Expand Your Love

Chapter One ~ Board Meeting

Jason looked with concern at Angela, who was quietly waiting for the meeting to start. The only two people who were missing, was Alexander, the lawyer of that company, and his arrogant secretary. Jordan looked at his phone - 8:24 am. The meeting must start. It's the most important one of the year.

Angela arose herself and opened the meeting" Ladies and Gentlemen, I welcome you to our mid-board meeting. Today we will discuss the strategic goals of our upcoming expenditure. We will also talk about potential joint-venture and all other internal issues. May I give the word to you Jared. A tall, elegant and very handsome man stood up and thanked politely while walking towards the beamer to show his analytics. He was someone who was for sure a true heartbreaker, thanks to his looks. After the presentation, the discussion began.

"I don't know when the contract will be finished, but we must do everything which is in our power to get the shares of the Hemford enterprise. It will be a crucial step in expanding our influence. After all, we are well-known for our clear and fantastic strategic movements. I just want this company to thrive and to become a huge part of the new history.", Jared spoke his mind very clearly. Everyone nodded and agreed to pursue the long-term goal of this company.

After reflecting on Jared's enthusiastic speech, Angela Smith, the CEO of Smith's Enterprise asked a question " As our COO and strategic adviser, what would you suggest we should focus on at the moment?", her voice was calm, and still dominant, which made many of her staffs shiver. "Are there any trends at the moment, which we must consider in our upcoming strategies?" Jared answered:" Well, the market is moving fastly towards B2B relations and the desire of gaining long-term contracts and rights of the estates is becoming crucial. I believe we should focus more on the law and the imminent changes." Jason, the CFO, and board member couldn't hold his anger back and hissed:" How can you focus when your lawyer didn't even show up to our board meeting. By the way where the f**k is Alexander? He should have been here 3 hours ago. This man is just a waste of money and time. Jared, you as the main director of HR should seriously consider looking for more responsible staff. I'm sick and tired of your employees, who don't do their job. I swear I'm not paying for those people anymore. Either way, they work their ass off or they're out! The competitors know about this and this is the reason, why we have become so vulnerable." His eyes were filled with anger until he looked at Angela, who was shaken by his honesty and he recognized the desperate look on her face. She was powerless against the force, but the traitor was not from the outside. It's someone from the inside. He felt his chest burn in anger. Angela was someone he dearly loved and cared about. Even if life took them in different directions, and he went on dating various girls, Angela has always had a special place in his heart. Seeing her that consumed, made him turn into a feisty animal. Whoever it is, he will make him or she pay for everything that happened in the last two years.

Everyone was quiet in the room. Until Kiki, Alexander's secretary apologized and rushed out of the meeting. She quickly grabbed her phone and called Alex. "Where the hell is he? I hope he's not with a hoe. Otherwise, I will make him pay terribly. Maybe I'll just expose him to Angela, and ----, No I won't. I hate her, she thought and clenched her fist. She's full of herself and I will do everything in my power to take her down. I mean I look 100x better than her and all men love me. She's just focused on money and career, and everyone just cares about her. She's such a bitch." Kiki felt bitterly jealous, but she would never admit that. After the fourth time of calling, Alex answered with a rough and sexy voice:" Hey Babe, Did you miss me? I was thinking about you while looking at your panty, which you left last time under my bed. It still carries your smell." Kiki felt her body tremble."Boss I don't mind leaving more of such hidden treasures in your apartment, but I'm afraid if you don't show up in 20 minutes we will both be fired." Alex laughed devilish:" The only one who will be fired is you. Imagine what Angela will do when she finds out about you working overtime on me, and the money you have stolen out of my safe. You know what the values of our company are. I'm one of the main shareholders of this company. The only person who will lose is you little b***h. Never threaten me, or you'll regret it." Kiki had a fierce glare, how dare he, she thought to call her a b***h, after all, she gave him. She simply said:" Well, I don't think that your shares will help you secure your position. At the moment, the arguments are very much against you. Due to your little c**k, Jason is winning with his bold arguments in the board meeting without even trying." It struck him! THE MEETING. "You slut, the meeting!!!" He yelled and she could hear a female voice in the background. He cut the line and she was furious. How would he dare? Who is that b***h, he was f*****g all weekend long. Who replaced her? She was stubborn to make him beg for her service. After all, she knows his lusty points very well. She took a looked at the conference room, and saw how Angela nodded to everything Jason said. It looked as if he finally managed to get a grip on her thoughts. She felt a cold shiver down her bones.

**ALEX POV**

FUCK! f**k! f**k!

They could resign me from my position. I started getting dressed and walking like the mad man I am through my room. Jessica, a girl I met in a bar, glared at me, while I was getting dressed. She moved her body gallantly under that blanket and one n****e slipped out and I thought about all the animalish things I did to her. Her breasts are full of bitting marks, and it gives me a kick, to see her in bruises. Her long blonde hair was messy and she called me back to bed, but I refused, knowing what Angela would do to me if I don't show up at all. She kept on calling me:" My tiger come back and show me how it's done. I'm afraid I might forget about a few things." She smirked at me. When I ignored her begins, she stood up and grabbed my crotch, while placing a kiss on my neck. I felt my body tremble from lust, but all of a sudden, I thought about my angel and a dark mood overcame me. I grabbed her throat and started to choke her. How dare she touch me without permission? Doesn't she know all I'm doing is using her body until II get my angel? She is the only one which my dark soul longs for. Jessica was persistent and started to fight me. I slapped her and nearly knocked her out. "Get out my f*****g house, you b***h! I simply used you, don't you get it by now. NOW OUT! I got business to do."

**ANGELA POV**

I really hope he won't make it to the meeting. The last weeks were rough on me and every time he puts his eyes on me I feel threatened. To my surprise, I always manage to give him a cold shoulder and to hold my position. Soon we will have a lunch break, and I will have time to relax a bit and get a straight thought. Jason arguments are strong, but I can barely listen to him. After the break was announced, Jared went for a phone call, and I started to walk out of the room when Jason grabbed my arm softly. "Bella you up for some nice Italian food?" I smiled at him and nodded. We used to go out a lot together, but things changed when he met Gabriella. He changed. So I kept him on a good distance. Six years ago, he came back from Italy after he broke up with her. He would never tell me the reason, but I heard from Sharon, his sister, and my best friend, that she got impregnated by another man. I felt sorry for him. He was charming and very well raised. His attractiveness was undeniable. Perfect brown hair, pearly white teeth, a smooth skin. A stunning profile. A body to die for. Blue eyes like the ocean, and still I was not attracted to him. All I could think of was my company and the mysterious disappearance of my beloved brother. I felt tired, and the situation with Alex didn't make it easier. Jason realized that I was lost in my thoughts, so he asked me if everything was fine. I nodded, as always. I saw through his eyes that he did not believe me. Whatever.

We walked through the streets of New York. I always loved this city. The vibrant streets, stressed people, smells from all places, some good some bad, and the incredible nightlife. I had a naughty little smile when thinking about the nightlife. Gosh, I used to know every club and to be so free and unconcerned. My Brother Luke used to go with me and keep an eye on me. He was always my rock, but he had some sides, which I never really knew. He was a womanizer. The ladies bowed down before him, but when it came to me, no one was good enough. I had a rough time, during my teenage years, due to his protectionism. My father was much relaxed when it came to somebody dating his princess. As long as the boy was fine, and he knew his parents, he agreed.

While walking through the busy streets occupied with my thoughts, I felt strong hands around my waist grabbing and pulling me towards a very masculine body. Every inch of his body was pressed against mine. I lifted my head to realize in shock, that Jason looked with an unidentified glance in his eyes down at me. I mean I wasn't a small woman. I was around 5'9" feet tall, but all the men who worked for me were much taller. His grip tightened as he said to me:" You could have been rolled over. Did you not see the taxi coming, bella?" I shook my head. His grip loosened and I managed to grab a breath. His hand still resting near my booty. Is this man out of his mind. I'm his boss at the end of the day. Thank God, my phone rang and interrupted the awkward situation. I felt the intense look of Jason on my body, and I felt like prey. We entered the restaurant, and finally, I was able to sit and have lunch in peace. At least that's what I thought.

Daniele, the restaurant owner, rushed towards us and greeted me with a loving hug and some kisses on the cheek. He was kinda tall for an Italian. Typical, dark eyebrows and hair. His skin was smooth and perfectly moisturized. His eyes were full of soul and charm. He was simply one of a kind. I've known him for a few years. We even had a fling years ago, but that's now in the past and our dolce piccolo segreto.

He proposed to us the latest menu, and we nodded automatically to everything he suggested. Never would I say no to his proposal. He knows me too well. He smiled at me and chatted with Jason a bit, while I was checking my phone. Even after two years, the media is still very interested in my family. I scrolled through and soon a stroke hit me. "Miss Angela Smith and Jason Jones were seen hugging on the streets of New York. Are they dating?" The boulevard press was full of such article. I felt anger arise and I clenched my phone and hit it furiously on the table. The whole table shook for a moment. I excused myself and went to the toilet. While walking away, I saw Daniele's worried face and Jason totally shocked. Daniele asked:" Do they still write this crap about her you know.. brother? Jason nodded. "Che merda! Mamma mia!". He rushed away towards the kitchen.

I walked into the very elegant restroom, which reminded me of Firenze. One of the most beautiful places I've been. When I' 've seen me in the mirror, I gasped in shock. My God how do I look like. I'm a f*****g mess. I quickly grabbed some paper and refreshed myself. I spent some lady-time there and washed my hands when I heard a knock on the door. "Amore is everything okay? Do you need something?". I sincerely smiled and opened the door to face Daniele. He looked stunned and sorrowful. "Mamma bia, che bella!" He smirked sassily towards me. "Attenzione signore" I warned while giving him the look. He walked respectfully next to me to the table. He talked about his trip to Milan next week and I was so jealous. Gosh, I love Italy. The food is incredible and the scents of the ingredients. Simply magic. I told him he should think about me when in Italy, he smirked and bluffed how he always thinks about me. Yea right!. "Daniele is it me or did your nose grow a bit?" He grabbed his nose confused, and smiled at me. I saw Jason sitting there totally furious. "Where have you been? The food is already cold." I answered coldly:" Toilet." I started eating my food and felt in heaven when I took the first bite. The aroma. Oh my...

Jason stared at me and rolled his eyes. He always used to complain about how I prioritize food over men. I mean at least it gives you a sensation without the post-stress. I finished my lunch quickly and looked at my phone at 1:07 P.M Good Lord I gotta run. I stood up, Jason paid for the food and I run my hand over my suit to straighten it. I felt a hundred eyes on me. When I turned I've seen all men have stopped what they were doing and stared at me. Daniele laughed devilish, mocking and mimicking me. I grabbed my Dolce Gabbana purse and walked out. All by myself. After some minutes I heard someone walking with a heavy breath behind me. "Woman slow down or do you want to kill me" I turned around like a femme fatale and smirked at Jason. "You say you have some issues with your endurance?". I saw his eyes ignite. He was ready to fight me. I started running towards the elevator, he quickly managed to enter the same as I did. "Endurance. You're questioning my endurance? Woman you have some balls, I tell you." I laughed at him. Balls?! Yes, that's probably what I had to grow to work with those madmen. We walked out of the elevator, straight into the meeting room. Everything was set for the second discussion. Fresh glasses and drinks were placed on the table. I walked towards my chair and took a seat. Jason started parroting me with a pitched voice. His ego was hit. After some time he sat next to me and started moving closer. He opened his phone to show me his training routine and how much he can endure. While leaning towards me he touched my arm and it looked as if we were exchanging some PDA. I rolled my eyes when he revealed me some of his pictures on the phone and then pointed his finger on each of the muscles on his body. I laughed and he shook his head in non-belief.

I started mocking him and telling him how I wouldn't mind if he would work in his Adam costume in his department. Knowing that he had many female employees who had a crush on him, and telling him how we would probably attract better opportunities on the market. I grabbed his arm while laughing out loud. He was offended I could sense it, but he still kept his coolness, until he swiped accidentally another picture and there was a picture of her. Gabriella. She was a pretty girl, who definitely missed a great chance in life. His face became ice cold, and he felt uncomfortable. I asked myself why did he still have a picture on his phone of the woman who betrayed him that badly. Something was telling me, there is more to that story. We still sat very close to each other and looked engaged. He switched off his phone, avoiding eye contact.

Alex was standing in the room. His eyes were ready to kill. Bloody and on fire he looked at us. Jason felt the danger. He stood up and passed him without saying a word to him. Alex look cooled down a bit when he saw me lonely. I greeted him. "Hello Angela, I see you have started to engage with some sort of....." I interrupted him sharply:" May I remind you that you have missed the meeting in the morning." I arose myself and my body started to burn in anger. "Alexander, we have discussed a few things, which will be of great matter to you. I won't tolerate any disrespect towards my company and mostly me. I printed you the protocol of our meeting in the morning. May I politely ask you to read it? It should be of your interest to know what is happening inside this company while you were having meetings under your sheets!!" I yelled at him, not knowing what got into me. He was stiff, and I think a bit shocked.

Before he could say anything or provoke any reaction, I had left the room rapidly. The meeting would start in 10 minutes anyway. I left him and closed the door, so hopefully, he would read the protocol and update himself. Maybe even reflect on his behavior.