Loving a Bully Billionaire.

Chapter 3

My alarm clock is set for an hour and a half earlier. This time I will make it on time. I jumped out of bed, putting on some music, danced while curling my hair, and put on make-up a bit more than usual. I dressed in a maroon button, T-shirt, and black skinny pants.

My black wedges will look perfect. It’s not extremely high and at the same time shows I am a professional. I text Joe quickly to tell her about the interview, and she texts back a smiley face, and she is holding thumps. Where is my bag? I might put on some leotards.

They might ask me to show some ideas. OK, now I’m getting nervous? I let out a long sigh, not realizing that I was holding my breath. It’s time to go.

I closed the door and made my way to the bus stop. I waited about ten minutes before the bus stopped. An old lady sat next to me. Finally, I made it to step up into the dance studio.

“This looks familiar,” I said to myself. I walked in and greeted the lady at the front desk

“I will be with you in a sec,” she kindly said. I nodded and started looking around. The place is stunning. There are pictures of girls dancing all over the place. The leather couches complement the building, and the fireplace is almost as big as my dorm.

“Miss Johnson right?” The lady at the desk asked,

“Yes,” I said passionately.

“I’m Dawn, Mr. Griffin will be with you now,” did I hear her say, Mr. Griffin?

“Wait who?” But she disappeared into a file room. My heart is pumping nonstop. Did she say, Mr. Griffin?

“Good day, Miss Johnson” my back turned. That voice sounds way too familiar. I can feel myself sink into the ground. I turned around to face my worst nightmare.

“Sir” I nod, my face white as a ghost.

“I think I’m at the wrong dance studio?” I looked around, looking lost, trying to find a way to escape this conversation.

“No, you are at the right place, please follow me” he showed his hand to the elevator. My feet are stuck, and I can’t move.

“Miss Johnson?” He said again.

“Um yes sorry” I followed him to the elevator. He walked in front of me and my eyes were glued to his back. Why? Why in the world would he invite me to come and work here, and why so professional? At the club, he was arrogant and charming at the same time.

The elevator closed, and I can feel my throat close at the same time. Level 2, level 3, level 5 and so it goes on until level 12. The lift stopped and Griffin stepped out.

“You can close the door” he walked into his office, went around the table, and sat down on his chair. The office is decorated in bright colors.

The chairs are bright yellow and the carport green. There is a black big L shape lounge suite with green scatter cushions, my eyes wandering the entire office. It’s amazing. There’s a big grey pot with sunflowers by the door and the windows are big. You can see practically every building from up here.

“So Miss Johnson, what can you offer us, that no one else can, except for your beauty”

“Excuse me?” I asked, surely he means my beauty in dance.

“You heard me” the papers are all over his table, it’s a mess. What’s he searching for? He is not looking at me once. He keeps his eyes on the mess and searching for something through the papers.

“I love to dance and.”

“I know you love to dance. What I’m asking is what can you offer us,” he is rude and sarcastic, and I had enough of it.

“OK, cut the bullshit, Griffin. Why did you invite me to the interview?” He finally looked up. Placed a pen in his mouth and used his sexy eyes to look right through me.

“I didn’t,” he responded and looked down again

“What?” I asked

“I didn’t invite you. The Studio needed a new candidate for the juniors. The board questioned me about why I hired no one, so I told them to choose someone. Clearly, they chose you.” I can smack myself for asking. He doesn’t want me here, and now I have insulted him.

“Oh, sorry” my face was probably as red as a tomato.

“Can we try again?” He asked me with the pen still in his mouth.

“Yes”

He stands up from his chair, walked around, and sits on the table right in front of me. My hands are shaking.

“Do you want someone else to do the interview?” He asks with his hands in his pockets, leaning over with his face inches away from the mine.

“No um, it’s fine” I swallowed, and I can swear the people on the first floor could hear it. He smiled a dangerous smile and turned back to his chair.

“Okay, let’s try again. What can you offer us that no one else can?” my hands were still sweating, my breathing heavy and my face was still red. I had to give him an answer.

“A goal of mine since high school has been to have a dance instructor position in a known studio. My variety of dance style experience and my experience in dance make me a perfect candidate.”

“I believe I understand the goals of a dance studio to introduce dance to young adults and grow their skills to the fullest.” By the time I finished my whole unprepared speech, I was out of breath.

“Can you start tomorrow?” Griffin said. Still looking down at some papers on his desk. He didn’t even listen to my speech and possibly only made me say that to make me feel uncomfortable.

“Sure I can”

“Good. Be here at 8, Dawn will show you around and where your office would be. And don’t be late.” Why does everyone keep on telling me not to be late? I was late once and now everyone keeps assuming that I’m always late. I nod, and he walked me to the door. Before I could reach the door, he asked,

“Do you have questions? As I can recall the last time you had plenty of questions,” I stopped and turned around to look at him. “And as I recall, you never gave me a chance to ask them.” he smiled and turned back to his desk.

“Don’t be late tomorrow” OK, that was weird. I closed his office door and made my way downstairs.

“Miss Johnson?” Dawn called from the front desk. I turned around.

“Mr. Griffin instructed for you to wait, his driver will drop you off at the dorm, he should be here any minute now,” I looked confused and Dawn smiled. She walked up to me and whispered,

“don’t ask questions” I nod and wait for the driver. It’s been an hour since Dawn told me to wait, and my patience is running thin. I kept looking at the clock while dancers are passing every 10 minutes in and out of the building.

“Miss Johnson?” a man called out.

“That’s me,” I said, hoping that it’s the driver.

“I’m Lucas, Mr. Griffin’s driver.”

“O yes, thank you for driving me, it wasn’t needed” Lucas kept quiet and showed his hand to the door for me to exit. OK, I can see why he is Griffin’s driver. The drive back to the dorms is long, and Lucas is not saying a word.

“How long have you known Griffin?” I eventually ask. The silence is killing me.

“I worked for his father.” That’s all he says. And that’s my cue for keeping my mouth shut. We made it to the dorm and I, for one, am glad this entire drive is over.

“Thank You, Lucas” he opened the door for me and nodded while I walked back to the dorms.

“And how was the interview?” Joe nearly jumped on me when I opened the door.

“It was OK,” I said to her. Tired and ready to just climb back into my bed.

“Just OK? Seriously, Mia, you went for an interview at the best dance schools in New York, and it was just OK?” I removed my makeup and put on pajamas, curled myself onto the bed.

“Wait? How do you know what dance school I went to for the interview? I never told you,” Joe kept quiet,

“Joe?” I dragged out her name.

“OK Griffin told me, he called this morning to ask if you received the message and ask me not to tell you that the interview is at his studio”

Now I’m confused. He told me he didn’t choose me as a candidate but calls Joe to find out if I received the message for the interview.

“Mia, don’t waste this opportunity. I know he can intimidate and be rude. ”

“Rude is an understatement,” I said to Joe, my legs curled up, my face resting on my palms.

“I know, but you have a great opportunity here,” Joe answered while putting on pajamas herself.

“You never told me how you and Griffin met each other?” Joe climb into bed and was lying flat on her stomach facing me.

“His parents knew my parents. You know my story, how my mother and sister are dancers, and I had to fall in line with the family tradition? Anyway, my mother used to be an instructor for a step-up dance studio, occasionally she would drag me with, hoping that I would get inspired to dance, I never did, so they tossed me into the school and practically made me dance.” I don’t understand how Joe doesn’t love dancing. She is good, and I have seen her dance. I guess it’s true when they say it runs in the family.

My mother was the best dancer I ever knew. Lucky for me, I love dancing since I was a baby, so for me, being here is a blessing and an honor.

“OK, I need to get my beauty sleep, and you need to work tomorrow.” Joe turned around and switched off her lamp.

“Good night Mia”

“Good night Joe,” I said, my mind still full of questions about Griffin"

I switch off my lamp, but my mind does not switch off. My thoughts are buzzing to work for someone I don’t even like, or I think I don’t. He’s an intimidating smile, a thick British accent, and intimidating eyes. I closed my eyes and I can feel his warm breath on my face when he leaned over by his desk, his pupils dilating at the same time as mine. My mind racing with all the thoughts, and eventually, I fell asleep.

“Mia, Mia — Mia, you are late again” Joe practically dragged me out of bed. I peeked at the clock.

“s**t s**t, s**t, how did this happen? I set my alarm early.”

I put on the first thing when I opened my closet. Plain blue jeans and a white tank top and pumps before I ran out. On my way running to the bus, I fix my hair, but it still looks like s**t.

“Wait, please wait,” I yell for the bus to wait. I didn’t even put on makeup. I look like a train smashed into me on the first day. It’s 7: 45. I pleaded in my mind for the bus to drive faster. Finally, we’re here. I jumped off and nearly forgot to pay.

“Thank you.” I ran and almost tripped twice.

“Mia, Mr. Griffin was asking twice where you are. Come let’s get you settled.” Dawn grabbed me by my hand and dragged me to the elevator. She kept staring at me.

“what happened? You look like s**t,” I sigh.

“is it that obvious?”

“Ah Yes,” she mumbles. She can see my face falling and I feel like s**t.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure no one will notice” she is so nice, nicer than most of the people here.

“So this would be your office, feel free to decorate as much as you like. We have a kitchen where you can drink as much coffee as you like. Looks like you need it,” she winks at me.

“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask” The office is small but big enough for me. In front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, there’s a modern dark-wood desk and matches the coffee table by the couch. Everything else is colorful — on the wall, by the door, a small painting of 2 dancers.

“What’s this?” Flowers and a card saying welcome to Center Stage Studio.

“Oh, that’s from Griffin, but don’t tell him I told you.” She winks again and disappears.

I smiled. Who would’ve thought Griffin was so generous? I went through the schedule placed on my table. I have 2 classes today. OK, I can manage that. I took my bag from the couch and search for the bathroom to change into my leotard and fix up my hair.

“Excuse me?.” I called a man walking in front of me.

“May you please show me the lady’s room?” He turned around, but someone else was answering.

“Down the hall to the left” I turned around to see Griffin standing at the door by his office. The man nodded and walked away.

“Thank you.” I cleared my throat. I blinked a few times, unsure of what to say next. He is just staring at me.

“OK, I think I will go see where the bathroom is now” He smiled, and I trip for the second time today when I tried to go backward and walked into a box standing in the hallway.

“Are you OK?” He asks walking towards me.

“Yes, sorry, I didn’t see the box.” He stuck out his hand to help me up.

“clearly” he mumbles.

“Sorry,” I say again.

“would you stop apologizing?”

He pulls me up from the floor.

“sorry” and I could kick myself for saying sorry again. He shook his head and walk back to his office.

“s**t,” I mumbled and made my way to the lady’s room. I splashed my face with water, took a deep breath, and cleaned my face with the hand towel. Could this day get any worse?. I changed into my leotard and made my way back to my office. I pass Griffin’s office and hear him fight with someone.

“I told you we don’t need anyone this year. You chose her, so she is your responsibility.” Griffin saw me, my heart skip a beat.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop”

“You see!” Griffin said to the older man. Throwing his hands in the air. The man looks elegant. His hair is grey, so I would guess he is in his 60s already.

“Morning, you must be Mia” the man showed his hand for me to enter the office.

“Yes, Mia, nice meeting you?”

“Dan,” the man stuck out his hand for me to greet.

“We were just talking about you.” My heart rate drops. I heard what they were saying. They were fighting. Griffin walked around his table to sit down on the chair. Looking pissed and not saying a word. My eyes followed him while he took out a pen and started writing something. His bright eyes looking glossy.

“Miss Johnson, you alright?”

I snapped out of my trance when the man grabbed my arm.

“yes, sorry I will be late for my first class” and I stormed out, running to my office. I closed the door as fast as I could and burst out into tears. I did nothing to offend him. What were they fighting about, and why me? My door opened, and I quickly recovered from sobbing. I grabbed a tissue from the desk to clean my face.

“Sorry I didn’t mean t...” Griffin inhales sharply. I grabbed my schedule and tried to get past him where he blocks me in the doorway.

“I’m late for class,” I said to him. His eyes meeting mine.

My heartbeat speeds up, and my cheeks are heating again. Nervously, I tuck my hair behind my ears.

“Could you please move?” his eyes burn into mine. It’s begun to rain, and I can’t get past him.

“I’m sorry”

Sorry? that’s all he has to say, sorry.

“It’s OK, may I please go to class now?”

“Did you cry?” Like you care, I said to myself.

“Please Griffin.” he pressed me against the wall. I flush as my heart raised and my hands sweating again. Muscles deep in my belly clench suddenly.

“You make me nervous,” he says, his mouth inches away from mine. I make him nervous. Is he saying that? My mind can’t connect to his words. My heart is pounding. He is too strong to even get out of his grip. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Griffin’s face is still close to mine. I can feel his breath against my skin. He is not losing contact.

“Griffin?” I said softly.

“Mia,” he answered back.

“I have to get to class.” he let me loose, and I stumbled out of the door. Feeling empty the moment I lost contact with his physique. I race to class, my heart jumping up and down as I run. I have no idea what just happened. What did he mean by I make him nervous? Can anyone make him nervous?

“Miss Johnson?” One student called out. I didn’t even realize how packed the class was.

“Yes, sorry guys, I have to cancel class today. May you please excuse me,” I ran for the elevator.

“Mia?” Dawn is calling behind me, but I ignore her. It’s still early for the bus to pass by, so I started walking in the rain. I attempt to calm down and gather my thoughts. My heart steadies and I can breathe normally again. Surely, I’m over-reacting, but I needed to get out of there. Why did he come back to my office?

He may be arrogant, but he has a right to be. He’s accomplished so much at such a young age, but that doesn’t give him a right to treat people like dirt.

I heard a car closing in on me.

“Mia?” Griffin rolls down the passenger window, but I kept walking, not making eye contact.

“Mia, please get into the car, it’s raining.” he stopped the car and climbed out. It’s pouring. I can’t even see the road. The next thing I feel, someone dragging me by the arm.

“Mia?”

“Let go of me.” I pulled my arm back.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“You didn’t,” I said and started walking again.

Griffin looked up at the sky. The rain is pouring heavily now,

“Mia, please let me take you home” I don’t want to, but I have no idea where I am, and the rain is cold.

I turned around and nodded. He opened the passenger door for me to get in. He turned on the heater and grabbed a jacket from the back seat and put it over my shoulders.

“Thank you,” I said. Not making eye contact.

He smiles and starts the engine. We drove in silence. Griffin’s hand is steady on the steering. As we get closer to the dorm, I realized my bag is still in my office and my keys are in it.

“s**t” I mumbled.

“Something wrong?” Griffin asks, his eyes still on the road.

“I left my keys at the office.”

“You want me to go back?” he asked, not making eye contact with me.

“No, I’m sure Joe is here. You can just drop me in front of the campus, thank you.” He nods, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

“Thank you for the ride.” I slipped out of the car seat, not turning back to see his adorable yet arrogant face.

“Mia,” He called with the window rolled down.

“Yes,” not sure if I should turn around to face him.

He looks incredibly hot with his hair hanging to the front, and his face wet.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Yes, I do, but I cannot take any more of his pretense and insults.

“No, I’m sure you have your reasons for not liking me”

The next thing he is next to me,

“Not like you? That’s the reason me and Dan fought. It’s because I like you, or whatever you call it.” He stands rather shakily, trying to suppress his nerves.

“This is new to me,” he calls out.

What could be new to him? He has girls falling at his feet; I have seen it, and according to Joe, he enjoys fooling around with girls, so what could be new to him? For once, I feel like having the upper hand here.

“What’s new to you?” I ask with my hands crossed, my clothes soaking wet.

“Don’t worry about it” I rolled my eyes at him.

“No, you don’t get to walk away...”

He turned around and walk up to me, his eyes locked on my lips, my hands shaking, He crashed his lips on me pushing me against the wall, picking me up with one arm, and holding my hands above my head with his other. I’m holding my breath as he kisses me. The electricity I’m feeling is traveling down there. My blood is boiling. I couldn’t help myself. I had to kiss him back. Our lips molded together and for some reason, I know exactly how to kiss him back. My breath is shallow, and I can’t resist him. He is so confident in kissing me and I’m loving it.

Griffin removed his lips from mine, but kept his face inches away from me.

“I had too,” he says gently, still holding me against the wall, but not so aggressively anymore.

“I need answers,” I said to him, my voice soft. His face is still close to mine. The electricity that filled me moments ago dissolved, and I feel I can breathe again. I still feel the warmth between us, but I feel more relaxed. He pressed his forehead against mine and closed his eyes.

“You don’t want answers. The answers might scare you.” I was about to speak when I heard a choking sound,

“Joe!” I said, surprised. She cleared her throat, obviously trying to catch our attention. Griffin let go of me, and I stumbled to get inside the dorm.

“I will see you tomorrow” I practically pushed Joe back inside the dorm and closed the door.

“Ok, what was that?” Joe asks, her hands folded like my mother would do when she caught me being naughty.

I smiled and showed her to keep it down. I don’t know if he is still standing outside the dorm.

I opened the door just a little to see if he was still there, but he left. I let out an enormous sigh.

“OK, out with it now.” Joe jumped on the bed, waiting for me to explain what she just saw.

“I don’t know. One minute he was a jerk, a big jerk. I ran out of the offices today, and he followed me, brought me home, and kissed me. I demanded answers, but he said the answers will scare me.” Joe’s face turned pale.

“You know something, don’t you?” I asked, my stomach making flips.

“It’s not my story to tell. All I ask is for you to be careful and to be open-minded. Griffin is complicated and has never loved anyone except...”

“Accept?” I asked, but Joe kept quiet and turned her face to the window.

“Just be careful, OK” I nod, not asking questions anymore. I can see the memories of whatever Joe is thinking about, is upsetting her, so I let it go, for now.

“I’m going to get something to eat. You want something?” Joe asks, grabbing her purse from the dresser.

“No, I’m good, thanks.” She nods and walked out the door. I sat for a while on the edge of my bed. When she told me to be careful, I could see the pain in Joe's eyes.

I wonder what happened. This is the first time I ever saw Joe being sad and secretly. I removed my Leotard and Griffin jacket and put on something more comfortable. My phone buzzed in Griffin’s jacket.

“I hope I didn’t scare you?” The text is from Griffin. I’m dying to ask him what happened in the past, but that will scare him off. So I just text back

“No, you didn’t,” he replies with a smiley face, and asks if he can pick me up tomorrow morning. I smiled despite the warning lights that went off in my mind. I text back a thump up. My eyes feel sleepy. This day was one hell of a day. I can’t believe my first day was such a mess. I grabbed my pillow and lay down on the bed.

I closed my eyes for a moment with all the rain and crying. I feel drained, but the event of earlier keeps playing over and over in my head. Griffin’s long lash, perfectly tanned body, and incredible biceps. My mind is telling me to run for the heels, but my heart tells me a different story. How can one be so complicated? I feel my eyes drifting off.