Chapter 16: Chapter 16

- Conquer

James's POV

There was no way I was going to let her go without at least getting a word or two from her, so I followed her.

"Here's it again," I grumbled on reaching her then turned her to me, ignoring the way my hand twitched from the contact. "You are doing just that again. Why are you running away from me? We were having a conversation."

"A conversation we were done with, you asked, I answered, done." she paused, looking at anything that wasn't me. "Excuse me please, I've got work to do."

Oh right, I forgot she's a boss now, then it dawned on me that I had to settle my curiosity.

"When did you start working for your family? and as CEO?" The hottest CEO on earth at that.

"Since today." She met my eyes boldly making her look the part of a really tough boss. And it was hot as fuck.

I averted my gaze to the side like she would read where my mind was straying to. "Wow, that's er... very nice."

"Yeah, although it's temporary. I'm seating in for my dad while he's resting."

"Oh. I see."

"Yeah," I noticed a frown forming in her delicate features, she didn't look too happy with the arrangement.

Before I could ask her how she felt about it, my dad's PA, Patricia walked in. "Miss Babson?"

"Yes?"

"Mr.Martin said to stop by his office before you go."

"Very well. That's no problem," she said and turned to me "Okay," she drawled. " now I better go before your secretary kills me with her glare."

I chuckled. "Oh, come on Dei, she isn't my secretary. And you could stay a little while."

She licked her lips and hummed. Damn it! She was going to have to stop that sexy act of hers, but she does it unconsciously almost all the time. I recalled talking to her about it, that was when she had told me she does it unconsciously. I never told her I asked because it had always been a turn on for me. Hopefully, she didn't catch the way my eyes lingered on her now glistening red lips.

Crossing her hands over her chest, she sighed making her full breast push upwards. I cussed under my breath.

"So what now? I mean what will I be staying for?" I didn't buy the I'm-bored-out-of- my-ass tune.

I cleared my throat, forcing my eyes away from her chest and lips.

"Anything you want to talk about?" she proceeded to ask, pursing her lips into a straight line." Work maybe?" she added in a rush making me chuckle inwardly.

"No, not work. How about we talk about you?"

Deila's pov

The courage to want to converse with him finally came and he wants to talk about me?

What could he possibly want to know about me that he didn't already?

"What about me?" I asked with a shrug.

"Everything. You've been away for two years. I thought you could fill me in." It sounded more like a question than a statement.

I arched my brow in disbelieve. I mean why should I be filling him in? "Really?"

"Yeah. Really."

"Listen, James," I started, watching the time on my wrist. "I had better go now." I immediately turned on my heels to leave.

"Wait." His tone dropped pleading and I stopped dead in my tracks...what now? "You could at least agree to have dinner with me. I could pick you up, and you could pick the day, please?" I felt his presence draw closer and I shiver ran through me when his hand touched my shoulder.

I flinched away from his touch, not trusting myself. "I can't, sorry." I started for the door, again.

At the door, I was stopped by two hands coming on my shoulder, and the next thing I was turned around to face him. As my eyes landed on his face, I felt giddy from the smirk he had on.

What I didn't expect was for him to dip his head down towards my face, my breath caught in my throat. Was he going to kiss me? My lips tingled in anticipation. A soft moan escaped me as his hot breath fanned my face. His smell was so intoxicating, that I couldn't stop myself from greedily dragging in a long breath. I braced myself for the feel of his lips on mine, as I recalled how delicious and skilled they were the last time we kissed.

My eyes fluttered shut on their own as I felt his warm lips skimming slowly on my cheeks. I was savoring the feel of his hard but soft lips, my breath coming out heavily as I waited for his lips to touch mine.

"Jesus. Calm down, Dei. I was just going to give a kiss on your cheeks for business formalities sake," he softly said with a smirk.

Damn! I will be doomed. I couldn't help the disappointment that hit me.

I couldn't say anything. I was so disappointed with myself for anticipating a kiss from him when all he wanted to do was peck my cheeks and that for business formalities.

The mistake I made was looking up to his eyes again because I stood there frozen and locked in his gaze. Damn, his dark eyes were mesmerizing, I could look at it all day.

My eyes wandered down from his perfect pointed nose down to his red lips that were a bit too plump for a guy and were lined at the edge. I didn't allow my eyes to stay on his lips for too long, I looked down at his smoothly defined chiseled jaw and then looked up to his lips because I just couldn't help it. Unconsciously, I tucked my bottom lips between my teeth, moving a tad bit closer to him. I trailed my eyes on his face and landed back at his eyes that immediately held me captive, again. We were now so close that if I should let out a breath, my chest would touch his.

"Dei," he whispered, bringing a hand up to rub the back of his index fingers on my face.

Fire shot through me, like his touch, was a matchstick and my whole body ignited. My eyes fluttered shut on their own accord as my body hummed, enjoying the sensation. My lips parted, waiting expectantly for his, knowing this time he wanted what I wanted— his lips on mine. And the glint I saw in his eyes was just as intense as that which I was sure mine mirrored so I knew he wasn't going to pull a fast one on me again. I felt his breath feather my face before his lips brushed mine so softly that I moaned.

I gripped onto his shirt when his tongue farted out to licked my lips open.

"Oh!" a voice exclaimed.

We broke away and I sighed in what was half relieve and anger at the interruption. Half relive because I knew I was going to be regretting throughout the week had I kissed him. Anger at the interruption because I badly wanted him. Craved him.

My eyes snapped to the source of the voice. Mr.Martin. Great. My new business partner was going to think I was whoring his son. Just great, I thought bitterly.

"Dad," James acknowledged rubbing his palm to his forehead.

"James," Mr.Martin equally acknowledged with a smile I saw him trying to hide. Shit.

"Erm," I cleared my throat. "I better get going," I said hurriedly leaving the office building.

I opened the car where the company driver waited for me and plumped down only to look beside me to see another problem. Dawn.

"Well?" He asked smiling sheepishly.

"Well, what?" I asked in disbelieve placing a meaning to his sheepish smile. I should have known he left me in the conference room for a reason.

"James?"

"What?" I rolled my eyes at him. "Didn't you come in your car?" I asked trying to divert the topic he was trying to discuss.

"I did, now I'm going with you." He shrugged. "Problem?" I wanted to growl yes, but instead ignored him and told the driver to drive.

I sighed in defeat regretting the diction I used for the driver, I didn't mean to be the mean boss I hated that I portrayed myself as one, but Dawn was annoying the heck out of me by trying to play the matchmaker. His points weren't invisible, I knew what he was up to all along, I just didn't want to acknowledge it.

"Quit playing the tough girl, Deila. Can't you see right through it?"

"Through what?" I frowned not understanding where he was coming from and honestly had no interest in it. I didn't get an answer, what I got was him hissing and storming out of the car. I didn't even notice we'd arrived.

The realization that I was going to report on my first CEO assignment, reminded me I almost screwed up.

I hadn't even gotten inside the house when the four girls, Sia, Mari, Eva, and Lari, ran to welcome me. Sia hugged me tightly and brought her mouth to my ear cooing 'Our CEO'. I wanted to roll my eyes but decided against it. I did still roll my eyes inwardly.

They kept on going on about how happy they were for me and I kept on reminding them that it's just for some weeks. They were making it awkward for me. I know persons, from what dad told me, voiced their opinions on how I was too young to act as the head of the family company. According to what dad had implied, one person, in particular, felt he was the perfect person to seat in for dad, Uncle Jamison.

I didn't want to cause any family problems and dad was putting me in a very hot spot with his decision. Jamison Barbson was my dad's elder brother and the company director, and he felt very insulted when dad decided to make me fill in. If I could've talked dad into it, Uncle Jamison would've been perfect as CEO.

The thought about how I was going to have many enemies, well maybe not enemies, but some people wanted the position I was still having a hard time accepting. And there was Dawn, he's always been more interested and had brought so many wins for the business, thankfully we were no patriarchs to harp on the fact that he was also the only son. Maria who apart from being the eldest child of my parents was better in business than me, and then there was Uncle Jamison who felt it was his right. You see, the list was long, but Dawn never objected to me been CEO he supported me like no one else, Mari was a nurse and was too consumed with her wedding plans, which left Uncle Jamison.

I smiled as I remembered Eva's word when I first complained to her, consider yourself honored by fate. You should be happy. You're one lucky girl.

Maybe I had to be happy, at least I proved to myself and every other person that I was capable when I got ten for ten shares from TMG. Well, Uncle Jamison was just going to have to deal with it, I thought with sass.

If I had shut my doubts and fears to put my parents first, then so be it. I was doing it not because it was right that I did what they asked me, but because I wanted to. I wanted to see my parents rest and take a vacation. Although working with TMG wasn't going to be easy. The possibility of running into James more time than I could be there.

Two years away didn't stop how my stubborn heart thuds whenever he was close by or I heard his voice. When he kissed me he made matters worst... I couldn't stop thinking of the feel of his lips.

While at the conference room, I didn't know where I got the strength to feign such grace and act as tough as I did when inside I was shaky. His eyes never left me. I felt his eyes all over me, but I acted like I didn't even see him. It was as if his eyes were burning my skin and boring holes all over my body, in a good way. I did my best to avoid meeting his eyes and thought I had succeeded in avoiding him until the latter incident.

"Baby Deila!" My dad exclaimed walking towards me with his open arms extended. He knew the outcome of the meeting.

"Dad." I happily went into his embrace.

He pulled away with a proud smile on his face "You did it. I told you you would."

I smiled nodding my head.

"Dawn filled me in on everything already. So you got us a ten for ten percent. How surprising." He had a look that was like a frown and a smile at the same time. "With the kind of delegator they have, I was expecting a 5 for 10 percent."

"Mr.Martin? He was really hard to convince, but he eventually came along."

"No, not Mr.Martin senior. I'm talking about James," he said and waited for my reply, when none came he continued "He delegates for the company most of the time, and every time he did TMG tops the deal. The guy never wavers."

"Wow. James?" I asked because he didn't utter a word throughout the delegation.

"Yes. He's way tougher than his dad when it comes to standing on his propositions and that's saying a lot. I was certain you'll accept a 5 for 10 percent... but you, Deila?" He pointed his index finger at me with a smirk. "Always surprise me."

I couldn't help voicing my thoughts. "How ironic. His father did all the countering today. I could say he didn't utter a single word."

"A single word you say? That's new." He patted me on the shoulder. "Now go have your rest."

"Right away," I agreed, giggling as I marched to my room.

Today came, I saw and conquered, but almost fell, my subconscious reminded me of how close I was to losing myself to him.

As I drifted off to sleep, it was with the thoughts of those lips that brushed against me.