The Contract; A Billionaire Romance (18+)

TEN

Aden

The next morning, I grab some coffee and a bagel in a rush on my way to work. I'm running behind today, which is very out of character for me. I woke up late since I fell asleep in the early morning hours, and had to throw a suit on, not even sure if my tie matches, and rush to the building.

            Usually, I have a morning workout before I come in, but today I had to omit that and I'm worried I won't be able to keep my anger at bay  when my father shows his face to go over numbers with me.

            I step through the doors and Cindy smiles up at me, her teeth nearly blinding against her tanned skin.

            "Good morning, sir," She says, standing. She's wearing a low-cut red shirt with loose-fitting slacks, but it does nothing for me.

            "Morning," I mutter as I beeline to the elevator. I punch the up button and wait for an excruciating amount of time before it opens and I stand face to face with a short dark-haired woman who can't seem to follow instruction, who stares up at me sweetly.

            "You're late, sir. Thought I'd never see the day." Odessa tries to walk past me, but I grab her arm and drag her back into the elevator with me. She squeals as she stumbles backward, but I right her, keeping a firm grip on her bicep. "What do you think you're doing? I have to take these reports over to—"

            "What are you doing? I told you to not come in today."

            "I don't have to listen to you. You're not my boss." She stops and laughs, placing her palm against her forehead and shaking her head. "Oh wait, you are." She looks up at me and smiles, but I see the deviance in those brown eyes.

            "Yes. I am. And I gave you an order—"

            "Order shmorder. I don't want to sit at home, bored all day, Aden. I like my job, you know. Except when my boss thinks he can dictate everything I do in my life, oh and says that I'm basically clueless with men."

            I ignore the last part of her sentence and try not to wince at the venom in her voice. I'm much more worried about what my father will say, because his words can be much more cruel than mine. "My dad is coming in today, that's why. I don't want you to meet him. He's...Not a nice man."

            "So? The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree, it seems. I handle you well, don't I?"

            I don't want to answer the question of how well she could handle me.

            "You don't think I'm nice?" She gives me a look, and in that moment I don't even know why I ask the question, considering how I treated her yesterday—the answer is plain and simple: I'm not a nice man, but only when it comes to a woman who doesn't take my warnings with the gravity they hold.

Last night, I vowed to myself to never stoop that low again. I'm a man, not a boy, and Odessa should never feel the wrath from my uncontrollable emotions regarding my brother. She did nothing wrong. I know she deserves an apology, but she's going to have to wait until I get rid of the shark dressed in Versace.

            Suddenly, the elevator opens and in steps another employee named Devin. He looks between us and our proximity in uncertainty, so I clear my throat and take a step back, facing the doors. Odessa smiles at me before she turns as well. I keep her in the corner of my vision, and I notice that she's wearing color for the first time since I've seen her. Her dress is a light pink and hugs her curves in ways that would make a man bow at her feet.