Chapter Five

Jasmine.

That goddamn son of the devil himself wasn't seriously denying the fact that we knew each other.

Was he?

"We don't, I met Miss Castor outside your office seriously hyperventilating and almost going into shock," His words weren't harsh but I could feel the sting on me, "They need to be some sort of orientation for staff in the office here."

I rolled my eyes at his words and turned to Mr Warner.

"Sir, you asked me to be here," I said confidently now. Or as confident as I could be without turning to look at Alexander.

His eyes narrowed down on me and while I couldn't determine if it was disappointment or annoyance, I certainly knew I had made some sort of first impression on him and my task of seducing him was going to be really hard.

"Yeah yeah, I need you to take down some notes during my interaction with Mr Castor......," His eyes widened this time like he had come to a realization, "How peculiar, you guys share the same last name."

"It is a common last name so it shouldn't be too surprising," Alexander countered almost immediately. It seemed any form of knowledge that we might know each other was to be squashed like a bug.

"Take down some notes and records so we'll have a baseline for our next meetings, that's something my assistants do whenever I have someone new," Mr Warner explained to me after getting over the last name issue.

I nodded at that and proceeded to start working, arranged files and got my phone ready for recording.

Mom couldn't give me a normal task like every normal adult. She had to find one that involved Alexander, the annoying stepbrother. Did she know he was going to be working here too?

I stared at him discreetly from my place at the side of the office, watched for any sign of the boy I had known years back that was notorious for taunting me and making me mad. He used to have a best friend I was interested in.

"Does your assistant work or does she stare at men all day?" Alexander's smooth voice reached my ears, the tone and words snapping me away from my fantasies of when I was younger.

"I'm sorry," I fumbled, "I wasn't trying to stare at you, I was taking notes or isn't that why I am here," The end of my statement was directed at Mr Warner.

Was I always this defensive when cornered?

Alexander chuckled, "I haven't seen you write a thing since we started."

Was this man going to make my work difficult? Yes, yes he was. I turned to Mr Warner, I knew I wasn't the assistant he knew but he wasn't going to let him belittle me right.

Was I planning on seducing a coward?

"That's enough please," Mr Warner finally said, he placed his fingers on his temple and massaged it, "I don't know what happened within the few short seconds of your first interaction but whatever it is, it's seriously affecting my meeting so cut it out."

I scoffed, the sound low but I was sure was heard by everyone and turned to the side. Mr Warner's words made me feel like a child.

"Just try and take the notes miss, I would hate for anything to go amiss during my short time here."

Alexander Castor, my stepbrother and Charles Castor's son. He was older by two years and wouldn't find it annoying to remind me about it every single day when we were younger. I used my height to annoy him too because I was much taller.

Until I wasn't. When both himself and his best friend unlocked their growth spurt and became fine specimens, he grew taller than me and I had nothing to taunt him with again.

Didn't mean I didn't find other ways to disturb him.

Until I couldn't anymore. When he left after the accident without even a goodbye.

"I'll like to start with a budget of at least five hundred million dollars for the first six months," His tone was like something from a romance movie, it made heads turn and bodies wet.

And here he was. Some sort of CEO of a multi billionaire security defense company, charging five hundred million dollars for a start.

Mr Warner held unto his chin, "They told me you were expensive but I didn't know you would be this expensive," He laughed a bit at his own words.

Alexander shrugged, "I provide the best and I'll be covering a lot of homes and offices, I doubt you want anyone to get hurt sir," Anyone.

"You're right, thank you for your time," Mr Warner said before turning to look at me, "My assistant would send you an email later to confirm the use of your services," He brought out his hand for a handshake probably.

Perhaps I would ask him for the reason he blatantly denied me. Did he think he wouldn't get the job if Mr Warner found out we were related.

But Alexander just stared at the hand like it offended him, "I don't think there's anything you should think about, do you want my services or not? The only thing the assistant should be messaging me for are the lists of homes and whatever you plan to work on first," He said confidently, even added a scoff at the end like he couldn't believe him.

Mr Warner stared at him incredulously, I doubted the persons who had recommended Alexander had told him he would be this fast with words.

"Well you're hired Mr Castor, I just didn't want to overwhelm you with those unnecessary details," He gave him a small smile.

Alexander finally stood up, he towered over Mr Warner who was pretty tall himself and gave him his hand for the handshake. There was no smile on his face though so it was quite difficult to figure out what he was thinking.

"Your assistant can talk to my assistant, she would send you a message," He directed the last words to me before turning back to Mr Warner with that stoic expression on his face.

"This meeting was a success then. Thank you."

I didn't expect to feel the thread of disappointment pulsing through me at the thought of him ignoring me. Was this what happened when you didn't see someone for seven turning eight years in a few months.

Would they completely ignore you for reasons unknown to you.

"Oh well, that seemed to go well right," Mr Warner's voice brought me out of my thoughts.

I raised my head from the book on my thighs so I could look at him.

"Yes sir," I said while getting up from the chair. I was supposed to seduce this man but all I had done today was made a blubbering fool out of myself.

He looked skeptical when he examined me, his eyebrows pressed together before he shook his head.

"You're not exactly like my last assistant but hopefully we'll get you up to speed, email me the details of this meeting and talk to his assistant like he said, you can go," He dismissed me without another glance and I felt like the most insignificant fly.

I didn't know how to seduce a man, how the heck was I supposed to do this. This was the most daunting task I had ever done.

"Mr Warner," I tried a last minute attempt.

"Yes."

I walked closer to him, "I'm really sorry about what happened, I really want to work with you and would make sure I get everything right," Even I sounded a bit dramatic but what could I say.

He raised his eyebrows, "Anything?" He asked, his lips were being pulled into a smile.

Yes. That meant I wouldn't have to do this job for a very long time.

"Yes sir," I replied enthusiastically.

"Then try not to annoy the people I have meetings with next time, thank you," And just like that he dismissed me for the second time in one day.

Was this man going to be this hard?

And if he was, how the heck was I going to get him to do what I wanted?