HER ONLY EXCEPTION

Chapter 9- I WANT YOU CLOSE

In the afternoon, Henry had back-to-back meetings. The last one was a department presentation on Q4 projections, normally something he'd send Marcus to handle. But when he saw Andrea's name on the attendee list, he cleared his schedule.

He told himself it was because he wanted to see how she handled herself in a corporate setting but that was a lie.

The conference room was packed when Henry walked in at 2:48 PM. Conversations died instantly and people straightened in their seats quickly.

Henry didn't acknowledge anyone just moved straight to the head of the table and sat down, his expression unreadable.

"You can continue," he said.

Robert Harrington, the senior manager running the presentation nodded quickly "of course, Mr. Moore."

Henry's gaze swept the room and landed on Andrea.

She was sitting near the middle of the table, a folder open in front of her and pen in hand. She looked professional, focused and completely unaware that he was watching her.

Harrington launched into the presentation, pulling up slides on the projector screen.

Henry should've been paying attention, but he wasn't.

His eyes stayed on Andrea.

He noticed her tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, the way she bit her lower lip slightly when she was reading through the files and even how her blouse fit just tight enough that he could see the curve of her boobs…

“Focus..focus”

Henry forced his gaze back to the screen.

Harrington droned on about revenue growth and market trends, numbers flashed across the slides. Someone asked a question about investor relations.

And Henry's mind drifted again.

The conference room was gone, door locked and lights low. Only the two of them remained.

Andrea sat perched on the edge of the long mahogany table her navy skirt already shoved high on her thighs and legs parted just enough to make his pulse spike.

She gripped the table’s edge, knuckles white as her chin lifted in that stubborn, defiant way he was learning to crave.

“You shouldn’t be looking at me like that,” she whispered, voice unsteady. “I’m not one of your toys, Henry.”

He stepped between her knees anyway, close enough that his trousers brushed her bare skin. “Then why haven’t you closed your legs?”

Her breath hitched, she hated that he was right.

His hands hovered at her waist first never quite touching then slowly skimmed down to grip her hips, thumbs pressing into the soft flesh just above the hem of her skirt.

The touch was possessive and controlling. He felt her tremble under the light pressure and it made him harder.

He leaned in as his lips brushed the side of her neck slowly and deliberately, tasting the frantic beat of her pulse.

Andrea’s head tilted away on instinct, but her body arched toward him. He smiled against her skin.

“We should stop…” she breathed, even as her fingers curled into his suit jacket. but he didn’t. His mouth trailed lower along her collarbone, teeth grazing lightly.

And with one sharp tug he ripped her blouse open, buttons scattering across the table like tiny accusations. The lace of her bra came into view, her breasts rising fast with every shallow breath.

Andrea’s eyes flashed with anger and something far darker. “You think you can just take whatever you want?”

“I think,” he murmured, voice rough, “you’re dying for me to.”

He dipped his head in and pressed an open-mouthed kiss to the swell of her breast, right above the lace. His tongue traced the edge teasing and tasting.

She gasped, back arching while pushing herself closer despite the protest still trembling on her lips.

His right hand slid from her hip and fingers drifted inward hovering over the damp heat between her thighs. He could feel the warmth radiating through the thin lace. One slow stroke of his fingertips along the seam of her panties and her hips jerked forward, chasing the touch she refused to beg for.

He passed his hands across her clits and groaned "f**k, you're soaking wet for a guy you claim you hate"

Henry dropped to one knee, his eyes locked on hers while daring her to stop him.

He hooked the lace panties aside and spread her legs wider as he tried to....

"Mr. Moore?... Mr Moore?"

Henry blinked.

The entire room was staring at him.

Harrington looked nervous. "I…I asked if you had any thoughts on the revised projections?"

He glanced down at the presentation notes in front of him, his mind scrambling to catch up.

"The projections are conservative," he said evenly, his voice giving nothing away. "Push the team harder. I want fifteen percent growth, not ten."

Harrington nodded quickly. "Yes, sir. Absolutely."

Henry leaned back in his chair, forcing himself to focus but his gaze drifted back to Andrea. His c*ck was so hard that he had to drag his chair in a little, so nobody could see him in that state.

This time, she was looking back at him, their eyes met across the table.

Andrea's expression flickered just for a second before she looked away, her cheeks flushing slightly.

She knew what exactly he was thinking about “he's probably undressed and f*cked me with those wild eyes that has refuse to stop looking at me seductively but that's all he's going to get because I'm not ready to give in.”

Henry let out a faint smirk. The meeting wrapped up twenty minutes later.

People filed out of the conference room quickly, eager to escape Henry's presence.

Andrea gathered her folder and stood, avoiding his gaze. Henry watched her leave didn't bother to stop her or call her back.

Then he pulled out his phone and typed a message to HR.

“Transfer Andrea Collins to my office. Effective immediately. She's my new personal assistant.”

He hesitated for only a moment before hitting send. This was a bad idea, Henry knew it but he didn't care, all he wanted was to get Andrea closer to him.

By 4:10 PM, the news had spread across the office like wildfire, the entire office was buzzing.

"Did you hear?"

"No way."

"He's never done that before."

Andrea was at her desk, finishing up a report, when Rachel leaned over.

"Andrea," she whispered urgently. "People are talking."

Andrea glanced up. "Well, people always talk…what are they talking about now?"

"About you."

Her hands paused on the keyboard immediately looking at Rachel with wide eyes "What about me?"

"Apparently Henry Moore is transferring someone to be his new personal assistant." Rachel whispered "...and people are saying it's you."

Andrea's heart missed a beat "That's ridiculous," she said quickly. "Why would anyone think that?"

"I don't know, but…"

Andrea's computer pinged with an email notification.

She clicked on it, her hands suddenly turned cold.

FROM: Human Resources

TO: Andrea Collins

SUBJECT: Department Transfer – Effective Immediately

Dear Ms. Collins,

Effective today, you are being transferred from the Data Analysis department to the Executive Office as Personal Assistant to CEO Henry Moore. Please report to the 50th floor at 8:30 AM tomorrow. Your belongings will be moved to your new workspace by the end of the day.

If you have any questions, please contact HR.

Best regards,

Crestview Holdings HR Department

Andrea stared at the screen, her pulse roaring in her ears.

“No, no…this couldn't be happening.”

"Andrea?" Rachel's voice sounded far away. "You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Andrea couldn't answer because the words on the screen weren't making sense.

Personal Assistant to CEO Henry Moore. Effective immediately.

The shock wore off quickly, replaced by something hotter and sharper. Anger.

“He did this on purpose”

Henry Moore had just transferred her to work directly under him like she was a chess piece he could move wherever he wanted.

Andrea stood abruptly. "I need to go to HR."

Rachel blinked. "What? Why?"

"This is a mistake." But even as she said it, Andrea knew it wasn't. Henry Moore didn't make mistakes. He made moves.

She walked through the office with her heels clicking against the floor and immediately felt every pair of eyes on her. People stopped typing, stopped talking and turned to watch her pass.

"That's her," someone whispered.

"How did she manage that?"

"It must be nice having connections."

She kept her spine straight and her expression neutral, but she heard the implication loud and clear. “What did you do to get his attention?”

By the time she reached HR on the third floor, her chest was tight with fury but the office was locked.

The office hours were between 9 AM - 5PM, it was just 4:37 PM and they've closed?

Andrea tried the handle anyway, still locked. She pressed her forehead against the cool glass and let out a sharp breath. Even if HR had been open, what would she say? “I don't want this job because my boss tried to kiss and touch me and I slapped him?”

That wouldn't go over well.

Andrea stepped back, her hands shaking. She had two choices now: quit or face him.

Quitting would be easy. But it meant she would have to go out searching for a high paying job again and her rent for the month is almost due. Mr Rossi didn’t like excuses, he'll just pack her bags out without showing a little pity.

It also meant he'd won and gotten exactly what he wanted; her gone, no longer a problem.

And Andrea Collins did not run or lose and sure as hell wasn't going to run from some arrogant billionaire who thinks he could control her.

Andrea straightened, her jaw setting.

“Fine. If Henry Moore wants me as his assistant, so be it. I'll show up tomorrow at 8:30 AM exactly to do my job, and do it well. And I'll make damn sure he regrets ever thinking he could manipulate me.”

Andrea turned and walked back to the elevators, head high. Tomorrow, Henry Moore was going to learn exactly what kind of woman he'd just trapped himself with.