Damaged Perfection (The Perfection Series Book 1) (2 page)

              “Just follow behind me, the site isn’t far from here. I would offer you a ride but I have another meeting directly after. I hope you understand.”

              “Yes, of course.” I wave it off as though I am not kind of freaking out inside at the thought of driving without directions. While sitting in my seat, my palms begin sweating and my heart rate picks up. I can’t believe I am reacting this way.

              Once we are on our way, I realize that driving separate gives me a chance to regroup and hopefully save myself from bombing this interview. However, I do wish I would have known we were going to be on the site, I would have brought something other than these heels.

We pull up to the job site and I see people everywhere; they are on scaffolding, working excavators, and operating boom lifts. I didn’t play with dolls when I was little; I played in the garage with my dad. I could build anything you wanted by the age of five. So seeing all of this big machinery is making my heart pound. I live for this: planning, creating, and executing.

“I love the sparkle in your when you watch all of this.” Frank says, pulling me from my moment of bliss.

              “I have wanted to be an architect since I was a little girl, so I find all of this amazingly interesting.”

              “I am very glad to hear that. You’ll need to invest in some steel toes, though. I don’t think OSHA would approve of those heels.” He winks at me and my face flushes.

              He pulls the gym bag he brought from the office and hands me a fluorescent vest and a hard hat. I’m very glad that I didn’t wear my hair up, or this hat would be hell to get on. We begin walking around the site and I immediately hear the familiar hollers and whistles from the workers. I grew up on a site, so this doesn’t bother me. I have learned to look past it. Most of the guys are old and married anyway, so it makes no difference to me.

              Frank introduces me to the field superintendent, Liam. He shakes my hand and I feel the familiar roughness of his skin from years of hard work. He looks to be in his mid-thirties, with dark close cut hair. He has a great tan peeking out from his under shirt sleeves and I can tell he keeps himself in shape. I have always wondered how someone who works in this business doesn’t stay in excellent shape, but there are definitely some out there. Liam is not one of them. His dark eyes are warm and I know that I will like working with him.

              “This guy knows anything and everything you need to know about the business,” Frank says, as he grabs Liam’s shoulder.

              “Nice to meet you, Piper. Anything you need just ask.”

              “Thanks but I think you’re getting ahead of yourself a little, I am just interviewing at the moment.”

              “It was very nice to meet you, Piper. Maybe we will get to work together soon.”  He glances back at Frank before walking back to whatever he was doing before we arrived.

              “Well Piper, what do you think?”

              “I think I would love the opportunity to prove I can accomplish everything that Professor Barnes told you about me.”

              He looks back to the site and watches everyone running around. “I have been in this business a long time, Piper. It isn’t easy and I have seen my fair share of architects fail because they weren’t prepared for the long hours or couldn’t handle it when they had to work in the field a day here and there,” he says, never moving his eyes from his men.

              “My father owns his own construction business. I have been around it my whole life. I promise you I can handle it.” I didn’t want to mention that, but Professor Barnes knows about that part of my life, so I am sure Frank does as well. After a few seconds, he sighs and turns back in my direction.

              “I was extremely impressed with not only your knowledge but your quick, on the spot assessment of the project I gave you. I see the passion you have for the business in your eyes. If you truly think you can handle it, I would love to have you here at James design.”

              I have to contain my excitement because jumping up and punching the air isn’t very professional. So instead, I take a deep breath to calm myself before talking to make sure my voice doesn’t catch.

              “Mr. James…Frank. I would love the opportunity to work for your company. Thank you so much for the offer.” I stick out my hand for him to shake.

              “Please call my office in the morning and Jane will get you set up with paperwork and salary information.”

“Thank you! I promise you won’t regret your decision to hire me.”

* * *

As excited as I am to be starting this new career, I am just as nervous. I never expected to be chosen so quickly. Nonetheless, here I stand in front of this massive building for the second day in a row. Only today I stand here as an architect.

I open the doors with the confidence that is born from being hand-picked to work for a company that is highly respected. I will never tire of seeing the architectural brilliance of this building.

I am twenty minutes early for my meeting to fill out my new hire paperwork; however, there doesn’t look to be anyone here. Jane, the front desk receptionist, also known as the human resources coordinator, takes me to a little office to fill out my paperwork.

“I think you will love it here, Piper. Mr. James has put together an excellent team.”

“Thank you! I am anxious to get started.”

“From what have heard you already have. Once you finish, I will show you around and take you to your office; I’m sure you are ready to get yourself situated. Once you do, you have a meeting with Mr. James.”

“Oh, ok. I will get to work then; I don’t want to keep him waiting.” She smiles warmly at me before she turns and leaves.

I sit back in my chair with a wide grin and scribble through the papers. Once I have finished, I return to them to Jane and we walk to my office. I find myself covering my mouth when I see the gorgeous office. It has the same beautiful desk and book shelving as Mr. James office; however, it is just a bit smaller. But what has my attention is this office also has the floor to ceiling windows that over-look the city and the view is breathtaking. I cannot believe I will be working here every day. I walk over to the window to admire the view and am startled by a voice behind me.

“How do you like it?” Mr. James asks, as he sits in one of the black leather chairs in front of my desk.

“Like it? I love it! It is more than I need really. I mean surely you have someone who has worked for you for years that deserves this office more than me?”

“Piper, you will find that when you are in the zone of drawing and researching, you need your own quiet space, away from the rest of the business going on around the office. You will have deadlines and impatient clients to meet with and you will feel, at times, that even this office isn’t big enough to accommodate the work you have to complete.”

I have a hard time believing that. This office has to be somewhere around one hundred and fifty square feet with a bathroom; I just can’t imagine needing all of this space.

“Well thank you. I appreciate the gesture but it will definitely take some getting used to.”

“Please, decorate as you wish. I have instructed Jane to supply you with whatever you need.” He laughs as my jaw drops. I can’t take much more.

“This is a dream come true! I don’t need any more than this but thank you very much.”

“Take today to get yourself organized. Give Jane some ideas of what you would like. Tomorrow bright and early we will get started on you first project.” He winks at me as he leaves the office. I plop down in the plush leather chair and begin putting together plans for my new office.

Chapter Two

Piper

              “Pipe, are you ready?” I hear my sister yell from the other room.

              “Yes, be there in a minute.”

              When Mr. James offered me the job yesterday, my sister, Phoebe, decided that we needed to go out tonight and celebrate. So we did what any normal girls would do; we went on a shopping spree.

              I fell in love with this cute black dress that stops mid thigh and has one over the shoulder strap that flows to a long sleeve. It actually goes perfect with my leopard print platform heels and my usual smoky eye makeup. After Phoebe made me promise not to just throw my hair up in a messy bun, I decided to curl it. Not all of it of course, as long as my hair is, it would take forever. So I just curled the ends to give it some body. However, I know by the end of the night that is going to be in a dark pile on top of my head.

              Phoebe is a little more eccentric than me. She is wearing a hot pink halter dress. She has great shoulders which is why she keeps her hair in a short pixie bob. She caps her outfit with black stilettos, too much black on her green eyes and pink lipstick. It may sound hideous but her dark hair and complexion can pull off pink better than anyone.

              At twenty eight, Phoebe is a drifter. Even though she and I are a lot alike in appearance we are very different in attitude. She has started and quit college more times than I can count and apparently this time, she has no plans of returning. Consequently, my father has officially cut her off. I’m not sure what her plans are but I hope they do not include living with me the rest of her life. She came to my graduation last month and has not left. Unfortunately, she is getting a little too cozy.

              “Pipe! Come on, we have to go!”

              “Alright, I am coming.” I check my appearance one last time. It has been a long time since I have been anywhere that didn’t have to do with school and research. I am excited to have a night free of responsibility

              Phoebe’s mouth drops when she walks in my room. “Damn girl! I would take you home myself, if I were a guy. You are smokin’ hot!”

              “That is the plan. You are looking pretty hot yourself!” I bat my lashes at her.

              We are celebrating by going to a little cultural district that is lined with restaurants and clubs. I have wanted to visit since I moved here but have always been too busy. So, I am excited to finally have the chance to venture out and see the world that surrounds me.

              The good part about living in downtown Indianapolis is we are pretty close to everything. We grab our wristlets and walk outside to catch a cab and arrive in front of a little sidewalk café ten minutes later. There are people of all ages everywhere and I have a great feeling about what the night is going to bring. There have to be at least a dozen places for us to check out.

              “Girl, if you can’t find some booty here, you have issues.” Phoebe laughs as she walks in the deli. I have to laugh at her because she is right; if you’re looking to hook up, this is the place to be.

              “How long has it been?” she asks, catching me off guard.

              “A while.”

              I am too embarrassed to tell her that I have not been with anyone since I broke up with Nate who I dated him my freshman year of college. When it was summer and time to go home, he was so pissed that I wouldn’t go to Kentucky with him that he broke it off. I have just been too busy to even worry since.

              “We need to fix that, tonight.”

              “We’ll see.”

              “Look around,” she points in the direction of the crowds of people surrounding us. “It is happening.”

              I shrug in response, hoping that will shut her up.

              “So, have you told Daddy about the new job?” I smile to myself when she changes the subject. I’m glad she didn’t continue because I am not in the mood to talk about my love life, or how non-existent it is. We find a small table outside under the warm sun before I answer.

              “Yes, he was his usual self and told me that I could always come back home and work for him.”

              “Of course he did. You move out of state to go to college and take a job with a competing company and yet I am the black sheep daughter. I don’t get it.” Of course she doesn’t factor in the dropping out of school and partying all the time.              

              “Are you ever going to finish school? I know that would make him happier than anything.”

              “Piper I am almost thirty. Don’t you think it is a little late for me?”

              “Not at all,” I say simply. She has used that excuse for the last three years; I am tired of hearing it.

I see her attention being pulled to something behind me, so I turn to see a band setting up. They have their name plastered all over their backdrop but I have never heard of them. They seem to be popular though as they already have a crowd forming.

              “I knew this was going to be a good night. I bet they have a sexy drummer!” Her eyes light up like a child on Christmas morning.

              Phoebe has always had a thing for drummers, for some strange reason. And by thing, I mean she will throw herself at anyone that shows her their sticks. She dated one right after she graduated high school and they were hot and heavy for a while. Then he crushed her when he left to ‘make it big’ in New York. She really hasn’t been the same since.

              We finish our food and go in the restroom to freshen up before we venture out. The little bit of frizz that my hair has gained is thanks to the heavy humidity that always accompanies the summer heat.

              “Don’t even think about it, Piper.”

              “This hair will be up before the night is over. It is way too hot for it to stay down. It is very close to going up right this minute.” Share glares at me but I don’t care.

              We finish freshening up and make our way back outside. As we walk from shop to shop, I realize I probably should have thought twice about wearing these tall heels, my feet are going to kill me tomorrow.

              We stop at a cute little vintage shop and I find some amazing paintings for my apartment. I don’t have much on my walls because I don’t buy just anything. It has to touch my soul, it has to speak to me or I can’t justify keeping it from someone else.

After explaining to the shop owner that I will not be able to take them tonight, she agrees to let me buy them now and come back tomorrow to pick them up. I am humming with excitement as we step back outside. I almost want to skip the rest of the night all together just to get my new purchases home and on my wall. I laugh at myself. How lame am I?

We make it about half way down one side of the street when we stop and get a drink. I scan the concert crowd while waiting in line and decide that I am finished shopping and ready to hear some music.

“What ya havin’ darlin’?” the man behind the cart asks.

“Tequila sunrise.” Phoebe cocks a brow at me and I shrug, “What? We are here to have a fun, right?”

“Same for me!” she informs the server before smiling at me. We grab our drinks and head toward the crowd.

Even though the drink is cold, the liquor burns going down. I close my eyes and savor it as I wait for my body to relax. I have been so busy with graduation and finding a job that I haven’t really had time to relax and have a good time. That ends tonight. Everything has fallen into place and I am looking forward to falling into the routine of life. But first, I am going to have some fun.

“HOW IS EVERYONE TONIGHT?” The singer screams in the mic and my ears go numb from the crowd erupting. I haven’t been to a concert in so long, I have forgotten what it is like. They begin playing some original rock music and it sounds amazing.

“I am taking back my previous statement about the drummer. That singer is gorgeous!” Phoebe screams in my ear right before she goes back to whistling and screaming with the rest of the crowd. They begin busting out the notes to the next song and I can’t help but to dance along. The beat really gets you moving. Phoebe is right, that singer will make you melt.

              I haven’t danced this much since we went out for my twenty first birthday. As one song fades to the next, I feel the stress disappear. Our bodies are moving and swaying to the beat. I even let the guy standing behind me, who has decided he wants to dance with me, put his arms around my waist. I lay my head back on his shoulder as our bodies move as one.

“You are a great dancer,” he says right in my ear so that I can hear him. He has a deep gravelly, very male voice and it is making my insides jump.

“Thank you,” I answer breathlessly, getting lost in his brown eyes. As I am entranced in his gaze, I feel his hands move to my thighs and begin making their way to parts they have no business being.

“Nice try,” I say, pulling his hands back up to my waist. He smiles and I almost want to tell him to forget it and to put his hands wherever he wants. But I save myself from falling to his charm as I know where that will lead. One night of happiness dawns unto a morning of shame. That isn’t my style. So I will continue to allow his strong arms to wrap around my waist, and savor the fact that my frame fits perfectly with his and then when the time comes, I will go home with Phoebe.

I hear his heavy breathing on my neck and can’t help but laugh. I turn so we are face to face and wrap my arms around his neck. Questioning my own brazenness, I follow as he moves one of his legs between mine and my hips begin gyrating into him. His hands are moving up my sides and find their home on my lower back so they can guide my hips where they want them. I see the lust in his eyes and I kind of panic. I think I am giving him the wrong idea. I try to pull away from him but he swiftly pulls me back to him.

“Where are you going?”

“I need a drink.”

“Please stay until the song is over then you can get a drink.” His deep voice is so inviting. How can I tell him no? Without anymore hesitation, I wrap my arms back around his neck and we continue to sway, as one, to the beat.

Five songs and some sweat later, it looks as though the band is taking a break. This is a good thing as it allows me time to distance myself from Prince Charming.

              “Sorry guys we have to take a break be right back with you,” the singer says, before he walks to the back of the stage.

“Thanks for the dance, it was fun. I am going to get that drink now.”

When I start to pull away from him, he pulls me closer, again, so our bodies are flush. His lips are just above mine…so close, I could touch them with my tongue, if I wanted. I see a smirk play on his lips and immediately my eyes are drawn to his. Even though they are slightly unfocused, they are displaying his thoughts.

“I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable but I really want to dance with you all night, you have an amazing body and I love the way it feels against mine.”

I can feel my cheeks begin to get heated. That is quite possibly the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.

“As long as it goes no further than dancing, I am good with that. But I need a drink. I am going to find my sister, I will be back.” I somehow manage to spit that out without showing him how much he is affecting me.

“Hurry back…” His words linger between us for a few seconds before I finally leave to go.

Phoebe is in total fan girl mode when I find her. She hasn’t left the stage even though the band is no longer occupying it.

              “Let’s go get another drink,” I say as I walk up behind her and almost literally have to pull her away from the stage.

              “Girl, I am getting that tonight,” she says.

              “Do you know how many other women out here are saying the same thing?”

              “Wanna bet?” she says before she orders our drinks.

              “Bet you that you can take him home tonight? What are we, Phoebe, twelve?” I laugh.

              “Are we here to have fun?”

              “Yes! What do I get out of the deal?”

              “I think you are getting something out of this.” She points to the guy I was dancing with. He is leaning against one of the fences that separate the band from the crowd with his strong arms cross over his chest and his sunglasses in place. I do have to admit that he is very good looking.

“I don’t think so, Phebes.”

              “Come on, don’t be so lame. I saw the two of you dancing; he is into you!”

              “I know he is into me, he told me as much. I am still going to be cautious; I don’t know that I am quite ready for whatever he has in mind.”

              “Come on girl, you need to let loose.”

              “We will see what happens but I am not promising anything.”

              She rolls her eyes and downs her drink. She knows as well as I do that nothing is going to happen between the two of us. However, before she can say as much, she walks back to the stage. This is going to be a long night. I finish my drink and head back toward the crowd as the band begins playing. Phoebe has elbowed her way back to the front and is making a spectacle. Once again, she is dancing obscenely and yelling at the top of her lungs. If she were wearing a shirt and bra, I’m sure they would be off by now.