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“Thank you.”
I walk timidly around the massive desk, my heels echoing against the marble floor as several others rush past me to enter the elevator. When I arrive on the floor, there’s a second reception desk with two women smiling at me. I repeat the process of introducing myself.
“Mr. Archer is ready for you.” One of the ladies smiles as she stands and walks around the desk. “I’ll show you the way.”
She brings me to two massive wooden doors that she opens and ushers me inside before turning to walk back down the hallway.
I step inside the office, nervously looking around when I spot him. His back is to me as he faces the floor-to-ceiling windows. He’s clearly typing furiously on his phone but finishes and slides it into his pocket to turn around and face me, a casual smirk on his face as he speaks.
“Thanks for meeting me, Miss Spencer.”
Holy fucking shit, you have to be kidding me. This cannot be real.
I almost want to pinch myself, convinced I’m having a nightmare right now. Before I can stop myself, the words fall from my lips in a somewhat whisper.
“Mr. Daddy Issues?”
Chapter 2
Beckham
Her face says it all and it’s fucking priceless. “Pardon?”
I watch her delicate throat constrict as she attempts to swallow down the realization that the man she tried to pick up last night, is not only her dad’s best friend, but I very well could be her new boss.
“Uh, nice to meet you,” she says, clutching the folder to her chest, her cheeks flaming.
“Brontë Spencer then, I presume?” I take her hand in mine.
“Ye—yes, that’s me.” She smiles nervously, shifting her folder and purse to shake my hand. “Pleasure to meet you, sir. And thank you.”
“Pleasure’s all mine.” Her hand is thin and soft, and I’m tempted to hold on to her fingers longer than professional or necessary. I gesture for her to take a seat in the chair across from my desk and she does. Crossing one slim ankle over the other, she smooths out her black pencil skirt.
“I’ve heard a lot about you from your father, all good things of course.” I offer her a genuine smile to ease her tension but it doesn’t work. In fact, it seems to have the opposite effect. Her shoulders lift as she hugs the folder in her arms a little tighter.
“So why don’t you tell me about yourself, Brontë, what your background looks like, what interests you, what line of work you think you want to end up in.”
I lean back in my chair and fold my hands in my lap.
“Well, honestly, I’m a little unsure what I want to do with my life which is why I’m here. My father suggested I come work for you till I figure out what I actually want to do.” I chuckle and she nervously tries to backpedal. “Not that I don’t think that this is a real job or anything; I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity and for you even taking the time to speak with me.”
“No explanation needed.” I hold up my hand. “I’ve been in your shoes before and I think it’s a smart plan. Too often we’re pushed into specific careers based on what we decided to study when we were eighteen years old. A lot can happen between now and then.”
“I studied finance and accounting in undergrad and just graduated from grad school with my master’s in forensic accounting. My mom was an accountant and she loved her job so I followed in her footsteps.”
“But now you’re unsure about that path for yourself?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
I lean forward in my chair and intertwine my fingers. “What is it that excites you? When you picture yourself twenty years from now, what career do you see yourself in?”
Her shoulders finally drop as she chews on the corner of her lip.
“Helping people. I like volunteering and I think nonprofit is something I could see myself in long term.”
“Well, that’s good news. We have some great relationships with a few here in Chicago. In fact, we have a foundation. The Archer Foundation focuses on single mothers or women in need of prenatal care… basically families in need. We do fundraisers and group volunteering throughout the company. We also offer five paid days off per month for volunteering.”
Her eyes grow wide as I explain about our efforts here at Archer Financial to give back to our community and help those in need.
