Falling For My Playboy Boss
Chapter 34

Cora's

POV

I have had a great day today; brunch with all the girls. I ran errands for our family, got the house clean, and then met Eric and Franco to get my makeup and skincare. We grabbed a slice of pizza and just had a good time hanging out. I got a few things and Eric really helped me out by telling me about the products and helping me pick out eyeshadows that would look good with my eye color, and two lipsticks, one for working, a n**e pink color, and one to go out on dates and events which was a pinky red color, not a full red, more on the pink end of the spectrum and they both looked great on me.

Since everyone at the Lauder household tonight already knew that I was "Shea", I went ahead and wore the sleeveless black pantsuit romper with the one strap from the first fashion show, the one with the built-in support with the neckline that curves to the other bare arm. I have only worn it one time and that was when I went out with Christian on our date.

I only put on some mascara, which took me about five minutes to put on for the first time, but my eyelashes looked good. The mascara helped to emphasize my eyes and I put on the pinky-red lipstick, and I was done. I brush my hair and pull it into a high ponytail. I looked at myself in the mirror and it wasn't the same as I looked at the fashion show, I looked more like my regular self, only better. Since it was a thirty-minute drive, I took the car and gassed it up for mom, since I was borrowing it. It was a 2016 Hyundai Sonata Sport and my mother loved it. It got great gas mileage and was still sleek and cute.

I arrived at the Lauder house, more like a mansion, at 550 and headed for the door to ring the bell. Ava answered the door and pulled me into a big hug.

"You just saw me this morning, Ava," I told her and laughed.

"I know, but I am so happy that you are here, and I have got some of your attention. I have to share you with the group. This time I only have to share you with three others", Ava tells me and smiles at me.

We hear a throat clear, and we look over and I see Ava's other brother for the first time. I knew he was at the show, but I didn't see him. I was going to speak to him at dinner last night, but Maddie's ruined that for me too.

I stepped forward with my hand out and said, "Hi, I am Cora, nice to meet you".

"I am Michael, Collin's little brother, and Ava's big brother," Michael tells me.

I have to say that Michael is very attractive, all the Lauder children are, he has deep brown hair with a little bit of a wave to it, a strong jaw, a handsome face, and his mother's beautiful blue eyes. I smiled up at him and he smiled back at me, and then Ava said, "let's go replace mom and dad" and we follow her into the living room.

I see Marlowe and her husband sitting together on the couch and it makes me smile to see them together like that after being married for 35 years. I want the same thing for myself, and I know that Marlowe understood me when I spoke about a relationship being deeper than just looks. Although looking at them both at their age, they are both still handsome people. I see where Collin and Michael get their handsome faces from, their father is still very much a handsome man.

Marlowe sees me, gets up, and takes me over to her husband to introduce me. "Alderidge, this is Cora, she replaced Catherine at work, and is Collin's PA," Marlowe tells him.

"Ah, yes, the feisty one from last night when we were going to eat dinner," Alderidge said.

I blush and say, "I am so sorry sir that you saw that. It is not a good first impression of me for me to be yelling at someone else. Do not worry, I am completely professional at work".

"Nonsense, I was 100% behind you. I cannot stand that girl and don't want her anywhere near either of our sons. She is a conniving woman, and I was really concerned that she was going to damage Collin's reputation. She is a user and a manipulator. I am so glad that he broke off with her. I thought you did a great job shutting her up and I am looking forward to getting to see you at the next show. I had something that conflicted with the time on the last one, and I cannot wait to get to see Ava on the runway. Now that I have seen you, Cora, I know what the hubbub is about, and I look forward to seeing you there as well at the next show", Alderidge said to me. I blush again and Alderidge lights up, winks at me, and then says, "I didn't even think that girls blushed anymore". Making me blush harder.

The food was excellent, but the conversation was even better. Michael understood finance, although he was actually a lawyer. I am pretty sure because it was probably discussed a lot over the dinner table from his childhood on. Michael, in addition, to being very handsome, was well-spoken. He spoke in a tone that I could listen to all day. It was calming and soothing and had sort of a cadence to it, that kind of lulled you into relaxing. He told some funny jokes and was absolutely charming. I enjoyed getting to sit next to him and talk. Ava asked how my dad was doing, so I told them that he had come back with the results that he was cancer-free, and should, fingers-crossed, be his old self soon. He was done with his chemo and that was what had weakened him so. Marlowe asked me some questions about my dad and what he had gone through. I told them what had happened and how he had gotten let go because of his cancer.

I was as comfortable speaking to them as I was Catherine when I met her at the coffee shop. I told them that our share of the medical bills was high, but I was managing it, along with my student loans.

"I heard from Catherine that you graduated from Harvard and graduated third in your class, which is actually quite impressive for Account Management. Jerry's son, Christian, also graduated from there. He does an excellent job too", Alderidge told me. "Actually, Christian got me the interview with his father. I just didn't make it upstairs as Catherine interviewed me in the coffee shop. Jerry was very nice about me being hired out from under him, and both Catherine and I apologized to him for his time and employee being taken from him. He was very gracious and had called a friend of his at Harvard, who apparently gave me a glowing review. Jerry asked me if I wanted to transfer out, or couldn't deal with Collin, that I always had a job waiting for me, with him. He even let me know where he was starting me. Finance is my first love. I really enjoyed it, so I told Jerry that if they ever needed another set of eyes or help with one of the investors, I would help them as long as I had time. My dad always says that you only stay sharp when you use your knowledge, sort of a metal sharpens metal." I told Alderidge.

"Yes, I agree with your father. I kind of work as an Account Manager, occasionally too, at work. I just work from home, so no one else knows about it. I have heard about the incident at work, and how shocked you were to replace Collin in that, um, position your first week. I also heard about the ugly comments he made about your clothes and his threat to fire you. I let him run the company, but he knows what is up with that. He is in charge, unless or until, he creates a scandal that damages our company, or reflects so badly on our name, that I have to step in and take over the reins again. He has done a good job, but Jerry happened to tell me that you were the one who thought outside of the box and got the Adam's account completed. They had been working on it for months, and you fixed it in a week, actually in a day, according to Jerry. But we had to wait until the fashion show for them to know that it was what they wanted to do and put their investments in that. That is what our company actually wants from our Account Managers, innovative ideas that make them realize that their voice is heard and that we care about their investments. Jerry had also told me that the Adam's were so pleased about what we had done for them, that they had referred some of their friends and we had a sharp 5% increase in our yearly profits, in the two months since, just from your excellent idea. I agreed with Jerry on your bonus and signed off on it. We just wanted you to know how much the company appreciated you", Alderidge told me.

"I didn't know that you knew about that, you knew it was me, but Collin didn't know, he was pretty angry with me that day for being in Jerry's office and accused me of being over there to flirt with Christian," I said, and then cover my mouth.

"I am sorry sir, that slipped out, unintended. I apologize for offending you", I said to Alderidge.

"You did not offend me at all, I completely understand. Actually, you kind of made it nicer than it was and, thankfully, Marlowe and Ava were there to witness it. It sounds like Collin was a little jealous of you not being at your desk and in the presence of another man. It also sounds like the anger you had from being unjustly accused of doing something inappropriate at work is still a little frustrating to you. Especially since you were actually doing work for the company. I see you, Cora, I completely understand you. You get it, Cora, you see the big picture. What is good for any of the departments, is good for the whole company. You have a "same team" mentality that is refreshing these days, because most people are in it to get their paycheck and out, and actually unwilling to help anyone else out. But you offered to help in an area that you didn't physically work in, for the greater good of the company. You have a great work ethic, and I am truly impressed with you. I have to tell you, Cora, I didn't get it when Marlow, Catherine, and Ava first kept raving about you. But I have met you for less than an hour now and I am completely on Team Cora. Please, don't ever quit if my son drives you insane, because I can tell he does a little bit. I can have Jerry pull you in a heartbeat and put you in his department, and I will keep you protected from Collin's wrath if needed. I am still on the board of directors, and I can still take over if I need to. We have all heard from Catherine, Nicolas, and Dalton about some of the stuff you have had to put up with, and I wondered why you would put up with such a difficult work environment. Now I know, it is because you have the weight of the world on you. You have the household bills, your student loans, and help to physically take care of your parents too. Ava told me how you made her dream come true of being able to walk the catwalk. You have made it a seamless transition to take over for Catherine, and you have impressed me too, Cora. I know that you don't know me, beyond seeing me today, but I am a hard man to impress. I am so glad you came to dinner tonight. You are welcome to come to our home at any time. Please, I want you to continue what Catherine used to do for me. If there is something that I should know concerning the company, please tell me.