Boss: The Encounter With The Bad Boy Billionaire: Bad Boy Billionaire Romance (BOSS: A Contemporary Bad Boy Billionaire Romance) (2 page)

Chapter three

Hart rolled over, the blankets wrapped snug around her body. She was not quite ready to get up, but she knew that she had to.

"Are you awake?" She felt the bed next to her, looking for Tim.

"I've been up for a little while now. I have to get ready to go. I can't stay overnight, but the hotel room is yours until check out."

Hart had to squint her eyes to adjust them to the light. Tim was standing in the mirror, tucking in his shirt and straightening his tie.

"What time is it?"

"It's almost four. I have to get out of here to hit the road. I have to fly out of town on business for the next few days. I'll call you when I get back."

Tim kissed her softly on the forehead. "I'm glad we got the chance to hang out last night."

She hated when he called it that. Hang out. It sounded like they were teenagers going to pass time at the movies or at the carnival. Not like they were two consenting adults who engaged in pillow talk and pleasure. Their relationship had progressed from just friends to friends with benefits about two years ago. It was a seamless transition and one that they had both been comfortable with. After being hurt by her last boyfriend, Hart was not in the mood to give her love away to just anyone. Being in a friends with benefits situation had served her well for the moment.

"Alright. I will see you later."

Hart to get up pretty early herself. She had an appointment set with Tony Ciarelli at seven- thirty and there was no way that she was going to be late. Just thinking about the man made her blood boil. How any adult could be so immature was beyond her. But maybe that was what it was like when you grew up the child of a billionaire, no responsibilities and without a care in the world.

That was a lifestyle that Hart did not know anything about. Being rich and successful was something that she fantasized about and now it finally felt like it was attainable. With it being too early to call for room service, Hart decided that she would get up and take a warm bubble bath in the Jacuzzi jets. There was no reason to let the room go to waste.

*

Luxuriating in the tub was the perfect way to start the day. Having to fight traffic to get to the office and then have to deal with Tony Ciarelli would not be an easy feat.

"Good morning, Lana."

"Good morning, Ms. Jacobs. All of your stats are on your desk. And hopefully the younger Mr. Ciarelli will be on time this morning."

Both of the women laughed.

"With my luck, he will show up bright and early at quarter after."

"I'll grab your coffee."

It was already seven o'clock. Hart's desk was piled with stats and prospects for potential clients. Having a busy day ahead was important for business and Hart looked forward to the challenge.

"Thank you, Lana."

Hart sipped the black coffee. The caffeine sent a jolt to her system. She would be ready for anything when Ciarelli walked in to her office.

She glanced at her watch. It was quarter after. Hart began thumbing through paperwork, sipping her coffee.

"Ms. Jacobs. Mr. Ciarelli is here."

Seven- twenty. He was early.

"Surprise, Ms. Jacobs. I do know what it means to be on time."

"It appears that you do, Mr. Ciarelli. Come on in."

She welcomed him in to the office.

"First, let me apologize to you. My behavior yesterday was inappropriate. I would like to get started today, Ms. Jacobs."

Hart was not sure what to say to his apology. It was completely unexpected.

"Well, Mr. Ciarelli, let's get our day started."

"All about business I see. Impressive. I see why my father likes you so much. And call me Tony."

Hart stared at him, unsure of what to say to the compliment. She did want to say anything that would make him think that she had forgiven his behavior or that she would soften up on him at any point.

"This is work. We can keep it professional."

"Or we can lighten up a bit. We will be working together intensely for the next few months so I think that will put us on first name basis."

"A few months?"

"Yes. A few months." His grin was making her upset.

"We'll see Mr. Ciarelli. A few months sounds like we would be dragging out something unnecessary."

"I like to be proficient in my job, Hart."

"I can appreciate that Mr. Ciarelli. I will take that into consideration as we start working."

"Great." His smile widened. "And I'll wait until you get comfortable enough with me to call me Tony. It will happen."

Hart had to do everything in her power not to roll her eyes. Dealing with him would be a pill.

"Let's get started." She wanted to get things over with as soon as possible.

Ciarelli pulled his chair up closely to the desk. "Where do we start?"

Hart did not want to mistake his sudden bout of sincerity for a true work ethic.

"Here. Have you read the manual on the company?" She pushed a thick spiral bound book across the desk to him.

He let out a loud laugh. "You're kidding right?"

"No. I'm not." When she inched it closer to him, he went to grab it at the same time. The feeling of his fingers brushing against her hand made her shudder. An electricity pulsed through her.

"Hmm. Let me take a look at this." He pulled his hand away, taking the workbook in his possession.

Hart watched as he barely thumbed through it and shoved it back across the desk. Ciarelli leaned back in his chair, crossing his hands.

"Hart." He paused. "Ms. Jacobs. I am actually well aware of what my family's company does. Just because I don't work here on a day to day basis does not mean that I don't understand what my family business is all about. Or let me say, one of my family's businesses."

She sat quietly while he went on a rant.

"Did you know that my family has several businesses?"

She sipped her coffee before answering. "I would assume that your family would not become billionaires through having just one business. It could happen, but I doubt it."

"So we are on the same page then. Great. Now, Hart, do you want to get back to my training?"

Hart bit her lip. Apparently, this whole training thing was not going to get any easier. Tony Ciarelli planned on making it as difficult as possible for her. She was not going to enjoy this at all.

"This is the conference room. We do most of our meetings with clients here. And here are the offices for our agents. Each agent has an assistant. We feel that doing so helps the agent focus on client care versus the mundane administrative tasks. It keeps us pretty efficient here."

"What do you do all day, Hart?"

"I am the Executive Marketing Director."

"That means?"

Ciarelli stood there smug, arms crossed, waiting for an answer.

"That means, I am responsible for the way that company is perceived in the public eye, for the branding. It makes all of the difference how we bring in our clientele and how our clientele trusts us and keeps coming back."

"Sounds pretty important."

Hart could not tell if Ciarelli was being genuine or the jerk that he had been the entire time since they met.

"It is. But I don't toot my own horn much."

Ciarelli bit his lip, staring directly at her. The intensity of his concentration was unbearable. Hart could feel a heat rising, an awakening in the pit of her being as his eye penetrated her.

Why was he always staring at her like that? Like he knew what was on her mind. Like he was trying to get her to confess all that she felt.

"You should toot your own horn more often, Hart. You do a hell of a job here."

All of a sudden, she could feel him standing right behind her. She closed her eyes, inhaling the scent of his cologne. Today, it was not overpowering, but slight and calming.

"Thank you, Mr. Ciarelli."

He stepped closer, speaking slowly. "I told you to call me Tony."

His voice sent a chill down her spine. Hart's head was spinning. With him standing so close, she was losing control of her senses.

"Tony. Fine." She tried to regain her composure.

His glance was flirty, and Hart could not deny the attraction she felt. It was obvious by the way that he watched her every move that he felt the attraction as well.

"Now that we are on a first name basis, Hart. How about lunch?"

"We have work to do."

"And everyone needs to eat."

"Fine. What do you suggest? We will have about an hour or so."

"No. You are the Executive Marketing Director. You can take lunch when you please. What does your schedule look like today?"

When Tony spoke, his eyes traveled from her eyes down to her breasts, then lower to her hips.

"Lunch. One hour. It's all you have from me today."

Tony stepped closer to her. "I'll take it. If that's all of the time that you will give me."

"That's all of the time that I have." She could not bring herself to look at him. Hart knew if she did, she would not be held accountable for what may happen next.

"Let's keep moving. There is more to show you."

Hart smoothed her hands over her hips, trying to straighten her clothing.

"Lead the way." Tony held his hand out, motioning for her to start out.

Hart could barely keep her mind on the task at hand. Tony being so close to her was making her swoon. Nothing like this had ever happened to her before. An attraction so strong that she could not understand where it was coming from.

"I'd like to take you to the numbers department."

Hart was practically power walking on the way to the elevator. She was trying to make sense of all that she was feeling so suddenly.

Tony followed slowly behind her. It was as if he had this confidence about what was developing between them.

As soon as the elevator opened, Hart slid inside, hoping that it would be full as usual. When it wasn't, she panicked and it was too late to turn back. Tony hopped on as the doors closed. Neither of them pressed any buttons, just stood there, staring at one another.

Tony took a few steps, Hart holding her breath. "So where are we going?"

"To the numbers department. It's where you can meet the chief financial officer and learn a bit about what they do up there."

Dizziness settled in and Hart could not figure out how she could keep herself together. She tried to lean forward and press the number ten for the financial offices floor. Tony blocked her way and instead she ended up falling into his chest.

"Oh," she cried out under her breath.

Tony caught her, his embrace was surprisingly comforting. He did not speak, just held on to her with one hand while he pressed the red stop button with the other.

"What are you doing?" Hart could barely speak, breathless.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" Tony pushed his chest out, pulling her in even closer.

"I- I don't know." What on earth was going on? She had never been the type to stutter. She tried to avoid eye contact with him, but it was damned near impossible.

Tony tilted her chin up, forcing their eyes to meet.

"So, Hart. I don't normally do things like this. I mean, being so forward. But I noticed an immediate attraction between us when I first walked in to your office. Did you?"

She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

He lifted her face higher. "So you don't want to admit that there is chemistry between us, Hart?"

When he spoke her name, she was sure that she was going to melt. He ran his fingertips along her jaw line. His touch felt amazing, invigorating. Hart allowed herself to feel it for a moment before she forced herself back to reality.

She wiggled her hands around Tony's waist, feeling for the elevator buttons. When he realized what she was doing, he stepped aside, giving her access to the panel. Hart fumbled to press the number ten. When the elevator car did not start rising, she pressed the button several more times, trying not to get out of sorts.

Tony, cool and collected, stepped over, and pressed the green button marked start. The car cranked to life and started moving.

Hart took a deep breath, smoothing her brown tresses back into her bun. She wanted her heart to stop racing and she wanted Tony out of her way. His very presence was causing an uproar in her life and she was not going to keep letting it happen.

She kept her attention focused on the elevator numbers as they rose higher and higher. A panic was threatening to take over if she did not reach the tenth floor soon.

Eight.

Nine.

Ten.

The doors slid open, and she did not turn around to see if Tony even walked out after her. It took a moment to remember that she had to calm herself before entering the floor and talking with the other employees.

She whirled around. "Are you ready?"

The grin on his face infuriated Hart, but she started down the hallway, trying to clear her mind.

She exhaled and turned on her smile. There was no way that she was going to let Tony know that he was getting under her skin.