Billionaire's Obsessed love

Chapter 2

“Of course,” I agree, not looking at the man who I feel is about to ruin everything for me. How old is he anyway? He couldn’t be older than early thirties. How is he able to afford buying this company at such a young age.

“I’ve to get back to my desk,” I announce, then for the first time since finding out I would be working for him, I turn to my new boss. No, not new boss yet. Mr. Cather did say tomorrow.

“Nice to meet you Mr. Daniel,” I tell him with a tight smile.

“The pleasure was all mine, Miss Amelia stone."

The way he says my name sends a shiver down my spine. Our eyes meet and the air is sucked out of my lungs. This man has the potential to be dangerous. I can see it in the depth of those icy blue eyes. Those cynically, cold blue eyes. How could a man who appears so stoic cause the warmth pooling into my belly?

With another nod, I hurry from the office, knowing he is still observing me. The walk from the office has never seemed longer on trembling legs. When I am finally on the other side of the closed door, I lean heavily against it and my body sags.

The shrill ringing of the phone on my desk startles me and I nearly jump out of my skin. My elbow hits into the door at my back and I move away as though burnt. Damn. Now they would know I had still been standing at the door after leaving.

“Get a grip, Daniel,” I caution myself. “Daniel Lucas will be your new boss. Get over it already. What do you think is going to happen?”

 “Mr. Cather’s office, how may I assist?” I answer the phone and sat heavily onto my chair. Time to get back into work mode.

“Hey Daniel, it’s Emily,” the receptionist at front desk responds.

“Hey Emily, you’re not calling that you’re going into labor, are you?” I ask jokingly.

“Don’t I wish,” she replies. “Not this time. Some mail just arrived for Mr. Cather. Can you be a dear and get them for me please. I’d ask Nevin but he’s on lunch.”

“No problem. I’ll be there in a bit.”

“Thanks, Amelia. You’re an angel.”

After hanging up, I power on my computer, giving it some time to warm up while I get the mails from Emily. I am waiting at the elevator when Mr. Daniel and Mr. Cather walk out of the office.

“Oh crap,” I mutter and hit the button over and over again as though that would make the elevator appear faster. I would not ride the elevator with that man!

Ding! Yes, now to get in and hit the button for the first floor before…

“Amelia, hold the elevator for Mr. Daniel, will you?”

For a second I contemplate acting as though I didn’t hear him but I make the mistake of looking up at them. No way out of this one. I press the hold button and watch both men shake hands.

Mr. Daniel steps confidently towards the elevator and I shuffle to the back in one corner as far away from him as possible. My heart thump wildly in my chest and although I try to avoid looking at him, my eyes keep flickering to him, drawn to him by some inexplicable reason. It couldn’t be that I am attracted to the man. Men like him scare me. I always envision myself in the future with a gentle, kind man. Not someone who makes me feel intimidated as this man does. He is arrogant.

Without warning, he presses the emergency stop button on the elevator. What the hell? Doesn’t he know that would alert emergency response?

“What are you—?” my question ended in a gasp when his long strides bring him over to me and he is close. Way too close. I am running out of oxygen which causes my breathing to turn shallow. Good God was that my heart beating?

“I can’t wait to see if you’re the saint Cather makes you out to be,” he says gruffly, raising a hand to my cheek.

I flinch at first believing he is about to strike me but he only strokes my cheek with the back of his hand gently.

“You’re afraid of me, aren’t you?” he asks softly but I know better than to ignore the steel in his tone.

“I- I’m not,” I croak out, hating myself for the way my voice trembles.

The gentle caress of his hand turns rough as he grips my jaw. I want to say his grip hurt but it doesn’t at all. He holds me firmly enough for me to know I wouldn’t be getting out of his hold if he doesn’t wish it. Still, I could feel the power and strength in him.

“You should be afraid,” he cautions. “Be very afraid. I expect nothing but the best from you. Thanks to your boss who extolls your finer attributed greatly, I expect the same quality work and if you can’t deliver… well, you get my drift.”

A voice comes over the intercom. “Is anyone there? We’ve a report the elevator isn’t moving.”

Mr. Cather lets go of my jaw and move over to the buttons to respond. “The elevator is fine,” he announces and release the button for the elevator to continue its short descent.

I breathe a sigh of relief when the doors open but huddle in my corner, waiting for him to step out first. I could still feel the impression of his hand on my cheek, my nostrils plugged with his natural musky scent mingled with his cologne.

“I expect to see you at six tomorrow Amelia.”

“Six?” I echo. Work didn’t begin until seven.

“Yes, at six.” He turns slightly to the left so he could look back at me. “One more thing, you’ll find I’m not so easily please as Cather obviously is.”

He gives my body a once over and smirks before stepping out of the elevator. Confused, I rush towards through the doors before the elevator could close with me inside. What is wrong with that man? Am I going to have to work with a lunatic? Why had he grabbed my chin like that? Doesn’t he know anything about personal space because he’d invaded mine and without my permission. Is this what I will have to deal with working for him? Because this isn’t what I’d signed up for when I decided to work at Cather.

“Are you okay?” Emily asks in concern when I got to her desk. “Word has it you were stuck in the elevator.”

 “I- I’m fine,” I respond which is a complete lie.

“Although who wouldn’t want to be stuck in an elevator with a man like that?” she gushes. “Talk about yum. Even at thirty-eight weeks pregnant, I can appreciate a man like that.”

“You know him?” I fish for information, taking the letters and package she hands over to me.

“I’m surprised you don’t,” she replied. “But then, you’re not originally from Michigan, are you?”

“No, I’m not. And Mr. Daniel?” I press.

“Only the most sought after bachelor in Michigan. Did I mention he is a billionaire? You should see the women he usually goes out with. If you open any society page, I’m telling you, there’s a photo of Daniel Lucas.”

The society pages? No wonder I don’t know him. I don’t usually read that trash. I want to pry and find out as much as I can about the ma Daniel Lucas but I don’t dare to bring it up more and raise Emily’s suspicion. Not that there is anything to be suspicious about.

“I wonder what he was doing here,” Emily muses aloud. “Do you know?” Then she gasps. “He’s not taking over Cather’s, is he? Because he’s famous for that you know? Taking over small companies and up scaling it and its profits. They say he has the golden touch and I’m inclined to agree.”

The dreamy look on her face leaves little to the imagination as to what she means by Mr. Daniel’s golden touch. Someone must be spreading rumors because his grip of my jaw in the elevator, that had been no golden touch. It was the very opposite.

“I’m sure Mr. Cather will announce if such a thing is happening,” I hedge. “Gotta run.”

I start to head for the elevator then take a detour to the stairs, walking the three flights. After almost being assaulted by that man and for no reason at all, I am not ready to face the elevator so soon.

After opening the mails, I bring them in a pile to Mr. Cather’s office for him to tend to them.

“I suppose this is the last time I’ll be getting my mails here,” he announces with a sad smile. “I’ll leave a forward address with you Amelia and if it’s not too much trouble, could you forward any personal mails to me?”

“Sure will Mr. Cather.”

I am almost at the door leaving when his voice stops me in my tracks.

“Amelia,” he said almost hesitantly.

“Yes sir?”

“You may find Mr. Daniel to be different in his approach from me,” he states plainly. “He is a most unorthodox man but he has a record for turning profits. You’ll be working for a very big publishing house soon. If anyone can turn this place around, he can.”

Hmm, why do I have a feeling there is much more he wants to say that he isn’t?

“Okay.”

“And, he’s asked about you.”

So that is it. “Me? Why?”

He retreats looking almost regretful that he has said anything. “Ah it’s nothing I suppose. Just a man ensuring he knows his new staff.”

“Mr. Cather,” I respond in concern. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

He shakes his head in denial. “Everything is fine, Amelia. Mr. Daniel will take care of everything.”

Including me? I shiver remembering how he invaded my space, remembering his breath hot on my cheek with him standing so close to me. For the rest of the day, I work quietly, my mind occupied with some serious thoughts. Thoughts of handing in my resignation. But should I allow the actions of one man to force me out of a job? But Daniel Lucas isn’t your average man and I’d rather have peace of mind than being in a job and miserable.

Mr. Cather calls a meeting at four and informs the staff it is his last day. I knew when he did there would be waterworks. He is an amazing boss, the type who remembers everyone’s birthday and buys them presents. After the meeting, everyone files out in a somber mood, kind of the way I feel.