Chapter Two

"Do you like Children Cesar?”. Elyon asked as she watched him eat. He'd invited her to lunch with him even if she didn't want to but he'd not given her any chance to argue.

Cesar looked up from his meal to stare at her with a raised brow. He wondered why she was asking... all of a sudden.

“I do.. sometimes.” Cesar replied. "Why do you ask?.”

 “Sometimes? Not every time?”. She quipped. "That's an odd thing to say."

Cesar let out a masculine sigh and dropped his spoon. “Are you going to start lecturing me about my dislike for children Ellie?”. He inquired. 

“No of course not." Elyon frowned. "And stop calling me Ellie.”

“You call me Cesar”. He reminded her.

”Isn’t that your name?”. She asked innocently.

“It’s Cesari". Cesar said. "Besides I’m your boss.”

“So?”. She blurted out.

“I demand that you respect me.” He said.

“Sure". She sent him a saccharine smile. "Sorry boss.” She didn’t sound sorry at all.

Cesar rolled his eyes at her. “You should be happy I’m in a good mood today. That stunt you pulled this morning wasn’t funny.”

”Would you have fired me?." She asked in a sultry voice. He'd asked her to get him coffee the usual way he liked it but she'd added so much sugar that he'd puked his guts out. 

“Of course.” He said.

“Considering I’m the best assistant you’ve ever had?the coffee I make for you everyday has no equal and you know that". She told him. "Even though you work me like a horse.”

“Should I give you a raise then?." Cesar asked her with a sarcastic smile. "Besides... I can get someone who is more submissive and doesn't give me unwanted migraines everyday."

Elyon narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re lucky I’m not looking for a better job.” She said through gritted teeth.

”I hope you don’t tell your husband everything I do to you or do you?.” He questioned. "Not that he'd do anything about it but I'd rather not have a disgruntled man coming after me."

“I thought you’d have noticed.” She mused.

“Noticed what?”. He frowned.

”Since you notice every new thing about me..." She paused and sent him a coy smile.

Cesar frowned. “I don’t." He snapped.

Elyon laughed. "Liar liar Cesar on fire.” She sang. "Should I start mentioning very weird things you notice about me?".

“What have I not noticed about you?”. He changed the subject, knowing that if they got into it... one or both of them would end up leaving the restaurant annoyed and he didn't want that.

“I don’t wear a ring.” She held out her left hand to show him.

“Oh?." He stared at her hand and made to bite her fingers making her squeak and withdraw her hand. "It doesn’t matter. You don’t have to wear a ring or change your maiden name to your husband’s before you’re married. You don’t want me to know you’re married.” He said. "Women do it all the time."

“I’m not.” Elyon said belligerently.

Cesar leaned back in his chair and folded his arms fixing her a pointed look. “How do you explain your daughter?”. He demanded. "Or is she adopted?".

”A very irresponsible man got me pregnant.” She answered airily.

”Rape?." His expression became grim.

”No." She shook her head.

”If you gave yourself to the man then you’re equally irresponsible". Cesar told her. "There’s something called condom or even birth control pills.” He shrugged. "Who is he?”.

”He’s dead.” She answered. "He died before she was born."

”Too bad". He didn’t sound remorseful at all as he flashed her a grin. "But good thing I won’t have to share you with someone else.”

Elyon rolled her eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself Cesar. I don’t have a husband but I have a boyfriend.”

”No you don’t". Cesar replied looking smug.

”And you know that how?”. She arched her brows at him.

”I know everything about you." He shot her a lopsided grin.

Elyon snorted.” Right. And you didn’t know that I’m not married.” She drawled. "How very perceptive of you sir."

"Did you love him?". He asked. "Your daughter's father."

Elyon became uncomfortable and she squirmed on her seat. "Why do you want to know?". She inquired.

"I'm curious." He shrugged nonchalantly. "Were you in love with him?".

"I don't know." She shrugged. "Have you ever been in love?".

Cesar looked down at the table and began to play with the napkin beside his plate without answering. 

"Cesar?". She called. "Are you okay?". She reached out to touch his hand but withdrew at the last minute. They were in a public place so she couldn't do anything that'd cause tongues to start wagging. 

Even just being here having lunch with him was news all by itself and she knew she'd see something about it online sometime later today or tomorrow. 

Just the name Cesari Sandoval was news - headline news.

”What time will you go pick up your daughter?”. He asked suddenly surprising her.

”2:30. Why?”. She frowned. He'd never asked about her daughter before.

”Let’s go together. It’s 1:00.” He said.

Elyon stared at him in surprise. “You really want to?”.

 “Of course." He nodded and rose.

”Um..okay.” She still sat.

”Right now". Cesar said, impatient.

Elyon stood up and followed Cesar after he paid the bill. She was quiet on the ride to Miesa’s school and she was grateful when Cesar’s phone rang and he had to talk to someone but not for long.

”How old is your daughter?”. He asked her.

”She’s five". Elyon replied. "You really shouldn’t have bothered. I mean you have that meeting with Emerald Arts by 3 and it's been a long time coming."

”Let’s just say I’ve switched to “I like children” mood." Cesar sent her a lopsided grin. "Emerald Arts can wait. They need me, I don't need them."

"Cocky much?". She huffed.

"You know it turns you on." He winked at her.

Elyon blushed and looked out the window. “It’s hot in here, isn’t it?”. She asked him.

”The AC is on Elyon." Cesar told her looking amused. "Am I too hot for you?.”

Elyon rolled her eyes but didn’t answer. He was the hottest man she'd ever known but she wouldn't tell him. She'd die if he ever found out that he'd starred in her dreams almost every night since she started working for him.

”Tell me." He insisted as he parked at the curb just behind a gray SUV. The school was still in session but just for a minute more. They'd got to the school in record time and it was thanks to his mad driving skills.

”You’re not my type Cesar." Elyon informed him. "Sorry." She sent him an apologetic smile.

The school bell rang making her sigh in relief. "That’s the bell. I’ll go get her.” She unfastened her seat belt and got out of the car before he could say anything else then she closed the door and left.

Cesar shook his head and smiled. “I’m not your type eh Ellie? We’ll see about that sweetheart.” He thought.