Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Mark Johnson was her host.

Staring at him, Melissa still couldn't believe it.

She had told herself no way they could meet until she believed buy now here he was. He was much more handsome than he was in those damn megazines, and she didn't know what to do.

"Should I run? Nooo, you can't, smile and act like nothing happen. Just smile Mel." She convinced herself but her face was frozen, she could only frown.

"Melissa dear are you okay?" Mary inquired seeing the frown on her face.

Still in shock, she looked at Mary forcing her brain to cordinate with her body.

"Yes I...I'm fine. Wel..welcome sir." Moving to give way, she felt dizzy almost falling as she lost her footing but Mark held her.

As his arms wrapped around her tiny waist, an electric bolt ran through her spine.

"Hi, Melissa are you okay?" He smiled still holding her gaze.

Unable to form anywords, she nodded stepping from his arms flinching when he tried to support her again as she hit the chair behind her.

Taking the seat at the head of the table, he pulled a chair for her next to him but she moved to the far end choosing to keep a good amount of distance between them.

"Have a seat, I'll serve you some food." Tapping Melissa's back, Mary smiled at her as she started serving them.

"So how was the trip? I'm sure your grandfather is proud of your achievement." Sitting opposite Mark with Melissa beside her, Mary inquired.

"The business was successful but you know grandpa, he always feels no one can surpass him in the business world."

With Mary between them, Melissa ate in silence listening to their conversation.

She had several questions but she couldn't raise them while Mary was at the table.

What was she supposed to do now? She wondered getting lost in her dilema.

She had ran from him once but now she didn't have anywhere to go. She needed the job, had no money to support herself in the big city, or compensate for the breach of contract. That is if she chose to leave the job and she couldn't stop the investigation she had started.

"No no!" She was not ready to go back to the province until she had all the answers she needed. "Just let him do what he wants." She thought to herself.

"What more harm could he do anyway."

"Melissa is the food okay?" Mary asked after observing her for a while.

"It's delicious as always Mary."

"But you're not eating, you have been staring at it handly taken a bite."

"Maybe she is not angry nanny, don't force her. Your food is always so delicious, I missed it."

"Thank you for the compliment my son but it should go to Melissa. She made the food today, as a way of thanking you for your hospitality." Mary looked at them with a smile noticing how they kept stealing glances at eachother.

It was beautiful to witness the start of a love story.

History was repeating it self and old Mr Johnson won't be happy about it.

"Mmm....didn't know you could cook so well." He smiked raising an eyebrow. "I'm done, have an early night nanny, see you tomorrow." Putting down his napkin after wiping his mouth, Mark briefly held Mary's hand.

"Going to sleep early?" Mary inquired as he got up.

"Nanny, you know I don't have that luxury. I'll be in my study, have someone bring that delicious coffee you always make and don't over work yourself so much, you need to rest." With that, he walked out not sparing Melissa another glance.

"Don't be so afraid of him, he's a very good man." Mary assured her drawing her gaze from the door. "I'll make that coffee and you can take to him in his office." Putting down her fork, Mary went to the kitchen without giving Melissa a chance to refute.

"What wrong with these people, must they dictate everything without caring about my opinion?" She questioned out loud completely losing her appetite.

Forcing herself to fill her stomach, Melissa quickly finished her food and started clearing the table.

"What are you doing?" Mary came in with a steaming cup of coffee which smelled like heaven, making her wish she could have one to calm her nerves before meeting the monster.

She had to clear things with him and hopefully she would get a chance to tell him about their son.

"Leave that, I'll have one of the maids clean, go on take this coffee to him before it gets cold." She said handing Melissa the cup and bid her goodnight.

Walking up the stairs to his office at the first floor only a few doors from her room, Melissa remembered that day at the hotel, and the coffee she made him which didn't smell as good as the one in her hands.

"No wonder he didn't drink it."

After briefly knocking at the door, she opened as he invited her in.

"Your coffee sir." Clearing her throat to catch his attention, Melissa placed the steaming cup on the table.

Staring at her briefly, he took his coffee.

"Thank you." Thanking her, he took a sip and went on with his work.

Raising her eyebrows, Melissa stared at him surprised he actually thanked her. Well she didn't see that coming.

Still remembering their last encounter she thought he would make life hard for her.

"Do you need anything?" He asked realizing she was rooted to the spot.

"Ye..yes...I..I'm...I what to know why you gave me the job? What do you want from me? Why keep me in your house?" Trying to master courage, she gazed into his dark gray eye's which were quiet intimidating.

"Do you feel you are not capable of handling the job assigned to you?" He questioned leisurely taking his coffee.

"No..I mean yes, I'm capable but why me? There are many qualified designers than me?"

"Well, I liked your deco at the hotel, but most importantly, this way you don't get to run away from me." He said bluntly smiling at her. "Melissa I always get what I want, and I want you."

Listening to him gave her goosebumps all over her body. Yes she was attracted to him but she couldn't let him just use her because he had money and thought he could get whatever he wants whenever he wants it. Besides he was soon to get married to his fiancee, according to what her workmates told her, and it really annoyed her that all he wanted was to use her for his plessure.

"Sorry I'm not interested, you can't always get what you want." Seeing her annoyed expression, he just smiled at her.

Most women would die to get his attention but this one was playing hard to get making him more interested.

Looking at his smiling face, Melissa got more infuriated.

"Isn't your fiancee enough? Just because you have money you think you can go around using women, changing them as you go just to satisfy your ego. What do you think you are?"

"Wow sweetheart, I had no idea I have a fiancee, please do enlighten me." He teased her, enjoying how cute she looked when mad.

"I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, stop playing games with me. But I guess you're enjoying this, cornering me so I can't leave."

"I'm not, you can leave if you like but you have to pay for the breach of contract. Another thing, I'm not engaged to anyone, and don't believe everything you hear or read in those gossip magazines seeing how interested you are about my life, yet when we last met you acted as though you didn't know me." He said still holding her eyes in his.

She liked him, he could tell from how she looked at him though she tried to hide it.

"Yes, I'm enjoying myself, and soon you will give in." Looking at her shocked expression he smiled.

"Oh..." Was all Melissa could say.

She felt ashamed of her reaction knowing she had sold herself out for acting jealous.

As he got from his desk walking to where she was standing, Melissa took a step back. She knew she should get away from him but her feet were rooted to the spot she couldn't turn to open the door behind her.

Gazing at him sauntering towards her, she couldn't communicate to her body to move and as he held her in his arms, all questions and thoughts flew off the window.

Melting in his arms as he held her gaze in his, his lips inched closer and closer. This was the closest she had ever been with a man and though it scared her, she couldn't break the contact.

With his lips a few inches from hers, Melissa held her breath closing her eyes in anticipation, and when his cold thin lips touched hers, she felt like she was flying as an electric current ran through her body.

He was both hungry and passionate, and as her hands wrapped around his neck, she lost herself in his arms.

"Mmm!"

His hands touching and feeling her, woke nerves she didnt know she had, and when he let her go, they were both out of breath.

"God, have wanted to do that from the moments I saw you at that hotel." He confessed touching her swollen lips with his thump.

She had never kissed a man like that before leaving her so mesmerized, it took her a while to realise what she had done.

With her head down hiding her flashed face, she tried to get from his arms so he wouldn't see her in that state but it was too late.

He couldn't let her off so easily.

"Love it when you blush. You are so cute, I want to kiss you more." Raising her head to face him, he asked more than stated, gazing into her eyes.

Seeing the anticipation in her eyes as she gazed back at him with her palms on his chest making slight movements, he was obliged to full fill it which he did.

"Oh, mmm!"

As she responded to his passionate kisses and caresses, he was right in saying that he got what he wanted all the time, and she hated herself at that moment for not resisting his charm.

As his hands moved from her waist down to her thighs molding and caressing them, she moaned loving how wonderful he made her feel just like he did on their accident night.

At that moment she could have done anything he wanted her to, but as he broke the kiss, he moved away from her like she was some contagious disease, causing her to almost fall flat as her weak ribs tried to support her body.

"I have some work to do, go get some sleep." He ordered sitting on his office chair leaving her on the sofa.

Feeling embarrassed, Melissa got up, straitened her dress and walked out without saying a word.

Seeing her hurt expression, Mark had an idea of what she thought of him, but it was best to push her away now. It was too soon, it would only make her feel worse. He was willing to wait for her to feel comfortable around him, and cultivate their feelings before taking things further, no matter how long it took.