Chapter 3

The phone rang for the tenth time. And like the good little temp, I answered it.

"Tech-com Global, Lyra King speaking, how may I help you today?" I asked. It was my first day, and I was two hours in. I can't even remember how many times I've introduced myself over the phone. If this was how normal people worked for the minimum, I was glad I didn't have to do it until this point. But I had to keep the goal in mind. Kristen schooled me on the current stock standings, and the competing companies and what Arlo could do better to gain points. It was supposed to give me an upper hand over Gwendolyn in the brain department. I could've looked it up myself, but Kristen helped since he didn't give me enough time to prepare in the first place.

The sliding doors to the vast lobby area slid open and in walked my mark and his girlfriend. I already had the stack of notes and numbers on my desk with my revisions penciled in to set the bait. Arlo walked straight to the desk. I pinched my cheeks quickly and played it off as a hair fixing move before I stood. Kristen had me in a blue bandaged bodycon dress with a cream blazer and black 3-inch heels. He claimed that if the heels were too high it would make me look like a slut. My hair was straightened and pulled into a low, loose but neat, bun with fringe as rectangular framed glasses sat on the bridge of my nose. Arlo stared at me perplexed but intrigued. My look had accomplished exactly what it was supposed to: it caught his attention.

"M-Mr. Mason," I greeted him. The internet did not do his looks justice. He looked way better in person; very masculine, full of power, and drop dead gorgeous.

"Where's Maxine?" Arlo asked, his deep voice dripping with authority and a slight English accent. I kept his eye not as a challenge but out of respect.

"She's sick for the time being so the temp agency sent me," I lied easily. He held my eye for a moment before Gwendolyn looped her arm with his and smiled cordially at me.

"Arlo's messages please," she asked in a curt but sweet tone as she eyed me. The internet gave her more credit than in reality. She was thicker than her pictures. Her face was caked with makeup and her brown roots were showing. Her eyes were kind of dull as well.

I fumbled with the papers on purpose before setting the papers on the counter where either of them could reach it. "Thanks, and Arlo has meetings all day today so you can forward any new calls to his secretary, Patricia," Gwendolyn said before pulling him towards the elevator with papers in hand. I let out a breath and sat back down as they left.

Gwendolyn was intense. She was the type of overbearing, possessive girlfriend I was worried about. This might be harder than Kristen thought.