“Why are you frowning at my mobile phone?” asked Nicholas as he emerged from the bedroom, looking hot and dashing as always in a crisp black business suit.
“Why didn’t you tell me that Alexander has been threatening you?” she demanded. Nicholas gave her a look of disbelief as if she was asking the dumbest question ever.
“When did he do otherwise? I won’t take his shit seriously and stop working, nor will I hide in my house out of fear. It’s best to ignore him and get on with my life. I’ll deal with whatever he throws my way. I’m not doing anything wrong then why should I have to accept his threats?” demanded Nicholas, annoyed by the topic. Alyssa nodded, knowing he was right. She followed him to the door and soon they were marching towards the conference room. Nicholas didn’t attempt to talk or tease her and Alyssa somehow had the feeling that he was upset about something. Maybe she could ask him after the meeting.
They reached the conference room fifteen minutes early and their client, Charles Spencer hadn’t yet arrived. “Good that we are early,” said Alyssa, sitting at her designated space.
“Mr. Spencer just called to say that Francis Sigmund, the owner of Signus Group is arriving here to sign the deal.”
“Oh, is he difficult to please?” asked a clueless Alyssa not understanding why he was so upset with the change of plans.
“No, just stay away from him. He’s a womanizer with a notorious reputation,” warned Nicholas, his eyes flashing with annoyance while Alyssa gaped at him. So was this the reason that got him in a twist?
“Please stop worrying unnecessarily and concentrate on your deal instead. I can take care of myself,” she flashed him a bored look. Nicholas looked unconvinced yet didn’t argue and took out his laptop instead to set it up.
“Button up your top.” Alyssa gave him a look of disbelief. He had already ensured that it was buttoned up. Did he seriously ask her to button up the last one as well? She would feel suffocated.
“It’s already buttoned up, Nicholas. Stop being a jerk,” she muttered.
“So I’m a jerk! Aren’t you waiting to meet the dashing Sigmund? It would please you to know that he tops the Forbes list for the hottest single man in the world. Not to mention his multi-billions and exotic properties all over the world.” Alyssa glared at him, annoyed by his insinuations.
“Oh, please, you have no reason to be jealous.”
“I’m not jealous, just warning you for your own good. After all, you’re my responsibility now,” he shrugged and Alyssa rolled her eyes.
“I’m an adult and responsible enough. Please spare me from your concern, Nicholas.” The door opened and a man in his early thirties strode into the conference room, with a charming smile pasted on his face. With his charcoal gray designer suit and gelled hair, the man exuded an aura of opulence and prosperity. He was followed by a poker-faced man, a few years older than him and Alyssa could clearly understand that he might be Mr. Spencer, the GM. Nicholas got up to welcome them in and Alyssa followed him, staying a little away from them. She could feel Francis’s gray eyes fixed upon her from the moment he entered the conference room.
“Good morning, Mr. Donnelly! I am Francis Sigmund and this is my General Manager, Charles Spencer.” He extended his hand towards Nicholas for a shake.
“Hello, Mr. Sigmund. Pleased to meet you.” Nicholas shook hands with him but Alyssa could clearly see how stressed he was. Wasn’t he overreacting? Why did he need to be so tense? It wasn’t likely that she would start dating the womanizer even if he tried! It seemed Nicholas was getting too possessive about her!
“So, who’s this beautiful lady? Your PA?” asked Francis, leaving Nicholas and holding his hand out to Alyssa for a shake.
“Yes, I’m Alyssa Van Every,” she said, placing her hand in his for a brief shake.
“A beautiful name for a beautiful woman. So pleased to meet you, Alyssa,” he said, his eyes glittering with underlying hints.
“Shall we start the meeting, Mr. Sigmund?” gritted out Nicholas, throwing a glare at Alyssa who went back to her place. What could she do? It would look rude not to shake hands with such an important client who would give them business for the next five years. It was too lucrative a proposal to ignore.
“Yes, sure. Let’s get this over and done with. We can relax and enjoy our lunch in a friendly environment and maybe get to know one another better!” said Francis Sigmund, his eyes focused on Alyssa as he said the last part. Nicholas wanted to bash his handsome face but he knew he had to remain calm and get the deal over and done with. If he had known about this before, he would have dealt with this meeting all by himself.
For the next whole hour, they discussed the collaboration in detail. Nicholas gave him a good presentation on the services his company offered. Alyssa helped him and also recorded the minutes of the meeting, avoiding all association with Francis Sigmund who tried to involve her in everything. At last, after going through the agreement in detail, they signed the deal and congratulated one another.
“Finally, it’s over and done with. So, where can we head for lunch? It’s my treat!” said Francis Sigmund, coming over towards Alyssa. Nicholas was too annoyed by now and wrapped his arm around Alyssa’s shoulders.
“I don’t think my fiancee can endure it. She’s three months pregnant. Do you want me to take you back to our room, Alyssa?” Alyssa’s jaws dropped at his statement and she gaped at him, unable to grasp what was happening. Was she his pregnant fiancee now?
“Hang on! Alyssa is your PA, right? Who’s your fiancee then and who’s pregnant? It’s really confusing,” said a flustered Francis Sigmund.
Nicholas possessively pulled Alyssa closer to his side. “Alyssa is my fiancee and she’s pregnant. My PA left at the last minute and she offered to bail me out on this trip.”
“Oh, I see. It’s such a shame that such a beautiful woman is already taken. I thought I could get her attention all to myself. So when is your wedding? I’d love to attend it,” said Francis Sigmund, with a mocking laugh, clearly not believing Nicholas. Alyssa’s blood boiled at Francis Sigmund’s mocking words. Even if she was single, how could he deduce that she would throw herself at him?
“Soon, Mr. Sigmund. We’ll definitely send you the invitation,” said Alyssa, wrapping her arm around Nicholas. The mocking smile on Francis Sigmund’s face disappeared hearing her and he looked a little upset.
“Thanks. I have another meeting to attend, Mr. Donnelly. I think we can have lunch on another occasion.” They shook hands and finally left the conference room. Alyssa slumped to her chair and started to pack while Nicholas paced the room angrily muttering curses at the man.
“How could you shake hands with the bastar*?” asked Nicholas angrily.
“Even you did. Wouldn’t it have looked rude if I declined? We couldn’t insult him unnecessarily when he was such an important client to us,” said Alyssa.
“If I hadn’t canceled the lunch, you would have gone with him, right?” he demanded, too jealous to even think straight. Alyssa gaped at him for a second and then picked up her bag and stormed towards the door.
“I’m tired of explaining myself to you, Nicholas. I have no idea why you’re behaving like a jealous boyfriend who’s been denied his candy,” she threw over her shoulder before walking out. She took the elevator and straight away headed to their suite room, too tired to even go to the restaurant for lunch. She quickly changed into a pair of shorts and a crop top and grabbed a bottle of water to drink. The door clicked open and an angry Nicholas barged inside. Alyssa was instantly on her guard. After that parting shot, she knew Nicholas was dying to answer back. The question was would the answer be a verbal one or a physical one? He might not be her real boyfriend but he had indeed been denied his candy in the morning. So he was a fake boyfriend who had been denied his candy!
A giggle escaped her lips but immediately she smothered it feeling Nicholas behind her. She kept the bottle down on the table in front of her and turned around just in time to see Nicholas inches away from her. He had discarded his suit and the first few buttons of his shirt were open exposing his sculpted chest.
“Maybe I’m nothing to you now but I’ll soon be,” he whispered, his hands holding onto the table on either side of her, trapping her in between.
“Umm, I think we should order lunch now,” said Alyssa, looking away from his hot gaze that bore a hole in her face.
It seemed that food was the last thing on his mind now and he was rather hungry for her than anything else. “Yes, I’ve been denied my candy. Do you know what it is? It’s you. My candy is you.”