Chapter 4

I stayed and answered phone calls all day. It was dreadfully boring. Of course, my eyes were always peeled for clues and indicators into Arlo's life and business. Gwendolyn left around lunch but Arlo stayed. I stayed too. My plan was to leave after him. Get a little more face time with him without Gwendolyn; see if he caught notice of my notes. Kristen gave me a copy of his schedule today so the notes should have paralleled with the companies and shareholders he had meeting with today.

The ding of the elevator caught my attention just as the phone rang again. I picked it up and glanced just in time to see Arlo coming my way.

"Tech-com Global, Lyra King speaking, how may I direct your call?" I asked before listening and forwarding the call to Arlo's secretary, Patricia, who actually preferred to be called Patty.

"Lyra Emersyn King, born in Phoenix, Arizona, homeschooled, no college, parents deceased, and you recently moved to New York about a year ago to live with your brother, Kristen Parker King. How did you end up here?" Arlo asked as he leaned against the counter to look at me. I stood and thought of the most embarrassing moment of my life to get myself to blush.

"I-I was looking for a job to pass the time. Answering phones and taking messages seemed easy enough," I said, faking a shyness I didn't actually possess. He put the papers from this morning on the counter. I glanced at them to see my notes penciled into the sides.

"How does someone who has never had any formal schooling, know so much about the stock market and my shareholders?" He asked. I shrugged and looked down at the desk.

"I pay attention and I always come prepared," I shrugged it off. "I'm sorry... about your paperwork. I started reading it over and absentmindedly wrote things in while answering the phone," I apologized, even though it was exactly what I meant to do. His poker face only broke for a fraction of a second to show shock.

"You did this on accident?" He asked. I nodded in hesitation.

"I'm sorry, but Maxine should be back in the next few days," I said, playing on a hunch. Kristen's plan was to drop subtle hints for the next month to eventually get to a more permanent position. But I thought I could make it happen a lot faster.

"What do you think of the fundraising stunt coming up next week?" He asked curiously. I knew exactly what he was talking about. I did my homework. His mother set up a fundraising event for him to reassure shareholders and the public that Tech-com was being kept in good hands and Arlo was every bit as charitable as his father.

"Permission to speak freely?" I asked first. A small smirk graced his beautiful face for a fraction of a second.

"Please do," he replied before his poker face replaced any emotion.

"I think that in theory, it's a good plan, but you have to take into account that none of your competitors will be there. Everyone there will be an ally. It could send the message that you're not willing to mingle with new companies or ideas. And Mark Shpil, the CEO of Drezco, is slowly losing his grip on his company, which is sad only because he just started breaking ground on a new security lock for technology that the public would be very interested in, but he doesn't know how to handle it. Invite him and some others that are viewed as your competition, and you might just be able to persuade Mark to sell his company to you. That would give you another location, more power, and a lead in this new technology," I answered.

My brother and I were of a hacking professionals, but he was better than me. He snuck into Drezco's system and gave me all this information in case I could use it.

"Of course, never mix work with pleasure, set a different time for a meeting after getting cozy with him at the party," I added as an afterthought. He just stared at me and blinked.

"You're not working here anymore," he said after a moment. I knew I was only seconds away from being hired in a better position, but I played it dumb.

"I-I'm so sorry Mr. Mason, I never meant to overstep my boundaries," I apologized quickly. A tiny smirk pulled at the corner of his mouth. He enjoyed watching me squirm.

"I want you working upstairs with me... as my assistant," he finished. I stopped and looked at him in true shock. That position didn't even exist in this building. The closest position to Arlo was Patty as his secretary, and she was just like an upstairs temp.

"You would be paid a high hourly rate, and salary, as well as a bonus for every shareholder or rise in stocks that I acquire. You will have your own office and you'll be required to attend all meetings and events associated with the company. Do you accept?" He asked. I could've haggled him for more, but it was already far more than I expected. It was a pretty sweet gig, but it was only step one.

Step two, get close to Arlo.