Chapter 2

Jared POV

I banged my fists on my desk before sprinting out of my seat and walking to stand beside the floor-to-ceiling window in my office. Today was hectic as fuck since our dear assistant decided to disclose the company's confidential files. Hardin nearly killed him last night when we found out he sold our files to the media because "he needed money to pay his gambling debts". We didn't even know that he was a gambler with debts piling on his back. That made me even more furious.

Right now everyone in the company stayed overnight trying to control the damage the fucker did. Our stock did not only drop but we fucking lost 2 million dollars to buy the stories online and to stop them from spreading. I wanted to murder that son of a bicth for what he did. But he was better off being a jailbird. Word has it they take "good" care of people like him.

"Mr Scott?" my thoughts were interrupted by our secretary who was suddenly standing by the door of my office.

"Yes, Louis?" I replied with my back on him. I wasn't being rude. I was just too pissed to deal with anyone. I was the only one who was approachable between Hardin and me. People pissed their pants when they were supposed to meet him. And that always had me laughing hard. If only they knew the person beneath the bad boy mask.

"I have a list of candidates who applied for the EA position. Five males and 1 female." his last word was whispered as if afraid to anger me.

Louis knew that there wasn't supposed to be any woman on our floor. That's because Hardin had a hard time around women. That had me turning to face him.

"You know what should be done Louis, don't you?" I asked with my eyebrow raised.

"Yes, Mr Scott I know and that's why I came here. Because I really think you should look at this one. The 5 male candidates are just so not fit for the job. Although they have experience in executive management, they are just not suitable. But the lady here..." he stopped for a bit before continuing. "I believe she can help us with the current crisis for the better." I stared at him before extending my hand to him. He placed his tablet in my hand and I looked at it.

Candidate 1: 7 years of experience. I am a hard-working man with inspiration blah blah.

Candidate 2: I promise I won't let you down.

Candidate 3: I have worked in management for a long time and I can guarantee that...

I skipped the last 2 before clicking on the female candidate. Black marble eyes stared back at me. There was something about her that made me drawn out. I studied her features and did not even think before closing the tablet.

"Invite her for the interview," I said handing him the tablet. His face lit up and he gave me a bow before hurrying out of my office. I wondered how Hardin was going to feel about this and with that, I exited my office and went to his. It was just down the hallway, a few feet from mine. We could have just settled for one office. But it was more than distracting wanting to kiss your co-worker after every two minutes.

Without knocking, I let myself in and found my man sitting behind his desk, focusing on the screen in front of him. He looked even more handsome when serious. Fuck! He was always serious. My dick hardened when I remembered how he felt when I thrust into his hot ass right on that desk. 

"I know you are staring." He said without looking my way. He continued typing hurriedly on his keyboard. I chuckled and walked to his desk. I rounded it and pulled his chair so that he had his attention on me. 

Blue eyes stared back at me, and my heart fluttered. He was so handsome, I didn't get tired of looking at him. With a light 5 o'clock shadow and long lashes. Not to mention his lush lips. No one was to be this perfect in life.

I pecked his nose before kneeling in front of him, the confession clawing its way out my chest.

"I did something you might hate me for," I intoned. Regret was sudden and unbidden as heartbeats thrummed inside the cage of my ribs. I hope this goes well.

"What did you do?" He asked furrowing his brows. I reached for his forehead and rubbed the furrowed spot, feeling like a traitor. He quickly relaxed his face and kissed my wrist. God, he was perfect!

"You know we need a PA as soon as possible?" I placed my hands on his lap.

"Yes?" 

"Well, there were no perfect candidates, considering the mess we are in right now. But I found someone who'd be a perfect fit." I said, my hands sweaty.

"That's perfect then. Minus one problem," he replied taking my hands in his. His warmth spread through like toxic gas.

"No, Tiger. It's not perfect." I contradicted, and his brows knitted. "Because it's a she!"  I ripped off the band-aid, and his body tensed. I held my breath waiting for him to yell at me. But he did not. He just stared blankly at me with a rigid, stoic face. I have never been on the edge like I was at that moment, wishing he could say something. Yell at me even. it was his silence that killed me slowly.

"Say something, baby. Tell me I suck... I am horrible..." I started my spiel with sweat trickling down the length of my spine. After a few seconds of silence, he stood up and left his office leaving me on my knees and against the floor.

I dropped on my soles knowing how big I'd fucked up. I knew very well that Hardin did not do well with women but I still went ahead and invited one to an interview. I wasn't going to lose my man over an assistant. I pulled myself from the floor and went out to call Louis. 

But to my luck, he was not in his office. I pulled out my phone to call him, and it went straight to voicemail. Fuck!