THE UNDERGROUND BEAUTY

Earlier this morning, I arrived at the airport from my business trip. I went to my father, and now I regret it. I ended up stomping off his office situated in his home and headed straight to the company. My father is one intimidating man. My whole thirty two years of existence, he tries to control my life. Every chance he gets, he wants to decide how I live...my values, my life choices...he wants to decide it all. We were never close—-the gap between us grew even more after I lost my mom to cancer. My old man has always been all about money and power.

In his words, 'money and power is what makes a man.'

I think its total bullshit. He may keep telling himself he's happy but I know he is one sadistic old man who lacks actual joy.

It's my fault. I shouldn't have gone to him.

We argued and one thing led to the other. He had said to me, 'you can never be half the man I am if you keep doing business like a fucking man of cloth. You need to be ruthless. You need guts. Sadly, you lack potential.'

My hands had balled into fists and my blood boiled in anger. That moment, I looked at the intimidating man in front of me and shook my head. I'm his only son...his only child and yet, he makes my life hell. Just when I thought growing up would be the greatest chance to escape him, I had to join the company immediately I graduated from the university.

I was just twenty one. Every other certification I accomplished after that, I earned it all while also working in the company. Studies plus work—-It was never easy.

Later, I told myself being competent and hardworking enough to climb up the ladder in the company would guarantee my freedom. I was right to an extent...but oh, I'm also wrong.

'Freedom always comes at a price.'

At a point, I started enjoying my work in the company—after all, I dedicated all my youth to its progress. I have a great share in the number of success the company has achieved. Every single achievement is proof that I'm a lot more competent than my old man thinks. If I knew it would be so hard to give up the company and get away him...maybe I really would have chosen differently.

At thirty two, I'm the CEO of Hills Inc. But my dad still makes the bigger decisions, painting the bigger pictures behind the scenes—-he plans the future of the company. No matter how terrible a father he is, a part of me highly respects the businessman in him. Every decision he's made for the company had contributed greatly to its growth and that's only the truth...but he's still a piece of shit.

I laughed at my old man who sat directly opposite me. I moved a bit closer till my legs hit the table separating us...my fists tightening as anger shot through my body. He kept a straight face like the ruthless monster he is—-one arrogant and extremely stubborn man.

'Half the man you are, you said? When will you realize am not like you? That I don't ever want to be you, Dr. Allard Hills? Believe me...I wouldn't want to be a terrible father and definitely not a shitty husband.'

'Get out.' He roared in anger, getting on his feet...his eyes flashing in anger but so were mine.

'Fuck you.' I had said before I stomped off his property.

Getting to the office, I had distracted myself with work to get rid of the anger boiling inside me. By noon, I had just signed some documents brought by my secretary, Cara, when I remembered I haven't been to the archive in several weeks.

Cara was about to leave when I asked her, 'I employed a lady to work in the archive. Is she still here?'

Cara turned around and walked back to my table, 'she still works here, Mr. Hills. It's been three months now.'

'That's quite a long time...most people leave after a month at most. Anyway, I'll be in the archive for some minutes. Whoever comes looking for me, I'm not here. You may leave now.' I had stated firmly before heading down to the archive.

Presently, the elevator makes a ding sound and I come face to face with a gorgeous black woman with a big grin on her face. Her black hair...gelled up neatly in a fro ponytail. She has really pretty brown eyes I didn't notice in the passport photograph in her file when I employed her. She has on a simple gray shirt and really tight short skirt.

This beauty...has been kept here...in the archive, the whole time. I'll be damned.

I step out from the elevator, my eyes remaining on her the whole time...she notices I'm too close and takes a step back.

'I'm Caroline Ann Wright and I'm in charge of the archive. Please, how may I help you?' her sweet voice pronounces, soft but firm.

Yeah, true...she isn't aware I'm her boss. For some reason, my anger is long gone now and replaced with something new...excitement? I wouldn't know. I have met a lot of women...slept with a lot of women, women interested in my good looks and money. This brown eyed woman in front of me is probably not so different from them. Somehow though, I find her intriguing.

'Well, hello to you Caroline. I'm D, a director in this company.'

Where's the fun in telling her am her boss? I have to keep the mystery alive...only then will there be enough fun for the both of us. That big grin on her face when I arrived is long gone now. She smiles at me and I return the gesture with a nod.

I walk past her, sighting the changes in the room. The messy stash isn't in here anymore...finally, someone who doesn't need anyone spelling out her job for her. She follows closely behind as I check the bookshelves. Even the shelves look cleaner now and dust free. I nod my head, highly impressed with what I see.

I pause abruptly and I feel her body collide into mine, pressing tightly against my back. I can feel the swell of her breasts even through the piece of clothings between us. A smirk forms on my lips and I turn around...her body press against my front.

If only I can kiss her full mouth...pick her up, wrap her legs around me and take her against the bookshelf.

'I'm sorry I crashed into you.' she says calmly, taking few steps back.

She seems rigid...yet somehow fragile. She caught my attention the moment my eyes landed on hers from the elevator. She makes my curiosity swell, and somehow I want to see beneath this rigidness of hers.

'That's okay. You did a lot of work in here. Great job, Caroline. Our boss will be very...proud.' I drawl out the last part slowly.

Her eyes twinkle and I notice she missed the sarcasm in my tone.

'Thank you, Mr?' she asks, tilting her head.

She's cute...she's really cute. Somehow, she looks very innocent too. I notice she licks her lips often. It doesn't seem she intends for it to be seductive or sexual in any manner...but damn it's sexy as hell. She is effortlessly sexy and very beautiful—-it is no exaggeration. But how did she not look like this in her passport photograph? Goddamn the passport photographs. Only God knows how many beauties have come and gone in this archive.

'Please, call me D.' I smile, taking a step closer.

She smiles back, tearing her gaze away from me.

Ouch.

'D...' she nods, her eyes landing on mine as the word rolls off her tongue smoothly. Oh, too smooth...

I glance at her full lips, wondering what kind of voodoo this is because I'm not usually like this. I don't normally find myself immensely curious about every beautiful woman I come across.

She tears her gaze away from me again, forcing a smile and turning around to leave—-my hand flies to catch hers. She gasps softly. Her eyes remain on mine...intense. When I move closer to her, her breasts lightly brush against my chest.

I wonder if this young woman knows what she's doing to my senses.

'Caroline, do you have an idea just how beautiful you are?' I mutter.