His eyes darkened with hate for whomever that guy was and he just could not explain why even. He did not bother waiting for Alfredo to get the door but opened it by himself and then threw on his glasses. Typical mafia style only that he was not a mafia. As he stepped down from the car, the paparazzi caught sight of him and began approaching although no more than five feet apart. No one wanted to find out to what extent they were going to push the great Tristan Jenkins. They were taking photographs and trying hard to get his attention but he did not care. He simply walked on without stopping into the restaurant totally ignoring everyone.
“Miss Willows, in my office right now.” he said to her as he passed her.
Alfredo had not been able to stop the paparazzi from getting close to his boss and he had breathed out in relief when he had not turned on them. Although if he wanted to play dumb, he might have pretended not to understand what his boss was feeling but he could tell as he had been through that phase before. Something strong was building up within Tristan and he was trying his hardest to fight it. Carrying his bag he entered just when Tristan talked to Claire. He did remember what she had said about calling her by the surname.
“Hello Claire,” he greeted fondly
“Hi Alfredo…. what’s up with grumpy this morning?,” she asked.
Alfredo knew what she meant and who she was referring to but wanted to act dumb.
“Grumpy?,” he asked her with such amusement.
She nodded and pointed after Tristan’s door. Alfredo broke into a short laugh.
“Come on, you do know he’s such a grumpy pain in the ass right?,” she pushed
“Ah come on now. He cannot be a that bad now can he?,” Alfredo asked
“He is and you know it.” she said
“Alfredo!!! Get my things to my office.” Tristan said.
They both looked and saw him standing there in front of his door. When he had come there was what they had no idea of and most importantly how long he had been standing there. He did not wait one bit with that scowl on his face as he returned to his office. The both of them took a look at each other and blurted out laughing.
“Alfredo!!!.”
“Coming sir.” the old man answered and with what seemed like a boyish bow, he walked away into the office.
Claire knew it would only be a moment before she gets sent for and started getting herself ready. She smoothened her skirt for the upteenth time and cleared her throat. Walking towards the door, Claire was having a really hard time grabbing that handle. Not that she did not want to but she was wondering what would happen if she eventually did. She felt awkward and looked behind her to find the others were looking at her. Alright that was enough motivation for Claire to open the door and stop acting like some dummy. She turned now to grab the knob when the door gave way and Alfredo stepped out. He smiled at Claire and told her the office was all hers. The young lady nodded and entered inside the office calmly shutting the door behind her and turning to face the lion in it’s den. Apparently the lion was already staring at her with his hands beneath his jaw as he observed her.
“Good morning sir.” Claire said to him suddenly realizing she had not said that to him that morning.
He simply nodded like he cared less about the greeting and nodded. She stood there like a little child before her principal waiting for her punishment to be stated. Only that Claire truly felt like a child. The man as usual was not saying anything to her nor was she going to probe him to or hasten him up. Claire knew better than play at such games with him and kept her mouth mute. She only shifted from one toe uneasily to the other hoping he would look away but he did not. She began lowering her gaze before he started speaking.
“Tell me Miss Willows, how professional would it be if I should bring my lover to work?,” he asked her.
Claire did not quite understand what he was getting at and answered honestly.
“That would be unprofessional and distracting,” she said.
Tristan began clapping his hands as he walked towards her gradually until he came to sit on the edge of the table.
“Bravo Miss Willows. Bravo. At least you understand that before you began being unprofessional,” he shot at her
“I don’t understand you sir,” Claire said.
This bit of her acting all dumb was something he was not about to deal with. He scoffed and then asked if she believed him to be dumb seeing he had seen her that morning right in front of his establishment frolicking with her lover. Only now did Claire come to understand what he meant by all that. It was Jake obviously. She laughed shortly and then apologized before explaining to him that was certainly not her boyfriend. Tristan Jenkins laughed and asked just what kind of fool or child she believed he was. Claire was beginning to get white with anger as he accused her. She had just enough and spilled it out.
She looked Tristan Jenkins in the eyes as she spoke.
“What’s so wrong with you mister Jenkins? I can’t believe you are such an ass with all your orders and evil treatment. What’s so wrong with my friend dropping me off at work and why are you acting like it’s not normal? What have I done so wrong Mr Jenkins?,” she demanded.
Claire found a way to stop herself from speaking any further as that was way more than she had ever spoken. She searched his face for anything or a reaction at the very least but found none.
“Wow. That was so much Miss Willows,” he said
“Am I fired?,” Claire asked him scratching the back of her neck
“Well that depends,” he said walking over to her and not loosing eye contact.
He continued coming close forcing Claire to begin taking steps backwards and backwards until she felt her back on the door. There was no where to run to anymore as she was trapped.
Tristan was looking at her with so much intent but could not understand why he was finding it hard to breathe. Something was really cooking up in his head but he did not want to acknowledge whatever that was.
“Claire,” he called her by her name for the first time and she widened her eyes. “First a grumpy pain in the ass and now an ass itself, whichever name is mine?,” he asked her
“I’m sorry sir,” Claire whispered and suddenly felt the urge to swallow which she did.
Tristan rested his hand on the door just above her head. One hand and then another as her eyes followed them steadily before she came back to level hers with his own. There was this unusual beating in her heart that was going on rather wildly. Her heard skipped beats and then began jumping. Claire realized she was sweating now and that her legs in between felt rather dampened. It was unlike she had felt before and she very much needed air only she could not find strength enough to ask him to go away or push him away. His face came down to level with hers and his lips not so far from hers as his breathing which seemed ragged brushed across her lips making her crave for something; a taste of what he had to offer.
She was not the only one feeling the heat as Tristan Jenkins as well was feeling something he could not also explain. It was unlike him to be this way with a woman. Something he could not explain nor control. All his head was screaming was for him to lean forward and claim her lips in his. They looked really beautiful and inviting as he looked on. He had been with women, lots and lots of women before but this frail woman really got to him. He decided there what he was going to do and damn the consequences. He was a man to always go for whatever he wanted and that was exactly what he was going to do.
He leant forward and then placed a kiss on that lip that really surprised Claire. The woman’s eyes flew wide open as he kissed her deeply. It went on only for a moment and then he left her.
“I’m sorry… I’m really sorry Claire,” he said to her.
She too stood there rather breathless as she had just lost her first kiss in a matter of days to a man she loathed and still loathed. Nervously she scratched her hair.
“Would you need anything else from me sir?,” Claire asked.