Chapter One

ARIANA

I rolled my eyes and I stared at my phone as it rang for the the fifth time in a row. The very loud ringtone peirced through the silence in the room, annoying me greatly.

I really didn't want to pick up Darren's call.

The man didn't even know when to stop!

What was it with men and thinking they would always get what they want? I had known Darren for just a few days, and not only was he acting so possessive towards me, he was acting like we were already in a freaking relationship. What an absolute jerk?

I sighed and picked up the phone. “Hello?” I said in my most pretentiously sweet voice. I had thought Darren would be ‘something’ when I had met him at a charity event just last week. But instead he had turned to be so a self centered blabber mouthed idiot. All he did was talk about himself, and all the nonsense he owned. He didn't even let me speak!

“Ariana! I’ve been calling you for the past one hour! Where have you been?” His voice was raised.

Great!

What was he annoyed at?

“Darren!" My voice was intentionally high peached as I called his name. "I wasn’t close to my phone. How are you?” I asked, ignoring his rudeness. Who did he even think he was? Jeez!

He just cleared his throat. “Well, I’ll cut to the chase because I’ve got a business meeting in five minutes.” I could already imagine him looking at his diamond encrusted wristwatch as he talked about the time. “I have us booked at a restaurant for this evening. I’m taking you out for a lovely dinner. Put on something red, will you?”

I blinked as I tried to process how commanding he was.

What?

If I heard very well, he was asking me to dinner...no! Commanding me to go to dinner with him. And not just that, he was telling me what to wear....the nerve..

What the hell had I gotten myself into? “Fine. I’ll be there.” I said, smiling cynically, already thinking of a hundred different ways to skin him alive.

“Good, I’ll text you the time and other details.” He said, blowing me a kiss, and then hung up without even saying goodbye.

I looked at the phone on my hands in surprise. Wow!

Who the hell did this guy think he was?

"The nerve of this guy!" All I wanted was a stupid contract and a good time, not an irritating idiot.

Men.

Always had something stuck up their sorry asses. Especially the rich ones.

Dinner? Red dress?

Oh we was going to get more than dinner. He was going to get just what he deserved.

And I was sure I had a brand new red dress somewhere, that was perfect for the occasion.

My phone pinged, and as predicted, it was a message from him.

Game on.

I slipped on my black heels, buckling the delicate straps, as I prepared to leave my car. I had been so late to work that I had barely had time to get breakfast or put on my shoes. So I had waited till I got to the office before putting them on.

I loved mondays, as they kept me really, really busy. But Tuesday were a ‘no’ for me. It was filled with long hours sitting my but in my office as I went through documents after documents. No meetings on Tuesday. That was the rule.

Stupid rule.

Today was Tuesday.

But that’s what you get when you are partnering with one of the most stuck up men in the entire world.

Actually….that was quite exaggerated…

Ahem!

Alexander Christos was not stuck up. Infact, he had to be the best person I had ever worked with in my entire time in the business world. He was literally my savior.

And business partner. He had saved me at a time when I had lost all hope of ever getting my company back on its feet.

“Good morning, Miss Ramirez.” The receptionist, Ava, called from behind her desk. Her kind blue eyes followed me as I strode last her.

I smiled, nodding at her. “Morning, Ava. I guess I owe you a point for coming to work before me, again.” I shook my head as she gave me a sweet smile. Looking at Ava alone was enough to brighten anyone's day. She had the most bubbly personality I had ever seen.

“Yes, ma’am.” She answered, fist pumping into the air in victory.

I was usually the early bird in the company, always coming in first before everyone, except the door man. And since it was always Ava coming in right after me, we had started to make jokes about it. Until last month, when I had come in late to work and given her a point for coming in earlier. It had become I competition from then on. She had won points on most occasions, coming in before me.

She didn’t know it yet, but I was going to make sure those points reflected in her salary. She deserved it

I got to my office and opened the door, not even bothering to look at the one next to see if it was open.

Yes. Alexander’s office was right next to mine, and even connected with a door inside the office, which we never used. Choosing instead to use the main doors of the office. It hadn't been intentional, not using the door, it was more like setting boundaries, as we mostly communicated as partners and not old time friends.

“Look who’s finally at work!” Was the first thing I heard the moment the door opened, making me gasp in surprise.

Katherina Ramirez.

“What the hell! You scared the shit out of me!” I said to my sister, who just sat in my seat, with a goofy smile plastered on her face.

“Oh, poor you.” She answered with a shrug, not even bothering to get up once I reached the desk. Trouble maker.

“Can you take yourself out of my seat, please?” I asked, as nicely as possible. Katherina was cute to look at, but she was just a whole other mood, always looking for ways to give me a headache.

“Nope.” She said, not even moving once. I knew she wanted me to go through the trouble of lifting her off the chair.

“Please. I have some work to do!” I whined. I was about two hours late, since I had spent the most of my morning, thinking of different ways to mess with Daren and still get what I wanted from him.

“Not until you tell me why you and your very hot partner have not hit the sheets until now.” The question didn’t come as a surprise to me. Infact, I always expected it each time I saw her. Nosy little devil.

My little sister asked me about my relationship with Alexander every single time she visited my office.

“Not every partnership ends under the sheets, Katherina. I and Alexander have nothing with each other. We are just business partners.”

I answered with an eye roll, finally had it with her and pulled her out of my chair.

“Like you always say. But I can see the attraction in your eyes sis. I can see it clearly. And very soon, it would brew and spill over. Then you won’t be able to stop it.” Then she clasped her hands together, excitedly. Before settling down in the seat opposite mine.

“Not going to happen, Katherina. Stop dreaming.” I said, pulling out my stuff from my bag. I settled down into my seat, rolling it closer to the table.

I wasn’t ready to admit to my sister that I was already attracted to him. Katherine was nosy, bit she was right,, mostly.

I mean, why wouldn’t I be attracted to him? I have been working with him for over five years! Besides, I wasn't made out of wood!

But not once, had he looked my way!