After a while, Alyssa knocked on Nicholas’s door with her heart racing faster inside her chest. Determined to keep everything professional between them, she opened the door hearing him clearly give her permission to enter. She peered inside but didn’t see him at his desk. Where was he? Was he lurking around somewhere to grab her?
“Are you playing hide and seek with me here? Why don’t you come in and help me already?” came Nicholas’s voice from the other end of the room. She went inside to see Nicholas sitting at a computer at the far end of his room.
“Tell me what I need to do,” she said, approaching him.
“Just search for all documents of the JC Capitals Group and sort them date-wise. Then mail them to the accounts department immediately.”
“Sure.” Alyssa waited patiently beside him but he just watched her instead of vacating the chair for her. “Umm, I think I need to sit to do the job better,” she said when he showed no signs of moving.
“Why didn’t you have your breakfast today?” he asked out of the blue and Alyssa blinked twice wondering how exactly he knew.
“I wasn’t hungry,” she muttered, avoiding his intense gaze. Nicholas got up and grabbed her by the wrist while a gasp escaped her lips. Just what was he up to now? “Nicholas stop. Let me complete the work.”
“It can wait. You need to eat first,” he said, pulling her towards his desk and releasing her all of a sudden. Alyssa rubbed her wrists and glared at him for manhandling her.
“I’ll grab something during lunch,” she continued stubbornly, her eyes flashing defiantly at him. Did he feed all his PAs this way? A pang of jealousy shot up her body at the thought. “I’ll complete the work I came here to do.” She dashed off towards the computer to do as asked when two arms grabbed her from behind startling her almost.
“Why are you being so impossible? I want to stay as far away from you as possible but it seems you don’t want me to,” he drawled, his mouth near her ear. Before Alyssa could think of a fitting reply, he picked her up on his shoulder and carried her back to his desk.
“Nicholas, put me down, now!” she gritted out angrily feeling his arm against her butt. Her cheeks flushed crimson and she punched his back, struggling to get free.
“This is what happens when you don’t listen to me.” He eased her down onto a chair and she fixed her clothes after giving him a death glare. There was a knock on the door and Nicholas gave his permission to enter. A server from one of the ground floor cafes came inside carrying a tray loaded with food and coffee. Seeing the food Alyssa’s mouth watered and she realized how hungry she really was. The server placed the food on the table and left. Nicholas served the food onto two plates and pushed one towards her.
“Eat, or else I will feed you,” he threatened but smiled seeing her instantly pick up her fork and start eating.
“So, how’s your new home? Did your stepdad throw you out or did you move out of your own free will?”
“I moved out with Eva. It’s her apartment.” Nicholas waited for her to tell him more. He wanted to know what happened that night which forced her to move out. Was he the cause? Did Alexander compel her to leave because she was seeing him? Maxwell told him why she needed this job and he had felt very angry with her stepdad. Why did he need to freeze her bank account? Surely there were other ways to deal with the situation. He could just talk to her normally. Seeing her eat her food hungrily made his heart ache for her. He felt bad being the cause of her misery. He wanted her to stay with him at his house but he knew she would never agree.
“I can arrange for accommodation for you if you want,” he offered while Alyssa looked up at him with surprise.
“Do you offer these perks to all your PAs?” she asked curiously while Nicholas shook his head.
“No, only you. My last PA was Mrs. Davies who used to work for my dad as well. She didn’t need these perks and took early retirement due to health issues.” Nicholas smiled seeing the surprised look on her face, knowing exactly what she might be thinking.
“Oh,” she gasped as a blush crept up her cheeks at his scrutiny. Did he guess how jealous she had been thinking about the hot female PAs he might be used to who could do anything for these perks?
“Why would you do so much for me?” she asked, concentrating on her food instead of his eyes that were glued upon her.
“I’m not doing anything. It’s on behalf of the company. The apartment is rent-free and at walking distance from here if you’re interested. There’s no hurry. Think about it and tell me,” said Nicholas, waiting for her to agree. He knew she would, once she came to know of her new neighbor, who was none other than her brother.
“Thanks for the offer. I’ll think about it.” Alyssa finished her breakfast and looked up at him. She wanted to ask him how he found out where she lived. She wanted to know why he stalked her around. “Thanks for the breakfast, Nicholas. I’ll get back to work.” She noted his lack of response as if he was upset about something. She sat at the far end of the room to complete the work he had given her but every time she looked his way, she found him staring at her. Didn’t he have any work of his own?
Nicholas thought hard about what other work he could give her that would force her to stay right under his nose. He didn’t want her to go back to her cubicle. Ever since Maxwell had informed him that Alyssa might take his job offer, he had been restless. Now as he stared at her svelte figure and luscious lips, the wish to kiss her was again utmost on his mind. After sending those pictures of hers to her brother, he realized what he had done. Alexander wasn’t one to let it go so easily. He surely might have blasted his sister. No wonder she was so against him.
Nicholas sighed with longing realizing why she was upset with him. If only he could fix things between them to how it was before but for that, he needed to get near her. With her living with Eva, that was an impossible feat actually. He needed to get her alone but how? What if she declined the accommodation he was offering her?
“I’ve completed the work you gave me, Nicholas. Is there anything else for me to do here or do I go back to my desk?” asked Alyssa hesitating to see the lost look in his eyes. Nicholas came out of his reverie and looked at her.
“Check a folder called Meetings and see what Mrs. Davies has jotted down for the next two weeks. I need you to compile everything and prepare a schedule for me.” Alyssa got busy with the schedule and finally, after struggling for an hour with loose points saved here and there, she was able to summarize everything and prepare a schedule for him. He was in the conference room, so she emailed him the schedule and went back to her cubicle to check her email. She soon became immersed in her work and hardly noticed that it was already lunchtime.
“Hey, gorgeous! Are you new here?” asked a cheerful male voice and she looked up with surprise to see a dashing young man wearing a white shirt and tailored charcoal gray slacks right in front of her. His eyes twinkled with interest as he looked down at her. “Darren Kingsley from the accounts department and you?” he asked extending his hand for a shake.
“Alyssa Van Every,” she smiled not accepting his hand but strangely he didn’t mind at all.
“Wow! An attractive name for an attractive lady,” he drawled and Alyssa rolled her eyes.
“Do these lines work?” she asked looking amused.
“Usually they do,” laughed the guy. “So, when do you get a break? We could head to the cafeteria to grab lunch,” he offered.
“I’m waiting for Nicholas to return actually. I don’t know when my lunch break will be. Today is my first day here.”
“Oh, that’s no big deal at all. We all take a break at 1:30. Come on, I’m sure Nicholas wouldn’t mind,” coaxed Darren. Alyssa closed her laptop and got up to go with him. After working since morning, she deserved a little break. She walked out of her cubicle towards the elevator with Darren.
“I have more friends waiting for me at the cafeteria. I can introduce them to you. Can I ask you a question?” asked Darren looking curious.
“Yeah, sure, ask right away.”
“Are you Nicholas’s girlfriend?” asked Darren, eagerly waiting for her reply.
“Yes, she is.” Shocked Alyssa looked up to see Nicholas emerge from the elevator, his face grim and fierce.