The Billionaire and Me - Complete Series: BWWM Alpha Billionaire Romance (2 page)

The inside of the building was larger on the inside than it appeared on the outside.  From the outside one could easily be forgiven for thinking it was a tiny building when in reality it was huge.  It reminded me of those houses that were built like igloos.  From the outside they appeared tight and cramped but were surprisingly roomy.

The floors were some type of linoleum in a neutral color.  The walls were painted white with off white colors painted on them to simulate wallpaper.  All together it was welcoming and yet an incredibly boring color scheme at the same time.  He didn
’
t really seem to be one for big flair which was probably why people close to go do business with them.  I can
’
t say I
’
d feel comfortable doing business with someone who had a huge amount of colors all over the place and other weird looking things hanging all around in some sort of bizarre mimicry of Jackson Pollock.  I had nothing against the artist but didn
’
t want to see his work everywhere.

Quiet music was playing over the speakers.  It didn
’
t sound like that common music that plays over the speakers that is one step above elevator music.  It sounded classical but I couldn
’
t identify the artist.  Perhaps someone had some CDs that they brought in to play.

A middle aged woman sat behind a desk.  She almost looked like one of those old stereotypical figures with short hair, fancy glasses with a chain around them.  The chain that hung on her glasses and went around her neck sparkled with each turn of her head.  I guessed they either had to be very good glass beads or some sort of expensive crystal to get that look.

Her dark eyes looked up and caught sight of me. 
“
Can I help you?
”

“
Yes, I
’
m here for a job interview with Mr. Covington,
”
I carefully said.

The woman smiled at me and used her pen to point to some plush looking burgundy chairs. 
“
Have a seat, please.  We
’
ll call you soon.
”

I thanked the woman and went to take a seat.  I could see so many different people around me who were certainly higher up on the social status ladder than I was.  Part of me wondered why I of all people would be chosen when there were clearly people with much more money than I had and were most likely better educated too.

One by one the line began to dwindle until I was the last one sitting there.

“
Miss Granger?
” 
A woman
’
s voice said.

I looked over to see a petite woman who was nicely dressed and holding a clip board.

“
Yes?
” 
I said.

“
Come on in, please.
”

Despite the wobbly feelings in my legs I was able to force myself to stand up and to walk into the room as gracefully and as quietly as I could.  I had always walked with a heavy step, a fact I tried to hide all of my adult life when wearing heels.  Personally I preferred flats but those weren
’
t really an option this morning.

I walked as steadily as I could into an office.  This office certainly wasn
’
t like the romance novels and movies.  It was a good sized office to be sure with a large window.  Blinds had been pulled to the side to allow light to come in.

A calendar hung on the wall and various office supplies were strewn about.

The petite woman smiled at my reaction. 
“
We get that a lot.  Mr. Covington does prefer simplicity in certain areas.
”

“
Yes, well, sometimes simplicity is a good thing,
”
I said.

Smiling once again the petite woman told me to take a seat and left me in the room.

Truth be told I was surprised that Mr. Covington himself was not in the office.  For each job interview I had they always had the manager inside the office.

After sitting for about a minute a tall man entered and apologized about making me wait.  He was dressed in a well-tailored navy blue suit.  Even his dark tie matched his suit.  I was surprised by how monochromatic his clothing was but new not to say anything about it.

He was a handsome man with dark strawberry blonde hair and piercing blue eyes.  His jaw shape was square which I knew often made people think of leaders and important figures.  I suppose it all went back to Washington with his square jaw.

“
Miss Granger?
” 
He said.

“
Yes,
”
I replied and stuck out my hand.

He took my hand in a firm but gentle grasp and shook it.

“
A pleasure meeting you,
”
Mr. Covington said before pulling up a chair. 
“
If I may ask how did you find us?
”

“
It was through a job board,
”
I replied.

Mr. Covington
’
s head bobbed.

He began to ask the standard questions that it seems every employer asks.  I did my best to answer them as best as I could.

Could I type well?

Yes.

Could I be able to juggle multiple things at once?

Yes.

This went on until my experience working at the college was brought up.  Mr. Covington didn
’
t really comment on it other than he liked that I had experience.

He was hard to read and I couldn
’
t tell if he felt positively or negatively of me.  I tried to comfort myself with the fact that at least his body language was open to me.  He didn
’
t act closed off and faced me when he spoke.  He appeared to be listening which did make me feel ever so slightly better.  He would jot down notes onto a piece of paper.

“
Why did you leave your job at the college?
” 
He asked me.

“
I was laid off.
”

“
You haven
’
t been able to find work since?
”

“
I
’
m afraid not.
”

He wrote something else on the paper.  A few more questions about what times would I be available were asked and then Mr. Covington thanked me for coming in.

“
Thank you,
”
I said and quietly left.

Once I reached my car I tore off those damned heels and immediately felt better.  Even if I didn
’
t land the position at least I could be free from heels!  If I were even so fortunate enough to get the position I would seek about being able to wear flats.

When I reached home there was a message on my answering machine from my sister asking how the interview went and to call her right away.

I didn
’
t need a second invite to do that.  I called Janice and she insisted on showing up.  Janice was certainly good at being motherly at times.

She soon showed up with a bottle of some type of wine and some popcorn which made me laugh.

“
To celebrate or to commiserate!
” 
Janice joked. 
“
How
’
d the interview go?
”

“
I don
’
t know really.  I
’
m worried I didn
’
t get the job.
”

“
If that Covington guy doesn
’
t want you then it
’
s his loss!  Anyone would be lucky to have you!
” 
She threw the uncooked popcorn in the microwave and opened up the bottle of wine just as the phone rang.

“
Who
’
s that?
” 
Janice asked.

“
Looks like Covington
’
s office,
”
I said and answered the phone.

“
Hello, Miss Granger, Mr. Covington wishes to know if you can start Monday?
”

Oh boy.

My first day was certainly eventful enough.  Despite my being nervous and showing up at Mr. Covington
’
s office I was swiftly whisked away to go to Las Vegas in a private jet.  I was supposed to be there for some meeting but was not told what the meeting was supposed to be about.  I understand what privacy is about but this was becoming insanity!  How could I do anything or prepare if I don
’
t know what it
’
s for?

It also struck me as somewhat odd that it seemed every millionaire and billionaire had their own private jets.  I would
’
ve been perfectly happy boarding a general plane but rules were rules and policies were policies.

I really wasn
’
t used to this type of life style and truth be told it made me a little uneasy.  I hoped I would do well at this job as I certainly needed it.

It was quiet inside the jet, a fact that didn
’
t really help me.  I sat there wondering what was ahead of me.  As we do when we
’
re nervous I began to wonder and make up situations inside my mind.

When the jet landed I was once again whisked away to another place for Mr. Covington.  Las Vegas really could be environmental overload to anyone who was sensitive to such things.  Lights were everywhere and people were talking.  Elvis impersonators were around as were people who appeared to be impersonating who knows what or whom.

I had been given some information on what I was going to do.  I was to follow Mr. Covington, take notes, run errands, and do whatever else he needed.  I was also instructed that the people who would be seeing him would most likely treat him as if I was not there.  I can
’
t say I was happy about that fact as I didn
’
t like staying in the background.  Yet, I needed this job so I thought I could probably grit my teeth and live with it.

The first meeting was with a man about some trades.  It was my job to provide Mr. Covington with the necessary paperwork.  I think I spent more time flipping through each piece of paper to hand to him than I did listening to what they had to say.

Mr. Covington, thankfully, was patient with me and quietly thanked me when I passed him the necessary paperwork.

He then handed me a small letter,
“
Would you drop this off at the front office to be mailed out, please?
”

“
Yes, Mr. Covington,
”
I said and took the letter.

Getting up I departed from the room.  Doing basic errands such as these weren
’
t so bad.  For the most part it was simple and uncomplicated work.

By the time I returned the meeting had ended.  I could see the back of Mr. Covington shuffling some papers into a neat stack.

He suddenly looked up and over.  He smiled when he saw me. 
“
Do you want to go out for dinner?
”

“
I don
’
t know if I could afford that,
”
I said in all honesty.

Mr. Covington smiled again,
“
Don
’
t worry about it.  I
’
ll be paying for it.
”

It was then I began to wonder just where would we eat?  I wasn
’
t dressed nicely enough for any place special or hugely expensive.  We would certainly stand out if we went to some expensive place!

I don
’
t know if Mr. Covington had sensed my uncertainty or intentionally chose a simple place but I soon found we were dining at a classy restaurant.  It wasn
’
t too fancy but not too simple either.  In the outside world the glitz, lights, and glam moved along.

“
How are you enjoying Las Vegas?
” 
Mr. Covington asked me.

“
It
’
s
…
busy,
”
I confessed right before our dinners were served.

He nodded,
“
It took me a lot of getting used to.  It can be a little busy for my taste at times but that
’
s the way the world works.
”

Your world
, I thought to myself. 
Your world is different than mine
.

After a few more words back and forth Mr. Covington
’
s attitude changed and it made him seem more personal.  He began by asking me about my family.

“
I have a sister named Janice back home,
”
I said.

“
No parents?
”

“
They passed away a long time ago.
”

“
I
’
m sorry.  My parents are gone too.  It
’
s funny how we don
’
t really think about them until after they are gone.
”

“
I agree,
”
I said.

Suddenly he forced himself to become cheerful.  I imagined he didn
’
t want to stay stuck on this sad topic. 
“
Well then, we
’
re lucky we found one another, aren
’
t we?
”

I smiled at that, as I was grateful to have a positive topic again. 
“
Yes we are.
”

He held up his glass. 
“
Cheers!
”

I did likewise and let the glasses
clink
against one another. 
“
Cheers.
”