Love, Inc

By Lily Zante

Lexi Stanning is a beautiful and intelligent secretarial temp who loves  working in  lots of different places. Not content with working for a boss,  Lexi is also  working on her side business where she is selling her own  line of sexy lingerie.

Wayne Blunt is an entrepreneur and the founder of WB Enterprises. His   company is doing very well and he wants to take it to the next level.  When  Wayne and Lexi first meet they are worlds apart. Young,  intelligent and  beautiful Lexi is used to working at sleek, corporate  offices. When she is  offered a short term role at WB Enterprises,  working for the rather ruggedly  handsome and hard-working boss, she  is desperate for the money but instantly  regrets accepting this  contract. Wayne takes one look at Lexi in her Prada high  heels and  thinks of her as an airhead. He doesn't think she will last long at his   company.

 

However, the business of love leads these two people through a roller  coaster  ride of emotional highs and depressing lows. Will Wayne and  Lexi ever get their  business together? Find out in Love, Inc.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lily Zante
• Release date: Sep 12, 2013
• ISBN: 9781507003428

Book preview

Love, Inc

Lily Zante

Other books by Lily Zante

You can find an updated list of Lily Zante books at: http://www.lilyzante.com/books

Chapter One

"You have got to be joking!" Lexi murmured as a scowl spread slowly across her face. She sat behind the wheel of her dark red VW beetle and wondered whether it was safe to get out.

The red-brick building in front of her looked tattered and old. She checked her booking sheet and then looked up at the sign on the gate. WB Enterprises Yes. This was definitely the place and there was no mistake on her booking form. She should have known as soon as she saw that it wasn't a Manhattan address.

Karn, her TeamHQ contact at the temporary agency where she worked, had warned her that it wouldn't be her usual type of work.

But I really need a contract right now! Lexi had pleaded. The flexibility of working temporary office jobs meant that she was never tied down to one place for too long but, more importantly, it allowed her to work on her own side business when possible. ASL, Alexis Stanning Lingerie, was Lexi's own company. She ran it from her tiny apartment in Murray Hill. This latest venture, one in a line of many over the years, was showing all the right signs of turning into a viable business. And Lexi's product range of brightly colored corsets and basques, which could be worn as outerwear as well as undergarments, was beginning to take off. Her increase in sales meant she had to replenish her stocks and she needed cash flow immediately.

Unfortunately, it also meant that she now had to accept whatever work came her way. She could not be as picky and as choosy as she had been in the past. She had been lucky to land some very well paid jobs often working as a PA to CEOs as well as providing last minute cover for secretarial staff who suddenly fell ill. Lexi was good at her job.  Quick, clever, smart and professional, she was able to multi-task and was very efficient. It was no small wonder that so many companies often asked for her to come back.

As she sat in her hot, stuffy car, Lexi surveyed the building in front of her with disdain. She didn't even know if she dared to take in her Prada purse. Fearfully, she looked down at her feet and looked at her cherry colored Mordore high heels. A fleeting thought crossed her mind to change them for the sneakers she had in the trunk of her car. She briefly wondered about driving away but knew that the only option open to her was to walk through those doors, if only for the one day.

She was desperate for the money.

Reluctantly, she got out of the car. Too late now. She would need to give this a go. After all, how bad could it be?

She started to walk gingerly towards the door that was directly underneath the WB Enterprises sign. For a moment, Lexi wondered whether she was at the back of the building. She hesitated slightly but then suddenly the door opened outwards and a short, slightly dumpy blonde woman, wearing a top that was a good two sizes too small for her, flounced out. She took one look at Lexi and immediately gave her a once over. The woman’s small brown eyes quickly scanned Lexi’s body up and down, taking in everything.

You look a little lost honey, said the blonde, revealing a line of perfect white teeth that looked too big for her mouth.

I'm looking for Mr. Blunt, said Lexi, remembering the name on her sheet. The blonde looked baffled for the briefest second, then her face lit up like a candle on a birthday cake. Sure, come on in. With a wave of her arm, she beckoned for Lexi to follow her. The blonde retreated back through the door and stepped into a wide hallway on either side of which were two almost identical offices. The top half was made of entirely of glass, making it easy to see inside, and the bottom half was wooden panelling.

The blonde knocked on the door. Someone to see you, Wayne, she said. Her face seemed to light up when she spoke to him. The man inside, tall and slightly built, appeared to be dressed more like a firefighter. He had his back to the door when the woman knocked. As though caught off guard, he spun around, clutching a cell phone to his ear. With a casual nod of his head, he signaled for the women to enter even as he still carried on talking.

The blonde gave Lexi another winning smile before heading back down the hallway. Slightly bemused, Lexi stood inside the room, unsure of what to do next. She inspected the room around her, noticing the peeling paintwork and the mass of paperwork carelessly scattered around the man’s desk. How did he ever find anything amidst all that rubbish?

Sure, sure, I understand. Don't worry, we can make that shipment and I'll get on it right away.

Lexi watched him as he spoke. He was unkempt and tired, with a five o'clock shadow giving his face a dark overtone. Lexi sniffed the air quietly, noting that he looked as though he hadn't showered for a couple of days either. It didn’t exactly smell of roses in here. She shuddered and held her purse closer to her body. This man was nothing like the men she had worked with before. Her previous bosses were smart and sophisticated executive types. Not like the man standing before her now. He looked as though he would be more at home on a construction site. Was he really in charge? And if so, what possible work could he have for her? She had to fight hard to resist the temptation of making a run for the door. He summoned her to sit down and still carried on talking on his cell. Lexi played with the strap of her Prada bag, her Chanel varnished nails scratching the soft leather of the strap.

Sorry about that, he said finally, closing the cell and carelessly throwing it onto his desk. He fell into his chair heavily. Can I help you? his deep green eyes had a hint of bewilderment as he watched her, wondering what she was here for.

Lexi couldn't help thinking that they were piercing, sexy eyes. But they were so out of kilter with the rest of him. She surveyed his sweaty hands as he ran them through his dark hair. Realizing that she was gawking at him, Lexi stretched out her hand, I'm Lexi, Alexis Stanning.

Since he still looked puzzled and confused as he shook her hand she added, From the agency TeamHQ. Karn said you were looking for a temporary office manager. At this his eyes perked up briefly, as though a jigsaw piece had suddenly fit into place. But then she could almost read the disappointment in his eyes. She wasn't sure what it was but the friendly and open initial welcome had quickly turned into a look of annoyance.

"They sent you?" he asked, barely able to disguise the shock in his voice. And without realizing it he looked her up and down and shook his head. He was sure she'd soon fall over in those ridiculously high heels and she just...didn't...fit. During his five years in business, when he had often relied on temporary staff to help out, the agencies occasionally sent him these prettily dolled up secretarial types. But his experience had shown him that they had cost a lot and his simple office tasks didn't really warrant highly qualified secretaries. Though he had to admit, this one was nice enough with her shoulder length, straight, brown hair and chestnut brown eyes. Like a little doe. What a shame she wouldn’t last too long here.

"Yes, they sent me ....here," said Lexi slowly, making sure he heard the emphasis on the last word. She found the assignment equally as distasteful.

I needed an office manager. Cindy, my previous one, went on maternity leave a little earlier than she expected. He sat back in his chair, waiting for her response.

"I am an office manager, asserted Lexi. She defiantly clutched her purse, Though I doubt you could call this an office." Lexi muttered the last few words under her breath.

The man’s face darkened. Look, don’t take this the wrong way. I’m not sure my kind of outfit would be right for you.

So do you want me to work here or not? She glared at him, looking deep into his dark green eyes. She needed the money fast and this contract would last a few months yet. Of course she would carry on looking for better offers, but she needed to bring in some money straightaway.

Now that you’re here, why not? asked Wayne, forcing a smile. She wouldn't last more than a couple of days anyway and definitely not on the factory floor. Lovely eyes though, he thought, unable to move his gaze away from her face.

I'm happy to start right away, returned Lexi. She gave him a tight smile. She would have a word with Karn as soon as she was finished today. She would get out of this hell hole as fast as she could. But as she had already wasted a few hours of her day, she might as well get paid for it.

I'll get Greta to show you the ropes, announced Wayne, getting off the table and brushing past her in annoyance. She smells so good.

Greta! He said loudly, sticking his head out of his door. A middle-aged woman walked in.

This is? he turned to Lexi, who stood rooted to the spot. What was your name again? Her perfume was so captivating, that he seemed at a loss for words.

Lexi, said Lexi, finding it hard to get the word out of her mouth.