The rain was coming down in sheets and she could barely see through her windshield, even with the wipers on full blast. The parking structure was nearly full and she had to squeeze her Honda into a too-small space, carefully slipping out so as not to chip Mr. BMW's paint job. The walk to the Kaiser building was short, but it didn't matter, because the rain made quick work of her hair and make-up, soaking her to the skin in a matter of moments.
Umbrella, Heidi,
she admonished herself as she pushed the button for the elevator, wiggling uncomfortably in her rain-soaked attire. She had worn what the dress code requested: a skirt, no lower than 2 inches below the knee, and a blouse and jacket. Pantyhose weren't allowed—stockings were required to be worn with garters, and heels couldn't be lower than three inches high. No pants, pant suits, trousers or jeans allowed.
The elevator opened at floor forty-eight and Heidi stepped out, staring at the desk in front of her.
My desk.
The clock overhead read 8:35 a.m. She had made sure she left with plenty of time to get here. Mr. Kaiser's office door, to the left, was closed and she didn't know if he was in it. She wanted to go exploring down the other hallway, but thought it best to just sit and wait.
Stashing her purse under the desk, she took out the signed contract and other information that she would have to turn in to personnel, smoothing the folds out over the surface. There was a computer and a multi-line phone, the usual pens and various office supplies tucked away in the drawers, she noted, and a huge filing cabinet behind her.
She puttered the minutes away, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach, and was bending a paperclip into shapes when Mr. Kaiser stepped off the elevator. She saw his eyes sweep her, felt the heat of his disapproval, and then his gaze fell to the twisted paperclip in her hands.
"I was just... waiting," she said, standing, still holding the bent metal form. She held it up, giving him a little smile as she made it dance. "It's a dog."
He nodded, raising his eyebrows. "Delightful. Now, if you're done wasting office supplies, perhaps we can get to work?"
He motioned for her to follow him and she did, waiting while he put down his briefcase and hung his umbrella. His suit was impeccable, dry as a bone, and a
Jon Green,
Heidi noted, her eyes moving over the lines of his broad shoulders.
"I forgot an umbrella," she admitted as he sat at his desk.
Glancing up at her, he said, "You look like a drowned rat."
She flushed, her hand smoothing her hair. "I know, I'm sorry."
"You should always be prepared, Heidi," he said, leaning back in his seat, looking over her outfit. "I assume, since you're here, that you have decided to take the job?"
"Yes." She nodded, eager, perching on one of the maroon leather, wing-backed chairs. "I brought my paperwork."
"Good." It was the first smile of his that she had seen today and it thrilled her, although it was brief. "You'll take it down to personnel later today. Fourth floor. I will take you on a tour of the building myself before lunch, get you acquainted with most of the staff."
Heidi looked over her shoulder, noting that he had closed the door. "On this floor... who else is up here?"
"No one," he replied, tenting his fingers. "There is a board room down the hall, and several other offices, although they are for training and meeting purposes and are unoccupied most of the time."
"We're the only ones up here, then?" she asked, feeling her heart skipping in her chest.
He nodded. "I like my privacy."
She watched as he leaned forward in his chair, shrugging his shoulders out of his suit coat.
He held it up carefully, nodding to her. "Would you hang this up in the wardrobe over there, Heidi?"
She came around the desk to retrieve it, letting her fingers linger over his a little longer than normal and the look in his eyes said he noticed.
"I like to be comfortable in the office," he explained as she opened the wardrobe door and took out a wooden hanger. "So I keep several changes of clothes here."
Noting the myriad colors and fabrics of suits and sweaters hanging in the closet, she slipped the suit coat in on the end, next to a large, thick, grey zippered bag similar to the one she had carried in from his car on that first day. It seemed a million years ago, somehow, but her bottom clenched at the sight of it.
"Oh, and those are for you," he told her, leaning forward. "You're a size five, aren't you?"
Heidi stared at him. "Yes."
"Appearances are important," he said, standing and coming around the desk. "You are the first thing that people will see when they step off that elevator, and I want you to make the best possible first impression you can."
He sighed as he fingered the ends of her still-damp, flattened hair. "So, we'll start with the clothes. Take those home with you tonight."
"That's... very generous of you." Heidi looked from him to the grey bag, now feeling like a little kid at Christmas, waiting for morning.
"No," he replied, and she saw his jaw tighten. "You will have a great deal expected of you here, Heidi. This isn't an easy job, nor is it a free ride. Do you understand that?"
"Yes," she said, swallowing and giving him a nod. "Sir."
"No." He smiled then, shaking his head, his eyes moving down her damp blouse. "You don't understand... yet... but you will."
His cryptic words actually gave her goose bumps and she hugged her arms across her chest, feeling the heat of his big body standing next to hers.
He seemed to understand her body language, but he didn't back off. Instead, he moved a little closer, making her tilt her chin way up to meet his eyes.
"Let's get you acquainted with some of your job description, shall we?"
*****
By four-thirty, Heidi was ready to collapse. She sat in her chair, staring at the computer screen swimming in front of her eyes and rubbing her toes on the carpet. Her heels were under her desk somewhere because her feet were killing her. She hadn't realized how hard it as going to be to keep up with him all day long. It seemed like the man never stopped.
Of course, that wasn't entirely true. They had a nice lunch on the top floor, where there was a restaurant that had a view of the entire city. She still had some of her shrimp scampi in the little refrigerator down the hall to eat for a yummy dinner tonight. And he was quiet now, for the most part, doing something in his office, the door slightly ajar. She could hear him humming.
She had found herself longing for Ty and Lenny and even the girls throughout the day, just to be out on the beach and in the sunshine. There weren't even any windows here in the reception area—she had to look through Mr. Kaiser's door to see the daylight. It was just the newness of it all, and she was sure that she would get used to it. Considering the job paid three times what her last position did—and apparently came with free designer clothing—she wasn't going to complain.
But she wondered about the last secretary, the one he had spoken of. Had she quit? Been fired? Heidi found a black silk scarf tucked way back in the top drawer of her desk that smelled like Chanel No. 5 with the monogram "M" and knew it must be hers. She was sure that there had been something between her and Mr. Kaiser—just from the funny look she got from the woman in personnel when she handed in her paperwork.
"Heidi?" he called and she jumped, her heart racing.
"Coming, Mr. Kaiser," she answered, slipping her feet back into her heels and making her way toward his office. She stopped in the doorway, seeing him standing by the window, his hands clasped behind his back. "Yes, sir?"
He turned his head toward her, but didn't move from the glass. "Ah. There you are. Come in, please. Close the door."
Heidi did as she was told, standing between the two wing-backed chairs, waiting. Today had seemed like such a normal office day that she had almost forgotten the events of yesterday and the day before—but her body remembered. Her bottom was tingling and there was a slow heat beginning to spread through her lower belly, just looking at the way he stood, the way his eyes shifted when the door clicked shut behind her.
"Syracuse, you said?" he asked, striding toward his desk. "Where did you intern?"
She cleared her throat, knowing that he must already know, if he had seen her resume. "I was a wardrobe stylist here in New York for the Tommy Hilfiger Merchandise Coordinator."
He chuckled, shaking his head. "Mr. Bourgeois himself."
Flushing, she replied, "He's no Kaiser."
"No." His eyes flicked up to hers, moving over her face. "I want you to look at these."
He nodded toward his desk, where there were long rectangular fabric samples laid out over the surface. Heidi hesitated, looking at him and seeing his nod as she reached her hand out for them. The minute her fingers touched them, she sighed, her eyes brightening as she felt each one, immediately beginning to sort.
"What are you doing?" he murmured, watching her, his eyes interested.
She looked up, startled. "Oh... just... these over here aren't anywhere near Kaiser quality..."
Pulling out three of the samples, she held them up to the light. "Now, these... have promise. The finer weight... these are handmade... and imported, I would guess. Italy?"
"Yes," he agreed, smiling. "Tell me something, Heidi... do you weave?"
Dropping the fabric, she stammered at him, her face growing brighter. "I... yes... sir... since I was a little girl."
"Not so long ago," he murmured, sitting in his chair and leaning back to look at her. "You haven't had an easy life, have you, Miss Bauer?"
She didn't answer him, looking down at her hands, clasped in front of her now, the fabric samples forgotten.
"Heidi," he reminded her. "I asked you a question."
"No, sir," she replied, swallowing.
Nodding, he dipped his head, trying to catch her eye, but she refused to look up. "You have a fantastic eye, and from what I've seen of the portfolio you turned in, you are an excellent designer. It puzzles me, why you didn't start in our export house or manufacturing...?"
