Unnerving

Antonia Leighton

The day the CEO left for a business trip was one of the best days of her life. Her confidence grew and her skills developed in the cutthroat corporate world. Her circle of friends, mostly men, acted like overprotective big brothers. And the ladies and their husbands, also working in the same building treated her in the same aspect. She was the baby of the group. Even Mr. Thompson warmed to her. More tolerant of her stupid mistakes and made sure to point them out with gentle criticisms.

She could truly say she made the right decision in sticking to EAP Corp. Dating was still impossible with her workload but she was not opposed to the idea. If the right man presented himself in a silver platter then maybe. Who knows?

"Hey, Toni. How's mom?"

Rick asked as soon as she stepped out of the elevator. She stayed with her patient the entire weekend to help her gain her strength back for her next procedure.

Yeah. After a month, she introduced the gorgeous lot to her mother. They had been visiting the hospice with or without her anytime they feel like it, brightening the frail woman's day.

Her lips twisted in a grimace. "Cobalt on Friday."

"Oh. Do you need us there?" Jolene asked. Her voice was soft and commiserating. Almost everyone stopped what they were doing waiting for her response.

"Yes. If it's okay." They nodded eagerly, promising their support. Antonia understood where they were coming from. Based on the stories they shared with her, all of their friends were orphans. And they see her and her mother as family. "Is Mr. Thompson in?"

"Yup. But he asked not to be disturbed." There was a gleam in Rick's eyes she couldn't place and her colleagues were snickering while they returned their attention to their computers.

"Okay. I will submit my report when he is available." A few hours later, it was lunch break, and still no sign of the boss. He was usually herding them to their favorite restaurant at this hour. Then as if reading her thoughts, her boss's office at the end of the hallway opened. What she saw made her chestnut brown eyes widen. Flabbergasted and utterly speechless. She could only gape at the scene before her.

A blushing lady, a familiar one, a barista at Antonia's favorite cafe, was possessively held to his side by her tiny waist, and Mr. Thompson was grinning from ear to ear while he led the shy girl to the reception area. Again, everyone stopped what they were doing.

"Everyone," their boss called out. Though his eyes never left the woman in his arms, he was fully aware he got everyone's attention. "This is Anna. My girlfriend." There was a collective sharp intake of breaths then deafening cheers were followed. Everyone seemed to be in party mode by his unexpected announcement. "Let's go to lunch. My treat."

What the hell had just happened?

***

"Are you guys always like this when you introduce your girlfriends to your friends?" They occupied a large booth at Luigi's, an Italian restaurant they frequented. Their boss and his new love on a different table eating each other's faces with no care in the world. Antonia averted her gaze. Ashamed she was staring intently.

Rick shrugged and chugged his iced tea. "We hope so." There was something vague in his answer. The men nodded their heads agreeing.

"Wait. What? You never had a girlfriend?" To her horror, the hunks surrounding her shook their heads no. "Shut the front door. You are pulling my leg."

The man beside her chuckled. "We are serious, sweetheart. We are very picky. And we know the right woman will come along. The boss's luck gave us hope."

"So you all believe in fate and all that soulmate stuff?" In this day and age, was it possible men such as her friends existed?

"Why? Don't you?" Rick asked in all seriousness.

"I don't know. It's true good to be true. In my experience, men only want one thing and they bail if I don't put out. That's why I never had a boyfriend." Antonia looked away. Remembering all her previous suitors who were solely interested in her looks and body. That's why she stopped dating altogether. They were not worth it. Losing her virginity to idiots was not worth it. She would rather die a spinster.

"Don't worry, babe. The right man will come." The buff guy to her left assured her.

She shrugged. "I am not in a hurry." She was only twenty-two. The world was her bed of oyster. Her future hers to do with as she pleased.

***

One month later, like a prophecy, one by one her friends found their women. In clubs, subways, bars, restaurants, bistros, cafés, anywhere. It was like cupid decided to work overtime and showered pixie love dust all over Los Angeles.

Like a tradition, they introduced their girlfriends to everyone in the building. Women come and go. Everywhere she turned, a couple was making out in a corner. It was disgustingly romantic how they treated their girls she wanted to puke. In envy.

"Do you think I'd find her soon?"

She stopped typing and look up at Rick. Poor, baby. He really believed in the soulmate concept. "Yup. I am positive. How about we visit a club on Saturday?"

He nodded enthusiastically. "Do you think maybe I could get a new haircut? Or shop some new clothes?"

"Pft. You look perfect. Whoever she is, she is one lucky lady to have you." Antonia assured him with an indulgent smile. "Um...Rick?" She had been dying to ask him this.

"Hmmm?" His mind seemed far away.

"What's it like? To meet someone you love at first sight?" God! That sounded stupid.

"Based on our friends' description, it's like magic. Sparks on every surface of your skin wherever you touch. From that moment on, your world revolves around them. Your other half completes you and you are each other's home. A sense of belonging." His expressive gray eyes glazed and a wistful smile grazed his lips.

"Woah! That is some serious Romeo stuff." She wanted to believe him too but something was holding her back. "What else..."

Rick suddenly stiffened, he sniffed the air around him, and he was looking beyond her not meeting her gaze. "Toni, um, I forgot to tell you, Mr. East will be back today. I just want to give you a heads up. You know how he is. Talk to you later, k?"

She nodded. Confused. Then there was a buzzing noise around her. People were whispering excitedly. It was getting weirder and weirder by the minute.

However, the most pressing thing in her mind was Rick's news. The asshole CEO, the bosses' boss was back. She was used to his absence, preferring it that way. Now, after three months, they'd be crossing each other's paths once more. Stress was making her head throb. Logan East has not even arrived and he was already messing with her peace of mind.

Antonia knew she would never be able to avoid him as much as she would love to. He was her employer. She would have to put her big girl panties on, suck it up, and conquer the world. He was just a man, albeit a very fine specimen; sex on a stick, but still, he was not Captain America or Tony Stark. She will survive his unnerving presence.

Suddenly, the air around her stirred, and she shivered. Distracted, frowning because she let HIM invade her mind in the middle of the day, she looked up, her eyes narrowed and she gasped in surprise.

Logan FUCKING East has arrived and he looked like he was frantically searching for someone. Where the hell is Mr. Thompson? Mr. East turned in her direction, his hard gaze darkened and pinned her in place while he marched to her cubicle. He was angry for some reason and she was his target. Oh, god! What did I do?

Trembling, fear traveled down her spine like quicksilver, she slowly tried to get up, ready to bolt anytime. Like in a movie, in slow motion, he was cutting the distance between the two of them. She closed her eyes and whimpered. "Please don't hurt me." She squeaked. He must have heard her because he growled his displeasure and he hauled her to his chest none too gently. Bending to her height, he buried his face to her neck and cursed savagely. His hot breath on her skin made her shiver. Like electrocuted, sparks ignited where they touched and she shuddered. She had never been so overwhelmed in her life. "Please let me go, sir. Whatever I did. I am sorry. It won't happen again." Her voice was muffled on his blue suit but he heard her nonetheless.

"Fuck! What?" Puzzled, he raised his head slightly. Dazed, he was looking down at her in wonder and kept holding her plastered to his body making her aware he had dangled her from the carpeted floor since her heels couldn't find purchase.

She gulped. "Mr. East...I...ah...I can't breathe."

He released her right away, she almost stumbled but his right hand gripped her elbow and steadied her. They continued to gaze at each other and he was roaming her form as if he was seeing her for the first time. There was something in his chocolate eyes, mesmerizing every inch of her, she couldn't place. She licked her lips nervously and he groaned like it was torture for him to watch. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to manhandle you." She blushed harder. He was uncompromisingly hard all over.

And damn his voice. Lover. Bedroom. She suppressed her shiver, her thighs clenched. He cursed under his breath while he inhaled deeply, closing his eyes, his jaw clenched. When he opened them, he reluctantly let her go.

Antonia placed a much-needed distance between the two of them. She needed to think. He was her boss. He was always mad at her for some reason, he couldn't seem to stand her presence in the same room and he had insulted her within an inch of her life since she got here. She straightened her spine, her chin firmed. She will not be bullied by him anymore. "I have to go back to work, sir." She gritted out.

"No, you don't." His hand clasped her securely. Hers remained lacks.

She frowned. "Did I do something wrong?"

"Quite the opposite. I am promoting you." His deep voice was gentle. His dark depths never leaving her flushed face.

She sucked in a sharp breath. If this is a dream pinch me now. "I will be transferred?"

"Hmmm," his finger touched the tendril covering her ear and twirled. Unable to control her response, goosebumps prickled her skin. "You will be working very close to me."

"How close?" Her light brown eyes went to his lips.

"My personal assistant. Your desk will be moved inside my office." He commanded matter of factly, expecting to be followed without question.

Remember Antonia, he hated you. He will make your life a living hell with his tantrums. "Do I have a choice, sir?" Her voice hardened.

His lips curved in amusement. "You don't, dear Antonia. You are stuck with me."

Oh, shit! What the hell has happened to the old Logan East?

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