Chapter 4
1772 Words
Julian
I looked at her again and sure enough, it was her. And she recognised me too.
The lady at the event last night. The one who kissed me to spite Dante. She's possibly a scorned night stand, I would have said ex but Dante came with his long time girlfriend last night. I looked at her again. After her kiss and run last night, I spent time thinking about it. I should be mad, mad enough to send her out right now but I'm not. Ethan suggested finding her immediately and suing her but I guess there's no need wasting funds to find her because here she is. An intern. In my company.
I dismissed the interns immediately after giving them their orientation. Cross holdings do not play about their work and they must understand that. No laziness will be tolerated. They are lucky to be among the few selected, so they better make good use of it. They all stood up to leave.
“Miss,” I called out to the kiss and runner.
All the lady interns turned. I pointed at her, “You, wait.”
She stood still. The rest of the interns left.
“Follow me,” I ordered.
“Where?”
I turned and observed her. The audacity to still ask questions after the move she pulled last night. “To my office.”
She followed me without a word then.
I opened the door to my office and walked to my seat. She slowly walked in, obviously smitten by my office. Everyone always is. For a second, she looked like there was no one in the office with her, like she was alone and she wished it was her office. I cleared my throat. She snapped her head at me and stood straight.
“Sit down,” I ordered as I sat.
She ignored it. Isabella and Ethan walked in then.
“Hy Sierra,” Isabella said immediately. Does she know her?
The kisser smiled stiffly. “Hello.”
“If it isn't the harasser,” Ethan taunted and it seemed to piss the kisser off.
“That's a strong word to use,” she replied Ethan.
Ethan walked slowly towards her. “It's a strong word if you didn't do it. The audacity of you to waltz in here after what you did last night.”
“I didn't know this was his company. I didn't know he's Julian Cross.” she replied not intimidated by Ethan. That intrigued me.
Ethan scoffed. “Of course, you just harass random people at any event you go to.”
“No I don't. I made a mistake but you seem to be more pissed than the victim. Did I happen to kiss your lover? Jealous?”
Isabella snickers and Ethan gave her a look immediately. I cleared my throat.
“I could sue you.”
“Look, just like I said yesterday. I’m sorry, okay? It was a stupid move and I shouldn't have made it. I didn't know this is your company and I know you are going to dismiss me and I understand. I will just leave,” she ranted and turned immediately.
“If you step out of this office, the next place you will be going is a court. To defend yourself of course.” She faced me then.
“I just apologized. What else do you want from me?”
“Are you serious right now? You attacked me at an event. Forced your lips on mine and you think a simple sorry can fix that? You must be a joker.”
“No I'm not, a simple sorry might not have fixed it if you didn't kiss me back. But you did, didn't you?” She accused. Ethan and Isabella looked at me immediately.
“You kissed her back?” Ethan suddenly asked.
“Yeah he did. So you see your lover isn't exactly loyal,” she sighed then, “ look, let's just forget this ever happened okay, and in return I don't tell the world that you are gay.”
I turned sharply at her and Isabella suddenly started laughing.
“ I should record this,” Isabella said.
“I’m definitely not judging. I don't care who or what people decide to love. But you want your relationship to be private right? You forgive my kissing, I help you keep it private.”
I suddenly got angry, why would she think I'm gay. “I’m not gay. Ethan is the COO of the company.”
She gasped. “ Oh.” She looked at Ethan. “Does he know that though?”
“And what the hell does that mean?” Ethan asked, visibly pissed.
“Just asking.”
Isabella cleared her throat then.
“Look Sierra, I know that you didn't mean to cause any problems. You were probably spitting someone who hurt you but the kiss is literally everywhere. Like all over the media. Everyone wants to know who the lady that kissed the Julian Cross is and what relationship you both have.”
“It's all over the media?” She asked, suddenly scared.
“You don't have a phone?” Ethan asked back. But she ignored.
“Okay, we can ignore the media, right? Cases like this only take a few weeks and then it dies off.” she suggested.
“Well, not this case.”
“What do you mean?”
I sat up. “I have received a lot of messages from companies and corporations. Even media houses. It's not something I can avoid. I get to confirm or debunk the news, either way I won't be ignoring.”
She shrugged. “Well debunk.”
“Yeah, which is why it will come with me suing you for assault.”
She looked at me.
“Or, we confirm the news.”
Everyone looked at me.
“Excuse me?”
“Miss Sierra, you either start a fake relationship with me or face me in court,” I concluded.
“You must be joking,” Ethan said.
“Yeah, he sure is,” Sierra seconded.
“I doubt he is…” Isabella whispered.
I looked at Ethan. “We need a fake relationship for the kingwill's deal, right? Well who's better than the mystery lady I shared a kiss with last night.”
“We don't even know her, what if she's some psychopath who has a plan.”
“I doubt.”
Sierra cleared her throat. “Okay first of all, I'm still right here and secondly I'm not a psychopath and finally, No. I won't be dating you Mr Julian.”
“Fake dating,” Isabella chipped in.
Sierra glared at her. “I thought you wanted us to be friends?”
“Well, we can start from you dating my brother.”
“He's your brother?”
Isabella nodded.
“Still No.’
“You don't have a choice here, Miss Sierra.”
“Of course I do. First of all, you kissed me back. Okay? I’m not proud of what I did but you seemed to enjoy it. And secondly I’m not going to be some tool to bag a deal just because of a few seconds kiss. That's literally using me.”
“Well, see you in court then.”
“You kissed me back!”
“I guess you will tell that to the judge.”
She sighed. “You know, that's the thing with rich and influential men. Because you think you are so rich and will probably win if you drag me to court, you are using me as a tool to make more money and threatening me still.”
“No, you assaulted me. It has nothing to do with my affluence. I am giving you an option. You don't get that every time.” I placed my hands on the table. “The choice is yours, Miss Sierra.”
Everyone looked at her, something in me wishes she'd say yes. I don't know why though. Maybe because she looks like the kind who doesn't mix business with pleasure.
“It's really a good deal Sierra,” Isabella urged.
She sighed. “If I agree to date you, I have a condition.”
I scoffed. She probably wants to ask for money. Same pattern with women.
“You want me to pay you?”
She scoffed this time. “I don't need your money, and paying me isn't a bad idea by the way but that's not my condition.”
“Let's hear it.”
She pulled a chair and finally sat down.
“If I agree to date you so you bag this deal, I will intern directly under you. I will work directly under you. You will coach me yourself.”
Ethan snorted. “You do have some nerves.”
“Either that, or I'm not doing it.” She concluded.
“I don't coach interns.”
“Well not all interns are going to be dating you so you make some real cash.”
I sighed and looked at Isabella and Ethan. Isabella nodded slowly and Ethan just sighed.
“ Fine, you get to work directly under me.”
She smiled then. “Nice doing business with you Mr Julian.”
“Well it's boyfriend now,” Isabella joked. Sierra rolled her eyes.
“Don't I get to sign a contract?”
“Yeah I'll draft it out tomorrow,” Isabella replied.
“Are you his assistant?”
“Yeah, I guess we will see each other more often than we thought.”
She smiled.
“That would be all Miss Sierra, the contract will be signed tomorrow. But before then, don't get any funny ideas.” Ethan said dismissively.
Sierra stood up with a smile. “Yeah, I understand. Quick advice though? Confess your feelings faster so you know where you stand in his life.”
I snorted. Ethan stared at me.
“Have a nice day Sierra,” Isabella called out.
“Yeah, you too.” She replied as she walked out.
Silence fell in my office then.
“This is a stupid move,” Ethan finally broke the silence.
“You got any feelings to confess to me though?” I joked and it got me a hard stare.
“I hope we don't regret this,” Ethan said.
“I don't think we will,” Isabella assured.
I think I might regret it though, but not in the way they are thinking.
“Did you kiss her back though brother?” Isabella suddenly asked.
I looked at her and sighed.
- Writer
