Falling For My Assistant

By Janet Berry

New Year's Eve
One Fake Date
What could go wrong?

 

Sean Stephens needs a date and fast. He's finally been invited to the CEO's company party and wants to make a good impression. The only problem? He's currently single. And it's pairs only. Convincing his secretary to be his fake date for the night is the only logical choice, right?

 

Erin Smith is sure her boss is crazy. Pretend to be dating so he can go to a boring New Year's Eve party at an overpriced penthouse where they'll be nothing but business talk the whole night? No thanks. She'd rather sit at home in comfy sweats with her favorite wine and ice cream to watch the ball drop. But saying no to her boss (who she might have a crush on and looks really good in a tuxedo) is easier said than done.

 

Cinderella dressed up for a night, and it changed her life. Maybe it could do the same for Erin's? 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Janet Berry
• Release date: Dec 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9798215143490

Book preview

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Happy New Year everyone!

I hope you and your family have a great New Year, and I’m sending health and happiness to everyone!

I want to thank my CP Kiit for all her help with this story! She definitely helped me work out a lot of plot holes to make this story wonderful.

I want to thank my beta readers for their help with this story! Their feedback helped me so much.  

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December 31st, 2021

The gold elevator doors dinged open, releasing her boss’ boss onto the office floor. 

Erin Smith glanced up, scrambling to her feet as he headed her way. 

Good morning, Mr. Donaldson, she said.

Good morning, Erica, he replied, halting to speak with someone.

Erin hurried to her boss’ door, her knuckles rapping against the glass. 

Mr. Stephens, Mr. Donaldson to see you, she said, stepping aside to let him into the office.

Mr. Donaldson, Mr. Stephens said, standing. He held his hand out to him, and the older man shook it.

Thank you, Erin, Stephens said, dismissing her. She shifted her red glasses on her nose and nodded, shutting the door behind her.

She sat at her desk and unlocked her computer, grabbing the phone when it went off.

The caller was a courier who had a package for Mr. Stephens.

I’ll be right down, she said, setting down the receiver. Locking her computer again, she headed for the elevators.

The doors opened, and she stepped in and pressed the lobby button, the pristine white office disappearing behind the garish gold doors.

Erin stared at the doors, but instead of seeing them, she saw her boss, Sean Stephens, face; the warm melted chocolate staring back at her.

Stop it. 

She shouldn’t be thinking about her boss’ eyes, all dark with desire. And she definitely shouldn’t be thinking about the Christmas party last year where they had accidentally kissed in the file closet. 

And she would absolutely ignore the desire she felt rise up every time she remembered that kiss. 

It obviously was nothing since he hadn’t even tried repeating it. 

There had also been a lot of alcohol involved, a fact that made Erin cringe every single time. 

He might not even remember. 

But she did.

The doors opened, and she stepped out into the sunshine, the light shining through the gigantic glass windows covering the front of the building.

A courier stood by the large oak wood desk, two security guards waiting there.

She said hello to the guards, grabbing the paperwork the courier offered her to sign.

Miss Erin, Bentley, the older security guard asked, Why don’t you let me send the couriers up to the office instead of coming down here?

She gave him a bright smile. Because I want to see you, of course.

A flush covered his face.

Thank you, she said to the courier, taking the package. I’ll see you later, Bentley, okay?

He waved as she walked back to the elevators. She pressed the button and barely waited a moment before the doors sprang open. She stepped back to let the riders off before getting inside, pressing the button to send her back to her floor.

The short ride later, she got off, her stacked heels clacking loudly on the black hardwood floor.

She looked around the office, taking in the wall of windows to her left that displayed the best views of New York City you could buy.

Glancing back at the rest of the office, she took in the room; the light bouncing off the pristine white walls kept the room nice and bright. 

The floor was filled with long, white desks lined up in sections, their legs skinny and black. Each desk was outfitted with a sleek, black office chair and translucent black dividers, giving the illusion of cubicle spaces without the large gray walls. Single large monitors sat on the desk, each one set up with a wireless white keyboard and mouse. 

The desks were filled with a variety of people, each working as hard as the one next to them.

Her boss’ door opening caught her attention, and she rushed down the aisle to her desk, coming around it as Mr. Donaldson exited the office, the two executives close behind.

Have a wonderful day, Mr. Donaldson, she said. 

Thank you, Erica, he replied, disappearing around the corner.

It’s Erin, she muttered, plopping into her chair.

Mr. Stephens lingered at the door, and she looked over, her brows rising high.

Is everything all right? she asked. She pushed her glasses up her nose, a smile coming to his face. 

It is. Can I see you in my office?

He stepped back from the door to let Erin in. Sean motioned for her to sit as he came around his desk, his assistant slowly taking the chair. 

Don’t worry, Erin, you aren’t in trouble, Sean reassured her, sitting at his desk. I just need to ask you something.

Ask me something? she repeated. 

He clasped his hands together on the clean glass top.

Yes.

Her brows arched high behind the red frames. Did I do something wrong?

Of course not, Sean replied, suspicion rising. Why would you think that?

A flush covered her from her neck to her hairline. I... don’t know. You never invite me into your office to sit. If you want to ask me something, you usually do it from the doorway.

His eyes rounded when he realized it was true. 

I never ask her to sit down in here. 

I never realized that, he said, leaning back in his chair. I’m sorry about that.

She shrugged. It’s okay.

Silence fell over the office, the creaking of his chair filling the small space. 

You wanted to ask me a question? she asked, bringing his attention back to the matter at hand. 

Yes, I did.

He dragged his hands from the desktop to his lap, fidgeting with his jacket before he said, I wanted to ask you what you’re doing tonight.

What I’m doing... Her brows scrunched low. What’s so special about tonight?

Umm... He pointed to the calendar, her blue eyes moving to the paper on the wall. 

It’s New Year’s Eve! She smacked a hand to her forehead.

Are you okay? he asked, watching her rub her forehead. 

It did hurt a little, she conceded. She tilted her head to the side. Why do you want to know?

Mr. Donaldson has invited me to his infamous New Year’s Eve party—

Really? she interjected, leaning forward in her chair. He only invites the important people, or people he likes, to that party.

His brow arched high. Does he?

Her flush returned. Well, so says the office talk, anyway.

I assume you know that it’s a pairs only party? he asked, her head nodding slowly. 

And you don’t have a pair, she said, her mouth rounding into an O.

Unfortunately, no. Blair and I broke up three months ago, so I am at the moment, very single.

He and Blair had broken up amicably, both of them realizing that they weren’t what the other really wanted.

She