Assigned To Him, Book One (An Alpha Billionaire Romance) by Haut Pink Publishing Page A

wanted
to avoid his unreasonable jealousy it was easier to play by his
rules.
    “It would be easier just
to leave him,” I muttered under my breath.
    It was something I’d
considered in recent months as his controlling nature became ever
more difficult to live with, but there was a dread to striking out
on my own. It was a fear I couldn’t get over and so far it stopped
me acting on my impulses.
    For once I decided to do
something for myself rather than worrying about what my boyfriend
would think, so went ahead and used mascara, eye shadow, blusher
and lipstick to get the look I wanted.
    “Hot girl,” I said with a
grin when I stared at myself before picking up a brush to run it
through my long, blonde tresses.
    I decided to go for a
practical style and worked my hair to a ponytail then moved across
to the clothes I’d laid out on the bed to get dressed.
    “What now?” I asked my
reflection while I stood staring at myself in the wardrobe
mirror.
    It was coming up to twelve
thirty and would only take me around twenty five minutes to get in
to town, but I couldn’t face just sitting around in the apartment.
That would only allow my anxiety about the impending interview to
escalate and I needed to do something to stay busy.
    “Shopping,” I let out as
the idea came to me.
    Not that I could really
afford to buy anything, but window shopping in town would give me a
chance to stay on the move and keep myself occupied. As it turned
out, that proved more difficult to do than I imagined and when I
eventually got to the office building where I hoped to work, my
mind was in overdrive. I tried to think positive thoughts during
the wait to be called in, but it was a mixture of excitement and
trepidation I was feeling when I stepped through the door of the
interview room.
     

Chapter 2
     
    “You’re…, Katie Carter,”
an older woman said and looked up from the piece of paper she read
my name from.
    “Yes,” I confirmed when I
sat down at the desk.
    “I’m Mrs. Allen,” the
woman said and smiled. “But call me Jeannie.”
    I nodded my head, but said
nothing and waited for the woman to go on.
    “You’ve just finished your
journalism degree at college,” Jeannie said.
    “Around six weeks ago,” I
replied.
    “Is this your first
interview?”
    “Yes,” I confirmed. “When
I saw the chance of a trainee fashion correspondent, it was
something I wanted to do.”
    “It’s a subject that
interests you then,” Jeannie said and leaned forward.
    “As much as any girl,” I
replied and smiled. “I wouldn’t put myself forward as an expert on
it, but I take an interest in the latest designs and looks and I’m
willing to learn.”
    Jeannie nodded her
head.
    “Have you ever done any
fashion writing before?” she asked.
    I almost let out a sigh,
but held it in as I shook my head.
    “No,” I replied. “Will
that count against me?”
    Jeannie was silent for a
few seconds and I screwed up my face in expectation of the
interview ending before it even got started.
    “Cards on the table,” the
older woman said. “There were three applicants for the job and
you’re the only one that has journalism qualifications.”
    “OK,” I replied. That
sounded like it was in my favor.
    “The situation I’m in is
the newspaper has agreed that I can start publishing a fashion
supplement for the Sunday edition,” Jeannie went on. “It will be a
four page insert to start with, but I need help if I’m going to
make it work. The owner agreed I could take on a new member of
staff to help.”
    “OK,” I
repeated.
    The interview wasn’t going
as I expected, but I seemed to be edging towards a job without even
having to sell myself.
    “What I need is someone
that can write me good articles from day one and help make this
supplement a success,” Jeannie said. “That means having a basic
understanding of the fashion industry and a willingness to work
hard. The finer points of what is required I can teach them on