Isabella's POV
I was on the ground floor of the King Telecom Center. I was a mess of nerves. My mouth was dry, my skin sweaty. The butterflies in my stomach were so active I thought I might fly away.
Everything about this idea was wrong.I regretted it as soon as they had called me for an interview. The truth was I applied to the job in a drunken haze with my best friends encouraging me. I had just had a fight with my dad at work, he promised to give me a chance to work at the company but instead he gave the software engineer solutions job to someone else. I have worked all my life to be taken seriously by him. But to him I'm just his little princess and I should just busy my self with shopping and charity organizations.So I got angry and applied for a job in a rival company, my dad will so not be happy about this and they might not even hire me the moment they figure out I'm a Davis.But then when I applied, I also omitted my last name using only my grandmother's surname Marino.Be confident, I told myself for the fiftieth time that morning. My best friends Lydia and Alessia had told me that another hundred and fifty times before that. It was the only way I had a chance of being independent and taken seriously.
By the time the doors of the opened at the floor I was having my interview, I had done a pretty decent job of composing myself. I threw my shoulders back, held my head high, and walked through the glass doors and walked up to the receptionist.
"Good morning, how may I help you?" The receptionist asked."My name is Isabella Marino and I'm here for an interview." I say and she checks her computer and nods yes."You'll be having an interview with Mr Sinclair, he's already waiting for you in the boardroom." The receptionist says then walks me to the door."Thank you." I say before walking in.Mr Sinclair stood up immediately I walked in. He stepped toward me and held out his hand. "Isabella Marino? I presume. Paul Sinclair."
"Yes, Isabella Marino." I said then I took his hand."Good to formally meet you, I have looked at your resume and I have to say I'm impressed, first of your class in MIT with a degree of software engineering and also an MBA." Paul says with a smile."Glad to hear it." I say returning his smile, he was still holding my hand.My stomach began to knot. He was attractive, yes. But I hadn't come here to try to get a job with feminine wiles.Before I had to decide how to handle his flirtation, Paul abruptly dropped my hand."Should we get started?" he asked."Yes. Of course."He waited for me to sit before he unbuttoned his suit jacket and sat down across from me. His gaze settled on me intently.~~~~~~~~~
The interview was short and actually very professional, he asked a couple of questions about software engineering and also me some solutions about recent problems they had encountered and I answered his questions correctly which made him particularly pleased.I got the job right there and then, they actually needed someone to start immediately because of the recent problems they have been having and I had already provided solutions so I got hired immediately. I'll be starting on Monday.I had a smile on my face as I left the office heading to the elevator while I sent my friends a group text telling them I got the job.And almost immediately my best friend Lydia calls."Oh my God Bella, I'm so happy for you." She shouts in my ear."I'm so so happy too, we should definitely celebrate." I say and someone groans beside me. Looking up I notice I'm not alone waiting for the elevator, I politely smile to the man who doesn't smile back and I end the call so as not to be rude.The man stared at me for a long moment, his gaze sweeping up and down, side to side. I felt it the second his eyes rested on my chest, it didn't show any cleavage but I do have nice breasts, normally I will be offended but I find that I liked his gaze today because my nipples tightened and poked against my bra.
I could tell he was assessing me. Not in a sexual way, since his eyes remained expressionless, but he still was looking.Without glancing back, the elevator opens he stepped into the elevator car. And I step in front of him."What are you celebrating?" He asks and I turn to him before I can answer him the elevator slowly ground to a stop.I glanced up and noticed we haven't reached the lobby, but had stopped on the third floor. I waited for the doors to open to let in a passenger, but nothing happened. I turned glancing at the man behind me."Why did we stop?" I asked."I have no idea." He moved toward the panel and punched in the lobby button again.A shrill ringing suddenly blared in the elevator, startling me I almost fall down.I almost shouted shrieking with fear.The man studied the panel then jammed his finger against the intercom button. The ringing died immediately, replaced by the sound of static. Then leaned into the speaker."Hello, anyone there?"A moment later, a voice responded."Hello, what seems to be the problem?""The elevator stopped on the third floor. It might be stuck." He explained."All right Sir, just stay put. Let me see what the trouble is.""Stay put?" I echoed as the static crackled and disappeared. "Where the hell else would we go?" My jacket suddenly felt far too tight, my skin super hot. I'm claustrophobic and this right here is a recipe for a panic attack."I'm sure everything is going to be fine." The man says with a shrug but all I felt was panic."You okay?" He asks bringing my attention back to him.
My head jerked up. "What? Yeah. Sure. I'm great. I'm wonderful." My eyes looking around the tiny space."Why isn't he answering us?" I finally burst out."I'm claustrophobic and I already feel a panic attack coming." I add agitated.Then he came to my side, concern in his eyes. "Hey. Hey." He touched my arm."Don't worry, okay? I'm sure they'll have it up and running in a few minutes. Fifteen, max." He adds."Fifteen minutes? We can't survive in this teeny little box for that long! What if we run out of air? What if—" My heart starts pounding so fast."Okay you need to relax," he says concerned."You think I don't know that?" I say almost shouting at him."Okay, okay tell me what's your name?" He asks."Isabella." I say my breath slowing down."Good Isabella you're doing fine, just keep breathing slowly. My name is Carter." He says and I nod okay.Someone from the intercom speaks. "Sorry it seems we're experiencing some technical difficulties," the man said apologetically."The repairman is on his way over to take a look, it'll take about 15 to 30 minutes sorry for the inconvenience." The man added.I sucked in some oxygen, barely breathing. "Oh my God, oh my God." I say over and over again sitting down on the floor."Okay, thanks. Keep us updated please," Carter said into the intercom. And then he was by my side, on his knees beside me. "Isabella. Isabella, look at me."
Miserably, I raised my head, ashamed of the tears threatening to come."Just breathe, okay? Breathe with me." Carter says again in a comforting voice.I opened her mouth, but when I tried to inhale, my throat tightened."I can't breathe, I can't." I wheezed. "No. Air."A pair of strong arms wrapped around me and suddenly I found myself in Carter's lap. His hands cupped my cheeks, his eyes blazing with intensity."Isabella, look at me. You're okay. We're okay. We'll get out of here in no time, all right? And there is plenty of air, so try and breathe with me." Carter says comforting me.I was still barely breathing almost hyperventilating."Isabella," he said firmly. "Look at me."When I didn't lift my head, he did it for me, grasping my chin with both hands and tilting it."There's plenty of air, okay?" he said in the same calm, reassuring voice. "We're going to be fine." He added."You promise?" I finally murmured.
"I promise."A flicker of relief filled me. "Do you...would you mind holding me a bit longer?" I asked needing something to hold onto."I don't mind." He says his voice in a thick hoarse.We sit like that for a while."Okay, this isn't working," I choked out. "Maybe you can try to distract me? Talk to me about something.""Please," I added, seeing the obvious reluctance in his eyes."Talk about what?" he finally asked, caving in."Uhnmm were you checking me out before we got into the elevator?" I blurt out asking."Will you be offended if I was?" He asks and I smile and I shake my head no."You're beautiful." He says."Thank you." I said blushing my lips parted slightly, a flicker of arousal in his eyes, and Carter's hand instantly stilled against my hip."So it's the weekend, what do you do during the weekend?" I ask trying to focus myself in a conversation."No plans." He says curtly."Really?" I ask surprised. "No hot date?" I add asking. He is insanely gorgeous, easily the most gorgeous man I have ever laid eyes on."I don't date." He says."Why? What do you do then? Don't you get hor__" I start to ask but then keep quiet realizing what I was going to ask. I really have no filter sometimes, I just met the man and I'm about to ask if he gets horny."Get what?" He asks with a knowing smile."Nothing," I say with a blush."C'mon you can do it, say it." He says. And like a fool with no filter I ask. "Don't you get horny?""I make plenty of time for sex," he says with a small grin.
I feel his hard-on instantly with full-force, straining against his zipper. My eyes widened slightly. "Oh my," I murmured.Carter rolled his eyes. "That's what happens when you say the word horny while you're sitting in a man's lap, sweetheart.""Do you want me to say it again?" I asked mischievously."Seeing as we're trapped here in this elevator, I can't really stop you from saying anything, can I?" Carter says and his face changes immediately realizing he just mentioned us trapped."How long has it been?" I ask back to panicking again. "Didn't he say 15 to 30 minutes? It feels like ages since—""Isabella—"I shifted in his lap, hand fumbling toward my purse. "Where's my phone? I need to check the time.""Isabella—""Oh God, I can't breathe." I say panicking. "There's no air." I say closing my eyes.And almost instantly Carter pressed his lips to mine. Only, the second his mouth touched mine, I forgot all about being trapped and not breathing, all I could think about was his lips on mine, kissing me.
Carter's tongue slid deftly into my mouth. Oh, sweet lord, this man could kiss.My surroundings completely faded as I lost myself in the kiss. His mouth was firm and warm, his tongue lazy as it danced with mine. My entire body went soft, my muscles turning to jelly while my thighs quivered. I ran my fingers through his silky dark hair. He responded by sliding one hand to my waist, while angling my head with the other in order to deepen the kiss.I moaned into his mouth, unable to stop myself from rubbing against the bulge in his jeans. An answering moan sounded deep in his throat. His fingers tightened over my hip."We should stop," he ground out, breaking the kiss."Probably," I said with a faint smile.And then we were kissing again, and the word stop was blown away by a gust of mutual attraction. This was crazy. I had one-night-stands before, but always with men known for more than twenty minute. And never in an elevator.Yet I couldn't stop the rush of desire s
"What is wrong with you today?" Alessia asks ordering us another round of shots."Nothing." I say with a sigh."Yeah right," Lydia says rolling her eyes at me."Bella honey you got the job you should be happy." She adds hugging me tightly."And I'm so happy. It's just that I have so much on my mind." I say explaining."Like?" They ask in unison. "Just my dad and ofcourse anxiety of starting the job, what if they figure out I'm a Davis and they fire me." I say."They won't, so stop worrying." Alessia says."Okay okay, let's get more drinks." I say, maybe getting drunk could be the best thing for me. Didn't tell my friends about getting trapped in the elevator with Carter, I know they wouldn't judge or anything but still not ready to share it with anyone yet. Plus I can't stop thinking about him.We stay out all night, partying, celebrating and since I'm starting work I probably won't have time to be out my friends so we take advantage of the night.
Carter's POV "Good morning, everyone. I'd like to introduce our newest software crisis manager, Isabella Marino." My eyes glossed over Isabella and then focused on the group instead. "She'll be working directly with me on the incoming project but I want you all to update her on the status of the project." I say. I sat back in my chair and let them start discussing the ins and outs of the massive new project. My attention easily shifted to Isabella.I can't believe she's here, I thought I'll never see her again but kind of hoped I would but the last thing I expected was to have her as our new hire.I'm a very serious man, I have never been in any indecent relationship with any of my staff before but just looking at her flip her gorgeous silky hair, her gorgeous olive skin I can't help but let my thoughts wander back to that day in the elevator.I should have known she was a staff here but I have never noticed her before and Isabella
Isabella's POV A group of us went out for lunch, everyone has been so nice and accommodating. Carter had said to meet him after lunch, so I stopped by Starbucks to grab us both coffees. Didn't know how he liked his coffee so I got thesame thing as mine, black coffee no milk. I take iced coffee in the afternoon so I got that for me but I got him a hot one because he didn't look like he drank cold coffee.I didn't have time to ponder whether I shouldn't have done that or whether I should just focus on my job and let things go but I needed to thank him for helping me ease out of my panic attack the other day."I'm supposed to see Mr King after lunch," I said breathlessly to his secretary."I'll let him know you're here," Ella his secretary said as she picked up the phone.I turned away, suddenly nervous."You can go in," Ella said.I quickly turned and then nodded, taking a deep breath and heading down into his spacious corner office.
Carter's POV I tried to keep Isabella from my thoughts but was unable to stop the forbidden image of what it would be like to have her under me. I had said I will be a professional, no entanglement whatsoever with my staff but the moment she walked into my office everything decent thought went away from my head.Thank God for my mother's call, I'm going to be away for a few days and by the time I'm back I'll be with a clear head. "Mom?" I called out, looking into each room I passed."Out here, Carter," I heard her answer from the back patio.I opened the French doors and was greeted with my mother's smile.I leaned over so she could kiss me. "So why are you out here?""It's such a lovely evening honey." She explains."It's beautiful out here." I agreed with her looking out the view. The whole house is beautiful, it's located in Round hill Greenwich Connecticut which also formally known as one of the best neighborhoods i
Carter's POVEarly the next morning my brother Johnny and I go out to play tennis. Well mainly to spy on our mom's new man friend Henry Osheroff, we found out he spends his morning playing tennis at the club but like he knew we would show up today he didn't. Anyway my brother and I still played tennis and caught up on each other's lives.By the time we made it back home, the house was already set up for brunch. The patio was topped with a massive white pergola, the beams draped in heavy greenery. The centerpiece was a large rectangular table that sat almost 20, it was covered in a soft ivory tablecloth and my mother's favorite china. Decorations and multiple flowers overflowed small silver pitchers running the length of the table, and a wrought-iron candelabra flickered overhead.So we quickly go get ready before guests start to arrive and our mother starts hounding us to get down.Almost an hour later we were all ready and
Isabella's POVI haven't seen Carter since I was at his office, in his lap. He hasn't been to the office all week and tomorrow is Friday. I had even stopped by his office to ask if he was in but his secretary said he won't be coming in for a few days.The last time I saw him, he had said he wanted me and asked if I wanted him but before I could answer we got interrupted. I haven't been able to stop thinking about him, I'm supposed to be focusing on work but all I can think about is Carter King, my boss.My friends and I meet up at a bar today after work to catch up, we haven't seen each other all week and we probably won't see other during the weekend. Lydia grabbed two wine glasses off a tray as it passed by and handed me one and then grabbed another for Alessia. "You've had a lot thrown at you this week, you should be having a relaxing weekend." Alessia says to me.My mom is coming into town from New Jersey this weekend, and I'
Isabella's POV I went home and quickly changed and went to meet my mother in a restaurant. My mother, Marianne Davis who still used my fathers last name after 10 years of divorce and 5 years since she remarried. Is beautiful, exceptionally beautiful. She was dressed in a beautiful dress, her hair and makeup perfectly done as always.I gave her a hug and kiss first before sitting down. She sat in the chair on the other side of me, leaned forwardand asked. "How are you my darling?""I'm fine mom, how are you? How's Michael?" I ask referring to my step father."I'm fine honey and Michael is good too, he sends his love." She says with a smile."Still fighting with your dad?" She asks."Haven't talked to him, he has been bribing me with multiple gift baskets though." I say with a sigh."Maybe you should talk to him, he might be an asshole but you're the person he loves the most." Mom says with a smile and I smile because she's r