Meeting Mr. Mogul: A Billionaire Contemporary Romance (39 page)

“I’m doing well, thank you,” she beamed in reply. “So, why are you here?” she continued, getting straight to the point.

“Andy and I are here to order some cupcakes,” he replied with a small smile as he glanced at me for a second before looking back at the girl.

“Oh! Hi! I didn’t see you there…” she silently apologized and offered her free hand to me, leaving her looped arms in William’s. “I’m Miriam Dowell, co-owner and manager of Just Sweets.”

“Andy Peterson, I’m Ms. Maxwell’s secretary,” I started softly as I accepted her hand and shook it lightly.

“…And, she’s my girlfriend,” William interjected confidently, making me turned towards him in surprise.

What the…?

What the…?

“What are you talking…?” I started but was cut off when William bumped his hips to mine as he wrapped his arms around my waist.

He took a step back from the girl’s hold and leaned on me. “So, where shall we do this?” he asked her in his business tone and tightened his arm on my waist.

At that moment, I couldn’t grasp the anger that slowly consumed me. Who the hell did he think he is? And what was he trying to pull?

When Miriam stepped away from William and gestured towards the way to her office, I took this time to act out. I elbowed him right on the stomach and walked ahead. Behind me, I heard him grunt in pain.

“Don’t think I’ll go along with this,” I mumbled in annoyance when I left him.

“Wait… this is not what you think it is… But, if you think that the idea is…” he whispered in plea, but trailed off as words failed him.

“Just get straight to your point,” I stopped walking and turned towards him with a death glare.

“Can you just go along with this for a while? Miriam and I have some…” he pleaded softly and trailed off when I raised my eyebrow.

“You are not seriously asking me to play along with this so that this girl, who I know you’ve slept with, won’t cling to you like a leech,” I grumbled in conviction. “This is not my problem. So if you are uncomfortable with the damn situation, why not get out and go back to work?”

“I’m not going to leave you with her after what I just said…” he countered in disbelief, but I cut him off.

“And, whose fault was that?”

“I had only acted out because…”

“I’m not taking any excuses! I’m going in the office. And if you aren’t ready to tell her the damn truth, just leave. I can handle this myself,” I stated in clenched teeth.

When he didn’t reply, I turned around and continued walking towards the end of the hallway, where Miriam stood and stared us in curiosity. She gave me a small, tight-lipped smile when I looked at her. I couldn’t believe I’m going to take the heat on his stupidity.

“This way please,” Miriam opened the door and gestured for me to get inside.

My first impression of the place was cute and girlish. The dominant color of the room was pink and white. The table was painted in white and gold. The chairs looked like it was designed for a garden party. 

“This is a really nice office,” I remarked as I sat down on a chair opposite to where she sat down.

“Thank you,” she replied enthusiastically, finally giving me a genuine smile for the first time.

“Where do I sit?” William asked, halting me from asking a question. I turned towards the sound of his voice. He wasn’t seriously going to go along with it. But when Miriam gestured towards the seat beside me, it finally dawned on me that he was serious.

“I’ll let you taste some of our different flavors of cake before you decide,” she started after William sat down. “I’ll be right back with it,” she added and stood up and quickly exited the room.

“What are you doing? If you’re going to stay, you should clear up that misunderstanding a few minutes ago. I don’t want this to be awkward than it already is,” I hissed at him before he could say anything.

“Okay. But, hear me out,” he pleaded guiltily. “Can we go along with it for a while? Miriam and I used to have… And, I don’t want her getting any ideas about my visit here.”

“Are you seriously making me reason to avoid your ex?” I was astonished at what he suggested.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I just don’t want her to get any ideas that I’m available whatsoever,” he snorted and stated in the same tone.

“Oh, please! Don’t give me that excuse. We both know you are as available as you ever was,” I stated in conviction and rolled my eyes at his words.

“And you still don’t believe me that I’m serious about you,” he sighed and mumbled softly to himself but it was loud enough for me to hear.

Not sure how to respond to his words, I stayed silent for a moment and prayed someone would interrupt us soon. After a few minutes, my prayer was answered as Miriam arrived with a tray of small cupcakes in hand.

As I expected, the rest of the meeting was very uncomfortable. The flirtatious comments she gave to William had made it unbearable on my part. I wasn’t slightly jealous though it still annoyed me. The girl couldn’t take a hint at all. She kept on making advances even though she knew–though, not true–that William and I were dating. At some point, I wanted to show her something just to piss her off. But I didn’t want William to have more reason to pursue me. So I continued to watch her flirt for the rest of the meeting.

I thought I had finished digging a hole and reached the other end of the world when it was over. It was half past five in the afternoon and my stomach was full of nothing but sweets. It would be impossible to eat dinner. As I was about to part ways with William by the main door of the pastry shop, he suddenly grabbed hold of my wrist.

“We aren’t done with our conversation from this morning,” he said as he lightly tugged me towards his waiting car.

“What are you doing?” I asked angrily as I tried to pull myself free from his hold.

“If I don’t act on it, you would ignore me,” he started but trailed off when I finally broke free from him.

“For goodness’ sake! It’s not that hard to ask! I would have gone with you if you asked nicely!” I shouted in frustrated, not really anymore embarrassed about filtering my emotions.

He gaped in shock before he straightened his stance and let out a heavy breath. “I’m sorry for being too forceful,” he trailed off softly as he took another steady breath.

“You think?” I interrupted.

“Please let me finish,” he said in a domineering tone. “Can I talk to you? I would love to do it over dinner if you are willing.”

“Are you kidding me? I already told you how to say it, and you’re being like this?” I asked in disbelief and gestured at him in disgust. “I’m out. I’m going home. I don’t want to talk to you right now.”

“Wait! Damn it,” he called out when I was a few paces way from him.

“Still not close enough!” I shouted back and continued walking.

“Okay! You win! Go ahead and go home! I’ll see you tomorrow!” he shouted in defeat and stopped following me.

I brushed him off with a wave with my back towards him as I continued walking. When I reached a pavement and turned right, my mind was cleared out on everything that was associated to William. It dawned on me that I didn’t know how to get home from here. I had never felt so stupid, not even after the stunts I pulled recently. I finally lost it. It was ironic since I’m really lost.

When I saw a nearby coffee shop, I got inside and order myself a drink before calling my most trusted person to pick me up. Terry was helpful as he picked me up from where I was. When he arrived, I explained to him why I was here. He burst in laughter at my situation.

“I can’t believe you did that! It was a nice exit, but the aftermath was just…” he stated and laughed some more.

“Please don’t remind me. Can we go now? Please? I’m really tired,” I pleaded before I put on my helmet.

He nodded in reply but kept on chuckling as he put on his helmet. The ride back to his apartment was short. I felt relieved to know that I wasn’t entirely lost. If I’ve continued walking a few more miles, I would have recognized a few stores near Terry’s place. After he dropped me off, Terry gave me a quick farewell before he drove off to work. I was left alone for the rest of the night, which was both a positive and negative thing.

The next morning, I left like I got ran over by a train as I rolled out of the couch. I couldn’t help but be attuned to Terry’s comfy couched. I quickly got myself ready for work when I saw that I had half an hour to go. Terry offered to give me a ride again, which was sweet of him. He reminded me about the switch thing with our apartment as we hopped on his bike. It might be his plan to tell me then I couldn’t rant on about it with the helmet already on.

When we reached my workplace, I hurriedly took off my helmet to give him a proper reply about our apartment plans.

“If you help me bring some of my things back to your place tonight, you can start staying there for the rest of the week until Ms. Maxwell takes it back when I quit.”

“You got yourself a deal!” he replied enthusiastically, his voice muffled by the helmet he was wearing as he gives me a thumb up in approval.

I chuckled at his reply and gave him a short wave of goodbye as I make my way inside the building. When I entered the lobby, I turned towards the reception desk and saw Danny gawking at me. I gave her a brief wave as greeting in which she replied with a smile and wink. I made my way towards the elevator after our short greeting.

I was in luck when the elevator door opened without me clicking on the call button. I stepped aside as a few people piled out. I lowered my head when I noticed a few board members getting out. When the last man got out, I stepped inside and pressed on the closed button.

“There you are. Why are you late?”

I turned to my left and glanced up in surprise. “What…? When did you…?” I whispered in shock as the elevator closed. I was trapped in the elevator with William. It was not a good sign to start my day.

“Now, tell me. Why are you really quitting?” he asked and got straight to the point.

“I think… I need to… I need to get out. I think I forgot to get something at home…” I stuttered as my nerves crawled up to my vocal cord.

He studied me for a second and raised his eyebrow and question. “So…” He took a cautionary step that had me backing up to the steel wall.

The situation felt so familiar. “Well, if you really want to know so badly.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Fine,” I sighed in defeat and continued on. “I quit because I didn’t want to see you, hear you, or even smell you at all. I had it. I truly just had it with all of you damn Maxwells.”

“Smell?” he interrupted with a snicker.

“I’m not finished, yet,” I warned and glowered at him. “I don’t want to continue whatever it is that I have going on with you. The truth is I’m not even sure myself what I feel about you.”

“Are you done?” he silently asked after I briefly paused.

“No. I think I still have more to say…” I answered pointedly. “Well, I also don’t want to see you anymore. Wait, I already said that… And, oh! I almost forgot! I don’t want to be associated with you anymore in my life, professional or otherwise.”

“Now, are you done?”

“Yes, I think that it all.” I nodded curtly.

“Well, everything you have said isn’t what I wanted to say. Actually, opposite of everything you just said is what I wanted to say,” he countered in the same tone as he took another step closer to me. “Why do you think so negatively of me?”

“Are you really asking me an obvious question?” I snorted and eyed him in disbelief.

“True, I can’t lie to you about that fact, but what about after? You can’t lie and tell me your feelings haven’t changed,” he probed in interest.

“Okay, I’ll give you that… but, so what? That’s the only defense you have? If you bottled up every bad moment we had from the good, I’d have an atomic bomb in my hands.”

He chortled at my words and shook his head in disbelief. “Why do I hear a sense of wavering resolve on your tone?” he asked smugly.

“Oh, Please! You’re reading it too much. You think you have a chance after the stunt you pulled?” I challenged and stood straight to make my point clear.

“Yes, I do believe I have one. If I didn’t, we won’t be having this conversation,” he replied, the end of his lips twitched into a grin.

I felt indifferent on where our conversation was heading. But before I could contradict, he took another step closer to me. In reaction, I slowly took a step back on the cold, steel wall behind me. As it started to get uncomfortable, the elevator door suddenly opened to our floor. I let out a huge sigh of relief that it was over. I thought that I could get away from him but I was at a disadvantage. He grabbed both sides of my shoulder, making me look up at him in surprise.

The next thing I knew his lips were on mine. It’s been awhile since he kissed me. It felt like I had been holding my breath. I couldn’t help the reaction his touch had on my body when my lips responded to his. I let out a soft moan as he pinned me to the cool wall, giving me a slight feverish feel as my skin started to heat up. Like the feeling of our lips weren’t enough, William deepened the kiss as he roughly bit my lips, asking for entrance. In automatic response, I allowed him.

In that moment, I didn’t know where everything started and ended. All I could feel and think of was him. His soft yet rough hands pulled me to his toned chest. His primal kiss and tongue swirling around on my mouth commandingly. His intoxicating scent clouded my mind. He was everywhere.

And then, he was gone. When he took a small step back from me, but remained both hands around my waist. I didn’t know I had closed my eyes the whole time until I opened them to see his liquid, blue eyes. I could hear my ragged breath as I tried to stable my heartbeat.

“Did you think I wouldn’t do this in front of them?” he whispered breathlessly, his voice was raspy from our urgent, feverish kiss.