salad and threw it away.

The waste was overpowered by Tate's lack of appetite. Just as Ivy bit into her banana a familiar voice caused her to jump. "Are you ready?"

"I've got this. Ivy will observe."

His hazel eyes looked greener against his navy suit. "That's a big banana, Ms. Krasinski."

"I've had bigger."

Baxter coughed. "We can take the call from here. It shows a united front."

So much for not seeing Baxter. They would fire her for breaking the code of conduct on her first day. For two hours, she listened as Tate argued over details in a contract. Every once in a while Baxter would say things like maybe this isn't in our best interest.

Ivy sat in a corner, while brother and sister sat in front of a screen for the conference call. The more she tried not to look at him, the harder it was to look away. Goosebumps danced across her skin. Maybe it was the excitement of the deal worth millions of dollars or Baxter's presence which filled the room. Even his masculine scent took over Tate's feminine one. How could those idiots compare him with Kasper when he controlled the room?

The door opened and Dani slipped in. She turned to Ivy and smiled. Ivy returned her smile, but instantly frowned as the new arrival captured Baxter's attention. As they silently communicated, a sourness spread from her heart. It was a feeling she had no right to have. Baxter would never break the code of conduct, would he? Dani was a direct report.

Baxter cleared his throat. "As much as I wanted to finalize this today, I have another commitment. Finance was ready to wire the funds, but we have yet to reconcile our differences."

A voice on the speaker said, "I'm sure we can come to an agreement."

"I have exactly five minutes, now how about..."

Suddenly, the others offered concessions. Dani looked uninterested as she typed on her phone, but Ivy felt exhilarated. Dani tapped her foot.

Baxter nodded. "I think Tate can wrap up the details. It was a pleasure."

Baxter walked to the door without looking at her. Dani whispered, "You're late."

He sighed. "I'm always late."

An emptiness filled her, she hadn't known he ran late. Maybe she didn't know him at all.

By the end of the day, her exhilaration turned to exhaustion. The emotional roller coaster had taken a toll. She shut her eyes and imagined her own apartment, not all white, but peaceful. Maybe Kane Properties was the way she could get what she wanted. Corporate law was a fine profession. With Kane on her resume, she could land her own job. She didn't need to be rich or powerful. Ivy wanted a place of her own to figure out how to live without the man who haunted her dreams.

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