The Mafia Lord's Vengeance

Chapter Seven: Budding Feelings

VALERIE

“Yes, Sir.” I mumbled into the phone stuck between my ear and my shoulder while I sorted some files, preparing to send them into Jason’s office. “I will take a message for you and he is going to call you back once he gets here.”

He thanked me and I dropped the call, then I stood up, taking with me the files to place on Jason’s table, when I heard a disembodied voice say, “Looking for me?”

My heart almost flew into my mouth as I squealed mid turn, the files formerly in my hands now raining down my head.

I met Jason’s amused face with mine, cringing.

“I am so sorry!” I muttered, mortified as I knelt down to start picking the files, definitely not a professional or even girly figure.

“Oh God.” I heard him mutter.

I cringed again. Was he going to fire me now? First, I called his lover a b***h, and now I am not remotely professional.

I really was not like this on a normal day. I wanted to tell him but I figured that would be even more non-professional and so I just bit down hard on my lips, picking up the files in shame till Jason Ford knelt down in his extremely expensive suit. He dropped the package of coffee he held and picked up the files with me.

I was probably staring so hard and dumbfounded at him because he looked up at me and chuckled. "What?” He asked, a grin on his face.

I coughed to cover up my weirdness. “It is...it’s just that, you are kneeling here, picking papers…” I mumbled as intelligently as I could.

“Yes, that is what I am doing.” He replied, his eyes dancing with so much laughter that he managed to hold in probably so he would not embarrass me.

My cheeks burned, “You are Jason Ford, the Jason Ford.” I deadpanned.

He chuckled. “That, I am.”

“I am just going to shut up now.” I mumbled, picking up the rest of the files. I stood up and muttered my thanks when he handed me the rest of the files.

“I - I am sorry, I am not like this on a normal day, I can be professional.” I blurted.

“It is okay, Valerie, I should be apologizing, I startled you.” He said and motioned for me to enter the office with him.

We both walked in and he sat on his chair before smiling up at me.

Go on, his smile seemed to urge.

I pushed the files to his desk and took a step back. “Mr Gavin from RichBoss Investment Company called. He said it was an urgent matter. He would not tell me what it was though. He will only speak to the real boss.” I frowned, c*****g my head to the side. Now that it was actually coming from my mouth, I had not understood what Mr Gavin had said. I shrugged, “Or so he said.”

Jason seemed to understand though, because he nodded and motioned to the file I placed there.

“The court hearing you had last week?”

He nodded, staring intently at me, maybe too intently. Was he waiting for me to f**k up?

“The court has sent in their final judgement, though the case was adjourned, the accuser suddenly admitted that he was wrong and that MedView pharmacy did not. In fact, give him fake medications.” I motioned to the files. “So, the accuser withdrew his claim and now, the pharmacy is in turn suing him for damages and defamation.”

I did not know if I should inform him that I had actually checked into the case and it was so obvious that the pharmacy indeed gave fake medications that led to the death of the accuser's wife.

“Those bastards, I went to beg the accuser and load him with lots of money for his kid’s future, all so he would not go further in court and those bastards decide to sue him instead?” Jason growled low, his eyes dark with anger.

Okay…

I shifted on my foot, thinking if I should bolt for my office before he swung that angry face at me.

He looked up at me, his gaze surprisingly gentle and careful. “Thank you, Valerie. You may go.”

Relieved, I nodded and turned to go.

“Hold on!”

I turned to him, my brows lifting to my forehead in question.

He stood, grabbed a cup of coffee from his package of two, walked to me and handed it over.

I stared at the top, frowning. It was still hot and sweet smelling.

I looked at him, holding up the paper cup. “You want me to throw it away?”

“Oh god, no.” He inclined his head towards the cup, a wary smile on his face. “I bought it on my way. Thought you might like it.”

Wait, what??

“You bought this for me? Coffee?” I was probably sure I sounded incredulous because he suddenly looked like a kid whose candy had been snatched from him.

Did I sound ungrateful?

I rushed to add, “I mean —“

“You do not like it?” He asked, looking all worried and vulnerable.

“Oh no!” I shook my head vehemently, for emphasis. "Oh no, I love coffee.”

“Okay?” His relieved smile would make me chuckle on a normal day, on a normal day when Jason Ford of LA Empire, my boss, did not buy me coffee.

“I am just surprised I guess.” I looked everywhere but at him. “You are Jason Ford, you know.”

“I know, that is my name and you have said that twice now.” Only the amusement in his voice kept me from cringing.

“You are supposed to be the boss,” I muttered.

“Yes, Valerie, I know that too.” He shoved his hands in his pockets abruptly, a broad smile dancing on his face. He was enjoying this so much.

“Bosses do not get their secretaries' coffee, it is supposed to be the other way around.” I deadpanned.

He went still. Staring at me for a day, or maybe a second, I did not know.

Then he threw his head back and howled very loud, delighted laughter. A laugh I would have loved to join in if it was not at my expense.

I frowned, not checking to see how that laughter lighted up his grey eyes and his entire features, making him look so good.

He almost chocked on his laughter once he saw me narrowing my eyes at him, that frown still prominent on my face, his breath hitched twice in an effort to rein in his laughter.

“It is okay, Valerie. Life is not supposed to be that hard.” He c****d his head to the side a bit, watching my reaction.

When my frown did not ease, he sighed, still amused. “I think it is okay for me to think of my secretary and get her coffee if I feel she needs it, Valerie.”

Think of his secretary??

“But, you are Jason Ford.” I mumbled, ignoring the cup of coffee that seemed to sing, DRINK ME, DRINK ME, DRINK ME UP!!

“That sounds a bit like 'But you are God', Valerie.”

“Are you not?” The words left my mouth before I realized it and while Jason laughed again, this time, I was busy blushing a deep red color.

“I am flattered you think so, Valerie Taylor, I'm just a 23-year-old lawyer that happens to manage a law firm.”

Right, still sounded like god to me.

I nodded, mumbled a wary 'thanks' for the coffee and turned to go.

“Unless you mean I am a god because of my looks.” He called after me, deliberately taunting me this time.

I stopped dead in my tracks and whirled around to meet him. “Are you flirting with me?” I asked the first thing that came to my mind, eyes narrowed once more.

“Relax Valerie. I am only getting you to relax. I only bought you coffee. I did not ask you to marry me.” He said, that ever present amusement mocking me.

I blushed, nodded and practically ran out before I said something senseless again.

“Right Valerie. Your life is not a Hollywood romcom, okay? Get your head right.” I mumbled to myself once I closed his door behind me.

A howling laughter was my response and I groaned.