Softest touch, p.1
Softest Touch, page 1
SOFTEST TOUCH
ADINA D. GREY
CONTENTS
1. Derek
2. Melinda
3. Derek
4. Melinda
5. Derek
6. Melinda
7. Derek
8. Melinda
9. Derek
10. Melinda
11. Derek
12. Melinda
13. Derek
14. Melinda
15. Derek
16. Melinda
17. Derek
About the Author
Stay in touch with Adina
Softest Touch Copyright © 2023 by Adina D. Grey
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Credits:
Cover: Dani Renè for Raven Designs
Edits: Lily Luchesi from Partners in Crime
Format: Lizzie James from Phoenix Book Designs
SYNOPSIS
Derek, the billionaire owner of Wilson Creations, has it all - fame, fortune, and success. But when he meets his new assistant, Melinda, he finds himself drawn to her fiery spirit and sharp wit. Despite a rocky start, the two become a formidable team, and Derek begins to see Melinda in a different light.
Together, they face the challenges that arise and find strength in each other until the end. Will their forbidden feelings be enough to overcome the obstacles in their way, or will they be torn apart by the forces that seek to keep them apart?
CHAPTER ONE
DEREK
Four months away from home has felt like breathing fresh air. Although I decided to take a year off, I couldn't resist returning early, and now I find myself standing in front of Wilson Creations. I'm pretty sure I'll hear some complaints about my return, but I'm not a beach-and-cocktail kind of guy.
After parking my Maserati Gran Turismo, I walk into the building, greeting the doorman. New York Fashion Week is a few months away, and Wilson Creations will be presenting the new collection I've been working hard on. Not having the final piece drives me insane. That's why I took a few months off – I hoped it would help me find new inspiration, but it never happened. I didn't want to waste more time, so now I'm back to ensure everything is in order, even if it's seven p.m. While I do trust my brother and his wife, life has taught me that it's better to handle things myself.
“Derek? What are you doing here?” my brother James asks as soon as I cross the threshold of my office.
“I was getting bored, so I came back.” I shrug, taking off my jacket.
“What do I have to do to get rid of you?”
“You can't.” I laugh and sit at my desk. “How are things going? Are we ready for New York?”
“Yes, we're just looking for two more models. Otherwise, everything is fine, and we need to choose the dress for the finale.”
“Perfect,” I say, glancing at some folders on the desk. “Did you find me a new assistant?”
“Sienna took care of it, at least I think so.” His cheeky grin says more than he wants to.
“I'm not sure if I should be more concerned that your wife chose an assistant for me or that you're not certain about it.”
“Yeah...” He chuckles while rubbing his neck. “Let's just say, with her raging hormones, it's better not to disagree with her.”
“Could we do that before her pregnancy?” I ask James, who lets out a hearty laugh.
“Could you do what?” Sienna asks as she enters the office, followed by a stunning girl. “Welcome back, Derek. I knew you'd be back sooner than planned.”
“You know me well.” I hug her before peering at her rounded belly. “You look amazing.”
“And you're such a bad liar!” Sienna rolls her eyes at me. “I feel like an elephant.”
“Yes, but a sexy one!” James replies, taking a playful slap from Sienna.
“Anyway, since Ella has retired, I've found you a new assistant.” She moves further while turning toward the girl. “Meet Melinda Jackson. I've already shown her everything she needs to know.” Sienna winks at me, knowing how picky I am with my colleagues and how well-prepared they have to be. “Melinda, this is Derek Wilson.”
“Nice to meet you, sir.” She extends her hand. I briefly look at her and sharply exhale. She looks like a stunning porcelain doll – fragile and ready to break. Even if her beauty doesn't go unnoticed, I can't afford newbies just for the sake of it.
“She's not fit for this job. She's too young and definitely not what I'm looking for,” I tell Sienna as I sit back in my chair. “No offense, Miss Jackson, but I don't like wasting time.”
“You don't know anything about me, and yet you judge me,” she fires back. “How do you know I'm not suitable for the job?”
Calmly, I pick up a pen to sign some papers and then peer at her. “I've been working in this field for so many years that, I assure you, you won't last a week here.”
“Try me,” she challenges me. “Instead of judging, let me show you how much I'm worth.”
“Melanie...”
“No, I'll stop you right away.” She approaches, placing her hands flat open on my desk. “I'm not going to be treated like a fool. I'm not a kid, and I've worked hard not to have the door slammed in my face by the first person who thinks they know everything about me after a glance.” Her confidence and determination pique my curiosity, not to mention her attitude. The power her body radiates can't be missed, and the fire in her eyes burns into mine. My heart flutters, and my gut tells me to keep her.
“Okay.” I stare back at her, holding up my index finger. “One week, but if you can't do your job, you'll be fired!”
Her eyes widen in surprise. “For real?”
“Do I look like someone who's kidding?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“Nnn—no, sir.”
Nervously, I flick the pen over my finger. “Well, you'll start now. Bring me all the sketches for the New York parade.”
“Yes, sir.” She nods, heading to the door. Her backside, perfectly wrapped in the jeans she wears, makes me grit my teeth.
“And Melanie,” I call her back, “I don't want to see you wearing jeans.”
“No problem, sir. And my name is Melinda,” she points out before storming out of the door.
“Was there a need to be such a dickhead?” James questions, narrowing his eyes at me.
“I was sincere, not a dickhead.” I grin back at him. In this industry, time means money, and I don't want to waste a single minute.
“Yeah. I'm sending you her resume, so you'll know more about her,” Sienna says as she walks out of the office, shaking her head in disapproval.
James sinks into the stool opposite me. “Derek, you need to get laid, man.”
“Fuck you, James!”
“I mean it! You were rude and arrogant. I've never seen you like this...” He gestures with his hand. “What the hell happened?”
As the sun sets, bathing the city in its orange light, I sigh and look out the window before admitting, “She is young and inexperienced. To work here, you don't need nice legs and a pretty face. I need competent people.”
“I'm sorry to contradict you, but she is more competent than you can imagine. You're judging her without even knowing her skills,” James continues, “not to mention she's a Jackson, and you can imagine their education level.”
The Jackson family has a reputation that speaks for itself. They are part of the elite, even after the tragic accident that happened a decade ago. They still are involved in each charity event. I haven't seen her much around, nor have I heard much about their daughter after their death, but everyone knows the Jackson family is like an institution in Washington D.C.
Melinda knocks on the glass door, and I signal her to come in. “Mr. Wilson, the meeting room is ready.”
Confused, I peer at her. “Ready for what?”
I don't miss her rolling eyes, but she sighs as James and I both get up and follow her into the meeting room.
“You asked me for the sketches for the New York parade, and I set them up here,” she says as she opens the door.
Not only did she bring me the catalog for each dress, but also the dresses on the dummies. I am speechless. “Thanks,” I mumble as she leaves.
“Hmm-hmm, I'd say she did a great job for being an inexperienced person.”
“Yeah…”
“Well, I'm taking Sienna out for dinner since it's almost dinnertime. See you tomorrow.” He pats my shoulder before leaving me alone.
Rolling up my sleeves, I approach the dummies and begin checking that everything is done perfectly, noting the minor changes I've asked for have been executed flawlessly. When I’ve finished, I turn off the lights and head back to my office. Melinda is at her desk, typing frantically on her keyboard.
When she looks up and sees me pass by, she hands me some sheets. “I've transcribed the messages you received today.”
“Thank you,” I say as I walk into my office.
I read the messages and reply to them as well as some emails. Feeling tired, I check the time and notice it's past ten p.m. Deciding to call it a night, I grab my jacket and head toward the elevators, bumping into Melinda. I catch her arm, preventing her from falling backward. “I didn't think you were still here.”
Melinda meets my gaze, and her eyes captivate me with their unique color. She takes a deep breath before speaking. “I'm sorry, I've cleaned up the meeting room and prepared it for tomorrow's meeting at nine a.m.”
Realizing I’m still holding her, I release my grip. “There was no rush. You could have done it tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow at eight a.m., you have a meeting with the suppliers in room two, and at nine a.m. here. I wouldn't have had the time.” She reminds me of all my morning commitments. “Do you need anything else?”
“No.” I shake my head, once again surprised by her knowledge of my agenda. “Get your stuff, and let's go home. It's late.”
“Okay,” she whispers as she picks up her bag and jacket.
We take the elevator together, and her perfume tickles my nostrils. It's sweet, floral, and a little spicy.
“Where's your car?” I ask her, holding the door for her before leaving the building.
“I'll take a taxi. Good evening, Mr. Wilson,” she says as she walks away.
“Miss Jackson,” I call her back. “I'll take you home. I can't leave you alone at this hour.”
“Nice of you, but no thanks.” She gestures for a taxi to stop and gets in.
Standing there feeling foolish, I watch the taxi drive away, then I shake my head and walk to my car.
The trip home is quite short, and as soon as I open the door, Sissi runs up to me, wagging her tail. “Hey, I missed you too,” I bend down to cuddle her. “Shall we go for a walk?” I ask, grabbing her leash as she happily hops.
CHAPTER TWO
MELINDA
Who the hell does he think he is to treat me like he did? I nervously throw my keys on the table and take off my jacket. I've read a lot about Derek “Douchebag” Wilson, and I know his standards are high. It was Grandma who pushed me to give it a try and apply for the open position. She has a crush on Derek, and I can't deny he's charming and freaking sexy. I've always dreamed of becoming a stylist, but the responsibilities after my parents' deaths and all my commitments made me push back that secret dream. Working as an assistant for one of the best fashion labels is close to living my dream, and for me, it's enough.
“Melinda, is that you?” Grandma asks from her bedroom. Damn, I woke her up.
“Yes, Grandma, sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up.” I want to slap myself when she comes to hug me.
“No, you didn't, sugar. Why did you come back so late? How was the interview?”
“It went well, Grandma. I was hired.” I smile at her. I'm still surprised he agreed to put me on a trial. Sometimes I should learn to keep my mouth shut, but somehow, I couldn't.
“I knew they would take you. I'm proud of you, little one.” I link to her arm. “Thank you, Grandma. Come on, let's go to sleep.”
“Okay, but tell me… is Mr. Wilson as handsome as in the magazines?”
I laugh and shake my head as I help her get back into her bed. “He's cocky, bossy, and so irritating.”
“Oh, what happened?” She gasps.
I kiss her forehead and tuck in the blanket. “Nothing you need to worry about, Grandma. I'll tell you tomorrow. Now go to sleep.”
“Okay, baby, goodnight.”
“Night, Granny.”
Turning off the light, I close her door. Walking to my room, I decide to prepare a hot bath since I need it after today. I'm still nervous about how that bully treated me. I'm so tired of being interviewed and sidelined because of my physical appearance, or being too skilled, or worse, for my last name. I have enough worries about my grandmother to let them put me down too.
I sink into the tub and the hot water takes away all the anger, relaxing me while Derek Wilson pops into my head. His piercing blue eyes and that perfectly sculpted jawline are etched into my memory. Even though he's infuriating and condescending, I can't deny how attractive he is.
When the alarm goes off in the morning, I reluctantly emerge from under the covers, growling as I get up. It's a new day, and my mood soon improves. As I brew some coffee, I cook breakfast and prepare my grandmother's pills. Once everything is done and I've had my precious cup of coffee, I start getting dressed.
“Good morning, darling. You look gorgeous today.” Grandma yawns.
Seeing her messy hair, I giggle; she seems to have had a fight with her pillow last night. Caressing her hair, I kiss her cheek. “Good morning, Granny. Isn't this outfit a bit much?” I spin around, showing her what I'm wearing.
“Are you ready to go to work already?” she smiles, nodding in approval.
Wearing the blazer, I wink at her. “Yes, but don't worry, Laura will be here shortly.”
“Oh, you shouldn't have bothered her. I don't need a caregiver.”
“I know, Grandma.” I hug her. “I'm doing it for Laura. With her daughters off to college, she might feel lonely. This way, she can play Crazy Eights.”
“It's not like she's good at it, but it's fun to see her lose.” She giggles.
I smile, stroking her face. “You're evil! I've already cooked your lunch, and please don't forget your medicines.”
“Thanks, baby.” She rolls her eyes. “I'll remember them. Go now, or you'll be late.”
“Okay. See you tonight; love you, Grandma.”
“Have a great day,” she whispers before I leave the apartment.
The office is only minutes away from my apartment. On my way, I pick up coffees and head to our floor. After a quick review of the final details for today's meetings, I place a cup of coffee and the folders on Mr. Cocky's desk and return to my computer.
When I hear the elevator doors open, my stomach knots.
“Good morning, Melissa,” Mr. Cocky greets me as he enters his office, not giving me time to answer. I wonder if he's grumpy because he fell out of bed or if it's me who he can't stand.
At half-past seven a.m., I knock on his door, and he gestures for me to come in while he ends a phone call. Mr. Cocky looks at me from head to toe and smiles, gesturing for me to sit down, but I prefer to remain standing.
“Thanks for the coffee. A little too sweet for my taste, but I appreciate it.”
“You're welcome.” I place his mail on the desk. “I've sorted them according to urgency.”
“There was no need.” He looks at me over his coffee mug. “I see you've given up on jeans.”
“I wasn't dressed properly yesterday because I wasn't supposed to start working. It won't happen again,” I promise. Sienna gave me a tour to ensure I knew everything I needed, but nothing else should have happened. He's so demanding and wants everything sorted faster than a second. Her words still make me smile.
“I appreciate your commitment, and I think we've started off on the wrong foot.”
“No shit.” I sarcastically laugh. His reaction makes me worry. Did I just say that out loud? “I said it out loud, didn't I?”
“Yes, you did.” He bursts out laughing. “I've read your resume, and I'm sorry for being so hostile toward you.”
“I would say more arrogant.” Quickly, I cover my mouth with my hands. Why can't I keep quiet for fuck’s sake?
“Yeah, I'll take it.” He chuckles. “I've seen so many incompetent people at that desk, and I need someone capable of managing my agenda, my commitments, and above all, my travels. Basically, my entire life.”
I nod firmly. “I see.”
“I've noticed you've gotten on with the job, and for now, I'm happy with how you're managing everything. That doesn't mean you're hired. You're still on trial for a week,” he says while getting up.
“Thank you,” I murmur.
“Well, Melinda,” he passes by, and I peer at him, surprised he says my name correctly, “come with me.”
