Chapter Text
Graham leaned back in his chair, staring at the glowing New York skyline through the floor-to-ceiling windows of his office. Thirty floors up in Midtown, the city looked clean from a distance. Up here, it was easy to forget how filthy everything actually was.
His new assistant knocked twice before stepping inside, a bright smile already plastered across her pretty face.
“Mr. Whitaker? I finished organizing those files you asked for. I also went ahead and color coded the contracts by priority like you mentioned last week. I hope that’s okay?”
Graham looked up at her.
Elle Thompson. Twenty four. Fresh out of a mid-tier business program. Engaged to some finance guy her parents approved of. Bubbly. Eager. The kind of girl who said “good morning” like she actually meant it.
She was beautiful in an innocent girl-next-door way — long light brown hair, big doe eyes, a petite, slender frame with breasts that looked almost too full for it. She always dressed like she was trying to look professional and still ended up looking sweet. Too sweet.
It annoyed him.
“That’s fine,” Graham said, keeping his voice neutral. “Just leave them on the desk.”
Elle stepped forward and placed the folders down, lingering for a second like she wanted to say something else.
“I also noticed the Henderson account had a couple of discrepancies in the last quarter. I flagged them for you. I wasn’t sure if you wanted me to bring it up or—”
“I’ll handle it,” Graham cut in, already looking back at his computer.
She nodded quickly, still smiling.
“Of course. Sorry. I just wanted to be helpful.”
Graham didn’t respond. He waited until she turned to leave before letting his eyes drag over her. She had a nice body under those conservative clothes. Small waist. Decent ass. Perky tits. The kind of girl who probably still blushed when someone looked at her too long.
He wondered how long it would take.
Most of them didn’t last long once he decided he wanted them.
Elle paused at the door and glanced back.
“Oh, and Mr. Whitaker? I really appreciate you giving me this opportunity. I know I’m still new, but I’m a really hard worker. If there’s anything else I can do to make your day easier, just let me know.”
Graham gave her a polite, empty smile.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
She left, closing the door gently behind her.
Graham stared at the closed door for a moment, then leaned back in his chair again. His eyes drifted to the framed photo on the corner of his desk — an old picture of a girl from years ago, smiling at some charity event, a pendant resting against her collarbone.
He reached out and adjusted the frame slightly so it faced him more directly.
Then he opened his calendar and made a mental note.
Elle Thompson wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Not until he was done with her.