Chapter 3

Cassius, as she'd come to learn that he was called, had carefully placed the drinks in the back of the car and ushered her into the passenger seat before taking his seat beside her.

Her initial evaluation of him had been proven right. He was a very sweet guy, despite the way he looked.

He'd insisted on carrying all the drinks himself, a gesture she appreciated for two. One, it was very gentlemanly of him. Her second reason was not very ladylike.

She and all the other ladies in the cafe had spent the short few minutes it took him to ferry the boxes of drink to the car drooling after him with their eyes.

He was definitely aware of the effect he had on them. She caught a slight smile on his face on one of the trips.

Now she was locked into a tight space with this force of a man. Even though the air conditioner was on, she felt hot. The heat was coming from his body and pressing over her. She cleared her throat and discreetly fanned herself.

He looked over at her and grinned. Yup, he definitely knew the effect he had.

She looked for something to say--anything. "So...where are we going?"

"To the office."

"That man's office? The one who placed the order for the drinks?"

"Yup." Cassius certainly wasn't a man of many words.

"Who is he?"

"My boss."

She was starting to get the idea that she wouldn't get much out of this man. She needed to change her tactics. "Your boss is kind of an a*s."

Cassius burst into laughter. He shook his head. "Don't let him hear you say that."

"You didn't deny it. You agree."

Cassius smiled. "He's cool."

"Assh*les can be cool too."

He paused to think about it. He grinned. "I suppose so."

"Do you know what he wants with me?"

"Yes."

She hadn't been expecting that. She turned to him sharply, the seat belt straining with the effort. "Are you going to tell me?"

"Nope."

"Why not!?"

"He can tell you himself."

"But--"

"Look," he pointed out the window on her side. "We're here. You'll find out yourself soon enough."

"Holy sh*t--" She couldn't help herself. The words fell out before she could hold them in. She glanced at him. "Sorry."

"It's cool. I've been known to swear a bit myself." He winked at her.

"Err..." She cleared her throat and looked away from him. This man was too sexy for his own good. "This is that man's office?" She looked up at the building, a glass skyscraper that reached so far up that she had to crane her neck back to see the top.

"Yup."

"Like, he owns the building?"

"Yes."

"That is insane. How rich is he?"

"A lot richer than me?"

Faith rolled her eyes at the intended joke. "Oh Lord, what could someone who owns a building like this want with me?"

"Let's go find out, shall we?"

They stepped out of the vehicle just as another man in a crisp white uniform came rushing up. Cassius handed him the keys. He bowed and made to enter the car.

Cassius held up a hand to stop him. "Hold on. I need to get some things out of the car." He pulled out his phone and dialled a number. A few short words later, the phone was tucked back into his pocket.

Before long, three women rushed out of the building to them. "Good afternoon, sir."

"Good afternoon. There are some drinks in the back of the car. Get them out and put them in the Tea rooms, will you?"

"Okay, sir." They rushed to get the drinks.

"Okay, let's go." Cassius led her to the revolving doors and into the building.

"How many tea rooms are in this building?" She asked.

"There's probably one on each floor."

"How many floors are there?"

"Just 10."

"10!? There won't be enough drinks to go around!"

Cassius laughed. "That's what you're worried about? You're an interesting little lady, Miss Faith."

"Just Faith is fine."

"Okay." That was his only answer.

He led her to an elevator where five people, obviously employees, were already waiting.

They chorused, "Good morning, Mr Casius."

"Morning."

They all got in together. He planted his feet slightly apart and folded his arms. His clothes bunched up, straining against his muscles and shirt.

Faith unconsciously shifted, positioning herself to see him better. She noticed the other women in the elevator do the same, while the men hung back, away from him.

The elevator made a few stops along the way. Eventually, they were the only ones left in the elevator as they rode to the very top.

She was both disappointed and relieved when the elevator eventually stopped and the door slid open.

Cassius stepped out first and signalled to her to follow him. They walked through a small passageway before bursting out into a big office.

At one end of the office, there was a sofa and table. The table held a jar filled with sweets. A huge television was hung up in front of it.

On the other end of the room, there was a table and chair set up. A single woman sat at the table. She was older than Faith.

She seemed to be about 25. She was gorgeous, a smack-bomb redhead. Her luscious mane was draped over one shoulder. Her makeup was flawless.

She tapped away at a keyboard with perfectly manicured hands.

"Hey there, Cassius," she said in a voice that was unconsciously sultry. "What do we have here?" She looked Faith over.

"Who." Faith corrected.

"A feisty one, isn't she?"

Faith frowned. She didn't like being spoken about like she wasn't standing right there.

"Tell the boss I brought the girl."

She nodded and disappeared through a door close to her desk. Faith watched her go. The woman was stunning. She was dressed in a white shirt and a tiny black skirt that hugged her curves tightly.

It was impossible not to watch her sway as she walked, her red shoes click-clacking against the floor.

It wasn't long before she reappeared. "The boss will see you in fifteen minutes."

"Fifteen minutes? Why can't he see me now? I've got things to do."

The woman gave Faith a look. "The boss is a really busy man." She returned to her desk without sparing Faith another look.

"Calm down. The time will be up before you know it. Come, let's sit over here." Faith fumed but allowed Clacius to lead her over to the sofa she'd spotted earlier. They sat.

He reached into the glass bowl and grabbed a handful of sweets. "Want some?"

"Might as well." Faith snagged one from him and popped it into her mouth. She folded her arms and glared at the television.

Calcius was right. The time really did fly past. Before she knew it, she was told to go in.

Faith cleared her throat. "Are you coming in with me?" Somehow, she'd come to see Calcius as an ally despite the man not saying more than 50 words in total to her so far.

"Don't see why not." He hopped to his feet. "I was getting bored out here anyway."

They went through the same door the woman used earlier into an office that was easily two times the size of the one they just exited.

The man she'd met earlier was seated behind a huge glass table which seemed to double as some sort of device screen he was operating. He looked up at them and steepled his hands under his chain.

"Well, Hello again," he said.