Chapter One of Secrets of the Heart by B. T. Gill

Chapter One

Brianna changed her outfit for the third time. She glanced at her watch, noting it was time to leave for her interview and she still couldn’t decide on what to wear. She had put on some weight the past year, causing most of her business suits to be way too tight. Giving herself a backward glance in the full-length mirror, her reflection reminded her that the last thing she needed to emphasize was her recently enlarged ass.

Irritated, she stepped out of the skin-tight skirt and grabbed the only decent outfit she could still zip—a smoky gray dress, long and tapered, with a small slit up the back. Stepping into a pair of matching sling-back pumps, she directed her attention once again to the evil reflector of truth hanging on the wall.

She cringed as she turned her backside towards the mirror, peeking over her shoulder with one eye squeezed shut. Not too shabby, she decided, rotating slowly, inspecting herself from every possible angle.

Another glance at her watch brought on a second panic attack as she realized she was late five minutes ago. Grabbing her pocketbook and keys from the dresser, she took a deep breath and one last look in the mirror. Today was going to be her first step towards a new beginning.

This was Brianna’s first job interview in ages. She had given up her career in accounting five years ago to be a full-time mother and housewife and had relished her time at home. Who could have known that at the age of forty, she would be starting her life over again?

Her fifteen-year marriage had ended, leaving her with two children to raise and bills to pay. It didn’t help that the economy was at an all-time low, causing layoffs and hiring freezes in most of the local businesses. Fortunately for her, the only job opening in town specified a position requiring an accounting degree. That she had,, along with years of experience and an immaculate work record. She tapped her fingers impatiently on the steering wheel, waiting for the red light to change. Nerves had her stomach tied in knots, and her third cup of coffee had her bladder threatening to open the floodgates with each bump in the road.

Universal Repair Service’s building loomed ahead on the right, flanked by a gated parking lot filled with work trucks and employees’ cars.

Shiny, expensive cars, Brianna noted, a few looking as though they may have cost as much as her house. They undoubtedly cost more than her ancient Nissan, but at least it was paid for. Oh well, she thought, the employees here are obviously well paid.

She swung her car into the lot adjacent to the front of the building, bringing it to a shuddering stop in a space marked for visitors.

The brisk November wind nipped at her face and hands as she gripped her coat tightly around her. The short distance from her car to the front door seemed to stretch for miles as she fought to refrain from chattering her teeth right out of her head.

She pushed open the lobby door and was greeted by a delicious rush of warmth. To her left, artificial flames licked at fake logs in a stone fireplace, its electricity-generated heat radiating throughout the small room, thawing Brianna’s face and fingers.

Shrugging off her coat, she scanned her surroundings. She had seen lobbies much larger before, but none quite so inviting.

The walls were the color of satiny cream, with various framed watercolors adorning them. Velvety, over-stuffed chairs of forest-green skirted the sitting area in front of the vast windows. Small tables were adorned with floral arrangements and brochures defining the company’s services, along with issues of various popular magazines. To her right was the customer service area, and at mid-point, was a hallway that housed rest rooms then forked to the right, snaking behind customer service and stretching farther than her eye could see.

It would almost be serene, if it weren’t for the drone of the voice coming from the customer service area. Brianna turned her attention to the woman behind the desk. She appeared to be in her late fifties, her faded blonde hair styled in an attempt to camouflage dark roots, her wrinkles spackled with makeup a shade too dark. Still, there was something endearing about her. Her tone, Brianna decided. Her tone was patient and kind.

Brianna moved to the counter and observed the woman in action. She was multi-tasking with fervor. Having switched to her phone’s headset, she pulled up data on a computer, flipped through a file of hard copy and patiently explained for the third time why the customer’s account had a past-due balance. Brianna could see irritation growing behind the smile that had greeted her. It was obvious by the second eye roll and slap to the forehead that the woman had had enough. Even so, the smile never left her face or her voice.

After a fourth and final justification of how the customers’ payment was applied, she ripped off her headset, cradled her forehead in her hands and muttered “why me?” over and over. Brianna waited patiently as she watched her rock back and forth, whining about customers causing her bad eye to twitch.

Glancing at the clock on the wall, Brianna realized time was ticking away. She cleared her throat slightly and extended her hand. “I’m Brianna Thompson.”

Dropping her hands from her face, the woman took Brianna’s and shook it firmly. “The name’s Vickie. Nice to meet you. Ever thought of a career in customer service? Why, you could start as early as…right now!”

Brianna held back the chuckle rising in her throat; the tortured look on Vickie’s face was almost comical.

“As tempting as the offer sounds, I think I’ll stick with the accounting field.”

At the mention of accounting, Vickie’s expression changed to one of pure horror. “Oh my gosh! You must be Mrs. Walters’ nine o’clock interview,” she glanced at her watch, “and I’ve caused you to be late. I am so sorry.”

She quickly dialed Mrs. Walters’ extension, announced that her appointment was waiting, then proceeded to weave an alibi big enough to cover even Brianna’s ass. By the time she hung up, Brianna was no longer tardy, but a mere victim of Vickie being too swamped to have announced her much earlier arrival.

“She’s going to be a few minutes. Might as well take a load off.” Vickie nodded towards the plush chair in front of her desk, replaced the headset and turned back to her computer.

Brianna sat down, sinking into the cushiony softness underneath her. She studied Vickie intently while toying with the strap of her pocketbook. “I appreciate you taking the heat for me. You know as well as I do that I was late before I ever stepped foot in the lobby.”

Vickie peered at her over glasses resting on the tip of her nose. “Is that right? See? That’s what happens when you work in customer service too long. You deal with crazy people all day and before you know it, you’re just as crazy as they are. Oh well…”

She went back to pecking on the keyboard, a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. She continued without looking up, “Good luck with your interview. You shouldn’t have much trouble getting the job, though, seeing you’re the only one who applied. Even so, you’re the type the boss likes so that helps too.”

Brianna’s brow furrowed, caught off guard by the remark. “What type is that?”

Vickie chuckled, “The good-looking and smart type. I can see you’re good-looking. I’m assuming you’re smart, since the position calls for a degree.”

Brianna was almost afraid to ask. “Why would Mrs. Walters care if I’m attractive or not? Is there something I should know about her?”

Vickie laughed, “No, not Mrs. Walters. She’s the administrative assistant. I’m talking about the big boss; the one over her that manages this place and signs the paychecks.”

Vickie’s heavily mascara’d eyelashes attempted a girlish flutter, and her cheeks flushed slightly. “Talk about good-lookin’— My God, he is fine! There’s not one woman in this building that wouldn’t sell her soul just to spend five minutes in the supply room with him.”

She leaned towards Brianna and lowered her voice to a whisper. “Rumour has it that Mrs. Walters is doing a little more than dictation during their closed-door sessions, know what I’m sayin’? And you did not hear that from me, understand?”

Vickie winked at Brianna just as Mrs. Walters appeared from the hallway behind customer service.

She was a slim-built woman in what appeared to be her early forties. Flashing a mega-watt smile, she extended a hand towards Brianna.

“Brianna Thompson?”

Brianna shook her hand and nodded in confirmation.

“Follow me, please.” She pivoted on her two-inch heels with the grace of a ballerina, patting Vickie’s shoulder as she glided by. “Please hold my calls until further notice. If it’s an emergency, I will be in the conference room.”

Brianna followed her into the hallway and tried to refrain from ogling at the few offices they passed. Each one seemed roomy and tastefully decorated, grander than any office she had ever occupied.

They stopped in front of the first office space on the right. This was a much larger room, obviously used for board and staff meetings.

Mrs. Walters confirmed Brianna’s thoughts. “This is our conference room. Just down the hall on the left is the break room, and further down are the remaining offices.”

She motioned for Brianna to follow as she entered the massive room and shut the door behind them. Sliding smoothly into a black leather chair positioned at the head of the table, Mrs. Walters looked regal and extremely comfortable in her position of power.

“Have a seat, Ms. Thompson.” She took a moment to glance over Brianna’s resume while waiting for her to settle.

Brianna felt as if she would melt into the butter-soft leather that enveloped her. Running her hands absently over the thick padded arms, in awe of its smooth richness, she caught Mrs. Walters’ gaze fixed intensely upon her. Cheeks flaming with embarrassment, Brianna folded her hands neatly in her lap, awaiting the impending interview.

Mrs. Walters cleared her throat. “This is quite an impressive resume you have, Ms. Thompson. You definitely have the accounting experience we are looking for. My only concern is of a different nature.”

Bewildered by her statement, Brianna felt the knots begin to tighten in her stomach.

Mrs. Walters continued. “Your resume shows that you have been out of the workforce for quite a while. Don’t get me wrong. The reason stated for leaving your previous job was highly commendable. In these days of materialistic gain, most women would rather stick with the paycheck rather than stay home with the kids. However, as admirable as your actions may have been, my foremost concern is for this company and whether or not we can be sure you won’t leave us to stay home again.”

Brianna felt her cheeks grow hot. She was not prepared to explain her reasons for re-entering the workforce. The most she was prepared to do was prove she had a remarkable ability to balance debits and credits.

She cleared her throat, clasped her hands tightly together in her lap to prevent them from shaking, and prayed she wouldn’t come across as bitter or desperate.

“Well, I am recently divorced; I have children to support and a stack of over-due bills you wouldn’t believe. It was my ex-husband’s decision for me to quit work, because he wanted a perfect wife who kept a perfect house, with perfect kids and all the other unrealistic crap he fantasized about in his perfect little dream world. When he woke up and realized that real life isn’t like Leave It To Beaver, he decided to end our marriage and move in with his jail-bait girlfriend—and not in that order either.”

Brianna paused to catch her breath and slumped back in her chair, unaware until that moment that she had been perched on the edge of it, gesturing wildly—probably foaming at the mouth.

Mrs. Walters sat motionless, her mouth gaping open, her eyes unblinking. Brianna was almost certain that, not only had she managed to appear bitter and desperate, but insane as well. It was obvious by Mrs. Walters’ state of shock that she would be showing herself to the door.

She stood, smoothed her dress, and slung her pocketbook strap onto her shoulder. “Thank you for your time. I’m sure I can find my way out.”

Her hand was on the knob when Mrs. Walters stopped her. “Ms. Thompson, please sit back down.”

Brianna was sure this was a trick. She was being held here until security could come escort her out. She most likely wouldn’t be trusted to wander the halls unattended. Sitting down, she searched Mrs. Walters’ face for a sign of what was to come. Her questioning gaze was met by an equally curious one; neither knew what to say.

Mrs. Walters was the first to break the silence. “First, let me say that I understand where you are coming from. I am on my second marriage as we speak and my first ended badly. It took me a while to get past the anger. Of course, I released it in therapy, not a job interview.”

She smiled when saying this, putting Brianna a little more at ease. However, the smile faded just as quickly as it appeared, and it was back to business.

“Now, can I assume that I chose the wrong question to ask, and that outbursts of this nature are not a usual part of your daily routine?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Mrs. Walters continued, “Your experience alone speaks for itself. You are more than qualified for the position we have, and we need someone effective yesterday, so…we can start you out at thirteen an hour, with company paid insurance and benefits. Still interested?”

Brianna could feel the tears stinging her eyes. Oh great, she thought, now I can start crying like a hormonal idiot. She hoped the lump in her throat wouldn’t prevent her from answering.

“Yes, definitely. Thank you, Mrs. Walters. I promise you won’t be disappointed in your decision.”

Lord, I hope not, Janice thought. She studied the woman sitting before her. She had to admit she was pleasant to look at—hair the color of chestnuts, framing a face of smooth, alabaster skin totally void of the lines and wrinkles that so often told a woman’s age. Most intriguing were the eyes…huge green-hazel eyes that looked as though they could stare into your soul and read your every thought. Oh yes, she mused, Brandon will certainly be pleased at my choice. Maybe a little too pleased. Her brow furrowed at the thought, shaking her a little.

Brianna stared back, trying to read Mrs. Walters’ expression. She appeared to be conflicted; perhaps she was debating on whether she had made the right choice.

Mrs. Walters finally stood, shook Brianna’s hand. “Well then—now that we have that out of the way, I’ll show the rest of the building.”

Once in the hallway, Brianna was led from one office to another and introduced to each occupant within. There seemed to be an equal share of men and women; some standoffish, but most were friendly enough.

Brianna wasn’t too worried; she blended well in most environments. She was attractive enough to be noticed by men, yet pleasant enough that women never felt threatened. She always managed to become everyone’s pal.

They rounded a corner and headed down the last hall. The remaining offices housed there were reserved for administration. There were three offices adjacent to each other. The first was vacant; Brianna assumed this would be her new home away from home. The office beside it was Mrs. Walters’, and the large office across the hall from theirs she assumed was, as Vickie called him, the Big Boss’s.

Mrs. Walters stepped into the unoccupied office, switched on the light and motioned for Brianna to follow her in. “This will be your office. If you want, take a look around and familiarize yourself with everything. I am going to get your paperwork started; I’ll call you when I’m ready.”

Brianna grinned as she surveyed the room. She couldn’t believe it was all hers. “Thank you again, Mrs. Walters.”

She hesitated at the doorway. “‘Don’t thank me, just don’t prove me wrong…and please, call me Janice. Oh, by the way, Mr. Matthews, our manager, is at our Stanton County office this morning but should be back before you leave.”

Janice turned and headed into the hallway, trying to mask her feeling of panic. What if I’m right? What if he finds her intriguing? She is so his type. She closed her door and leaned against it, shutting her eyes and trying to calm the voice in her head.

She knew that her decision to hire Brianna would benefit the company; she was pleased with that. Her concern was to what degree Brianna would end up benefiting Brandon.

Brianna sat down at her new desk and ran her hand slowly across the top. The dark cherry finish was smooth as glass. She sank back with a sigh into the cushy-soft leather, her chair a duplicate of the one she revered in the conference room.

Planting her hands behind her head, she slowly took in her surroundings. The administrative offices were vastly larger than the others she had visited. No expense was spared in its furnishings, with its genuine cherry wood desk, credenza and filing cabinets. The computer system was top-notch and fully loaded. To her delight, the printer was also a scanner and fax.

Too bad I don’t have a bathroom— I wouldn’t have to leave my office.

She left nothing untouched. She investigated everything from the contents of the filing cabinets to the programs on her computer. She felt like a kid who had been given new toys, and celebrated by spinning herself dizzy in her fancy leather chair.

She was in mid-twirl when laughter came floating from the vicinity of the doorway. Putting her foot down to stop, she slammed her knee into the inside edge of her desk, causing her to mutter a four-letter word before thinking.

By the time her chair had stopped rotating and before she could compose herself, the figure had moved from the doorway to the edge of her desk.

“Are you all right?” a voice asked, more with amusement than concern.

She looked up and found herself staring into the most beautiful pair of eyes she had ever seen. Huge, espresso-colored eyes with thick black lashes…followed by sexy, luscious lips…that were trying extremely hard not to smile.

“I’m fine, thanks. Just don’t tell the Big Boss I was abusing the office equipment.” She forced a smile, unable to cease staring into those mesmerizing eyes.

The man grinned, leaned closer and whispered, “It can be our little secret.”

Brianna could smell his cologne, and the clean, musky scent made her tingle in places she had forgotten existed.

He sauntered back to the doorway and leaned against it, shoving his hands into the pockets of his trousers. Trousers that, she noted, fit his long, lean frame quite well.

“I don’t believe we have been introduced yet.” His grin was wicked and playful, his eyes glistened with mischief. “I tell you what,” he continued “As soon as your paperwork is completed, drop by my office and we’ll get better acquainted. I’ll be right across the hall.”

Brianna felt her mouth drop open as she watched him disappear from the doorway. She continued staring at the vacant spot where he had stood, her cheeks still flaming from realizing who he was—and even more so from realizing that, she too, would sell her soul for five minutes in the supply room with him.