Chapter 4

• Chloe POV
• We get off the elevator and walk down the hall to the primary office on the floor. I am so nervous I can barely walk. I am trying to pull it together. Cane is speaking to people and introducing me to staff as we make our way to Mr. Arden's office.
• "What is with you?" Cane asks.
• "I am sorry. I am only nervous. I am trying to pull it together," I say.
• Cane walks in front of me to a small reception area. He talks with the receptionist and then motions for me to come with him. "Mr. Arden is waiting for you," Cane says.
• "You are not coming with me?" I ask.
• "No, I will be out here waiting. He only wants to talk to you and go over your job with you. He does this with all higher management staff, and since you will be working in my office, he needs to meet with you," Cane says.
• I squint my eyes at him. I want to punch him right now. He knows I am nervous, and now he is throwing me to the wolves. That is almost comical, considering Mr. Arden is a wolf!
• I walk through the door into Mr. Arden's office. He is at his desk, not paying me any attention when I walk into the office. "Have a seat," he says without even looking up from his computer.
• I take a seat in the chair in front of his desk. He glances over at me and then does a double-take. Damn, can he see the bruises? He turns to me and stops what he is doing at his computer. He stands up and walks around the desk.
• "I am Axel Arden. I have heard a lot about you, Miss Chloe," Mr. Arden says.
• I shake his hand. "It is nice to meet you, Mr. Arden," I say. He is staring at me, and it is making me uncomfortable.
• "I understand that Cane wants you in his marketing office, is that right?" he asks.
• "Yes, sir," I answer.
• "Cane gave me a copy of your resume. You do not have marketing experience, but you have experience in finances, is that correct?" Mr. Arden asks me.
• I shift around in my seat. "No, I do not have marketing experience. Cane wanted me close to him so he could keep an eye on me. I am a fast learner," I say.
• "I understand your unique situation. I talked to your previous employer, and no, I did not tell him where I was calling from, but he told me you are a whiz with numbers. I think it would be irresponsible on my part not to use your skills," Mr. Arden says.
• Mr. Arden sits down on his desk. I am not sure if he is sizing me up or waiting to see what I will say, but this devilishly handsome man is looking me up and down. I do not know if I am uncomfortable or enjoying this. Maybe both.
• "Would you be okay to work in another department?" Mr. Arden asks me.
• "It would be fine. I need a job, and I appreciate anywhere you want to put me," I say.
• Mr. Arden smiles at me. He is definitely trouble. I can see it all over him. He is good-looking, a bad boy, probably spoiled a little, and always gets his way. I am not getting tangled up with him, that is for sure. I have enough problems.
• "Good, go see Heather is HR. I need you here in the morning at seven. Unless you need a few days before you start?" Mr. Arden asks.
• "No, I do not have much to unpack. Most of my stuff will not be here for a few days," I say.
• "Good, Heather will go over the dress code and your benefits. If you need a few days when your things arrive, just let me know," Mr. Arden says.
• "Thanks; who do I report to in the morning? Who is my supervisor?" I ask.
• Mr. Arden sits down at his desk and smiles at me. "Me, you will be working directly with me. I need a good auditor, and from what I understand, you are one of the best," he says.
• "Thank you," I say. I leave his office in a hurry. Cane is waiting for me outside the office.
• "Well, how did it go?" Cane asks.
• "Fine. I have to see Heather is HR, and I have to be here in the morning at seven," I say.
• Cane looks at me oddly. "He did not put you in marketing, did he?" Cane asks.
• "No finance, he said he spoke with my boss at Capital, and he wants me as an auditor," I say.
• "You must have made an impression. It takes a long time to get into the auditing department. Who's team are you on? Who is your supervisor?" Cane asks.
• "Mr. Arden, I am working with him," I answer.
• "Oh, come on. Let's get you to HR," Cane says.
• Cane and I walk to HR. It is on the same floor as auditing, finance, and Mr. Arden's office. Cane shows me the breakroom, where the other elevator is, and anything else he thinks I might need to know.
• Heather in HR is friendly. She goes over all my paperwork thoroughly. She wants to make sure I understand everything I sign. Mr. Arden is a stickler on nondisclosures, dress codes, and pretty much everything to do with his business.
• "Now, do not freak out over all of this paperwork. Mr. Arden is thorough, that is all. I am going to help you fill everything out and make sure it is perfect. Since you are in his office, you will get benefits on day one and a company car," Heather says.
• "A company car, I have a car," I say.
• "Yes, but if you have to run errands or anything, he likes for you to use the company car. Tomorrow I will send a car for you to pick you up so you can drive the company car home. I will have your phone, credit cards, and keys waiting for you in the morning. Mr. Arden said to you to give you the full benefits package on day one. The company will pay for your insurance, so I will have those cards for you within a week. I cannot think of anything else. Any questions?" Heather asks.
• I am stunned by all the benefits. Is this normal, or does he feel sorry for me because my boyfriend was knocking me around? "No, if I have any questions, I will drop by and see you," I say.
• "You can call me from your office; just hit star 11, and it rings me," Heather says.
• "Thanks, Heather," I say.
• I go out of HR to see Cane talking to Mr. Arden. They both notice me, and Cane comes over to check on me. "What was all of that about, Cane?" I ask.
• "He was telling me how awesome you were on your last job, and there was no way he was sending you to marketing, that is all," Cane says. Cane wrinkled his nose. I know he is lying. Whenever Cane lies, he wrinkles his nose.
• "I get benefits and everything on day one," I say.
• "Yes, you work in the big man's office; you will get a lot of perks," Cane says.
• Cane and I go down the elevator to the parking garage. When we get to the car, I notice Cane is fidgety. "What is wrong, Cane?" I ask him.
• "Nothing, sister, I am only worried about you, that is all," Cane says. Cane wrinkles his nose.
• "We need to get home so I can help you unpack your car and make sure you have everything you need to start work in the morning," Cane says.
• "Thanks, Cane, for everything, the job, a place to stay. It means a lot to me," I say.
• Cane smiles at me as we get into the car. What the hell is going on with him?