Chapter 3: Chapter 3

Chloe could clearly hear the pounding of her heart.

Voices grew louder as the elevator climbed. All the way to the top of Formonix Enterprise. She was holding a slim leather folder in her hand. The only thing inside was a fake resume bearing her fake name, Alexandra Daley.

She ignored the deep fear in her gut when she thought of encountering Nate Ryan. She wondered how he would respond to her. The stories she heard about him wasn't helping her either. They painted a picture of a reckless, ruthless, and insatiable man. She thought of him as the devil, even though she had not seen him.

Stop. Go home. You can still save your sister another way. Her thoughts echoed.

But that wasn't true. There was no going back.

After all, if she went home, she would be returning to face Neil. Who had her sister in a private hospital, her bills cleared and not a single buck to be paid. The time to quit was long gone.

She had spent the previous two weeks, with a personal trainee, Laura. She was unforgivably awkward around her. She could not fit into Laura's perfect idea of a seductress and it seemed to upset her more than Neil. Laura had screamed and grumbled to Neil more than a billion times that Chloe wasn't fit for the job. Chloe didn't care. Unlike most people, she didn't like to please anyone especially if they didn't deserve it. She paid no attention to Laura, instead, focused on the mission ahead of her. Sabotaging Nate's deal.

The first time she had come across the name Nate Ryan, she was working with Callus. Nate had just closed off a deal with an Australian real estate agent. It was a blow to Callus because he wanted that deal for a long time. It was during one of the meetings that she had a better understanding of who he was.

He was a mobile vulture. Feeding on the carcasses of companies and real estate properties. Nate was every where. He made it his business to dismantle any competitor he encountered. He infiltrated corporations, only leaving when he had conquered half of their shares. And now, she was infiltrating into his enterprise, offered a job to sabotage him by his very own brother.

The elevator slowed to a stop, the twin metal doors pulling apart soundlessly to reveal a hallway. The office at the end of the hallway was her destination. She gulped and straightened her skirt.

She approached the reception desk, putting up a confident face. "Hello..." She smiled at the young woman behind the desk. "I'm Alexandra Daley and I am here to see Mr. Nate Ryan.."

The receptionist looked at her fiercely. "You must be the new secretary..." She said dryly. Chloe wondered if Nate only hired egocentric women.

"Yes. I am..."

The receptionist sank slowly into her sit, picked up the phone and hit a button. "Yes. Mr. Ryan, your Secretary has arrived..."

She listened for a moment, then hung up the phone. "Right down the hallway. The last office..." She trailed.

Chloe walked away immediately, clutching the leather folder to her chest firmly. As she approached the big golden office door, she sucked in her breath. She needed to be confident and fearless.

She stopped in front of the door. She couldn't see through to the other side, but she could see it was darker than the rest of the space.

Lifting her right arm, she pushed open the door. She stepped inside the spacious office and shivered. The temperature was noticeably lower.

All her thoughts were instantly suspended when the man behind the desk turned.

Nate Ryan.

Deep blue eyes cut straight to hers without hesitation and a clearness that told her that he was just as ruthless as they described washed over her. He had a short conservative hair cut, but some strands of his dark hair fell across his brows in stubborn rebellion. She recognized his face well enough, from the photo graphs in the files she had studied. But the pictures didn't quite bring around his magnetism. His power.

He was taller than she imagined. Around six foot four. Her eyes were startling against the inky black of his hair, then to his face. His jaw was perfectly chiseled and his deep blue eyes bore his intensity. Her eyes danced across his chest. His black suit which clung to him tightly. Some parts were totally inappropriate. The corded length of his arm. His broad shoulders and chest that spread across the fabric. He was a hot-blooded man.

She had never been with a man who emitted such vigor but she was guessing that he was used to women with skills and grace. She had those qualities. And from the way he was inspecting her, he seemed to liked what he saw.

Feeling somehow embarrassed, Chloe fought past her discomposure and fought to hide her reaction. Nate Ryan was breathtaking.

He sucked in a breath of fresh air, before speaking up.

"Ms. Daley. Have a seat...

"Yes sir..."

She moved to sit on the leather chair facing his desk.

"Can I pour you coffee? Tea?.."

"Coffee, please...."

"Cream? Sugar?.."

"Cream, Thank you...."

He poured her a cup of coffee, sliding it closer to her.

He was now staring at her. Frowning. She wanted to drop everything on the ground and run her hands through his hair. She concentrated on her coffee instead.

"Your resume looks impressive..." He finally said, rolling his shirt sleeves up to his elbow, movements very precise, eyebrows drawn. "You seem to be a woman of power..."

"Thank you..." She responded.

They studied each other again for few seconds and the silence between them lengthened. She decided to break the silence. "Are they certain expectations required from me?.."

"Yes. Quite frankly, your job here is very important..."

"I'll be glad if you fill me in right away..."

He stood, and she snuck a glance at him as he walked over to a shelf. His black pant outlined his muscular legs and taut buttocks. How could she work with this man who was so breathtaking?

She hated that his presence made her feel nervous. No man ever made her feel this way. And yet, somehow, the man she was sent to destroy reminded her that she had a beating heart and hard nipples.

He returned with a file and slid it towards her. He motioned to the papers in front of her. "You can go over all of those files....I'll have some other assignments for you but you can get started with that...."

An odd expression crossed her face. Her features tightened, then smoothed back out. "Do I have to finish this before I begin my work here?..." She maintained her bold aura.

He nodded. "It shouldn't take more than 3 days.." He said calmly, observing her reaction. "Can I see your folder?.."

She nodded, then slid the folder over the polished wood. She reached for the file he had given her. Minutes passed as he studied the folder in his hands. She took the opportunity to study him. Yet again. He was handsome, too hot, too dangerous. Something in her guts whispered that he wouldn't be so easy to seduce or betray. He was after all, the biggest betrayer. Such thoughts caused fear and havoc to her mind. The last thing she needed if she was going to survive.

Yet....

She desired him. His blue eyes triggered a feeling she never knew existed within her heart. When she walked in, her objectives was to terminate the man before her, but now, she was struggling with her mind. Could she do it? The way his eyes bore into her soul, she was scared he could see right through her. Did he know she was pretending to be someone else? Did he think she was not to be trusted? Or was he simply attracted to her like she was to him?

"You have previous work experience at a real estate enterprise...." He suddenly said as if he hadn't studied her resume earlier.

She cleared her throat. "Just a few months before I decided to work with someone better..." She opened her mouth to continue but no words emerged. She seemed to struggle to get them free.

"And who did you think was a better choice?..." He asked, nursing his pride.

She took a deep breath. "Well, I have always desired to work with you. Real estate is not just a business. It's dominance. It's power..." Not too proud. Not too rehearsed.

She watched as he struggled to hide a smirk. She was definitely feeding his ego. "I fired my last Secretary over organization issues..I hope you can do better..."

She nodded. "I'm here to make a difference..." She wasn't lying. At the end of her stay, she would leave Formonix Enterprise shaking.

She looked a bit nervous as she shot him a glance. Although she had been hired, she knew she was still waiting for his approval.

He was reading through her resume, which was perfectly crafted by Neil's lawyer. She wondered if he knew his brother was after him, or that his brother had spies in his enterprise.

She waited and waited. Her mind racing as she waited to hear his word of approval. Why was he taking so long?

Her last fleeting irrational thought echoed within her. Cut your losses here, and now, and walk out that door. This man is going to turn your life upside down. He would make you miserable, more than you are now.

Chloe fought the sudden surge of fear and inadequacy and waited for his approval.

*******************************

Ah, damn it.

Why did she have to be so hot and sexy?

He snuck a glance at her, as she studied the file in front of her. Her brown eyes were large and luminous, fringed with long black lashes. High cheekbones set off a lush and pink mouth. Her breast was as lush as her mouth, and matched the curve of her hips. Her skin was smooth and creamy- and somehow matched the color of her eyes. Her light brown hair, which he could imagine thick and lustrous tumbled down her shoulders. She was tall, graceful and this package of female temptation came all wrapped up in a blue top and white skirt that emphasized her cleavage and well defined hips.

He had noticed a small bulge in his pants and his palms were perspiring. He had the most intense desire to push up her skirts and slid his fingers down the front of her panties.

Alexandra Daley was beautiful. Yes, in her own way. It wasn't just her body or eyes that attracted him. It was her power. Her aura.

He hadn't expected her presence to have such an effect on him. None of the other women he enjoyed made him feel that way. He had never responded to a female that way. Never.

The woman before him pushed his mind to darker places. Far from business. Close to pleasure. He wanted her on his bed. He wanted to make her scream his name. He wanted to taste her.

His pulse was sprinting as he imagined eating her out, giving her an orgasm. Pure pleasure. But it was ridiculous. It was extremely inconvenient. It was business and he had to keep it that way.

If he had learned anything from his years as a successful businessman, it was to keep pleasure out of business. Emotions destroyed business.

And yet, this young woman tempted him greatly. There was something about her that pulled him. Was it her golden like eyes? There were not supposed to have things in the common. He liked to know how she possessed such an intensifying amount of dominance. He desired to know how she could make him feel powerless by staring into his eyes.

"Are you in a relationship?.." He had found himself asking her after some minutes of silence.

Her lips twitched. "No..I have no desire yet to be in a relationship. Casual sex suits me much better.."

His jaw set, digesting her words. He had never been hungrier for anybody in his life. She wanted casual sex. He could give her that.

But no. He had fired his last Secretary for the same reason.

Ten years working with him, Cassandra had fallen like every other woman. She hinted at her desire to be with him, make love with him often and have him all to herself which was a deal breaker.

He had no desire for commitment. Just business. He was working to conquer half of Los Angeles and he did not need a woman to cry on his shoulders. He needed a fierce accomplice. One like Alexandra Daley.

"You are a pretty woman. I would not want the board to be distracted by any means...." Nate said, hiding a smile.

It didn't matter if the board were distracted. He was. Her nipples were in little points against the front of her blouse. He was struggling to pretend he was not salivating. He wanted to stroke her delicate skin. Palm her tits. Spread her legs. Taste her wetness.

What kind of girl did that? Who had the ability to make him feel that way?

Unlike Cassandra or the other women he worked with, Alexandra carried a dark aura. He could feel it. He knew there was more to the facade she was wearing. Yet, he didn't quite understand what it was.

His mind screamed that she was not to be trusted, that she was dangerous. But instead, he felt the desire to explore this woman in front of him.

Her resume was impressive. She had worked with several high ranking companies and corporations. She understood business and seemed to bear the same desire to dominate.

"Would I be allowed to sit for board meetings and office politics?.." She asked confidently. None of his employees spoke with such power.

His head was spinning with thoughts about her. "Yes. Although you may not be permitted to make contributions for some time, you must be present for all board meetings..." Slowly, his eyes traveled all over her body.

Nate agreed within his mind that she was irresistible. Beautiful, intelligent, dangerous and calculated. She was not to be messed with. He was definitely going to keep an eye on her.

"Ummm.." Her lashes fluttered. "It says here that I have to accompany you to all your business meetings and trips..."

"Yes?" He asked.

"Would I be in close contact with you at all times?.."

"Of course..."

"Are they certain situations where I have to live or reside with you?.."

His stomach pitched with tension. "Yes. It's part of the job..."

She nodded, showing no signs of emotions or excitement. Usually, ladies reacted crazily when he offered them his bed. Why was she different?

She took deep breaths. "I would like a contract between us..."

Nate's eye brow raised in confusion. "A contract? What kind of contract?..."

She swallowed, bringing her face up to meet his eyes. "I want a contract to be signed between us. No sex as long as I work with you...."

His face twisted into a frown. "Do you think I want to have sex with you?.."

She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I have no idea. I would just like a contract or agreement between us that we would maintain a cordial relationship.."

How could she speak to him that way? He was her boss. He had every right to do what ever he desired to her.

He lifted an eyebrow. "And if I don't sign this contract?..."

"I would walk out through that door and you shall never hear from me.."

His expression dropped. "Do you realize that I'm doing the hiring here?..."

She nodded, yet again, with no expression or emotion.

"And I make the rules here...."

She nodded again. Why wasn't she speaking? Why wasn't she challenging him?

He offered her the same neutral smile he offered his business associates. "Then, I am glad you have come back to your senses..."

Her brown eyes narrowed. "I still insist on the contract. I have worked with several billionaires like you and they certainly had no trouble agreeing to my terms..."

"I make the rules around here...." He barked.

How could she possibly question his authority? She couldn't.

"In February, you lost 10% of a deal due to a slight complication or misunderstanding with your secretary..." Chloe said in a low voice. "What was the basis of this misunderstanding?.."

Damn. She was good, Nate thought.

He did have a misunderstanding with his secretary in February. Dramatic scene she had caused in the building. His throat closed. How did she know so much about his personal business? Was someone leaking information to her?

He fought the embarrassment and asked the question. "How did you know about that? That was purely personal and private?..."

She smiled. "Nothing is private Mr. Nate. Not to the people who wish to take you down..."

He shook with anger but kept his face serene. "You seem to know a lot about me...Should I not be more concerned about you than any one else?..."

Tension snapped the air around them. "You should be more concerned about your brother...."

His face turned a dark shade of red. "My brother is the least of my worries. He is nothing to me.."

"Surprisingly, that's the same thing he said to me about you...."

Shock and a wave of anger washed over Nate. "My brother? He sent you here?..."

If ice cubes were available, he would have sucked them one after the other. Her confession made a strange heat rise to his skin. Her tone was mild. Her smile seemed easy. Yet, she was, in front of him, accepting that she had interacted with his brother, who he betrayed five years ago.

He knew Neil despised him. Loathed him with all of his being. It wasn't like he stole a candy stick from his brother five years ago. That could easily be forgiven. He had cheated him out of a billion dollar deal. Neil had woken up to a horrible betrayal from him.

He had hurried to Los Angeles, where he buried the money into real estate. His brother had tracked him down several times but unable to come close to him, had given up on revenge or so he thought.

And now, five years later, his newly hired secretary was hinting that his brother was once again after him. Had Neil be cooking up something massive while he partied and closed off deals with several corporations?

"Did my brother send you here?..." He asked Chloe again, as she had failed to answer the first time.

She shook her head. "He intended to...When he found out you hired me to replace your secretary, he visited me at my apartment and offered me a deal ...."

He hadn't known that his brother was still out for revenge. "What deal?..."

Chloe's eyes were focused on him. "He offered me a million dollars to sabotage Formonix Enterprise..."

Nate laughed, but it was an angry and coarse one. "I did think the old loser would give up...."

Chloe was silent.

But he needed answers. Answers to a lot of questions. "Why are you here?.."

She shifted in her seat. "Like I said, I am here because I want to work with you...."

"And you rejected my brother's offer?.." He asked.

"Of course. Six years of experience in business have taught me that you're not an easy man to terminate..." She smiled.

He froze. So his brother had indeed offered her a job to terminate his enterprise? Why did she reject the offer? Why was she telling him all this?

Uneasiness went through him, but he shook it away from his well armored heart. "And why do you tell me all this?..."

Chloe's eyes were shining, her expression neutral. "I simply wish you to inform you that they are more important things to handle here than a sexual relationship between us..." She paused, then continued. "I do not wish to dictate how you run your business but I can help you achieve your dreams....That is of course, if you still wish to work with me..."

That was all he needed. She was the perfect replacement for Cassandra. She was an asset. And he was going to use her perfectly.

His jaw tightened. He believed that Cassandra had leaked some information to his brother to use against him. And Neil, naive and foolish had approached his new Secretary in order to use her. He however, did not expect Alexandra to reject his offer or report back to him. That was perfect.

Nate looked at Alexandra, observing her confident face. Who ever she was, she was good for business. They shared the same objectives. They had the same plans. She looked ruthless, powerful and completely in control. She reminded him of himself, but a more confident version.

He took a deep breath. She would make an exceptional partner for anyone. She was a dominant woman, the kind they didn't make any more. If he needed a change in his business, she would deliver.

He had great plans for her.

For five years, he had been conquering various corporations. Now, it was time to put his brother down once and for all.

He wondered if Alexandra would accept his proposal. "I would like you to accept my brother's offer. But you would be working for me instead...."

She paused, a deliberation playing across her face. "Won't he be clever enough to figure out that I am working for you?..."

Nate smirked. "You have met my brother...do you think he is?..."

She also smiled. "No. Not if I played my cards right...."

Again. Nate was impressed with her response. She was the perfect partner he needed. Getting her to deal with her brother would be the easiest job.

"Perfect..." He responded. "I'll see you tomorrow..."

She slid out of the chair, picked up the file and stood before him. "We'll need a new payment plan for the new job. And I still insist on the contract..."

Direct hit. Precise. She was strictly ready for business.

"I'll think about the contract and the payment plan..." Obviously, he wasn't winning.

"Well then, I will be back when you have made a decision..." She said. "Have a great day..."

That was the moment Nate knew he needed to make a fast decision. Could he keep his hands away from her? Could he resist the temptation?

She was resolute.

She turned. Strode to the door. Twisted the knob. Then....

"The papers for the contract will be ready tomorrow..." The words fired out of his mouth before he could think. She knew too much about him. He had to keep her close or she could easily destroy him. Cassandra was already working on that, he thought.

She turned back around and spoke in a crisp businesslike tone. "I'll be here tomorrow to review them. I also expect to see changes to the payment plan. It was nice to see you..."

He cleared his throat to reply, but it was too late. She had already left.

At that moment, he realized that he had not been in charge for the last 1 hour of their conversation. She was.

Nate shimmered with thoughts. She was his perfect match. Dangerous, ruthless and hungry for power.

He desired her. Greatly.