The Tycoon's Desire

Chapter Twelve

I still could not believe that I absolutely HAD to go shopping for work clothes. Travis tried to insist that we go shopping in Knightsbridge for my work wear and I had to absolutely put my foot down and refuse. I knew that it was filled with many designer shops that I couldn't dare dream of ever owning. I said that for smart work attire I would shop in M&S only and if anything needed tailoring they would do it. That way he had to compromise on the price and I had to compromise with the fact that it wasn't primark or H&M. Travis made me try on the whole shop I'm certain and at most of the things I picked you could see his mouth curl in disgust.  Whether it was at me or at the clothes,  I couldn't tell you.  Strangely,  the afternoon spent shopping wasn't as agonising as it was tedious.  Travis was completely professional. In fact he hardly spoke to me if it wasn't about something I was trying on. I spent the afternoon chatting with the personal shopper that had been appointed to me and she was very lovely and helpful but at times I would catch her looking at Travis for approval over what i had chosen to try on and that more than bristled me. Finally the day was over and all without incident from Travis Charles. I arrived home happy to be able to relax and as I opened the door I could hear Alice squealing in excitement as if someone just brought her favourite cartoon character to life and upon walking into the living room I could see why. There was boxes and many packages of different clothes, dresses, skirts, shirts  and even underwear!  They were all of the highest calibre and I didn't even have to touch them to know this. I stared in slight envy at the clothes imagining how beautiful they would look and feel. I wondered out loud how Alice was able to afford all these extravagant things and she replied saying "They're not my clothes. They're yours! They were delivered shortly before you got here. " I gasped in shock. I certainly had not bought any of these things. Actually now I think of it I'm sure it was Travis. He gave in all too easily about where I would shop earlier and I wouldn't be surprised to discover it was him who did this. Sudden rage filled me. He had no right to do this. I specifically said no to this kind of thing and this is exactly what he goes to do. I would punish him with these silly clothes he bought me. I would refuse to wear them because I didn't choose or buy them and I had plenty of adequate work wear available at my disposal now thanks to my M&S trip. He would learn that I didn't bow easily to money and pretty things.

The next morning I was up bright and early pretty much because I hadn't slept all night.  Throughout the chaos of the previous day, I had forgotten to worry.  Forgotten that he was my enemy and not my boss. I had to rectify this today and keep him away at arms length. I would not allow him to get close to me like he did before. I wore one of the new pant suits I'd got yesterday and wore a turtle neck shirt with it. I would not give him the pleasure of seeing me dressed fashionably. For me,  as long as I was decent and looked professional that was acceptable. With this thought in mind,  I finished getting ready for work and had my breakfast then made my way to my work place. As soon as I stepped outside my house a man approached me saying he had been sent from the Charles HQ to pick her up and drive her to work and that if he failed to come back with her,  he would be sacked. I stared at him in pure shock and asked what how long he had been waiting for me. His reply had my jaw dropping all the way to the ground.  "Since 4am Miss I have been waiting for you to be ready." 4am?!? It was 6am now and I had been awake at 4. I wonder how I didn't hear him arrive at all. I decided to call Travis as this was completely out of line. I was not an invalid who was unable to take themselves to work.  Annoyance was an understatement of how I was feeling. As soon as the phone began to ring, it was answered. "I assume you've just met Ben? He's one of our best drivers. Very reliable. I'm sure he's told you his job is on the line if he doesn't drive you to work so why don't you be a good little girl Miss Taylor and just get in the car and come to work. You're already late. I've been expecting you since 5am." Usually I was a woman who admired confidence. But this man's confidence was just way out of the ball park. He always sounded completely self assured and it was just completely irritating to me to hear that know it all tone in his voice.  I pictured somebody throttling him once and for all and I must admit I found that image quite gratifying. I didn't want to give in to his commands but I really didn't want Ben to lose his job over me so begrudgingly I got into the ery expensive looking sleek BMW. Everything about the car exuded luxury even Ben himself looked very well off which made me wonder why he was a driver for the Charles HQ. I decided I was starting to become a little too suspicious of everything so I quickly dropped that line of questioning that was beginning in my mind and just enjoyed the ride in my silence. Shortly into the drive,  Ben started asking me questions about where I was from and how I heard about the job and just normal questions like that which I answered and I took this opportunity to find out how other employees felt about working for the company and surprisingly he was very happy and enthusiastic to tell me how well the employees were always treated and how he's never wanted to work anywhere else since starting there.  This made me feel better about working there. As long as I could keep things professional I couldn't go wrong. Right?