The Billionaire and the Baker

Chapter 9

The ride to his office wasn't as quiet and awkward as I expected. It was rather jovial and chatty. Miss Gabriella went on and on about how little Ella loved her birthday cake and how her brother Martin loved it as well. I know, I also didn't take him for a cake lover.

Really, that’s what you’re focused on?

The fact that they were siblings really threw me of balance. They were the exact opposite of each other. She was nice and bubbly while he was...

My train of thoughts were interrupted as the car came to a sudden halt. Miss Gabriella pulled over in front of a dangerously tall building. M.R Aviation written boldly above it.

"We're here." She beamed.

I looked at her. "He works here?" I asked glancing back at the building.

"He owns the place." She replied with a smile plastered on her face. I was about to say something else but she knew and answered before I could even ask.

"Finding him won't be that hard. Here have this." She said going through her glove compartment and handing me a brooch. Like a star with an abbreviation on it.

"What's this?" I asked

"Just pin it right on your gown and it'll take you right to him." She answered.

Was it some kind of magical brooch or something?

I looked at her once more before nodding and stepping out of the car. I thanked her for the ride and turned to walk into the building as she drove off. I pinned the brooch on my gown like she instructed and made my way in.

There were a few people at the reception walking around. They all looked so formal, busy with one thing or the order and it made me feel a bit out of place.

Just focus on what you came to do Mavis.

I approached a young lady behind the counter. She had her blonde hair up in a bun and her red lipstick applied perfectly on her lips.

"Good day." I greeted

"Hello and welcome to M.R Aviation. How may I help you?" She asked smiling.

"I'd like to see Mr. Martin Rodriguez." I answered watching her smile drop a bit.

"You'd have to talk to his secretary then." She replied

"Twenty fifth floor, the lift is that way." She pointed to a lift to the right of her desk.

"Thank you." I smiled before approaching the lift. I pushed the button and the door dinged open. I walked in pushed the button with twenty five inscribed on it and waited. Not long after, the doors dinged open once more and I stepped into a lobby. The first thing I noticed was another lady behind a desk and she seemed to be on the phone with someone.

"Yes, I'll make sure to inform him."

"He's currently in a meeting right now... yes... have a nice day." She ended the call before finally looking up.

"M.R Aviation, how may I help you?" She asked smiling briefly. Her eyes flickering between mine and her computer.

"I'd like to see your boss, Mr. Martin."

"Do you have an appointment?" She asked now fully looking at a computer before her, typing away furiously.

"No, I'd just like to have a word with him." I explained

"Well I'm sorry but yo-" she looked up to say but paused, staring quizzically. I followed her gaze and noticed it was fixed on the brooch on my dress.

"Right this way ma'am." She smiled ever so lightly leading me down a hallway.

What just happened?

She lead me down a hallway with a few doors all of them looking similar but I noticed the one at the end of the hallway which looked quite different. Very different in-fact. We came to a stop at the door and she opened it escorting me in. My mouth probably hung open at the sight before me. I felt like Mia, gawking at the place like that.

The placed literally screamed expensive from the all black furnitures to the white walls and decors and not to mention the view of New York City right behind his desk.

"You can wait here. Mr. Rodriguez will be with you shortly." His secretary said before leaving me in the huge office. I looked at the brooch once more and couldn't help but wonder what had happened. I walked around slowly looking at the place in awe. I had never actually been to an office like this. I noticed a few awards that hung on the wall and took a few minutes to read them.

"AAC COMPANY OF THE YEAR AWARD."

"BUSINESS MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD."

"NEW YORK CITY INNOVATION AWARDS."

"INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AWARDS."

"YOUNGEST BUSINESS MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD."

Did he really win all of this?

I was quite caught up in my thoughts, that I had failed to notice I was no longer alone in the office until I heard his voice.

"Miss Parker." He called.

I turned around quickly to face him. "Mr. Rodriguez." I replied. He seemed quite taken aback by my reply but maintained his composure all the same.

"To what do I owe this visit?" He asked taking a seat in his chair but I could tell his eyes were focused on something else.

"I'm here to give you this." I said pulling out an envelope from my purse with exactly two thousand one hundred dollars in it. It was part of the money I had saved for the apartments rent but I could figure a way out of that one. I handed it to him and he opened the envelope

"This isn't necessary." He replied closing the envelope and sliding it back to me on the table.

"I insist. You helped me and I am grateful but I don't need your charity."I stated. He didn't reply, rather he sat there, staring at me, a smile playing at the corner of his lips. After what seemed like forever, he decided to speak up.

"But..." he continued but I interrupted him.

"I am perfectly capable of paying my own bills." I stated and without another word from him, I turned to leave.

Martin’s POV:

I watched Mavis quizzically as she amused me. I couldn't help the smile on my face.

She’s quite feisty.

But something else caught my attention. The family heirloom on her gown. I watched her leave my office and then my eyes fell on the envelope of money on my table. I reached for the intercom and called Stella.

"Yes sir, you sent for me." She said, walking in.

I pointed over to the envelope on my desk. "Give this to charity. Some orphanage or something."

She walked over to my desk and took the envelope with her before leaving the office. My phones ringtone echoed in the office immediately after. I glanced at the caller ID. Gabriella.

“Was Mavis able to return it?” She asked the moment I answered the call.

“I figured it was you. You gave her a family heirloom.”

“That was the only way she could have gotten in and you know it.”

True.

A few seconds of silence passed and I cleared my throat. “Did um.. did Mavis tell you what she came to give to me?”

“No. All she said was that she had something that belonged to you and she needed to return it. Is something wrong?” She asked

“No, no. Everything’s fine. I’ll see you later.” I replied before cutting the call.

The more time I got to spend around that Mavis girl, the more smitten I became with her. Maybe it was just in my head. A mere infatuation or maybe it was the fact that she wasn’t throwing herself at me. F**k she even slapped me and instead of anger, I felt remorse. I quickly stood up and walked over to a cabinet in my office and pulled out a bottle of whiskey. I poured in a considerable amount into an empty glass cup and downed it in one gulp.

All I could see were her blue eyes. From the first day we met to the day outside her store when she slapped me..they held so much pain. And there was the day when she was getting mugged, they held fear and I f**king felt it. When she laid there on the floor in her own blood.

I was drowning in my newly found obsession when the door to my office opened. I looked back to see Marco. He threw himself on the couch and stared at me.

“Drinking in the office? Really? What’s going on?”

“I’m just stressed.”

“Really? Because I just saw that girl..um.. Mavis. She just left.” He replied and I laughed

“Are you alright man?”

I placed the bottle of whiskey and cup back in the cabinet and made my way over to my desk. “I’m fine. I just need to clear my head so I’m leaving for the day. Tell Stella to cancel any other meetings for today.” I said grabbing my phone and keys.

“I’ll see you later.” I tapped Marco’s shoulders before leaving the office. I needed to get Mavis out of my head. Fast!

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