Cinder's Rising Read online

  Cinder took the seat the receptionist gestured at. For the next half hour, Cinder was asked about the basic things on why she wanted the job, and a few more questions on why she felt she was right for the position.

  “I know this is only a housekeeping position, but as a part of the staff you are held in high regard and expected to be respectful and professional at all times.”

  “Of course,” Cinder said and nodded. She was so nervous, just knowing she wasn’t going to get this position because she felt so on edge. Yes, it was only to keep the office clean, but this was such a step up from the life she had led that she felt out of place.

  “Do you have any questions for me before I take you to Dr. Prince’s office?”

  Cinder wracked her brain, trying to think if she should have asked more questions, seemed overly enthusiastic about the interview, or if she had done okay. “No, I think everything was covered very well, thank you.”

  Melanie nodded, grabbed the folder that presumably held all of Cinder’s personal information, and stared at her.

  Melanie took the paper and gestured for Cinder to follow.

  “For the remainder of the interview, Dr. Prince will conduct his own set of questions, and he will have the final say on employment.”

  “The other physicians don’t need to speak with me?” Cinder asked.

  “No, they leave all of that to me. Dr. Prince is the only one who wants to specifically speak to all potential employees.”

  The office she was led into was massive. One whole wall was made up of glass that gave an astounding view of the city. The buildings on the other side of the glass showed their mirrored, iridescent windows. The office was just as expensive and immaculate as the rest of the floor in this part of the building. A stainless steel desk with glass accents was to her right, and the wall behind the desk showcased a floor to ceiling bookshelf. She let her gaze travel the rest of the room. Black and white abstract paintings lined the walls, along with what appeared to be numerous diplomas and degrees. Cinder held her purse even tighter to her chest.

  “Dr. Prince had to take a personal call, but he will be in shortly. Please, take a seat.”

  Cinder sat down on the seat in front of the desk, and stared at Melanie as she shut the door, sealing Cinder inside the intimidating office. She let her gaze travel around the office once more. A bar stocked with a few bottles of liquor was to her left, and the idea of taking a few shots to help ease her nerves sounded glorious at the moment. Shifting on the leather, she felt heat spread through her. She swept her gaze back to his desk. The standard equipment lined the glass: top-of-the-line computer, a few stacks of files, and even some strange-looking abstract art pieces. Her heart raced, and her hands started to become clammy.

  A Newton’s Cradle caught her eye, and she stared at it. The black and chrome design was beautiful, if not sleek and modern. Cinder reached out and touched one of the smooth, heavy balls at the end. It was cool and weighted between her fingers. She pulled it back, let it go to watch the hypnotic momentum of the two end balls swinging in tandem, and watched as if mesmerized. For several seconds, all she did was watch that movement. But the feeling of someone staring her, of heat spearing into her back, had Cinder sitting straighter. She turned in her seat just as the door to the office shut with an audible click. And there was the man in question, the renowned surgeon who wanted to interview her as well, and make sure she didn’t fuck up cleaning his office.

  The first thing she noticed was that Dr. Prince was very tall and muscular. He wasn’t beefy like a bodybuilder, but more toned and defined, like a swimmer. He hung up his dark suit jacket, stared at her for a suspended second, then rolled up his sleeves. His forearms were muscular and lightly tanned despite the winter weather. His hair was a darker shade of blond, cut short and lightly brushing over his forehead. But it was his deep, blue gaze that held her captive. They seemed almost eerie in color.

  She gripped the armrest, and for some inexplicable reason, felt her heart start to beat a little faster. But this reaction wasn’t how she had been just moments before. This wasn’t a nervous reaction to seeing him and not knowing if she’d get the job. This was about her noticing him as a male, as a masculine being who watched her very intently.

  “You’re here for the housekeeping position?” he asked in a deep, smooth voice. He continued to move toward her, then went behind his desk to sit down. “I’m Doctor Ryder Prince.” He held his hand out to her, and she took it. His grip was strong, but surprisingly gentle.

  “Cinder Franco.”

  He smiled slightly, and she realized he obviously knew who she was. For a second, all she could do was stare at him, watch as his broad chest rose up and down effortlessly as he breathed. Looking at his hands, knowing he saved lives with those long fingers and big palms, had an awareness of his power moving through her.

  “Yes, I’m here for the housekeeping position.” Her throat was so dry all of a sudden, and she cleared it, then licked her lips. Shifting on the seat, she was acutely aware of the fact he still watched her. Maybe he was so intent on staring at her because he was trying to discern who she really was? Maybe she wasn’t hiding herself well enough? Cinder had always been one to keep herself back, have this invisible wall in front of her as protection so no one else could see who she really was. And what she really was meant they’d know she came from a broken home.

  He gestured to the Newton’s Cradle, and she stared at it as the balls continued to move back and forth in that steady, continuous motion. “Do you know what that demonstrates?” His voice was deep and smooth, and her pulse started beating faster. She didn’t like the reaction she had to him. It made her feel a little unstable, as if she was on a tightrope and below her was an endless black hole. She stared at him, and after a second Cinder shook her head in answer.

  He didn’t respond right away, but reached out and stopped the balls from knocking against each other. He leaned back in the seat, the leather creaking from his weight. “It’s pretty fascinating, actually. It demonstrates conservation or momentum and energy by the series of swinging spheres.”

  Cinder had no idea what that even meant, but kept her mouth shut on the matter. She looked at the Cradle once more, and lifted her gaze to his. For several long moments, he watched her. The awkwardness grew inside of her until she started to shift on her seat, trying to find something to alleviate the tension she felt inside.

  He finally tore his gaze from hers and opened the folder that was on his desk. For a few seconds he didn’t do anything but read what she assumed was her file. “Miss Franco, can you tell me why you want to do housekeeping for the office I share with the other surgeons?” He lifted his gaze to hers once more.

  “Honestly?” She wasn’t about to lie and say this was her dream job, because who wanted to clean up after people for a career?

  “Of course. I only ever expect honesty.”

  Cinder looked down at her hands for a moment. “I don’t have any special skills, don’t have any degrees, aside from my high school diploma, and I’m just trying to survive in this new city.” She lifted her gaze to his, saw he was watching her with this unreadable expression, and she exhaled slowly. This shouldn’t have been so nerve-wracking, yet she felt so uneasy as she sat at this interview that would forever change her life.

  “Good. Honesty is a very admirable trait.”

  His comment surprised her, because he sounded genuinely impressed.

  “I don’t want anyone who can’t be truthful about something as simple as cleaning. And if you would have said being a housekeeper was your life’s ambition, I would have thanked you, asked you to leave, and found someone that could have been honest with me.”

  Cinder didn’t know if she should have taken that as a compliment or an insult, because although she knew housekeeping was not the most luxurious profession, it was better than nothing at all. Not everyone could go to a fancy college and get their medical degree.

  “Thank you?” she said, a little c
onfused as to how to answer that.

  “You’re new to the Chicago area?” he asked and looked back down at his file.

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “And you can get to work on time, be professional, and if there are ever any questions you have, you’ll ask them directly and not just try to figure it out yourself?”

  “Yes, Sir.” She thought about the latter. “And of course, I’ll ask questions. That is the only way I’ll learn.”

  He looked at her once again, and nodded. “Well, how about we get your information into the system, and have you start Monday after the office closes at five in the evening?”

  Her heart beat harder this time, and she smiled, feeling like maybe things were looking up for once in her life. “I think that sounds incredible. Thank you.” He stood, grabbed her folder, and led her out of the office. “Melanie will help you with the rest of the process, but I’ll be the first to welcome you.” He smiled, and it was genuine, if not a little strained. There was something on this man’s face, something she had seen a hundred times over when she had looked in the mirror. It was an expression of being tired, not just of body, but of soul, too.

  Chapter Three

  ‡

  Monday evening

  Ryder hadn’t been with a woman for anything more than a few hours of sex for as long as he could remember. He didn’t do commitment, aside from devoting himself to his work.

  He stared at the Newton’s Cradle, lifted his hand to run his fingers over the base, and realized he shouldn’t be focusing on a woman who would never be in his life. He didn’t have time for female companionship, aside from the release of pleasure he sought on occasion. It didn’t matter she was his employee, because Ryder had always gone after what he wanted, when he wanted. It was how he had gotten where he was today, and how he stayed at the top. But Cinder was different than the other women who were in the social circles he was in. Not only was she beautiful in a vulnerable, innocent kind of way, but also she was strong and honest. He had been pleasantly surprised when she told him why she really wanted the job. He brought one of the end balls back and let it go. He watched them move back and forth¸ mesmerized by the sight. He should have left the office already, but he wanted to see her on the first day, wanted to make sure she was comfortable being here.

  Why? Why do you care?

  He shouldn’t, and so putting all of that behind him, he stood and grabbed his jacket and briefcase. He headed out of his office, shutting down everything before he left. As he walked down the hallway and toward the waiting room, the sound of the elevator dinged an arrival. He knew it was an employee of the office, because after closing hours a code needed entered to get on to any of the locked floors. He rounded the corner just as he saw Cinder step out of the elevator, her focus on her purse. He watched her for a moment while she was unaware. When she lifted her head, staring at him with a moment of surprise, he realized there was definitely something about this woman. She touched him like no other had, had him curious about her, and the fact this was an almost instantaneous reaction startled even him.

  “Oh, Dr. Prince. I didn’t realize you were still here,” she said softly. “I didn’t think anyone would be here.” She smiled, and there was something about her expression that had his heart moving a little faster. Maybe it was the fact she seemed so vulnerable, so soft and timid that the male part of him wanted to go to her and make everything okay. A ludicrous reaction, and one he had never harbored, but it was his reality at the moment.

  “Ryder.”

  She knitted her brows. “Excuse me?” The elevator closed behind her.

  “Please, call me Ryder. Everyone in the office does when in a personal setting.” He watched as her cheeks turned pink, and he couldn’t help but smile. His cold heart heated, and he clenched his hands into fists.

  “Okay.” She was twisting her fingers around her purse strap.

  “Did Melanie show you where everything is?”

  She nodded, and for a second neither spoke. “Okay, then. I’ll leave you to it.” Ryder nodded once, and as he walked past her, smelling the light floral scent that surrounded her, he had to force himself not to make a sound deep in his throat. He tightened his hold on the handle of his briefcase, and with his other hand he reached out and punched the button for the lobby.

  “Doctor Prince, I mean Ryder?”

  He turned around and stared at her.

  “I want to thank you again for giving me this job. I know it is just for housekeeping, but you really have no idea how much it helps me out, and how much it means to me.”

  He swallowed, not sure how to respond. The gratitude in her voice and on her face was clear and sincere. The elevator came to the floor, and the door opened. “Good night, Cinder.” He stepped into the elevator, and when the doors began to shut, he leaned against the back of the elevator wall and stared at her until he couldn’t see her any longer.

  * * *

  One week later

  Ryder sat across from Trina Gordon, the sister of one of his partners at the hospital. She was gorgeous, smart and sophisticated, but he wasn’t focused on the gourmet dinner they were eating or the fact she was in the medical field and could relate to many of the things he was familiar with. No, he had been thinking about Cinder since she had been in his office a week ago.

  “You’re not hungry?” Trina asked. “Or maybe the food isn’t to your liking?” She started to look around, as if trying to get the attention of the waiter.

  “Everything is good, Trina. I just don’t have an appetite really, and have other things on my mind.” He had agreed to go on this date with Gregory’s sister before he had interviewed Cinder. Although he didn’t even know much about the new employee aside from what her file said, for some reason she consumed his thoughts. Whatever it was about her had his thoughts twisting and turning, and so damn mixed up it was hard to concentrate on other things.

  “Have work on your mind?” she asked and took a bite of her salad. She watched him curiously, and although he wished he felt something for her, there was just nothing there. He’d be an old man before he found someone to share his life with, if he found someone at all. But even if he was ready to settle down, he had to be honest with himself.

  “No, not work, Trina.”

  She finished chewing what was in her mouth. After she took a drink and set the glass on the table, she leaned back in her seat. “Oh.”

  He knew by the way she spoke, and by the way she looked, that she had picked up on the fact he was referring to having something far different from work on his mind. He exhaled, ran a hand over his hair, and knew he needed to be honest. “Listen, I don’t want to lead this situation on and make you think there might be more for us than there really is—”

  “Ryder, it’s okay.” She smiled. She wiped her mouth while watching him, then set the linen down and started speaking again. “I’ll be honest as well. Gregory kind of insisted I come out with you, and although I’ve had a wonderful evening thus far, the truth is I’m just far too busy in my life right now for anything romantic.”

  Relief settled into him, not because being in Trina’s presence wasn’t pleasing, but because this just didn’t feel right.

  “How about we call it a night?”

  The waiter came by and set the check down after she spoke.

  “I have to wake up early anyway, and was going to let you know that although this was a great night, it just isn’t what I’m looking for right now in my life.”

  He handed the waiter the check and his credit card, and before he could respond she stood, grabbed her purse, and smiled down at him.

  “I’ll walk you to your taxi.”

  She shook her head. “No need. Thank you again for the lovely meal, Ryder.” She turned and left, and he watched her move out of the restaurant.

  He sat there for several more minutes, staring at the half-empty plate of food in front of him. Then realized he should just put his wandering mind to work and go to the office to finish up pap
erwork. He could have gone home, but the fact was he would have sat there thinking about shit that would never happen. He was stuck in this place in his life, and his thoughts about Cinder were confusing the hell out of him.

  He left and waited for the valet at the restaurant entrance to grab his car. Once he was in the vehicle and headed toward his office, he thought about what would happen if he just sat down and talked to Cinder about all of this. He knew nothing of her past, but the healer in him could see a wounded person, even if those scars ran deep. Twenty minutes later, he was pulling into the underground garage, parking in his spot, and heading into the building. Once in the elevator, he entered the code for his floor and leaned against the mirrored wall, staring at the numbers as they ascended. He arrived at his destination, and the elevator doors opened. As soon as he stepped out and into his office, he realized he wasn’t alone. It was going on seven in the evening, and even though Cinder came in after hours to clean, she should have been done already.

  The sound of something soft, as if being rubbed across the carpet, came through the back hallway. He followed the noise, and stopped in the staff lounge. On her hands and knees was Cinder, scrubbing at a spot on the carpet. There was a large wet circle in front of her, and broken pieces of the coffee pot lying beside her in a pile. It wasn’t the coffee machine, which was expensive and imported, and now useless without the special pot that bothered him, but the fact she had a bandage wrapped around her hand. The redness seeping through alarmed him, and he stepped further into the room.

  “Cinder…”

  She gasped and spun around so fast that she lost her balance and landed on her ass. The bandage became a brighter shade of red as she braced her weight on her hand, and he moved closer to her.

  “Doctor Prince, I’m so sorry about the coffee pot—”

  “Don’t worry about that damn thing, Cinder. I’m more concerned about your hand.”