by how bright the sky seemed to be from this angle.
Wanting to explore each part of this magnificent space, Sophie took one slow step after another as her eyes raked over the rich masculine leather furniture, the chrome fixtures, the simplicity of the lighting and the breathtaking sights of the city. This was definitely a man’s space.
She told a slight lie when she’d said she was a wannabe city girl. She mostly stayed to the country life, a laidback style that fit with her personality and the way she designed. City life always seemed so noisy and rushed...not just the cars but everything and everyone else, too. She felt that people were too busy doing their own thing to truly listen to others.
Sophie enjoyed people, she loved chatting and getting to know more about them. How else was she supposed to grow and develop her brand? She had to purposely put herself out there, so over the years, she’d just defaulted to a social butterfly.
Hey, that bold move had paid off, hadn’t it? Her YouTube channel ranked in the top ten interior designers of the entire site and she could easily see herself climbing even higher.
“Come closer,” Nigel urged, cupping her elbow and escorting her to the windows. “This is the place I escape to when everything downstairs becomes too much.”
Sophie glanced from the city below to the man at her side. “And here I assumed there wasn’t a thing you couldn’t handle.”
Nigel’s lips quirked. “Don’t give away my secret.”
“Anything you say is safe with me,” she promised. “I’m not here to judge. I’m here to help.”
She wasn’t here to expose him for anything...unless he was involved in some scandal alongside Miranda. And even then, she didn’t want to hurt anyone so she wouldn’t do any harm to Nigel.
But Sophie couldn’t start digging just yet. She had to ease her way in. Day two, she’d put more of a push on the plot since time was of the essence.
“I imagine there’s quite a bit to escape from and many reasons to clear your head.” She focused her attention back to the view. “Even the strongest people need to take a mental health break.”
“The business can be cutthroat at times,” he admitted.
“Too many divas to work with?” she joked, hoping he’d follow her lead.
“The ladies on the show?” he asked, raising his brows. “They’re not terrible. A few can be demanding, but overall, they don’t cause me too much trouble.”
Not what she wanted to hear, but she’d barely gotten started.
Passing the time with Nigel certainly didn’t make her angry.
“So, do you live up here?”
Nigel turned his attention toward her. “Oh, no. I’ve stayed here occasionally after long days of work, but I generally use this to take a break. We’ve had a few in-house gatherings and private showings up here for the show.”
“I don’t want to give the wrong impression,” she began, hoping she sounded stronger than she felt. “I mean, you know you’re an attractive man—”
“People Magazine thinks so.”
Sophie couldn’t help but laugh. “As I was saying, I’m not here for anything other than a great opportunity to learn and be an asset to your team and maybe grow my own skills on the side.”
Nigel lifted one dark thick brow.
“Professional skills,” she corrected, still unable to stop smiling. Oh, he was a naughty guy, and she couldn’t help but like that quality.
“Believe it or not, I need a personal consultant and I take this company very seriously.”
He shoved his hands in his pockets and cocked his head in that sexy, arrogant way. There was no doubt Nigel was a force to be reckoned with. He was known around the world, not just for his charm and good looks, but for the way he’d started a company and grown this reality show with high-class divorcees and launched these ladies to superstardom...including Miranda.
“But since we’re being honest,” he went on. “You obviously have to know you turn heads.”
While she wasn’t vain, she also wasn’t one of those women who feigned being ugly or put herself down in the hopes of gaining compliments. She was also well aware that some men found a plus-size woman unattractive. Those were the men she didn’t have time for in her life.
While it was gratifying to know that he didn’t fall into that category, Sophie didn’t want to get into this topic with Nigel. She couldn’t afford distractions and she certainly couldn’t afford a rumor of the new hire trying to get ahead by flirting, or more, with the boss. Rumors would just draw unwanted attention to her. Miranda couldn’t know Sophie was anywhere near this office.
“Well, now that all of that is out of the way, is the attraction going to be a problem?” she asked, holding his gaze and forcing herself to face this head on. She’d always believed in honesty.
Well, except for her current situation, where she was lying about her name and why she was there. But some things were simply a necessary evil.
“No problem,” he assured her with a crooked grin and that toe-curling accent.
Maybe other people were immune to Nigel and that sultry voice, but she was new here, new to him. She’d have to put up her strongest steel defenses to keep some resolve between them.
“What else should you be showing me?” she asked. “Maybe where my work space is? Or what projects you’d like me to review?”
He stared like he wanted to say something, but she raised her brows, a silent question waiting on him to answer.
“Craig set up an office next to mine,” he told her. “If you’re going to be working with me, then I need you close by. The space is not overly large, but you do have a window.”
“My own office?”
Sophie certainly hadn’t expected that. An office right next to Nigel? This position was better than she’d ever hoped.
Things were lining up almost too well for her. But she had to ignore the pull she felt toward her new boss and concentrate on what she came here to do. She didn’t change her life and her looks just to snag a Brit. Getting the scoop on Miranda was priority number one.
“Does my office come with an elevator?”
Nigel’s lips twitched once again, and she noticed every time he became amused his blue eyes twinkled. So silly to notice such things, but she couldn’t help but study and try to figure out more about him.
“Sure. It’s the one you used to get from the lobby to the reception area.”
Sophie rolled her eyes. “Not what I meant,” she joked.
She turned her attention back to the view. This was certainly a far cry from the Blackwood Ranch and its open skies with fields of green. Still, this was a different kind of beauty with all the steel combined with old structure. Her designer eye took in all the various shapes and colors. The snow seemed beautiful on the buildings and balconies. She wondered what a fresh snow would look like on the busy streets. Probably kids enjoyed playing in it and throwing snowballs.
The wintery white had her thinking about the recent home office she’d decorated in white and soft blues with various pops of green.
“Do you always study your surroundings?”
Nigel’s question pulled her back as he stepped in beside her. Sophie glanced over her shoulder and shrugged.
“Occupational hazard. I love designing and creating, so my mind is always working.”
“You’re perfect for this position,” he stated.
Sophie swelled with pride, but there was a niggle of guilt.