The Mafia Lord's Vengeance

Chapter Four: Jason Ford

VALERIE's POV

I waved hello to the security guard that stood beside the automatic door for me and tried not to break my ankle in my black stilettos as I walked towards the receptionist.

“Hello, Valerie Taylor reporting for work.” I announced with a smile at the pretty receptionist -Bella- who returned my smile.

“Hello Valerie, you are officially welcome to the empire.” She dropped a work tag that held my name and picture in my palm.

I almost squealed in joy before I remembered that I had to look as professional as I could.

I managed to keep that polite smile on my face as I thanked her and headed towards the elevator, without allowing myself to think too much about the fact that I was going up to the fourth floor.

To the boss.

JASON's POV

I sighed deeply through my nose as I scanned through the red file on my desk, a pending case that was sure to give whoever I assigned to it a somewhat hard time.

A son murdered his own mother in cold blood, wrote his name in her blood on a wall and then went ahead to the police station crying that someone had murdered his mother.

That part was not the confusing part, no. The confusing part was the hard drive that the son submitted to the police officers in the station as evidence of his mother’s murder. The hard drive contained a very detailed, very gruesome video of how the son beat and murdered his own mother and then proceeded to design his name in her blood on the wall in big, bold letters.

I sighed again, running my hands through my hair. I knew Kayden approved of this case, because I would not if I had seen it before it got to Kayden. Our reputation as the best law firm in the country was at stake if we somehow did not get the case right. Obviously, my friend did not get the memo.

I scrubbed my hands through my face, about to read even more intently - in case I saw any loopholes in the case that might help us - when a tentative knock sounded on the door.

I paused, frowning. Was I supposed to entertain visitors this morning?

Then, that knock again, this time even more tentative.

“Come in.” I called out, wondering who it could be.

I turned back to the headache-prone file in my hand when I heard the door open and close softly.

Then, the scent invaded my senses and I almost groaned at the sultry feel of it.

Orange blossom. That was what it was.

“Good morning, Mr Ford.” Came the soft voice that accompanied the scent and I looked up.

WHOA

Yep, that was all my mind could come up with. It's really creative if you ask me.

I stared at the goddess standing in front of me, hoping to take in everything about her in one sweep of my look.

Strawberry blond hair that seemed to shimmer in the light, light brown eyes that housed a dancing twinkle and intrigue, a straight small nose and her lips —

God! Her lips! A sensuous, bow carved, pink and soft looking lips.

I could kiss those lips forever, my mind informed me.

She wore a baby blue blouse that seemed to accentuate the sexy slit of her eyes and pop the colors even more and a black skirt that hugged her flaring hips so tight and so well.

I tried not to be too obvious as I looked down at the teasing skin of her creamy, long legs that showed through the slit of her skirt. Oh god, save me now.

Then her f**k ME heels, okay no, it was just a normal formal pair of heels but it screamed f**k ME nonetheless on her, or my mind seemed to be stuck up on the words anyway. I had a feeling she could wear a garbage bag and it would still find a way to scream f**k me.

The lady was an art of sexy, sassy work.

And the lady was shifting slightly on her toes, her fingers clutching her bag so hard that her knuckles turned white. Her face looked like she would turn on her heels anytime soon and bolt.

The lady was agitated because I was a bastard that was ogling her and not answering her.

Well, f**k. Way to go CEO, way to go.

I cleared my throat, hoping I did not look like the pervert I was sure I felt like.

“I am so sorry ma’am, good morning.” She gave a tentative smile in reply, still clutching that bag like it was the only thing holding her firm and standing. “How may I help you?” I asked with a smile, hoping to calm her nerves.

“Oh, my name is Valerie Taylor, Mr Ford.” A pause, then she rushed to add, “I am to resume work today as your secretary.”

Wow, this was the Valerie Taylor?? This beauty with that brain?? Complete package if you ask me.

I think I fell more in love.

Wait, did I say love??

Was that it then? What do they call love at first sight?

“Oh hello Miss Taylor, forgive me, I seemed to forget that you were to resume today,” I gestured towards the chair in front of my table. “Please take a seat.”

Valerie muttered a thank you and quickly sat in the chair and then tried to subtly wipe her sweaty hands on her skirt.

“I am sure that Mr Denly has gotten to know you but, if you do not mind, I would like to know my new secretary before we proceed.” I smiled, trying to convey that I would not bite, unless she asked me to and she would love my bite anyway.

“My name is Valerie Taylor and I am an intern from the University of California, I have first class honors and -“

I chuckled silently at her rambling and she shut her mouth so abruptly as if she just ordered herself to shut it.

“I know all this, Miss Taylor —“

“Just Valerie.” She cut in, then cringed to interrupt before mumbling, “Just call me Valerie, please.”

“Valerie,” I grinned, “I would love to know you personally. It is only fair if you are going to be my secretary, isn’t it?”

“Oh yes, sure.” She bit her lip, sorting through private information and not so private information in her mind.

I gripped the edge of my table, my breath hitching. Did she not know what she was doing? How sexy and sensuous every of her moves seemed to be??

“My name is Valerie, my friends call me Val and I am an only child. I lost my mother some years ago, so it is just I and my dad.” She seemed to tick the information in her head as she said it out loud. “I love the idea of helping people get justice and it is a very great honor working here as your secretary, Mr Ford.”

“Jason, please, call me Jason.” When her confused gaze swung up to meet mine, I quickly clarified. “Mr Ford is my dad, and I am definitely not in my seventies, yet.”

She gave a smiling chuckle and I was glad I could get her to loosen up a bit. “Of course.”

Call my name, call it, say Jason. My mind chanted but, she just blushed and docked her head.

“You are welcome to the LA empire, Valerie, Mr Denly spoke well about you and your file spoke volumes about you as well. I hope you will gift us with your brilliance during the time you spend here.” I shook her hand, trying not to think too much about the soft, warm skin that met my hard, calloused ones. “And if you manage to blow our minds, we would definitely think of a more permanent, more suitable position for you here at LA empire.”

“Thank you so much, sir.” Her smile was blinding.

“Jason, I corrected.”

“Thank you so much, Jason.”

My heart skipped a bit as I leaned back in my chair.

“Since you are relatively new to this and today is your first day, I will brief you on what your job entails.”

I gathered the blue files on my desk and handed them to her. “These contain a list of all our best lawyers and clients, do well to memorize them. Also, all calls to me will be through you first, then you can direct them to me if I want to take the call.”

“You also schedule my week. I always leave Thursdays out, every other day is office day for me.” I handed her the schedule sample my former secretary used.

“Any new case is to be piled up during the week and submitted to me on Fridays for cross checking and you should do well to know the offices of the lawyers so you can hand them their cases when I assign such to them.”

I watched her nod. “Any questions?” I asked.

“Will I receive both your personal and formal calls?” She asked. c*****g her head to the side slightly.

Smart girl. “Yes, you will. Most of the time, I am crazy busy so I would need you to be able to send only the important calls to me. Can you do all that?”

“Definitely,” She responded confidently.