Professional Boundaries
Read Professional Boundaries Online
Authors: Jennifer Peel
Professional Boundaries
Jennifer Peel
Jennifer Peel (2014)
Rating: ****
Tags: Literature & Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Fiction
Literature & Fictionttt Romancettt Contemporaryttt Contemporary Fictionttt
At thirty two, Kelli Bryant is ready to take on the world, and Chandler Media, as the new Marketing Director, but her plans are derailed when her promotion is given to none other than Ian Greyson, Kelli’s old college flame, her one true love and the one man she hoped to never see again.
Between Kelli’s determination to remain on top and Ian’s strict new office policies, there’s no shortage of fireworks in the office. Their explosive relationship spills over into their personal lives as Kelli tries to keep Ian at arm’s length and Ian desperately tries to win her back (during off hours only, of course).
Professional Boundaries is a clean romance filled with fun and humor. It is a story of two professionals who just can't keep it professional.
Professional Boundaries
By Jennifer Peel
© 2014 by Jennifer Peel.
All Rights reserved.
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To my sisters, Amanda and Jessica. I love you girls. And to all my friends who have been like sisters. You know who you are. Thank you for all the laughter and tears.
Table of Contents
Prologue
“You know I’m crazy about you, right?”
“Yes, but I’m crazier for you,” would have usually been my response. But not tonight. Believe me, I was more than crazy for him. I was head over heels, shut the front door, stop the presses in love with him, and I had decided tonight was the night I was going to tell him. Before I did, I reached up on my tiptoes, tugged on his shirt to pull him closer, and kissed those lips of his once. Then I went for the gold. “I love you, Ian Greyson.”
He immediately stepped back with a troubled look on his handsome face.
Ok, it wasn’t the reaction I wanted, but this was Ian, so I wasn’t too surprised. After all, I was the one who pursued him. Even though he thought I was too young, he eventually relented. I was eighteen at the time, and he was twenty-five going on sixty. I smiled nervously and stepped closer to him. “Ian, it’s ok if you don’t say it back right now. I just couldn’t hold it in any longer.” I wrapped my arms around him, waiting for him to reciprocate, but he was stiffer than his starched collar. “Ian?”
“Kelli, you’re too young to be in love.”
I looked up at him and laughed. “Did you really just say that?” Sometimes he sounded like my Dad.
“Why do you have to complicate things?” He sounded angry.
“How is me loving you complicating things? Because, FYI, I’ve been in love with you for months.”
It was true, and I had calculus to blame. I was a pretty smart girl; I even had a full-ride to my little private college set against the beautiful Rocky Mountains in Colorado. But for some reason, I couldn’t get calculus, and I needed to in order to keep my full-ride. That’s when I met Ian. He was in grad school, completing his MBA, and to make some extra money, he tutored. It was the best money my Dad ever spent.
I’ll never forget the first time I saw him sitting in the campus library, looking more serious than any twenty-five year old should. But there was something about him. I don’t think most women noticed him, and that was a shame because once you got past his serious exterior, he was really a very charming and considerate fellow—and he was actually a looker, but that was muted by his clothing and quiet, serious mannerisms. He had dark brown hair with a slight curl that just begged you to run your hands through it, and he had Hershey Kiss eyes and a strong jaw line that was always cleanly shaven and smooth. He was like a Clark Kent; he even had the glasses to match, but he dressed like a forty year old in khakis and polos. To me, though, he was adorable.
“This wasn’t in my plan. I’m not ready for this kind of commitment,” he stammered.
Ian had his whole life mapped out, and he wanted to map mine out, too, but I refused. Sure, I liked goals and a rough outline, but I also liked the freedom to do what seemed right in the moment, regardless of plans. Besides, I was young and he was too, but somehow he always forgot that. Don’t get me wrong, I loved his drive and dedication, but he really needed to simmer down sometimes. I succeeded, once in a while, in getting him to take it down a notch or two, but it was a hard job—a job I dearly loved.
“Ian, I’m not asking you to commit to me for life … yet,” I teased.
He didn’t look amused at all, so I just kept talking.
“I’m happy where we’re at. I just wanted you to know how I feel. I’m not expecting anything from you.”
He looked at me wryly, and then he began to pace back and forth in front of my apartment. I stood in front of the door and watched him as a cool summer breeze began. I had decided to stay the summer term after my freshman year, because of him, instead of going back home to Tennessee. I was beginning to wonder if that was a mistake now.
As he walked past me, I grabbed onto his hand. “Ian …”
He looked at me with eyes as hard as stone. I wasn’t sure I had ever seen him look so cold; it gave me shivers in the warm summer air.
“Why did you have to ruin everything, Kelli?”
My eyes started to water. In the nine months we had been dating, Ian had never made me cry.
“Ian, what are you saying? Just forget I said anything. I’m sorry.”
He let go of my hand. “I’m sorry too, Kelli.”
And that was it. He left me standing there, inconsolable with tears silently falling down my cheeks, feeling like January in July.
Chapter 1
I looked longingly at my apartment complex’s pool as I walked to my car. It was February, and I could almost taste spring. I knew I should probably enjoy the season because soon enough I’d be complaining about the heat and humidity Tennessee residents suffered through every spring and summer, but I felt like saying, “Bring it on.” The winter had been harsher than we southerners were used to
. But
, I reminded myself,
I survived four winters in Colorado
, almost decade ago.
It was hard to believe that it had been that long since I had received my undergrad degree. That thought made me feel like I was all grown up, especially today of all days.
My stomach fluttered at the thought of being promoted to Marketing Director of Chandler Media. I knew I wasn’t the only candidate in the running, though, so it wasn’t a done deal, but I was the only in-house candidate. Even though I knew I was young to be heading up a marketing firm, I’d proven myself as the Regional Marketing Manager, and I figured the cards were stacked in my favor. I knew the company in and out, and Gary, the owner and current Director, adored me. So did his wife, Holly. It also didn’t hurt that my idea for digital ad software was being adopted rapidly by our financial institution clients. And not to be immodest, but I was well liked and respected by my colleagues in the office. I had even won over some of the old-timers who had been passed over when I received my current position three years ago.
My promotion then had definitely ruffled feathers, due to my age and the fact Gary and Holly were old family friends, but I had worked my butt off and I deserved it, if I do say so myself. Now Gary was ready to enjoy more time with Holly and his sons and grandkids, and I just hoped he trusted me enough to hand over the reins.
I would sorely miss him, though. I loved sharing adjoining executive offices with him, and he was more than my boss, he was like a second father to me.
I climbed into my Eos hard top convertible, which made me wish for spring again. I missed the fun and the freedom of having the wind blow through my hair and the sun beating down on me as I drove. It was like the car was begging for me to push the button and slide the top down. “Just a few more weeks,” I said out loud, as if the car was actually listening to me or really cared if its top was down.
As I made my way through the early morning Nashville traffic, I could barely contain my excitement. I was meeting with Gary, who I fondly called Boss, first thing. I even dressed up for the occasion. Our office typically took a more casual approach, unless we had clients in the office, but with the way technology was now, that was a rarity. I’d done more conference calls than I could count. Personally, I liked face-to-face visits best, but they could be inconvenient and expensive. Today I definitely looked like I was ready for a face-to-face visit: I wore a classy charcoal gray dress that left no doubt I was a woman, and I went a little glam with my dark chocolate hair. To pull it all together, I brought out the red lipstick. It looked great with my fair skin and blue-green eyes. My look screamed,
I’m ready to take on the world!
… or at least Chandler Media.
When I pulled into our office parking lot, there were already a few cars there. I noticed Boss’ midlife-crisis Camaro. I shook my head and laughed when I remembered Holly telling Boss she didn’t mind the car, but if he ever decided to indulge in other midlife crisis activities, he would be sleeping in that car. I knew Boss would never, he still looked at Holly like a man that had wandered in the desert and she was a tall glass of cool water. Then I noticed Delfia’s car. She was the most fabulous executive admin assistant ever. She almost always beat me to the office. Then there was a stylish white Infiniti. I smiled and wondered who got the new car, but then I noticed the Colorado license plates.
Weird
, I thought.
The license plate made me reminisce. I loved Colorado. I missed the Rocky Mountains, with the hiking and camping in the summer and the amazing powder for skiing in the winter. It was the only time I enjoyed snow. I think I would have stayed there if I hadn’t been a lovesick fool. Everything in Colorado had reminded me of Ian, so I just couldn’t stay. As soon as I graduated, I hightailed it out of there. Never mind, this was not the morning to think of Ian. Actually, no morning was. He wasn’t deserving of my thoughts.
I took a deep breath and tried to cleanse my thoughts of the evil Ian, killer of dreams and love. I began to repeat in my head,
Director of Marketing at Chandler Media, Kelli Bryant
. It sounded perfect. I chanted it to myself silently as I walked in through the empty reception area. It was only seven-thirty, and we didn’t open until eight. By the time I made it to the staircase, I was feeling cleansed of the evil that was Ian. With my thoughts back on track, I took the stairs practically two at a time to the executive level. This was going to be an incredible day. I could feel it.
As I walked toward Delfia’s desk, which sat outside and between the adjoining offices Boss and I shared, I noticed her humming away, busy as a bee. I admired her so much. She was the epitome of someone that took lemons and made the best lemonade you would ever taste. At forty-two, with two practically grown children, her husband left her. He was the world’s biggest idiot, but she picked herself up by the bootstraps and did what she had to do. She’d been working for us for the last couple of years, and I didn’t know what we would ever do without her.