Chapter Two

PRESENT 

ELLA. 

When Chloe texted me this morning to go in for the personal assistant job interview i applied 2 weeks ago, it caught me by surprise. I had applied, but i didn't expect to really get picked since i didn't have a lot of experience. 

 I have spent most of my adult life in and out of the hospital. I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of sixteen. Between my chemo treatments i haven't really had much time to gain experience. I have had only one job since graduation and it didn't last because shortly after i got sick and had to go in for another round of treatment.

Which means i have not also been to interviews before, but i need this job. The hospital bills have drained my trust fund and am broke. I put on the only skirt suit i own, with a white shirt and pair it up with black heels. I hold my hair back and put on some lipgloss.

I pushed through the revolving doors of Empire Enterprises lobby, ten minutes before nine. Wanting to make the best impression. I have been here several times before to see Chloe but today feels different.

Five floors later, i was exiting into the vestibule of Empire Logistics reception area. There was a gorgeous receptionist there. 

"Hi," i greeted her as i admired her cranberry colored blouse. She was mixed race, with really pretty dark hair. Her lips were full and naturally pink. She was beautiful.

"Ella, right?my boss is expecting you." With a wave, she directed me down the hall to a huge empty room. I take a seat at the conference table, i grab a bottle of water from the table and take a sip to calm my nerves.

The door opens and a relatively handome young man enters the room. And the temperature rises, my hands are shaking and i keep them under the table trying to regain my composure.

The man gives me a small nod and sits at the head of the conference table.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice." He says looking at me directly in the face. " I am Jeremy, Manager of Empire Enterprises."

"Ofcourse, thanks for having me." i say trying to sound as confident as i possibly could.

Jeremy pulls folders out of his briefcase and slides them in front of me.

"I don't want to waste your time, so i will cut straight to the chase." Jeremy said without blinking. "My boss needs a personal assistant who will be handling all the important stuff at his office, he is mainly not around, so you will have to handle all the important documents, sometimes you will need to travel with him outside the country. You will also need to do housecalls when necessary take the documents to his house for him to go through. He does not want people to know he owns this company, he is a silent partner. So you will need to sign a non disclosure agreement."

"Who is your boss exactly sir?" i finally find the nerves to ask. 

"You will need to sign the contract first before I can disclose that information to you. Read through it, everything is there including your payments." he said standing up, "i will be back in half an hour, so go through it, see if it's something you can work with." With that Jeremy left the room. 

I immediately took out my phone and texted Chloe. 

Am in the conference room, i need you. Emergency. 

As i went through the contract, Chloe walked in, 

" What's the emergency?"

I immediately handed her the contract. " I am supposed to sign that before i know who am going to work for. I thought you said Jeremy owned this company?" 

"He does, but he has a silent partner no one knows of. He prefers to stay out of the company business so Jeremy just rans it."

"How am i supposed to just agree to work for someone i don't know, what if he is a murderer or worse?" 

"You are overreacting Ella, there have been speculations over the years that he is some rich playboy, who literally has everything money can buy. So if you're going to be working for him it means, the pay is good babe. You can afford health insurance. You won't have to worry about money anymore."

"It will be nice not to worry about that for a while." i say smiling at the thought of that. "But what if i get sick on the job Chloe?" 

"Ella, let's not think about that for now, okay?just focus on getting the job." Chloe said handing me back the papers. "Now i have to go back to work, will talk to you after so you can fill me in on who the mystery boss is." 

"You do know of i sign the contract i can't tell you who it is right?" 

"Am your best friend the contract doesn't count, now i will seee you later. Love you." 

Chloe tiptoes out of the room and leaves me still looking at the contract. I pick up the pen and sign it hoping i don't get a boss from hell. 

Ten minutes later Jeremy walks back into the conference room, i hand him the papers, he looks at them and then puts them back into a folder. 

"We are going to meet the man you will be working for, and he can go over his schedule with you." 

With that he stood up and started walking towards the elevators as i slowly followed behind. 

****

His tie was silver, and his shirt brilliantly white. The stark of absence of color emphasizing those amazing blue irises. Standing there with his jacket open and his hands shoved casually into his pant's pockets, the sight of him was like running smack into a wall i hadn't known was there. 

I jerked to a halt, my gaze riveted to the man who was even more striking than i had remembered. I had never seen hair that purely black. It was glossy and slightly long, the ends drifting over his collar. Awareness of him pricked across my skin. My breathing became as ragged as my heartbeat. I felt that inexplicable pull to him again, Jordan Baker was the man i had just signed to be working for. 

The man i had a one night stand with six months ago was right in front of me. Was this a coincidence? I never told him my name, and i left his house before he woke up.

"Elle Washington , meet Mr Jordan Baker, your boss." Jeremy introduced us, as we entered into what seemed like his office. 

Jordan looked at me, he adjusted his perfectly knotted tie, his arm brushing against mine as he did so. I sucked in a deep breath, trying to ignore my acute awareness of him by concentrating on the conversation taking place in front of us. It was impossible, he was just there standing there in his gorgeous suit. My thoughts ran away from me, as i started remembering what it felt like to be touched by him..

"Nice to meet you Ella" Jordan brought me back to reality when he stretched his hand towards me. Although he was looking at me, his face gave away nothing. He didn't seem to even remember me. Or if he did he chose to act like we have never actually seen each other naked. So i just shook his hand. A little bit dissapointed he didn't remember me. But how could he, he sleeps with a different woman every night, i was not special in any way. I just needed to concentrate on my job. But how was that possible when all my mind was thinking of was the best night od my life that i had with this man six months ago.

As he was talking to Jeremy, i took the opportunity to drink him in. He looked every inch the powerful magnate. So sensually handsome, my eyes burned just by looking at him. The rakish fall of black hair around his face made my fingers flex with the urge to touch it. And then he looked at me,... and my pulse leaped. 

"Ella." He came towards me, his stride graceful and strong. His gaze was intensely hot, intensely focused. I was instantly aroused. 

"Hi." 

Amusement warmed his eyes. "Please have a seat." He said gesturing me to the chair across from his desk. He sank into the chair opposite from where i was seated as Jeremy excused himself and left. 

"Can you work late?" he asked going through the contract without looking up. 

" Yes, sure." 

"I had hoped you will say that. Jeremy told me he pretty much told you what the job entailed. You will most of the time be working from ny home office. I come in only when necessary and my presence is required." He suddenly stopped going through the papers and put them on the desk. He then looked straight at me.

His lips pursed for a moment before he resumed speaking.“I also travel alot, and most of the time i will need you to come with, are you okay with that?” 

“Yes. Am open for anything am very flexible sir.” I immediately regretted my choice of words, when he looked at me amused with a smile. “For work, of course.” i immediately tried to clarify bu that ship had already sailed. He was still smiling, and had that sexy grin on his face. 

The air left my lungs in a rush, followed immediately by every bit of common sense i had left. God! How was i going to work for this man, when i was thrown off just by his smile. A rapid fire series of images went through my mind from our previous escaped six months ago. 

“Okay then Miss Ella, i will see you tomorrow.” he said bringing me back to reality,the vibration of his voice making me ache all over. I flushed with embarrassment and desire, as i struggled to get up. It didn't help that all his attention was on me, his hard body radiating that arresting impression of powerful demand. I hurriedly left his office, feeling the need to be away from this man.