Chapter 2

Paige’s POV

The rest of the morning was ordinary. Callan left an hour after sitting on his desk, and reading and signing papers. When he left, Darla and the rest of the staff seemed to relax a bit more and three of the other women came over to Darla and mine’s desks.

“Hi. I’m Andrea. This is Macy and Bridget. We’re Darla’s bffs around here.”

“Hey. I’m Paige Miller. It’s great to meet all of you.” I smiled back at them.

“So…what were the two of you fighting about in there? Did you have a bar-night stand with him only to realize he was going to be your boss?” Andrea asked, smirking and the three of them giggled.

“Bar-night stand?” I asked and then freaked out when I realized the meaning of her word play. “What?! NO!” I shouted too loudly that everyone else raised their heads from their desks.

“Whoa. I was just kidding, Paige.”

“Right. Sorry. I just don’t like people joking about me and might start a crazy rumor.”

“But you two were tense in there though. I could tell. I know body language. Was he hitting on you?” Andrea, who I was almost a hundred percent sure was the office gossip, persisted. I looked at her straight in the eyes and acted innocently.

“No. It was nothing. He was just asking me personal questions and I answered them awkwardly because I’m an introvert. That’s all.”

“Come on, Andrea. Stop interrogating our new friend here. Instead, let's tell her what she needs to know so she won’t do anything stupid and get fired from our high paying dream jobs.” Macy said looking all serious.

“Dream jobs?” I was confused. How could being a secretary to a maniac of a CEO be dreamy?

“Callan isn’t the typical CEO. And this company is just his backup company.  All the staff here, as long as we do our best to deliver all the clothes, or whatever the clients ordered online, then the boss is happy. The money he makes here only goes to our over the top salary and the rest to charity.” Macy said

“Seriously?”

"Girl where on earth are you from anyway? Don't you know the Holdens are one of the richest Billionaires on this planet? They’re like old money rich.” Andrea butted in before the others could answer.

“Yeah.” Bridget answered and added, “You can read all about him on my website. My dream CEO will be mine one day dot com.”

“Seriously?” I said again and chuckled.

“Seriously. Bridget is in love with him. They almost fucked once when he was super drunk three Christmas parties ago.

“Darla! That’s our secret!”

“Not anymore. What happened?” Andrea said, her eyes wide with eagerness. I shook my head knowing all too well what a guy like Callan is capable of doing to women.

“Well, it was really stupid. I broke a really expensive vase in his office when I went in there drunk and thinking it was the bathroom. He was there and sort of tipsy too, I think. Well anyway I apologized like crazy and said I’d pay him back. He told me I didn’t have to if I let him—.”

“Kiss you?” Shit. I shouldn’t have said that. Yup, you def shouldn’t have said that.

“Yeah. How did you know?” Bridget asked, totally surprised. Andrea, Macy and Darla all looked at me suspiciously.

“Oh it’s basically what every romance book CEO does.” I lied so fast I surprised myself. Phew.

“Huh. Well, yup that was it. He kissed me with tongues and then I vomited all over his pants and shoes and he just left me there.”

“So why do you say you almost had sex?” Andrea asked, annoyance in her voice.

“Because if I wasn’t drunk enough maybe I wouldn’t have vomited and he would’ve fucked me on his couch there!”

“Shhhh. Keep your voices down.”

Bridget sighed and we all laughed. “Ugh. I just love him so much. But I know it’s hopeless.” Bridget put her hands on her face acting like it was the end of the world.

“Hey, Bridget, honey. You know we love you, right?”

“Yeah.”

“So this is us saying forget about your fantasy dream boy and don’t forget you have a real life knight in shining armor in the form of David. David is her long time suitor. And by long time we mean since she’s worked here three years ago.”

“Wow. That’s—.” I began to say when a familiar voice stopped me.

“Why are you ladies huddled over there like you’re gossiping and not working?” Callan’s voice suddenly boomed and the five of us jumped in our seats. Andrea, Macy and Bridget bent their heads and tiptoed back toward their desks.

“Darla. Cancel my plans for the rest of the afternoon and tonight. Did you tell your assistant her basic roles in this office?”

“Yes and yes, sir.” Darla said, eyeing me apologetically for not teaching me anything just yet on what I was supposed to be doing at all.

“Good. Paige. Get ready. I have an important meeting that suddenly came up.” Callan said, before going into his office.

“Here.” Darla shoved a notebook and two pens into my hands. “Part of your job is to follow him when he calls you and you take notes for him in the meeting including the facial reactions of the people in the said meeting.”

“What?”

“You know. He likes to see from out of his POV. So include what you observe with everyone including him as the meeting goes on.”

“Okay. That’s easy enough, right?”

“Yup.” She smiled nervously and before I could ask her what else was there to know, Callan came out of his office and walked toward the exit. Darla pushed me to go follow him and said good luck.

Crap. So I was going to have to follow him wherever. So much for not seeing him ever again.

When I stepped out in the lobby of our office floor, Callan was already inside the opened elevator while his three bodyguards were waiting outside. He smiled at me before cocking his head to the side, rudely yet handsomely ordering me to go to him.

Keep it together. Keep it together, Paige. Keep these legs closed. You can’t be with another man, ever.

I chanted the words in my mind all the way to the elevator and my heart leaped to my throat when the doors closed.

“Hey, your body guards. I mean you left your body guards, Mr. Holden.”

“First of all Mr. Holden is my grandfather.” Callan turned to face me and moved closer while I stepped back until my back was to the wall. “Second, from here on out you’re to call me Sir Callan. Is that understood, Paige?” He said his face inches from mine as he cornered me against the wall with his hands on either side of my head. I closed my eyes as I inhaled his minty breath.

Shit. He’s so damn hot. No! Don’t think about him! Resist! Resist!

“Yes, Sir Callan.” I said as flatly as I could. I opened my eyes again, clearing my throat which seemed to contain a huge lump. My heart was beating like crazy, I felt like my whole body was electrified with the proximity of our bodies.

“Can you feel that, Paige? Surely you can feel this heat between us?”

I met his burning gaze and then looked at his lips before I put my right hand on his cheek and caressed it. He smiled at me and it honestly made me almost want to stop resisting his advances. But then Gwen’s pretty face flashed on my mind. I put both my hands on his shoulders and pushed as hard as I could.

“Listen you rich spoiled brat. You may think every woman wants to fuck you, but get this thtough your thick skull. I- DO- NOT. I’m your employee and I want respect! You hear me? The next time you so much as smile at me, I’m quitting and reporting you to HR! I don’t care if you’re a millionaire! I’m not looking for anyone to fuck or love or spend time with. I’m just here for this damn good paying job.”

Callan was staring at me bewildered. I panted and gritted my teeth. I’ve never felt so powerful over a man before. My heart beated erratically that I was sure it was about to explode. We stood there just staring at each other until the “Ding” of the elevator snapped us out of it.

Callan went out first and I followed. The building’s huge lobby was filled with busy people in business attire all moving along their day. Most of them greeted him while the others bent their heads and moved out of his way. Callan didn’t even respond to anyone. He just kept walking until we reached the exit.

The bright blue sky felt great to look at after my outburst. Callan’s driver opened the car door and I stood a few steps behind him. He was about to go in, but then he closed the door, told his driver to wait in the car, then turned to me.

“Look here. You are—-.”

“I’m fired, I know.” I said, sighing in defeat.

“No. First of all, I’m a billionaire. Secondly, I’m sorry, Ms. Miller. I have no excuses for my actions. But I can promise you it won’t happen again. You can trust that I won’t be inappropriate again.” he suddenly said, looking so sincere.

It took me a while before I could answer him. He looked at me curiously before he cleared his throat.

“So, do you forgive me?”

“Yes. I like this job. I need this job, sir Callan. So if you promise never to harrass me again, then yes, I forgive you.”

“Great. We can start fresh. Let’s be friends.”

“Friends?”

“Yeah. You know people who get to know each other through the years? Friends.”

“I don’t need a new friend.”

“Wow. You are without a doubt the hardest woman I’ve ever met.”

“Hmm you have no idea, Mr. Holden. Now. Shall we stand here and get a sunburn or should we get in your car and go to that meeting?”

“See? You’re already bullying me. I told you Mr. Holden is my grandfather. Alright. Come on, friend. Let’s get this meeting over with.” he said as he punched my arm softly like a buddy would.

He chuckled while he opened the door, and made me go in his car first.

I sat as far from him as possible, and to my surprise he kept his promise about not hitting on me anymore.

“Thank you for not firing me, Callan.”

“Are you a virgin?”

“What?!”

“Maybe you’re a virgin that’s why you’re so resistant. If you are, you don’t have to worry anymore. I don’t do virgins. You have to lick them forever and I hate the way they wince when I put it in the first time.”

“I’m not a virgin. I have…Did it really not occur to you how what you just said are all so inappropriate?”

“Why? I’m talking to my friend, aren’t I? Aren’t we friends?” he smiled and it was as if a ray of sunshine warmed my cold cold world. Shit. How can I do this? I haven’t gotten laid in 2 years and I honestly want him so damn bad.