The Dawn

Chapter 14

I stared right into the lustful eyes of Greyson's son. I didn't know what to say.

If I punched him or yelled at him then Andrew would lose the contract he'd worked so hard to get. And I wasn't on board with that idea.

But before I even had the time to react, an all-too-familiar voice interrupted us.

"Don't touch her."

I felt a hand pull me gently behind before my face met with Andrew's back.

"Mr. Jared Greyson. I don't think I allowed you to invade the private space of my assistant." He said sternly.

Jared laughed. "Oh come on, buddy. We all know it's business. Besides," he took a sip of his drink, "I think making better connections is much more beneficial to both of us."

I nearly choked.

What does he think I am?

Andrew took a deep breath and I could tell he was trying to keep his cool. "But my assistant or anyone from my company isn't available to make these kind of "better connections"."

By now, every person present in the hall had gathered around us. I nervously covered my face with the back of my hand.

Jared wasn't liking any of this either. "Listen up Jefferson. Either you allow me to have dinner with the young lady or you lose the deal."

I couldn't exactly see Andrew's face but I saw his shoulders move slightly as he drew in a sharp breath.

He's super pissed.

"I'd rather you keep your dirt within your own company, thank you very much." He grabbed my hand, the skin burning where he touched me.

My mouth dropped open.

I think I even felt a jolt up my arm.

He dragged me out of the party venue and towards the car. He pulled open the passenger car-seat door and motioned me to get in.

I stared at him for about 10 seconds before bursting out, "How could you do that?! The deal?!"

He looked at me in disbelief before slamming the door shut again and standing infront of me. "And what? Let that filthy rat take you?"

I opened my mouth to speak but Andrew angrily punched the car's hood, making me flinch. "You can't imagine how hard it was for me to control my anger back there and not rip his throat out."

My eyes fell on his fist and I panicked.

Blood.

I quickly rushed forward and grabbed it in my tiny hands. "It's bleeding! God."

I threw him an annoyed look and then looked around for a sink or something with water.

My eyes fell on the large pool beside the lawn area and I quickly dragged him there with me.

"What are you-"

"Don't say a word and follow me!" I cut him off.

I made him sit on the ground near the water and then sat next to him. Opening my purse, I pulled out a handkerchief and wet his knuckles clean of blood.

"After that hard punch, you probably put a dent on the car hood." I muttered softly.

"It doesn't matter," he mumbled.

"Would you stop saying that?!" I shouted, annoyed. "You lost the deal over this! We could've solved this some other way where you wouldn't have lost something you worked so hard to get." I was getting desperate.

It was like he didn't even realize what he'd lost.

He stared at me, his hypnotic eyes holding me in a firm trance.

"I'm not going to give you up just to keep that deal from going down the drain. I don't care about it anymore. I've lost too much over it," he gently moved a stray strand of hair from my face, making my stomach clench. "I'm not going to lose you too."

There it was again.

My heart. Being all fuzzy and suddenly beating very fast.

With Andrew's face this close to mine, with how I could easily just tilt my head forward to kiss him, I felt as if somebody had set fire to all my insides.

We were interrupted by the sound of footsteps.

Glancing up, I saw Greyson standing just a few feet away.

Andrew pulled his hand back and stood up. I got up too.

"Look, Mr. Greyson," Andrew began, shoving his hands in his pocket. "I don't think I can uphold the insult your son just did. Asking for my assistant for his personal lewd motives? I'm not that desperate."

I so wanted to tape this guy's mouth and speak for my own. He was making it all worse!

"I understand what you're saying, Mr. Jefferson," Greyson replied, in that usual mysterious manner the speaks in. "My son was out of line. I apologize to you and the young miss."

My jaw practically dropped open. He was apologizing?!

Andrew's brow furrowed but he allowed Greyson to continue.

"I do not want the new relationship we've just built to be affected because of it. I know you are a capable man and I will adhere to whatever compensation you ask," the last part was directed at me.

My mouth opened and closes like a fish. I had not expected him to admit his son's fault like that. My face grew slightly hot as both men stared at me, waiting for an answer.

"N-no it's okay," I mumbled shyly, pushing my hair behind my ear.

Andrew and Greyson wrapped up the rest of the conversation and we left to sit inside the car. My heart clenched at the dent Andrew had punched into it.

"You still shouldn't have done that," I mumbled, fastening my seatbelt.

Andrew grunted in response and put the car into drive. I told him to drop me off at Devon's since I was having dinner with them and V.

As the car pulled outside my sister's front door, I unbuckled the belt and turned towards him.

"Thank you," I began, a little hesitant because I'd been telling him he'd been stupid for most of the ride.

He looked at me with a blank expression. "No problem."

I opened the car door, wanting to say more but not finding the words and Devon walked outside, carrying Hailey in his arms.

"Hailey!" I exclaimed happily, stretching out my arms. Devon handed her to me and made his way over to Andrew.

"Hi baby! Hi baby!" I cooed, bouncing her up and down. She was such a cute kid! She gave me a gummy smile and I kissed her cheek.

I turned to look at Devon but he was still talking to Andrew so I carried the girl inside. Andrea was busy setting the table when she saw me and burst into a smile.

"Sis!" I walked over to her and she gave me side hug.

"How are you?"

"I'm good. What's for dinner?" I asked.

"A lot of stuff. Here," she offered her arms and took Hailey from me. "Go on and freshen up. I'll be done by the time you come back."

I nodded and headed to the bathroom under the stairs. As I washed my hands, my eyes fell on my reflection in the mirror. How I was still dolled up. And then I remembered how Andrew had come to my defence earlier and the little moment we had by the swimming pool.

My heart beat increased as I remembered his words. As I felt his touch on my face. A noise outside brought me back to reality and I closed off the water. My cheeks tinged pink as I used the towel to clean my hands.

You cannot fall for anybody Ria. Come back to reality. You must not go down that lane.

I stepped outside and walked into the dining room, only to spot Andrew sitting with my sister and Devon. Andrea turned to me and smiled.

"You're out! Come on. Have dinner."

V came in fifteen minutes later. I kept throwing secret glances at Andrew and he caught me a few times but never said anything. My heart beat never slowed down.

I closed my eyes.

I can't fall for him.

******

I walked out of my office, carrying the important documents required for the new deal we'd just sealed about a week ago though it almost flunked because of me.

I knocked on Andrew's and he called me in. Ever since that party, I thought he'd give me a harder time but he didn't. Instead, he was quieter around me. More than usual.

When I heard him say come in, I pushed the door open and stepped inside. He was sitting behind his desk, looking hot as usual. He looked up.

"Here are the documents you'll be needing for today's meeting," I said, placing the files down on his desk.

He nodded, picking them up and flipping through them. My eyes wandered over his handsome features.

He was so beautiful! And a little nice too. Maybe I could tolerate him after all.

Greyson and his men arrived around six and Andrew took them in for a meeting. After he was done and the construction dates and budget had been set, I breathed a sigh of relief.

It was 8 in the evening now and we were the only ones left behind since everybody had left. As I closed the door to my office, I yawned. It really was hectic working all day to make a couple of people happy.

I turned around and gasped. Andrew was standing right there, in all his glory. He'd just walked out of his office too.

Seeing me get scared, he smirked. "You okay?"

I nodded, straightening up. I had been kneeling against the door frame. "I'm fine."

We rode the elevator down in complete silence. I didn't feel really uncomfortable because he'd been riding it with. Had I been alone, that would've been a problem for me.

As he stood beside me, my body tingled and my heart fluttered. I wanted to ask him out for dinner or lunch or something.

Anything.

The doors dinged open and we stepped out into the hallway. Half way down, I mustered up the courage and called out his name.

"Mr. Andrew."

He stopped and turned to look at me, his eyebrows knotted in confusion.

"I uh- wanted to ask you something," I managed to squeeze out nervously.

"Alright. You can ask me on the way back home," he stated simply.

I frowned. "Way back?"

"I'll drop you off," he said it as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. As if the words just fit right.

A slight blush creeped onto my face as I thought of it. So many other employees worked lated but I've never heard any of them getting a ride by the boss. This was so cool.

"Hello? Ria?"

His voice snapped me out of the imaginative world I'd entered and I quickly cleared my throat.

"I'm okay. I guess I'll say it in the car then."

He turned around and I exhaled, quickly catching upto him.

"You know, you're really impressive," he suddenly spoke, his deep voice cutting through the silence.

"I am? How so?" I asked, both surprised and fuzzy.

"I didn't think you'd be able to go through my hellish week of impossible chores but you did it," he stopped walking, turning slightly to look at me.

Even in the dimly lit hallway, I could spot his features. They looked so soft.

"You didn't think I could?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Well, not really. But when you schooled me at that bakery in front of all those people," I blushed as the memory played before my eyes. "I knew you had something in you."

His eyes peered into mine, holding them in place. I was finding it so hard to look away from his face. And the intensity, oh boy I could feel it to my bones.

I do like him. And it seems like I really, really like him.

Before I could say another word though, a new voice screeched and echoed off the walls of the empty hall.

"Andrew! Where have you been?!"

It was Carmen. I watched in astonishment as she stormed inside, her high heels ticking against the tiled floor. She was dressed pretty scantily, with a short, tight and strapless pink dress on that clung to her like second skin. The woman had huge, plump breats which made my small ones feel even more tiny. Her curves were all bulging and the dress looked like it could barely hold them together.

Maybe she wore her younger sister's dress by accident?

I heard Andrew groan and he ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

She screeched to a stop and waved her mobile phone in front of his face. "I called you 37 times. Where have you been?"

"Busy," was his short reply.

I frowned. Why did she keep badgering him with questions that had nothing to do with her?

"I want to talk to you honey," her tone sounded sickeningly sweet. "Just a few minutes, please."

Andrew rolled his eyes and stared at her. She didn't back down instead stepped closer to him, pressing her body against his.

"It won't take long I promise," her voice was now seductively low as her long painted fingernail trailed across his chest.

I clenched my jaw. I had this weird urge to rip out all her hair and toss her plump body into a river. It was obvious Andrew had nothing to do with her. Why the heck did she keep bothering him?

I charged at her, ready to slit her throat but Andrew's words made me stop before I'd even taken a step.

"Fine," then he turned to me. "You may go ahead."

My mouth practically dropped open as I stared at his face. He really was going to go with her?

"W-what about me?" I muttered.

"You heard the man. Be on your way," Carmen butted in.

I stared at Andrew for a couple of seconds. Didn't he take this as a moment? Doesn't he feel what I felt?

I adjusted the strap of my bag on my shoulder before storming out, not bothering to look back again.