The Billionaire's Desire (3 page)

            I arrived early the next day
and jumped right into working on my project.  I had to turn in a rough draft to
Stacy by 11:00 a.m., and I was done by 9:30 a.m.  I went to her office and she
checked over my numbers and analysis. 

            “Sarah, I am really impressed
with your work.  Hang here for a sec while I go show this to my supervisor.”

            She had a beautiful office and
she was just a first year associate!  I wanted this so badly I could taste it. 
I looked around at her pictures as I sat and waited and imagined, just for a
minute, that this was my office.  I was going to have the same thing but
better.  I could feel it.  Stacy came back with her boss’s boss, Jim Parker,
who was a partner, and he asked me if I would present my findings and analysis
at the partner’s meeting the next day at the downtown office.

            “Did you say partner’s
meeting?”  I was a bit nervous and confused.

            “I did.  We have been really
impressed with your work these past few weeks and I think you hit the nail on
the head with your findings.  It takes most people weeks to figure out what you
were able to figure out in less than two days.  Your supervisor will be
notified and she will attend with you.”

            “I would be happy to sir.”

            “Oh, sir is not necessary. 
Just Jim is fine.”

            “OK, Jim.  I would be happy to
attend the meeting.”  I loved how laid back and yet buttoned up this company
was.  Partners made millions of dollars a year and he wanted me to call him by
his first name.  I loved it.

            When I got back to my cubicle
I had to restrain myself because I wanted to jump up and down and scream.  I
was going to present in front of the
partners! 
There was no way I was
going to screw this up.  As I sat at my desk my mind wandered to the gorgeous
stranger again.  I was so busy the past several hours that I didn’t have time
to think about him very much.  I was actually happy about that because it
showed me that I was able to focus when necessary and nothing was going to keep
me from getting this position.  I decided that, until this big meeting was
over, whenever he would pop into my mind I would just push him out.  My
ultimate goal was to be hired at the end of the internship so I had to stay
focused.         

            When I got home that night I practiced
my presentation in front of the mirror eight times.  I felt good about it by
the time I went to bed.  I went to bed early so that I would be well rested and
alert the next day. 

            The next morning I felt really
good about my presentation.  I’d gotten up early, I wore a new suit and didn’t
have a hair out of place.  I wanted to look like a picture perfect professional
in front of the partners.  I wanted them to see that I fit with the look of the
company.  I took the early train again and I wasn’t even thinking about the
gorgeous stranger when I walked up the stairs to the second level and I stopped
dead in my tracks. 
What was he doing here?  This isn’t the time that he
takes the train! 
I felt weak in the knees just looking at him.  I was
suddenly acutely aware that I looked silly standing at the top of the landing
just staring at him.  He just sat there with a sexy smirk on his face.  I
instantly felt embarrassed about our previous two encounters and looked down at
the ground. 
Not today.  Today is too important.  I have a huge meeting to
think about.
  I glanced up at him and he was watching me with amused
interest as I stood there like an idiot.  I quickly snapped out of it and sat
down.  I pulled out my report to go over it again. 
Please, please leave me
alone today.  I don’t think I have the strength to resist you and I have to do
well at this meeting.
 

            The entire ride I expected him
to come over to me so I was focusing half of my attention on my report and was
half on guard in case he approached me.  Thankfully, when we got to our stop he
walked past me without saying a word.  I was relieved at first, and then
annoyance set in. 
What an arrogant jerk! 
Maybe he felt he got what he
wanted and now he was done with me.  I couldn’t get all worked up about that
right then.  I would give him a piece of my mind when I saw him the next
morning on the train.  Until then I had to put him out of my mind and focus on
my big meeting that morning.

Chapter 4

            The executive floor was
everything I had imagined and more.  It was absolutely gorgeous.  The walls had
deep mahogany trim, there were floor to ceiling glass doors everywhere, and the
receptionist desk looked like an executive desk in the middle of an enormous
waiting room.  The waiting room was lined with plush chairs and there was a
coffee and tea station set up in the corner of the room. 
I'm
definitely
going to have an office up here one day.
  The meeting started at 10:00 a.m.
and we were 20 minutes early.  While my boss and I sat waiting to be called
into the meeting, she gave me a few words of encouragement.  I could tell that
she was proud of me and that meant a lot.  We were called to the meeting a few
minutes later and when we walked into the room there were already 20 people
sitting around a large table.  My boss told me that she would introduce me when
it was my turn to present.  I was nervous and excited about this opportunity. 
Interns never got this kind of exposure.  Two minutes later everyone was there
and ready to begin.  We were just waiting for Joshua Hunter, the CEO.

            What happened next, felt like
an out of body experience.  I was glancing over my notes in front of me when I
heard that familiar deep, sexy voice ring out.

            "Sorry to keep everyone
waiting.  Are we ready to begin?"

            My mouth fell open as I looked
up to see the gorgeous stranger standing at the head of the table.  I quickly
composed myself as a million thoughts began to run through mind. 
The
fucking CEO?  Really? 
I felt like I was going to lose it so I looked down
at my notes and counted to 10.  I had been waiting for this kind of opportunity
and I was not going to blow it.

            I gave my presentation near
the end of the meeting and it went flawlessly.  I was able to answer all
questions that were asked of me and I felt really good about it.  As I was
leaving the room, Joshua glanced at me and Jim Parker stopped me.

            “Wonderful job Sarah.”

            “Thank you Jim, and thank you
for this opportunity."

            I made it back to my desk on
wobbly legs since my nerves were all a jumble.  The reality of what just
happened started to sink in.  I was so freaked out by what just happened.  The
stranger was Joshua Hunter!  Owner of the entire company, Joshua Hunter! 
Billionaire,
Joshua Hunter!  All kinds of thoughts started running through my head.  Could I
be fired for what we did?  And we did it in the building in the lounge!  I was
certain it was grounds for termination and I was now scared that I was going to
lose my opportunity.  I started to panic and then realized that
he
seduced
me
. 
I
shouldn't get in trouble at all.  But no matter
how many times I told myself that, I was terrified I'd screwed everything up. 
Why did I let him do those things to me? 
Because it felt so damn good and I
couldn't remember the last time anyone touched me like that
.  
He was so
sexy and mysterious I didn't want to resist.

            I decided to submerge myself
in the next project I was working on.  I was so worried after learning who
Joshua Hunter was that I lost my appetite and worked straight through lunch. 
Around 3:30 PM, Ms. Statham came to my desk and said Mr. Hunter wanted to see
all three interns in his office.

            I felt sick to my stomach as I
rode the elevator up to the executive floor.  This was the end.  I had messed
up.  I was probably going to be lectured in front of the other two interns
about what not to do.  I was mortified and terrified.

            His secretary led me to his
office and the other two interns were already there so I took a seat next to
them.  A couple of minutes later Mr. Hunter came in.  He didn't extend any
niceties or pleasantries and got right to the point.  He told us that he did
not make the final decision as to who the company was going to hire.  The
partners all voted and decided who would be hired after the internship program
each year.  He told us that he had decided to end the intern program early this
year because one person’s work stood out from day one.  He told us that we all
did exceptional work.  The company was looking for someone whose work was
extremely accurate and who could quickly grasp the concepts and principles of
the company.  He went on to say that unfortunately, they found flaws with two
interns work.  The other intern did an outstanding job.

            “Congratulations Ms. Vaughn. 
Welcome to Hunter International."

            I wanted to cry because all my
hard work and been validated.  I also felt a sense of relief because all the
partners had to vote for me so I knew I didn't get this job because of what
happened between us.  The other two interns thanked Mr. Hunter and left his
office, closing the door behind them, leaving us alone.

            “So,
Joshua Hunter
. 
Why didn't you tell me who you are?”  I gave him a cautious stare.  I was
pissed but I had to be careful since he was now, in essence, my boss. 

            “You never asked me.”

            He was right, but was it really
that simple?

            “The train.  If you have all
of this, why do you ride the train?  And why don’t you ride with some sort of
security?”

            “I don’t want to be given any
sort of preferential treatment.  I want to experience what the average citizen
is experiencing.  It is important to me that those who work
for
me feel
as they are working
with
me.  I think it has made for a much more
positive and productive work environment.  But don’t get me wrong.  I do have
my little indulgences.  And I do ride with security.  They sit on the first
level.  I like to have some privacy on the train.”  He winked at me when he
said that and I could feel my cheeks getting flushed.

            “You are going to be assigned
to work on the executive floor.  There is only one other person who was an
intern who got hired and came directly to this floor.  He's now a partner and
if you work hard, which I know you will, you will have the same career path.” 

            “Mr. Hunter?”  I had to
interrupt him.

            “Joshua, please.”

            “Why did you seduce me?  Why
me?”

            “You didn’t like it?” He had
an amused look on his face.

            “You know I did.”

            “I saw a sexy, somewhat
innocent woman and once I found out how smart you are, I had to have you.”

            “What do you mean once you
found out how smart I am?  You didn’t know who I was until today at the
meeting.  All you knew was my first name.”

            “Do you think I go around
seducing random women?  Of course I knew who you were.  I found it curious that
you always like to sit on the second level.  You were new on the train and when
I kept seeing you day after day you intrigued me.  When you got off at my stop
you intrigued me even more.  When I saw you going into my building each
morning, I had to know more.  So I had my secretary do some digging.  How do
you think I found you in the lounge?  My secretary contacted your boss looking
for you.  You fascinate me.  I left you alone this morning because I knew you
had a presentation today and I figured you were probably very nervous.  I
didn’t want to make things worse.  I haven’t been captivated by a smart, sexy
woman in a long time.”

            I was speechless and
flattered, I didn't know what to say.  This gorgeous, wealthy man was intrigued
by
me
?  I had to stop second-guessing myself.  I obviously had many
redeeming qualities that captivated his interest. 

            “Isn’t it extremely
inappropriate for me to be working on your floor after what we’ve done?”  My
voice was very small once again. 

            “What have we done?”  He stood
there looking at me, arms crossed, with a sexy, slightly mocking, smoldering
look.  I wanted him to ravage me right there on the spot.

            I stood there speechless, not
knowing how to respond. 

            He must have noticed my
embarrassment because he let me off the hook.

            “It’s not inappropriate for
you to be up here, at least not in my eyes.”  He straightened his suit jacket
and walked toward me.  “Now, I have a proposition for you.  Whether you say yes
or no, will in no way affect your employment status with this company.  You
will still have a job here.  I honestly think you are extremely bright and
talented and you will be a great asset to this company.  I also think you'll be
a great asset for me.  I want you to work for me and train under me.  I will
teach you everything you need to know to excel in this company.  I will teach
you hard work, discipline, the importance of attention to detail and everything
you need to know to make the partner fast track.  I can tell you what you need
to do to make partner in five years rather than 15.  I don't have the power to
make you partner.  The partners and investors decide who becomes partner.  This
keeps favors and nepotism out of the selection process and this is one of the
reasons we are so successful.  You have to
earn
a partner position.”