Obsession

Chapter 1

My fingers tap furiously at my laptop in tune with the dozens of other pairs of hands in the office.

As usual, my day at Bane Enterprises is the same as any other, typing, typing and typing.

If only my work could do itself today. But I have to get these papers in to Mr. Bane.

Mr. Bane is the head of Bane Enterprises. At only twenty-five years old he's become the biggest billionaire in America. How? I would love to know.

I finally finish the paper with an exhale and print the booklet out after rereading it twice. I walk steadily to the elevator and press the button to the twentieth floor, where Mr. Bane's office is.

ding!

The elevator stops at the floor and opens to a receptionist's desk.

"These are the papers, Mr. Bane asked for," I place the booklet on Louise's desk.

"Ah," Louise has a cheery tone that always makes me smile, "You again? That boy's been working you to the bone these days."

A pang of anger beats at my chest, "I can't exactly do anything about it, I do want to keep my job."

Louise speaks into the telephone next to her, "Ms. Avery is here with the booklet you needed, sir." Some muffled sounds emanate from the phone. "Alright, I'll send her in now."

Confusion floods my brain, he only invites important guests into his office.

"Come with me Ms. Avery," Louise gets up from behind her desk and begins to walk down the right hallway to the door at the end of it.

The redwood door was labeled with a gold plate, 'Mr. Lawrence Bane'.

Louise opens the door revealing a large room with a wall made entirely of floor to ceiling windows. A dark wooden desk sat in the center of it.

In the chair behind it sat the billionaire man behind everything, Mr. Bane.

I've seen him on our floor before, usually dressed in a full suit and flanked by his bodyguard. In his office he looks more relaxed.

He stands to greet me and holds his hand out as I approach his desk. He wears a white shirt with its sleeves rolled up and some buttons undone with grey pants. I shake his hand which is decorated with silver rings that compliment his pale skin tone.

"Ms. Avery, nice to meet you," he says with a dazzling smile. "Louise." He nods toward Louise and she leaves the room, shutting the door behind her.

The office walls are painted grey and lined with paintings of different people, they look chillingly similar to Mr. Bane. Their matching green eyes send cold fingers tracing my spine.

"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Bane," I place the papers on his desk. "Have a wonderful day."

I turn to leave his office, the paintings' eyes following me as I go.

"Ms. Avery, I don't believe I dismissed you."

I stop and look back at him, his jade green eyes dart to the seat in front of his desk. My eye twitches in annoyance before I walk back to the seat and settle myself in.

"My apologies, Mr. Bane."

He takes his seat, dark waves bouncing around his jawline with the motion.

"Please, just call me Lawrence," he urges.

"Of course." I'm not calling him Lawrence.

He picks up the papers and skims through them one by one while I sit there silently looking at each painting on the walls.

"Ms. Avery," Mr. Bane clicks his tongue disappointedly. "There's an error in this paper."

Huh?

"What do you mean, Mr. Bane?"

He sighs and walks around the desk toward me, placing the booklet in front of me. Mr. Bane's hand rests on the back of the chair while he points to the paper. The hairs at the back of my neck raise in his presence.

He smells... sweet like shea butter and vanilla. His hand rests under a phrase at the bottom of the page and he lowers his head to my ear, "There should be a comma right... here," he says, low and steady.

A completely inappropriate fire erupts in me and the need to get out becomes stronger.

"I see, I'll have that fixed right away," I look to the right to meet his eyes but I find him already looking at me.

I freeze in shock holding his gaze. He's close. Too close.

It feels like an eternity passes before he finally breaks his focus and returns to his chair.

"This won't do Ms. Avery," he shakes his head.

"It's just one mistake, I can reprint that page and replace it."

"No, that's not what I meant," he stares at me with those damn eyes again and shrugs. "One small mistake means there could be dozens. Looks like someone needs to supervise you from now on."

I don't need someone to watch me do my work, I'm not a child.

"Supervise? I'm not a-" Luckily I stop myself before I finished the sentence. I can't let my anger cost me my job.

"What was that?" says Mr. Bane, leaning forward in his chair.

I take a deep breath, "I don't think that's necessary, Mr. Bane."

"Lawrence. Or have you forgotten already?" He smiles, to my chagrin. "You seem to have an attitude, Ms. Avery. How about I move you up to my office. Not a lot of people can handle tempers like yours."

My jaw slackens, before I shut it immediately.

What fucking attitude? I barely said anything to this infuriating brat. Maybe I should have a temper tantrum, break his fingers off and shove them down his throat.

"Sure," I force through a smile. "I'll try my best to do better next time."

God, I wish this man wasn't the one paying for the bed I sleep in.

"You're dismissed," he waves his hand toward the door.

I get up and walk to the door fuming. i could feel him watching me walk out of the door.

Instead of keeping a level head like I should, I look back at him and fix him with a sneer before I leave.

What is his problem?