Boss Tiger: Shifter Spice

Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Amelia swallowed hard. “Mr. Torrent, I’m deeply sorry for my lateness, but I have an extremely good reason if you’ll let me explain.”

With glacial slowness, Torrent eased forward in his chair. His strong, tanned hands rested in front of him, fingers laced together. Amelia stopped speaking and stared at them, her throat gone bone dry.

“Look at me, please,” Jace said in a stern voice.

Amelia squirmed in her seat, feeling very much like an errant schoolgirl in the principal’s office.

She lifted her eyes as instructed and stared directly across the desk at Torrent. Her eyes had become accustomed to the low lighting now, and she could make out his face a lot clearer. A chill went through her, which was not purely inspired by fear. Her boss was many things, but hideous was certainly not one of them. It was true he was rugged, with his broad handsome features and square jaw. His strong nose and full lips made him perfect pin-up material. A hint of blond stubble graced his chin and upper lip, and was complimented by his buzz cut, which was meticulously gelled and spiked.

He exuded a masculinity that was almost intoxicating to her, but she could expect no less from a typical Alpha male. Yet, sometimes and very rarely, she glimpsed an undercurrent of vulnerability. She had first noticed it the day they met. It had only been a flash, more a suggestion than a quantifiable constant. He had been too busy playing the hotshot executive and flirting with Sabrina for it to be blatantly obvious, but it had been there nonetheless. Amelia had a talent for picking up the character traits people liked to keep hidden. It was a gift she had obtained from Aunt Debra.

Sadly, there was no trace of vulnerability on show today. Torrent oozed raw power and menace. “You looked absolutely terrified,” he said, a sardonic smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “That’s a very healthy response to your current situation, Miss Brooks.”

Jerk! Amelia mentally screamed at him. Sure, he had every right to be angry with her but there was no need to be so damned sadistic about it. It was always the same with good-looking men, and particularly true of the men she found good-looking.

“Mr. Torrent, I know I haven’t gotten off to a good start,” she said, finding her voice again, “but I promise I will turn it around. Just give me another chance. You won’t regret it.”

With one fluid movement, Jace Torrent opened a drawer in his desk and took out a sheet of paper with writing typed onto it. He set it out neatly in front of him. Amelia’s heart rate quickened as she made out the terrible pronouncement of termination amongst the lines of upside down words.

“Everyone deserves a second chance in a perfect world,” Jace said, worrying one corner of the letter with his finger and thumb. He had jutted out his lower lip slightly, the motion giving him the incongruous appearance of a schoolboy who had just been caught up to mischief and was now trying to explain his way out of it. Amelia couldn’t help but find it cute.

“Thank you so much, Mr. Torrent,” she cut in, breathless with relief. “I won’t let you down. You have my word on that.”

Primal fury flashed in Jace’s scintillatingly blue eyes. “You didn’t let me finish,” he replied, his voice dangerously low.

The muscles in Amelia’s body tensed. In her mind she called herself every type of stupid under the sun for jumping in too soon. That was the story of her life. Rush in without thinking and make a complete and utter mess of things. That was what she was good at.

Jace’s handsome face was a mask of iron now. “I was going to say, before you so enthusiastically jumped to the wrong conclusion, that everyone deserves a second chance in a perfect world, but, as you and I are both painfully aware, this is not a perfect world. That is why I think there should be a parting of the ways.”

The pronouncement was like a death sentence. “I, I’m not always like this, sir,” Amelia began, trying to formulate a suitable defense. “All the mistakes I’ve been making and my lateness, this isn’t me normally. I just need to find my feet.”

Jace sank back in his chair, giving her an appraising look. His dark grey business suit was barely visible against the leather chair, giving the impression that he was a disembodied head with hands. To Amelia he was no longer a man, but a supernatural entity with absolute power over her destiny.

“I understand that it takes time to acclimatize, Miss Brooks,” he said at length. “I’m not completely unreasonable. But it’s more than that. Let’s be honest, you’re something of a fish out of water here aren’t you? You just don’t fit in.”

Amelia couldn’t argue with him there. Up to three weeks ago, she’d been temping as a receptionist at a car hire company, and before that as a data entry clerk in a warehouse. Those were the type of jobs she was skilled in, and most comfortable doing, but with the way the economy was right now there was no steady work to be had and keeping on top of the rent and bills was a constant, uphill struggle. Then, quite literally out of the blue, she received a call from an employment agency she couldn’t even remember registering with.

An urgent secretarial post needed filling with Torrent Conglomerate Holdings, and her resume fitted what they were looking for. Amelia had been completely dumbstruck, and utterly terrified. It was far beyond what she was used to, and she almost turned them down on the spot out of sheer fright. She didn’t though. The car hire company had suddenly gone bust several days ago robbing her of a job, and this unexpected vacancy was offering four times her normal salary. She had no choice but to accept it.

Now sitting here in the den of this cold, arrogant man, she realised the extent of her mistake. This could have only ended in disaster. Whenever anything remotely good came into her life, she screwed it up. It would be better to accept her limitations and move on.

Jace Torrent and that harpy Sabrina belonged to a completely different world, a world she had no right being in. She felt the hot sting of tears gathering in her eyes and she clamped down hard on the impulse to cry. There was no way she’d give Jace the satisfaction of seeing her cry, regardless of how rich and powerful he was.

You stupid useless lump! Scott’s hate-twisted face loomed in her mind’s eye. You can’t do anything right! Imagining that jerk’s reaction to this latest disaster suddenly galvanized her out of her passive acceptance. She’d stood up to Scott when it counted, and she wouldn’t let this job go without a fight either.

“I won’t let you down again,” she said harshly, her words coated in steel. “You can’t just throw me away like garbage. It’s not right!” She leveled her gaze straight at Jace, ignoring the frantic beating of her heart. “I deserve better.”

A silence, deep and terrible, welled between them. Amelia was held in suspended animation not daring to move. Torrent’s face was unreadable.

After what seemed like an eternity, Jace finally spoke. “That was quite an impassioned appeal, Miss Brooks,” he said dryly, a smile ghosting across his lips.

Amelia gritted her teeth. Why did he have to be so damn condescending? She blinked away the drops of water gathering in her eyes. “Please, I really need this job. If you want me to beg, I will. I know I don’t fit in here, but I am a good worker. Let me prove it to you. I’ll work twice as hard and do many hours as you want.” She paused and took a deep breath. “All I want is to prove myself.”

Jace shifted in his seat, making the leather groan. His terrible, beautiful eyes never left her face and they seemed to glow with some inner power. Amelia lost herself in their brilliance, unable to deny the magnetic attraction she felt for him. Even if he physically threw her out of the building right here and now, she’d still find it hard to truly hate him.

“You want to prove yourself,” he said, his voice softer now and sounding more thoughtful.

“I’ll do anything you want,” Amelia said without hesitation.

Jace raised his eyebrows. “Anything?”

Amelia nodded, unsure now where this was going. “Anything within reason,” she replied carefully.

Jace burst out laughing. It was a deep, thunderous sound. “Anything within reason,” he repeated, still chuckling. “Well, that covers a multitude of possibilities.” The cold arrogance and sense of menace had completely evaporated now. It was replaced by a relaxed manner and even a hint of playfulness.

“I’ll do what it takes, Mr. Torrent,” Amelia replied, sensing things might actually be turning in her favor. “I want to prove to you that I’ve got what it takes.” Amelia tried not to cringe when she made that assertion. She truly had no idea if she had what it takes or not.

“I’ll let you into a little secret,” Jace said, giving her a mischievous grin that she found more than endearing. “Sabrina wants you fired. She says you’re not cut out to work for me.”

“That’s no secret,” Amelia said sourly.

Jace nodded. “I was inclined to agree with her, up until now. This is the first time I’ve seen anything close to real strength in you, and I think I might rather like it. It certainly makes a refreshing change from the hordes of fawning incompetents that populate my vast enterprise.”

“Thank you, I think,” Amelia replied, not sure what to make of the compliment.

Jace tapped his upper lip and looked at her thoughtfully. “I’ve decided to make you an offer, Miss Brooks. If you’re genuinely serious about making it in my company, I need definitive proof. Take me up on my offer and execute your duties to the standard that I expect and you’ll not only keep your job but also gain a promotion? What do you think?”

Excitement flared inside her. “Whatever it is, Mr. Torrent, I’ll do it to the best of my abilities.”

Torrent dipped his eyes, and a wistful expression crossed his face. “Very well,” he said in a business-like manner, quickly lifting his gaze to her again and clapping his hands together. “This is my offer, Miss Brooks. I want you to be my girlfriend.”

Amelia almost fell off her chair. “Excuse me?” she exclaimed.

“Not my real girlfriend, you understand,” Jace went on, the smirk on his face clearly signposting his enjoyment at her bafflement. “It is all part of a little deception I’ve got planned. Have I utterly offended you with my proposition? Or would you still like to hear all the grisly details?”

“Go on,” she said.

Torrent nodded. “In five days’ time, a former girlfriend of mine is getting married.”

“Natasha Grant,” Amelia said without missing a beat. “It’s all over the news.”

“That’s right. Quite astute of you, Miss Brooks. It is going to be a very lavish occasion by all accounts keeping in line with Natasha’s refined tastes. The celebrations are to last a whole two weeks and yours truly has been invited. Isn’t that exciting?”

“I wouldn’t have thought you’d want to go,” Amelia said, “after everything she put you through, I mean.” Jace and Natasha had been dating for two years, and if half of the celebrity news outlets were to be believed, she’d put him through absolute hell the entire time. Natasha Grant. Amelia’s mouth became a thin line when she thought of her. Natasha was everything Amelia wasn’t, tall, skinny, and a supermodel.

Granted, many of Natasha’s attributes had been cosmetically enhanced, but she was still devastatingly beautiful and filthy rich. When she and Jace had gotten together they had been feted by the media as the perfect couple. Things had certainly been idyllic at the beginning, but before long Natasha’s drug and drink binges were making the headlines.

Jace was portrayed as the dutiful boyfriend who tried to support her and get her onto the road of recovery. Unfortunately, her serial cheating only helped to heap humiliation on him. Things were exacerbated when Natasha and her younger brother were involved in a hit and run incident that almost resulted in the death of a twelve-year-old girl. The girl had fortunately recovered from her injuries without any lasting damage, and Jace had made generous reparations to her family as well as paying for the legal team to save the Grant siblings from doing jail time.

In a press conference, Natasha had gushed that she would mend her ways. She made a solemn vow to keep off the demon drink and drugs and was eternally grateful to her one true love, Jace. Three days later she was caught on film snorting cocaine and downing vodka shots in Vegas. Allegedly Jace had gone after her and found her in bed with two male go-go dancers. After that, their split was inevitable.

Now though Natasha was ready to settle down, with the Hollywood film star Ashley McKenzie. It was going to be the celebrity event of the year.

“I don’t bear any ill-will to Natasha,” replied Jace smoothly, following Amelia’s reasoning. “If I did I wouldn’t be offering them the use of one of my hotels for the festivities. It’s one of the shabbier ones, I grant you, but it’s the thought that counts.”

“But you want me to masquerade as your girlfriend,” Amelia countered. “Why?”

Jace shrugged his broad shoulders. “Natasha would like to believe she ripped my heart in two. It gives her tremendous satisfaction to make men suffer. I’ve been single since we split, not because I’m still not over her, but because I choose to be. However, the media and Natasha believe otherwise. It will be rather amusing to me for her to see me happy and madly in love with the girl of my dreams. I expect you to play your part well, Miss Brooks. You must convince her and the guests that you are head over heels in love with me. So, what do you say? Will you do it or not?”

It wouldn’t be too hard, Amelia mused. Her eyes lingered on the graceful curve of his neck and she imagined trailing kisses along that powerful jaw of his. A warm tingle suffused her, but she stopped herself from drifting too far away into fantasy. It seemed utterly bewildering that someone like him would be interested in her, especially after being with a flawless beauty like Natasha. In fact, it made no sense at all.

In the office he barely acknowledged her existence, while he was more than happy to chat with Sabrina, beaming at her compliments and flirting outrageously with her. Around Amelia though, he became closed off and unapproachable. He’d actually flinched a few times when he’d entered the outer office, coming on her unawares. No, she wasn’t the type of woman that would interest him. Men liked him preferred something far more glamorous. This proposition was some kind of sick joke on his part.

By rights, she should walk out there and then. She stayed where she was though, for once letting her brain make the decisions rather than her heart. So what if he was using her? If she did what he asked and carried it off, it could open up a whole vista of possibilities she couldn’t begin to imagine. Swallowing down her dignity was a small price to pay.

“It looks like I don’t have much of a choice,” she said in a reluctant voice.

“There’s no need to look so miserable about it,” Jace said sharply. The dark anger she’d seen earlier resurfaced and she went rigid in her chair. “I’m not going to chain you up inside a cave and drop rats into your hair. You’re getting a two week paid vacation at one of the most expensive weddings of the decade,” he sneered. A shadow flitted across his face. “You have more choice than you can ever begin to imagine,” he said more gently. Amelia could taste the bitterness in his tone and frowned.

“I’m very grateful, Mr. Torrent,” she said with feeling. “Don’t worry, I won’t let you down.”

Jace gave a sharp nod. He retrieved his tablet from the corner of the desk and switched it on. Amelia sat in awkward silence, unsure what to do. After a few moments Jace looked up at her and scowled.

“You can go now,” he said with an imperious wave of his hand.

Amelia bridled at the gesture but kept her cool. She’d just saved her job and was about to get the biggest career break of her whole life. She needed to remain professional and focus on playing the loving girlfriend. Her heart sank. If Jace was going to be like this for the whole two weeks, she was going to have to give an Oscar winning performance.

“Thank you, Mr. Torrent,” she said dutifully and got to her feet.

“Don’t thank me, just don’t mess this up,” Jace replied, returning his attention to his tablet. “Make sure you’re ready to leave on Friday. You’ll get an advance on your salary too. Go and buy yourself some suitable outfits. Remember, you’re going to be on show for two weeks so make sure you make a good impression.”

Amelia nodded stiffly and headed for the door. Any notion she had that he might be remotely interested in her died there and then. He was playing a bigger game and she was just a pawn. Well, if that was the case so be it. She didn’t need a man to be happy. She needed no one but herself. As she left the office, her mind raced with the implications of what she’d just agreed to. All she could do now was hope for the best and hope she did enough to please the high and mighty Jace Torrent. If nothing else, it was going to be a pretty interesting two weeks.