CEO by Caitlin Valdez (e book reader pdf txt) 📖

Chapter 1

My phone started ringing as I picked it up immediately after seeing the caller ID; Gray Industries. "Hi!" I answered, sounding maybe a bit too excited.

"Hi, is this Ava White?" a professional voice asked.

"Yes!" I said, squeezing my eyes shut, waiting to hear what's next.

"Mr. Gray agrees to interview you tomorrow at ten o' clock sharp and he says to not be late," she said.

Inside, I'm screaming. "Thank you. I'll be there on time," I said as professionally as possible.

When I hung up I started dancing with joy, literally! Finally! He finally agreed! I had been so persistent, I think I kind of annoyed him.

But anyways, if you walked in on me right now, I might've seemed like I was drunk.

Then my roommate, Grace James, walked in, "Um, are you okay?"

I stopped dancing as I spun around and grinned at her, probably looking like an idiot, "Yes! I feel amazing! I did it! I got Mr. Gray to interview me!"

Grace's face split into a similar grin, "Oh my god! Congrats!"

"I know!" I said giddily, "And I already have everything ready! My questions, my outfit. Everything!"

"And you were so sure they were going to call you?" she asked laughing.

"Yes!" I said, "I'm gonna go run downstairs for some lunch. Want anything?"

"Nah, I'm fine," she said.

I headed downstairs to the nearby coffee shop. I ordered my usual, a coffee and strawberry donut. I was too busy thinking about tomorrow that I accidentally bumped into someone, spilling my coffee all over them.

I gasped, "Oh my god! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! I was distracted!"

"No, it's fine," said a clipped, low voice, it was obviously not fine.

I looked up and saw the most beautiful man I've ever seen, as clique, as that sounded. He has a perfect, straight nose, perfectly sculpted pink lips, stunning gray eyes, is it weird that I've never seen anyone with gray eyes? But moving on, he had a strong jaw.

Oh hot damn, I felt my panties turning wet.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

"It's fine," he growled. It was so not fine. He brushed past me walking out the exit.

Nice going Ava, nice going, said my subconscious.

I ignored that part of me as I walked out shop, munching on my donut.

I headed back to my apartment, well, technically Grace's apartment. Grace was a year older then me but I met her in high school and we went to the same college so we were pretty close. Grace's parents were rich so Grace could afford it.

My mom is currently living in Kansas City and I am living in Seattle, Washington. But she's not alone, she has her third husband, Ryan, with her and she's happy. I think she might even be settling down now since she's been with him for two years and haven't divorced yet, which is rare, since her relationships last for only a year and she or he breaks it off. But her first husband, my dad, past away when I was six and he got into a car accident. It took a while for me and mom to get used to it and to feel fine when people talked about him but I still missed him.

When I got back to the apartment Grace was fast asleep in her room. Of course.

She could sleep through hurricanes and she slept every time she could but I knew she was going to wake up for dinner and I better started cooking.

I ended up making spaghetti because the fridge was running out of food.

Just when I put everything down, Grace walked out of her room, "Is it time for dinner?"

"Yes, sleepyhead," I answered as she yawned, very unladylike.

We ate our dinner in silence as she asked, "You got your questions and everything else ready?"

"Yup. Should I be feeling nervous or excited?" I asked.

"A bit of both. I mean, hello! Most richest and eligible bachelor and CEO of Gray Industries. You gotta impress him to get the job! And you should be feeling excited because you finally got the interview you wanted!" said Grace excitedly.

"You seem more excited then me," I said laughing.

"Whatever," she said rolling her eyes.

"I spilled coffee on a man," I said. "What?" she asked, confused. I told her everything that happened at the cafe and she ended up laughing at me.

She was such a good friend, wasn't she?

Chapter 2

"Wake up! Ava! You're going to be late!" yelled Grace.

My eye flew open, "Oh no! Oh my god! What time is it?"

"Ten," she said.

"Ugh!" I scolded myself, "How can I sleep in today? Now I need to rush!"

I scrambled out of bed, grabbing my clothes and headed into the bathroom for a shower.

I quickly applied my make up and shoved breakfast into my mouth. Grace made breakfast, French toast and scrambled eggs. The only two kinds of food she knew how to make.

I brushed my teeth quickly and rushed out the door, "Bye Grace! I'm heading out!"

I headed into my old Beetle and drove to Gray Industries.

I rushed in and every single pair of eye in the lobby turned to me as I stumbled in.

I felt my cheeks heat up. Talk about embarrassing and unprofessional.

I quickly straigthened my posture and walked to the front desk with my coffee in hand, which I grabbed before running out the door.

I also noticed that everyone working here was blonde. Hmm, I guess Mr. Christian Gray liked blondes.

"Hi, I'm here to interview Mr. Gray," I stated.

"Oh! Yes!" she said and glanced at her computer, "Ava? Ava White?"

"Yes," I confirmed as she walked me to a door.

Just then, the door next to Mr. Gray's office opened and out came Ella.

"Ava?" she asked surprised.

"Ella! Wow! It's been a while since we saw each other!" I exclaimed.

Ella shooed the other secretary away as she turned back to me, "So, why are you here?"

"I'm interviewing Mr. Gray to work for Gray Industries. Why are you here?" I asked back.

"I'm his assistant and I've heard someone was coming in to interview him. Very rare. Just be careful, okay? He's very cold and strict," she warned.

I smiled, "Thank you."

"Go on," she said.

"Ella? I'm feeling nervous now. Am I supposed to be?" I asked.

"With him? A bit," she said then she smiled assuringly, "You're going to be fine. I promise."

When I didn't move, she pushed me lightly, "Go!"

And just with that push, I stumbled, almost falling flat on my face, in spilling my coffee everywhere.

I glanced up, my face beat red.

A handsome, young man, also knows as, Christian Gray cleared his throat.

Oh my god. He was handsome.

I straigthen up immediately, "Oh no! Hi, Mr. Gray! I'm so sorry! I promise I did not mean to spill coffee all over your floor."

My face was burning and my subconscious started laughing at me.

"I'm sorry," I murmur.

"Laura! Clean it up!" I heard him call.

A lady with a mop came rushing in, cleaning the mess I made.

Oh no. Now I fell horrible. I spilled it, I should be cleaning it up.

"Here, let me help," I offered holding out my hand for the mop.

She shook her head quickly and returned to work.

"Please?" I asked.

She refused as she continued mopping.

I grabbed the mop from her, yes, I grabbed it. She wasn't going to let me.

I quickly finished mopping everything up as I handed it back to her and I smiled, "Thank you."

She hurried out the room as I turned back to Mr. Gray.

"Take a seat," he said in a low, dangerous voice that sent shivers down my spine.

I sat down in the chair in front of him as I got a good look at him and our eyes widened at the same time.

He was the guy I spilled coffee on in the coffee shop!

Oh god! I am so not getting this job!

"You spill coffee everywhere, don't you?" he asked in a cold voice.

I lowered my head, "I'm sorry, Mr. Gray. Please forgive me."

"Name?" he asked.

Wow.

"Ava. Ava White," I said, surprised at his mood change.

He nodded as I started the interview, "Um, first question; how long have you been working at Gray Enterprise?"

"Four years," he answered.

"Wow, that's amazing. And you're so young!" I said cocking my head at him, "Why did you inherit this company when you were only twenty two?"

"My father past away when I was still studying. I went to college to study more about economics and finance," he answered.

"And you did an amazing job," I said offering him a smile.

"Thank you," he said curtly.

The interview actually went pretty smoothly. At the end, I couldn't help but ask, "The suit that I spilled coffee on, is it okay?"

He nodded.

I handed him my resume, "And thank you for letting me interview you even after an embarrassing first impression. I'm so sorry about the coffee."

He nodded again.

"Thank you again. Are you willing to give me a call?" I asked.

He didn't answer as my stomach churnedd uneasily.

"Um, good bye, Mr. Gray," I said quietly.

"Good bye, Ms. White," he dismissed.

I rushed out of the building as I headed into my car.

"Oh my god Ava. You are so stupid and clumsy! Why in the world would he ever want you to work for him? You have to be blonde, sophistacated and beautiful! You have made a horrible first impression. I mean seriously?! Spilling coffee on that seriously looking expensive suit?" I scolded myself out loud.

I heard a light knock on my window as I turned my head towards the passenger's window.

There stood Mark, probably laughing as I rolled down the window.

He peeked his head inside and behind me, "Is someone here with you?" he asked chuckling.

"No..." I said trailing off.

"Are you scolding yourself again?" he asked as I pouted, nodding. He started laughing, "What were you talking about?"

"About how I'm never going to get a job at Gray Enterprise. I made a horrible first impression on Mr. Gray by pouring coffee all over his expensive suit, then saw him again and spilled coffee over his floor. Jeez, God is not on my side," I scowled.

"I think that you did fine. I'm sure you did. If Gray Enterprise doesn't want you, then they don't know what they're missing on," he said smiling at me.

"Thank you Mark. But I'm going to get going and relax at home and let out all my stress in a tub of ice cream," I said grinning.

He grinned back, "Okay, bye."

I waved as I started the car and headed home that was half an hour away but an hour because my car was slow.

I was around half a mile away from home when I felt the car starting to tilt.

"What the hell?" I murmur as I stop the car and climbed out.

I started inspecting my car slowly until I noticed the tire was flat.

I groaned. Ugh. I had an extra tire in the back but I had no idea how to switch tires.

What am I going to do?

I would call Grace but she would be no help. Though, she might pick me up and ditch my car out here in the highway, which I did not plan on doing.

I am so dead. I didn't know anyone that knew how