The foyer of Donovan enterprises smelled faintly like polished doors ,and purpose .June Montgomery clutched her clipboard ,checking the schedule one last time before the endless meetings hit .Her three inch heels clicked making her presence noticeable as she marched her way towards Noah Donovan's office .five -thirty.His final appointment for the day .
"Sorry you're doing this ,Penelope had to run a quick errand for me"
He uttered earning him a slight nod from June ,though she had never heard her boss apologize.
Easy enough …except for the cup of coffee she was trying to balance in her other hand .
Perfectly normal. -Everyday secretary duties ,what could possibly go wrong .
Except ,of course, life barely cooperated.
Noah stepped out of his door frame ,his eyes fell on hers ,swift and analyzing,like he could see the schedules running behind her eyes .
June froze .
"Your five thirty is here",she said, forcing her voice to stay relaxed .Her hands tightened around the clipboard .
"Thank you " Noah replied calmly ,turning just as the elevator doors slid open .
The already unbalanced cup in her hands betrayed her .
A sudden jolt ,maybe from a shift in her foot ,maybe the hallway that had suddenly been filled with people ,sent coffee leaping from the cup .As the warm liquid went flying from the air and straight into Noah's plain white shirt .
Time slowed down ,eyes filled with nothing but stillness ,Noah stared down at the spreading stain ,refusing to blink expression unreadable .June's face turned red ,she could hear her own heartbeat pounding in her ears .
"I…I'm sorry sir "she stammered, unable to catch her words ,grabbing what seemed like napkins from the counter .
"It's …okay" said Noah ,his voice low and relaxed but the tilt of his head ,the way he was looking at her told a different story .Nothing about what just happened was fine at all .
Her hands refused to stay still as they shook upon her trying to dab on the fabric .The room was quiet and even with the Air conditioning on June felt hot as if the temperature had dropped down to a million degrees .The elevator hissed and there was a faint smell of coffee in the air .
"I…"she started again ,but he cut her off with a slow exhale .
"Don't worry about it ",finally letting a faint smile relax on his lips .
It wasn't forgiveness .It certainly wasn't charm .It was curiosity.
And for June Montgomery ,that small ,impossible flicker was enough to make her suddenly aware of every inch of him .The suit that was well tailored to his tall broad figure ,his commanding presence ,the storm just barely held behind calm eyes .
Somewhere in the chaos of a spilled Americano June realized ,this job,this man towering over her might be more complicated than she imagined.
June's hands still trembled from the coffee spill.She had managed to dab at Noah's plain white shirt with napkins ,but the faint scent of Americano clung unto him and to her nerves .
"I..I really am sorry sir" she said her voice came out tighter than she wanted .
Noah didn't respond to her immediately .His sharp gaze softened just slightly ,and for a heartbeat ,June thought she saw a smile .
Before she could process it ,another voice cut through the tension .
"Mr Donovan ,I've got the Jackson file ready for you" Seems Penelope had come back from her errand . She arched an eyebrow at June ,a slight tilt that screamed "this is my territory "
Noah glanced at Penelope, his lips twitched a bit "Thank you Penelope I'll take it in a minute".
Penelope's eyes narrowed slightly at June ,although she stayed professional.She still had time to mutter under her breath just loud enough for June to hear it "Careful with the boss's coffee next time"
June was flushed realizing she didn't even notice Penelope's presence until right now .
It wasn't too long ,a familiar voice echoed from the foyer ,thick yet steady .Noah Donovan's cousin, Sebastian.The young man leaned against the marble railing like he owned the space .His aura was unmistakable wealth ,charm and mischief.
"Well well well,what happened to you cousin ,coffee attack on Noah Donovan ?"
June stiffened ,almost like she was a statue .Sebastian's smirk held judgement .He clearly enjoyed seeing her flustered .
Noah's attention snapped back to her "June"he said quietly with the hint of a smile resting on his lips again ,"you'll have to make it up to me .Let's call it a dry run ….demonstration of skill "
June blinked ."Skill ?"
"Handling accidents professionally "he said smoothly "You've already got a head start".
Penelope gave a soft huff ,jealousy was clearly hidden in her posture while Sebastian's smirk widened .
June didn't realize that she had just walked into a web of competition and attention.One that was about to pull her directly into Noah Donovan's orbit ,whether she liked it or not .
Her professional instincts screamed "stay calm " but her heart had other plans .
Somewhere in the polished walls of Donovan Enterprises ,two people from separate backgrounds would soon merge ,over a contract . Noah hadn't planned for witnesses .He had asked June to meet him after hours ,somewhere neutral ,somewhere quiet,somewhere private and safe .
The café just across the street from Donovan Enterprises was dimly lit ,almost empty at that .The late afternoon sunlight came in through the window ,appearing slant,turning dust to gold .
June had already arrived and had been waiting,punctuality isn't something she lacked at all ,she had won many awards for punctuality in the office .
She sat near the window ,contemplating on whether to actually get something or not.Her posture was still ,composed ,but her thoughts were the exact opposite. When Noah walked in, the room seemed to realign for him .He walked towards her ,jacket slung over one shoulder. June watched as the man made his way to her ,she had never seen him without his jacket before ,the coffee on his shirt was still there and she genuinely started to feel bad ,his shoulders and arms had popped out ,not that they didn't before but it had just become very visible .To her at least .
"Thanks for coming ," he said
"I didn't think I had a choice, " she replied,not in an unkind manner .
They sat
For a moment ,neither spoke .
Noah finally decides to break the silence
"My mother's coming to town"
June felt a sudden clench in her stomach . "And?"
"And she's adamant "
That earned a little smile from June .the smile soon faded
"She wants me settled ,publicly".
June met his gaze
"Oh sir ,you're not asking what I think you're asking are you?"
He exhaled softly
"That's exactly what I'm asking June "
The door opened softly and Penelope stepped in ,her heels sharp against the tile ,making it hard for her presence not to be noticed . There was a quick halt to her movement,it was a brief pause .
"Mr Donovan I thought you had already left for the board meeting ".
Noah didn't take his eyes off of June "Plans changed"
"Uhh… sir, is there anything I can help you with ?" She continued .
"This is a private conversation, " Noah said coolly .
Penelope's eyes moved to June ."About work?"
He finally broke the contact between himself and June ."No" he said looking Penelope in the eye.
Silence stretched .
June stood up "I think I should go "
On standing up ,Noah reached for her wrist ,just enough to stop her .
" Please ,just hear me out" he said quietly .
She hesitated .
In the moment of that very hesitation,Noah looked at her like she had already mattered ,and the lie had begun to take shape .
She sat down slowly .
"Ten minutes sir ,and I'm leaving "
"Not a problem, " he said .
To Noah the decision had already been made. Whether June knew it or not .
The boardroom felt small ,June stood at Noah's side ,composed with her fingers folded in front of her. Penelope sat down ,sitting close to her boss. Sebastian leaned back in his chair ,arms crossed ,just watching .
And then Genevive Donovan spoke .
"And who're you ?" She stared at the unfamiliar face "
"I'm ,ju…" she is suddenly cut of by Noah
"Mother, meet June, my girlfriend, " he said standing up .
"June meet my mother "
June's breath was hooked on her throat ,Noah turned to her there was not a hint of panic in his voice . Penelope's head snapped up .
"Oh my ,when were you going to tell me?"
"I was just going to mother" Noah responded .
Noah's hands came down warm and steady over hers.
An intentional deed .June looked at him wide eyed ,silent protest running inside her eyes .
His thumb brushed her knuckle .
"Isn't that right ,baby ?"
"Baby ?" said Penelope,she hadn't known when the words fell out of her mouth.
She didn't agree to this ,she didn't know what was happening.
"Yes, " June responded softly .
Noah's grip on her hands tighted
"Yes ,yes we're together ".
There was an immediate silence that followed after June's voice .
And then there was an applause .
Noah soon leaned closer to June ,voice low ,intimate ,dangerous.
"Congratulations" he whispered."You're officially my girlfriend .
And just like that his gaze fell on hers , his brown eyes had met a different pair of blue ones.Same eyes he knew he'd have to get used to seeing a lot.