Meeting Mr. Mogul: A Billionaire Contemporary Romance (40 page)

I stiffened from his words and slowly turned towards the opened elevator door, where Maggie and Alexandra stood with their eyes wide open in surprise. And to add my back luck, a few of the board and chair members of the company are with them, too. I mentally cursed at his great timing. Mr. Mogul made another point with an audience.

I roughly pushed him back as I felt my face flushed. I couldn’t believe that someone witnessed such an intimate moment. But I couldn’t believe that William would do that when he knew a lot of people where present.

“You’re cleaning this mess up,” I grumbled while glancing outside the elevator. 

Beside me, I heard his soft snicker. This made me scrunch my eyebrow in annoyance since I couldn’t really yell in front of board members of the company, who looked dumb-founded. I shyly made a quick exit on the lift, ignoring William trailing behind me. 

“Andy, I’m glad you are here. Can you take a few more appointments in Maggie’s stead for this Saturday?” Alexandra asked, breaking the thick tension in the room. 

“Ah, yes, sure,” I replied shyly as I made my way towards my desk and grabbed the envelope with the list she needed to oversee. 

“Thank you,” she said before turning her attention to the group of man in suits, who stood a good distance from my desk. “Well, gentlemen, since my brother is here. Can we start this meeting already?” she asked with fake enthusiasm as she gestured towards William’s office. 

I slid down on my chair as I let them walk past me, waiting for the moment that I can be free from all the tension. When I felt rather than noticed William walked past me, I mentally cringed that he might do something unexpected again. I had to double my guard around him. 

“You don’t have to be so stiff. We’ve already established what you really feel about me.” William smugly expressed as he stopped on my desk before entering his office. 

I was about to glare at him, but he had already continued walking towards his office. On the desk across, I left Maggie’s eyes on me. I glanced at her direction in instinct. 

“On his behalf, I apologize for his behavior,” she said shyly. “But don’t be so put out with him. I’ll let you in on a secret. You’re the first girl William kissed with that many people around,” she added in a whisper, but loud enough for me to hear. 

I couldn’t help but blush from her words. I gave her a stiff smile in reply. How was I supposed to respond to that? After that awkward conversation, I turned back to the list of appointments I had to attend. I felt relieved that I wouldn’t be stuck in the office for the rest of the day. I felt paranoid every time William and I are in the same room. 

On my ride back down to the lobby, my thoughts couldn’t help but be reminded on what had happened inside this four, steel wall a few minutes ago. I felt another wave of cold and warmth rose throughout my body. I shivered slightly at the memory and shoved it at the back of my head. He couldn’t distract me today.

I felt relieved that the rest of the meetings went smoothly without interruptions. I wanted to treat myself out for dinner after a tiresome day work. I didn’t plan on going back to the office at all, knowing who would be waiting for me. As I got out on my last meeting for today, which is the catering service, I couldn’t hold in my surprise at the person standing outside the main entrance. 

“For the love of God! Would you please stop following me?” I yelled in frustration after recovering from my initial shock. 

He gave me a coy smile. “Are you done? I’ve been waiting here for like ten to fifteen minutes already.”

I scowled at him and kept a good distance. “What are you doing here? I won’t ask how you found me since I can see Mark in the driver’s seat.”

“I know you are done with your work, and you’re free tonight,” he started shyly. His voice somehow lost its confidence. 

“How can you be sure I’m free?”

“I’ve already asked everyone, just to make sure.”

“You asked… Wait, who did you asked about my availability?” I asked, dumb-founded by his preparedness. 

“Your father, your friend, Maggie… I think that’s about the amount of people in your life that you can have plans for tonight.” He replied confidently. 

“You make me sound so… anti-social…” I grumbled softly to myself. 

“Since you don’t have any plans, you can’t really refuse to have dinner with me tonight,” he pointed out. “Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?”

I looked him in confusion. He couldn’t be asking me out nicely this time. Though the first part had a little controlling issue; but still, he took my advice about asking nicely. 

“How long are you going to stand there like a statue? You know I don’t have that much temperament with waiting…” he grumbled in annoyance after a brief silence. 

My thought about him turning a new leaf was gone. “And, you just have to break the mood like that…”

“Can you just get in the car? This talking and waiting is making me hungry,” he gestured towards the already opened door. 

“And, why would I do that? I didn’t even say yes.” I stubbornly stomped my feet on the ground to prove my point. 

With a defeated sigh, he finally closed the distance between us and grabbed my arm. I staggered a little as he tugged me towards the car. My body froze in shock at his impatient action.

“Wait! Wait!” I finally snapped out of it and pulled my arm away from his hold. “Could you wait for a second? You don’t have to be so pushy.” 

“Are you seriously trying to test me right now?”

“No, not really. I’m only reacting instinctively from your freaking arrogant attitude,” I replied in a dead tone as I glared at him in challenge. 

For a second, we stood chest to chest, a centimeter apart with our eyes lock on each other. The tension had become palpable by the minute. Finally, I had to break the chain or we’ll be standing there for hours and I don’t want that to happen. My stomach had already growled from hunger. 

“You’re buying me two burgers and fries. I don’t want to eat anything classy tonight,” I almost growled the words out from the still lingering anger that bubbled inside of me. 

He raised his eyebrow but otherwise didn’t say anything to my suggestion. He nodded and took a small step back to give me space to enter the car. I couldn’t believe I’m letting him take me to dinner tonight. After all the things we been through, I should be slapping and kicking the man into a pulp. But no, I was stupid.

I was glad that the drive was short even though it’s rush hour. When we reached the fast food chain, Mark parked the car near the entrance. I didn’t wait for anyone to open my door. As Mark turned off the ignition, I opened the door and jumped down. I caught a glimpse of William’s startled face before I closed the door. 

“If you’re going to sit there all night, I’m just going to go in and eat by myself,” I called as I eyed the dark tinted window, only seeing William’s silhouette. 

I didn’t wait for his reply and quickly made my way inside. The fast food chain wasn’t as packed as I expected it to be, which was a good thing. The last time I brought William with me, he was having a hard time blending in. 

I studied the short line in front of the counter and stood towards the queue that only had one person. While I waited for the person in front to finish ordering, I studied to overhead menu.

“You could have waited a few seconds…” William suddenly murmured behind me, making me turn around at the sound of his voice. 

I didn’t give him the pleasure of arguing and turned around to study the overhead menu board. 

“What’s good to eat here?” he softly asked beside me after a short pause. 

“The menu is right there. You can pick anything you like,” I replied sarcastically.

“I can see that… But I haven’t really eaten something like this before…” he admitted shyly. 

I looked at him with wide eyes. It wasn’t a surprise to know that this might be his first time here but hearing him say it is another thing. 

“You can have the salad and the chicken burger… if you like. They’re good,” I suggested as the man in front of me finished ordering and paid to the cashier. 

“Okay, I’ll have those then…” He nodded. 

I gave the cashier our order when it was our turn. It took her a moment to register what I said after her eyes landed on William. When I got back her attention, her stare towards me became less welcoming when I approached her. 

“How much would that be?” William asked after I finished telling her our order. 

The girl cashier turned towards William with a beaming smile and willingly gave him a reply. I watched them interact for a second until she gave us a number to wait on. I got it and walked away from the counter, not waiting for William to get the receipt and his change. 

I found a good place to seat, which was by a window. William followed a few second later. I didn’t glance up when he sat down across from me. 

“So, you’re just going to start ignoring me?” he asked in a conversational manner. 

I looked at him from the tone of voice, shocked to hear that he didn’t sound pissed at all. But before I could give him a reply, a waiter approached us and placed our order in the table. From then on, it was hard to start a conversation with him as the place slowly started to pack with people. I was glad that no one seemed to notice us.

“I think we should get going…” I stated and scanned the busy room. 

William nodded in agreement and slid out of the booth awkwardly. I watched with amusement but didn’t comment. As we got out, I remembered the two other men with us. I froze for a second as I watched the driver’s door open. 

“Have you guys eaten?” I asked worriedly and looked back at the interior of the fast food chain, the line in the register wasn’t that long. 

“We are good, Ms. Peterson.” Mark replied with a small smile. 

“Shall we go now?” William interjected and opened the door for me. 

I gave him a grim smile yet didn’t comment on his hasten actions. Since, I was also impatient for this night to end. 

On our drive back to my place, which I involuntarily informed that I would be staying at Terry’s place, William’s silence grew more uncomfortable for me. He had been hounding me for these past few days up until this morning and now he had gone radio silence. 

“Would you just spit it out?” I asked in annoyance. 

He turned towards me in surprise, but otherwise didn’t weaver his calm demeanor. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, please. I know you are thinking of something… You’ve been silent for a while now,” I pointed out sarcastically. 

“Right… I’m just thinking of ways on how to make this sound less intrusive than it already is…”

“Intrusive?”

“Well, I don’t want you to quit and move away. And, I want you to give me a chance. So, I’m thinking of ways on how to do that without being too controlling.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“I want you to work for me.”

“There is no way that is going to happen,” I stated sternly with conviction. If I were going to work for him, it would give him more leverage on taking control of my life. And I’m not letting another man dictating me on what I should do with my life.

“I knew you would say that.”

I studied him under guarded eyes, a little surprised that he would resort to something like this. Why did he want me so close to him at all times? So, what if I quit? Did he have the same mindset as me? Maybe he thought that when I quit, it means that I was going away. But I wasn’t. I would still be living in this city and look for another job, since I was insane enough to quit my current, perfect job. 

“We are here, Ms. Peterson,” Mark announced as he slowly parked the car in front of Terry’s apartment, breaking another thick tension inside the car. 

“Thank you,” I said towards him and turned sideways to open the door. 

I felt his glare on my back but I waited until I was out of the car before looking at him. When I finally glanced up, I saw a slightly sad expression to his blank face. 

“Have a good night. I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said in his monotonously.

“See you,” I reciprocate in the same tone before closing the door. But this time, I didn’t slam it. 

As I walked up towards the building, I didn’t dare myself look back at the car, which I knew was still there. I continued walking until I reached the main door to Terry’s apartment. I let out a strained sigh before unlocking the door. When I got in, the first thing I did was crash on the sofa and stay there for as long as I can. I couldn’t believe what had become of today. 

That night, I wanted to wait for Terry to arrive but my eyelids had won. So, I had to wait until morning to vent out on all of my frustrations. Though just thinking about it, I might burden him. But if I don’t do it, I knew I would go crazy. 

The next morning, I was a little grumpy but manageable. I had woken up before my alarm, which was a miracle since I slept late last night. I got off the couch to get ready for work. As I walked to and from the bathroom and kitchen, I didn’t notice the fancy envelope on the kitchen counter. It was when I ate my breakfast I noticed it. I was hesitant to grab and read it until Terry’s voice surface behind me. 

“That came in yesterday. I forgot to give it to you,” He stated with a thick raspy, sleepy voice. 

I turned around the sound and eyed him in surprise. “You’re up.” 

“I think it’s a letter for a job, since it look a little different from all the rejection letter you’ve had a few months ago…” he added, ignoring my words.