THE BILLIONAIRE’S WARMTH

CHAPTER 2: FIRST DAY CHAOS AND HIDDEN FIRE

I arrived at Voss Tech the next morning at about 7:15 a.m. I wanted to be early. No more mistakes. I had not slept much. Every time I closed my eyes,I saw him unbuttoning that wet shirt. I saw his gray eyes looking at me like he wanted something more. My body felt hot just thinking about it.

Margaret, the receptionist, smiled at me. “Good morning, dear. Mr. Voss expects you at eight. Good luck.” I thanked her and went to my new desk in the corner of his office. It was small but nice. I opened the tablet she gave me and looked at his schedule. It was full;meetings, calls, reports.

Busy all day. At exactly 7:59, I knocked on his open door. “Come in.”

He was at his desk, looking perfect in a dark suit. No sign of yesterday’s coffee mess. His eyes looked up when I walked in. They stayed on me a little longer than normal. “Miss Harper,” he said. His voice was cool, but I felt something under it. Good morning, sir. I’m ready to start.” He pointed to my desk. “Your login is in the drawer. I need the quarterly reports fixed by noon. Clear my inbox of small things. Book lunch at Per Se for one o’clock, for two people.” I nodded and went to my desk.

I started work right away. Emails, calendar fixes, phone calls. I was good at this. I wanted to show him. By 11:30, I had finished the reports. I printed them neat and put them on his desk. He looked through them. His face stayed the same but nodded once. “This is good,” he said. Just three words, but they made me happy. Lunch booking done. I thought the day might go smooth. Then the intercom buzzed. “Mr. Voss? Victoria Langford is here. No appointment, but she says it’s important.” His jaw got tight. “Send her up.” My stomach twisted. Victoria Langford. His ex-fiancée. The one who broke his heart years ago. Beautiful,rich and mean from what I read.

The door opened. She walked in like she owned the place. Blonde hair perfect. Red dress tight on her body. Heels loud on the floor. “Alexander, darling,” she said, smiling big. She looked at me like I was nothing. He did not stand up. “What do you want,Victoria?” She walked closer to his desk,ignoring me more. “The Hampton gala is next month. Everyone expects us to go together. For old times.” “ I’m going alone.”She laughed. “Don’t be silly. After all we had.” “Your time is up.” He pressed the intercom.

“Margaret, come escort Miss Langford out.” Victoria’s smile went away. She looked at me with hate in her eyes. “Enjoy your little job while it lasts, honey.” Then she left, heels loud again. The office got quiet. I tried to focus on my tablet, but I felt his eyes on me. “You okay?” He asked, his voice low. I looked up,surprised that he asked. “Yes, sir, she doesn’t scare me.” He nodded. But his look was different, like protective. The afternoon was busy. Meetings. Calls. I ran around, taking notes, fixing things. By 7 p.m., everyone else left. Just us. I was packing my bag when he called. “Miss Harper.” I turned. He stood by the big window. City lights behind him, making him look powerful. “You did well today,” he said.

“Thank you,sir.” He walked closer. Stopped in front of me. “You lasted the first day.” I smiled small. “It was hard, but I like it.” His eyes looked at my face, then my lips. “Tomorrow will be harder. Late call with Tokyo. Stay till midnight.”

My heart beat faster. Alone with him again. Late night. “Yes, sir.” He stepped even closer. I smelled his cologne. Felt his heat. “You did good with the report,” he said. His voice got lower. “And you look good doing it.” My breath stopped . Is he flirting? “Thank you,” I whispered. His hand came up slow. He touched my cheek with his thumb. Soft. Warm. His voice got lower. I looked up at him. His eyes dark. He leaned down. His lips touched mine. Soft at first. Then harder. I kissed back. My hands went to his chest. Felt the muscle under the shirt. He groaned low. His arms went around my waist. Pulling me close. His body hard against mine. The kiss got deep. His tongue in my mouth. Tastes like coffee and want. My body hot. Legs weak. I held his shoulders. He pushed me gently against the desk. His hands on my hips. Thighs between mine. I felt him hard against me. My stomach flipped. We kissed more. Hands moving. His on my back, pulling me tighter. I wanted more. So much more. Then the phone rang loud. We stopped fast. Breathing hard. He stepped back. Eyes still on me.

“That..shouldn’t have happened here,” he said. Voice rough. I nodded. Lips tingling. Body on fire. “I know.” He fixed his tie. “Go home. Driver will take you.” I picked my bag, my legs still weak.

At the door, I looked back. He watched me,eyes full of want. “Tomorrow,” he says. “Be ready.” I left,heart racing. But that kiss was only the beginning. I couldn’t wait.

I walked down the corridor slowly. My legs felt unsteady, like I’d left something important behind in that office. I didn’t look back again.

The driver dropped me at my apartment, and I thanked him quietly. Inside, I leaned against the door after closing it because my heart pounded too loudly in the quiet space. My fingers ran across my lips without thinking. They were still swollen and still sensitive. Tomorrow, he had said. I tried to tell myself it meant nothing,just a moment and a lapse. But my body didn’t agree, and my thoughts didn’t either. Every-time I closed my eyes, I picture the way he’d looked at me, like he’d already crossed a line he couldn’t uncross. I changed into pajamas, but sleep didn’t come easy that night.

I grabbed my phone and called Sarah, my best friend from back home because she was the only one I told everything. She answered on the second ring. “Bella! What’s up? You sound..different I laughed small. “I kissed him.” Silence. Then a scream. “WHAT? The boss? Alexander Voss? Tell me everything!”

I told her the whole story- the tension building,the late nights, and the kiss in the office. She listened, and then freaked out happily. “Girl, this is big! He wants you so bad. But be careful because he’s a billionaire. They play games.”

“I know,” I said. “But it felt real.” “It is real,” she said. “Your voice is shaking, and you’ve fallen for him.” I sighed. “Maybe.” We talked long about hone, about Dad, mum, and about life. She made me laugh, and it helped calm me a little. But when I hung up, the want came back. Sleep came late.

When morning arrived, it brought clarity and anticipation. My phone stayed silent all day, but I knew he hadn’t forgotten. Neither had I.

At work, every sound made me look up, and every footstep outside tightened something low in my chest. Late afternoon, his message came. Can we talk? Just three words. Calm,controlled and soothing. Nothing like the chaos they stirred in me. Yes, I typed back. When? After work. My office. I leaned back in my chair, pulse racing. Some things, once started, don’t fade quietly. And whatever had happened between us was far from over.

After work, I went to his office. He was at his desk, and he looked up when I came in. “Close the door,” he said. I did. He stood and walked to me. We stood close to each other. No words first. His hand went to my waist and he pulled me gently.

Eyes in mine. “I thought about you all night,” he said. “Me too.” He touched my face. “This is dangerous.” “I know.” “But I don’t want to stop” “Neither do I.”

The tension was thick. He leaned closer, but no kiss yet. “We should take it slow,” he said. I nodded. But the want was strong. We talked small about work and other things. But our eyes said more. When I left, my body was hot again.