Broken In Pieces: Billionaire Stepbrother Romance (Wounded Hearts Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

barking orders and Caroline leads me back down the hallway.
    Once back in her office, she explains again, “Mr. Hawthorne is very demanding. He will want you to learn quickly and he doesn’t tolerate mistakes well.”
    “I understand. I’ll give my job a hundred percent of my attention,” I nod.
    “We need you to start on Monday at 9:00 am and I’ll be training you. Go ahead and fill out your paperwork here, then take it back down to human resources before you leave.”
    As I’m filling out the paperwork, I can’t help but ask, “Where are you from, Caroline?”
    “I’m from Georgia but I’ve been in New York City for thirty years.”
    “I knew I detected a southern drawl,” I say. We end up laughing about the looks that New Yorkers give us when they hear us speak.
    After I’ve taken care of everything in human resources, I head back to the apartment. I’m feeling very proud of myself, so I decide to celebrate with some ice cream. As I’m consuming my cone, I can’t help but get excited about this new adventure. It feels like it’s been so long since I’ve been excited about anything, it’s a welcome change. I actually feel myself smile for the first time in weeks.
    Back in the apartment, I immediately jump online to see if Donna is on. She is and I tell her all about my new job. “I’m so glad to see you smile. I have been so worried about you. When you left, I thought New York was the worst idea in the world but you seem to be settling in wonderfully,” she says. I smile again, hoping to keep up the illusion. We say our usual good-byes and I have that instant pain of how very much I miss home.
    Monday morning I arrive early, eager to get started. I’m wearing one of my new outfits I bought on a shopping spree Saturday. I have my hair down and styled perfectly and I’m even wearing makeup so I will blend in with the other girls in the office. “Damn! That’s what I’m talking about,” Caroline says when she spots me and I can’t help but laugh. “You look amazing,” she adds.
    My day is full of training on everything from the way Mr. Hawthorne likes his coffee, the fact that I am responsible for keeping up with all his appointments and meetings, to the paperwork he will expect me to have ready every day. By four pm, my head is reeling from all the information of the day. Caroline retrieves some office supplies for me from the storage room and leaves me to settle in at my desk, just outside of Mr. Hawthorne’s door.
    Mr. Hawthorne has been out of the office in meetings all day but at a little after four, he steps out the elevator. This time he’s dressed in what is probably a three thousand dollar suit that is tailored to fit his body perfectly. He looks around and barks, “Caroline!”
    Caroline appears from around the corner, “Yes?”
    He lowers his voice but I can still hear their conversation. “Who the hell is that?” he motions toward me with his head. “Where the hell is the girl you hired Friday?” he demands.
    Caroline puts her hand to her mouth and begins to laugh, “That’s her Mr. Hawthorne. I told you she would clean up just fine.” Caroline is still laughing as she walks away leaving him with a bewildered look.
    On his way to his office, he stops by my desk and asks me to allow him fifteen minutes then join him. When the allotted time has passed, I grab my pad and pen and head into his office. “Sit,” he commands with a wave to the chairs in front of his desk. I instantly annoyed and I want to tell him that I’m not a damn dog that you give commands to. He sits down behind his desk and glares at me. Even though he has just pissed me off, I can feel the heat from his stare. I’m very uncomfortable and I shift in my seat.
    “So, I take it Caroline has briefed you on all that is expected,” he barks.
    “Yes, sir she has,” I confirm but he still proceeds to run over a few things that he feels the need to make sure I’ve gotten. He’s eyes never leave mine