Guarding His Heart

Chapter Two

Hannah

“It’s so freaking unfair.” I sipped my coffee and nibbled on the toast my roommate and best friend, Lisa had made for me. “I’ve been working as an assistant for two years. That promotion should have been mine.”

“It’s a dog eat dog world.” Lisa nodded at me sympathetically. “It’s a boys club.”

“Yeah, nepotism at the finest. If I was born into the family, I’d most probably be CEO by now.” I frowned and slammed my cup back down on the table. “But no, I’m still an assistant. And to rub it in my face even more, I’m the new assistant to the guy that took my job.”

“He’s a jerk.”

“He really is.” I growled as I remembered Leo’s attitude from the day before. Stupid blond ass**le! “He thinks just because he’s tall and blond and handsome that he can just do what he wants.”

“Oh he’s handsome?” Lisa stopped in front of me and grinned. “How handsome?”

“Like a Hollywood hunk.” I sighed and thought about his big blue eyes.

“When can I meet him?” Lisa grinned and tossed her long dyed red hair over her shoulders. “Is he single?”

“I have no idea if he’s single.” I shook my head. “I met him yesterday.”

“Can you find out?” She sat at the table next to me and continued eagerly. “Maybe I can come and meet you for lunch and we can accidentally meet?” She grinned. “I’ve always wanted to date an executive manager.”

“Lisa!” I frowned at her. “We hate this guy. He took my job. All because his dad owns the company.”

“Oh yeah, his dad owns the company.” Lisa clapped her hands happily. “Good-bye call-center job, hello Rodeo Drive.”

“Lisa!” I shook my head. “Really?”

“Sorry.” She giggled. “But handsome and rich is too good to pass up.”

“He’s also an ass**le.”

“Hey, what guy isn’t?” Lisa shrugged and then paused. “But hey, I’ll wait until you give him your silent treatment for a few weeks and then that will give me time to get ready.”

“Get ready?”

“You think I’m going to meet him with this hot mess?” She held up her frazzled dry red hair. “I’m going blonde and I’m getting a cut. I’m also going to hit Santa Monica beach the next couple of weekends, get my tan on.” She paused and grinned as I shook my head in disbelief. “Then I’ll be ready to meet him. Maybe I can lose ten pounds in that time as well. I guess I can do it with a cleanse.”

“Are you joking with me, Lisa?” I shook my head. “This guy is my enemy and you’re already trying to hook up with him.”

“I’m not trying to hook up with him. I’m trying to marry him.” She laughed.

“Lisa, you haven’t even seen him yet.” I shook my head. “You’re crazy.”

“Do you want to do the master cleanse with me?”

“That lemonade diet?” I frowned.

“Yes.” She nodded.

“No way, Jose.” I shook my head. “Thanks for your support.” I was pissed that she was talking about diets when I was telling her about my new enemy.

“I’m sorry, Hannah.” She grabbed my arm. “I was just getting a little carried away with myself. Look, just be yourself. Let him know that you’re more than an assistant. Let him know he can’t treat you like the help.” She shrugged. “Let him know you’re equals and that should have been your job.”

“How am I supposed to do that?”

“Make him feel bad about what he’s done.” She looked at me thoughtfully. “He knows that was supposed to be your job right?”

“Yeah.” I groaned, remembering the previous day. “He knows.”

“So let him know that just because he has the connections doesn’t mean he’s better than you.” She nodded. “Bring him down a couple of pegs!”

“Yeah, I suppose I can try and do that.” I bit down on my lower lip, trying to think about what I could do to make the great Leonardo Maxwell realize that he wasn’t better than me.

“Then you can hook him up with me.” She grinned. “What’s his name again?”

“Lisa,” I groaned. “I already told you his name is Leo.”

“Ooh, Leo like Leonardo DiCaprio?”

“I guess.” I sighed. “He’s better looking than DiCaprio though.”

“What?” She screeched. “Okay, I need to meet this man.”

“He’s most probably a bigger man whore than DiCaprio as well. You know all the tabloids have Leo dating a different model every couple of months.”

“I’m no model.” Lisa groaned. “Not even if I lose ten pounds.”

“You’re better than those stupid models.” I gave her a quick hug. “Any guy would be lucky to get you.”

“So why aren’t they fighting over me then?” She tilted her head and smiled. “Why am I still working at a stupid call center, telling people why their phones are being cut off every month?”

“Because you love it?” I laughed and she made a face. “We’ll get our breaks soon.”

“Let’s hope so.” She carried the dirty dishes from the table to the sink. “I want to go shopping for some new clothes, with someone else’s credit card for once.”