Chapter One

Chapter 1

Xena Remington

What can be a very stupid decision when it comes to your career?

Being an HR Manager to one of the most dangerous people in this country. On paper it looks great. Xena Remington, working as a Senior HR under the Lancaster Empire.

Till now my job has been very easy, just finding people to hire and keeping everyone in the office happy by managing their complains. On occasions, it has gotten difficult when it comes to being there when your acquaintances are fired but hey, it’s a part of my job.

But today is my worst nightmare. An employee, I mean an ex-employee has filed a complaint against the CEO of the company for harassment and wrongful termination.

So for the first time in my life, I am going to have an interaction with one of the most dangerous men on this planet, Axel Lancaster.

To make myself clearer and to explain why I am freaking out so much, Axel Lancaster was a devil in disguise with the most beautiful face and the body of an Adonis. He was known for his cruel and lethal ways. Everyone in the country knew he was a bad man, but nobody, not even the cops tried to bother him. It was a known fact that he was the CEO of an enterprise which was just a cover-up to smoothly run his mafia business.

“Xena, he is ready for you.” I look up as I feel a shiver run down my body knowing my body didn’t want to move out of this safe environment and go meet a mafia boss. Jerold is standing near my cabin as he tries to give me a reassuring smile.

I get up and start gathering my files before walking out. I feel Jerold walk behind me maintaining a huge distance between us which annoys me.

As we enter the empty elevator, he finally stands close to me and whispers, “It’s going to be fine, just agree with everything that he says, brief him and get out. The less you talk, the better it might be.” I know he is trying to give me some advice for my own good but I am really mad at him.

“Really, Jerold? Now that nobody is around, you’ll talk to me? We’ve been together for 2 years now and you don’t want to call me your girlfriend-“

“This is why I hate your friend, Zara, she puts all this nonsense in your head, everything was perfect and then she meets you and gaslights you.”

“NO Jerold. Everything is perfect for you, everything is going according to your convenience, you are the one gas lighting me. I’ve been upset about this for a long time now. She listens to me and she is brutally honest with me. I know you are embarrassed of me and that you are waiting for someone better to come along so-“

“Shhhh we are here. Please stop arguing about things that don’t matter. I am so tired of this.” He says as he shakes his head, I look up to see the elevator reaching the 17^th floor finally.

“Thing that don’t matter?” I say as my eyes fill up with tears.

2 fucking years. Zara is right, I am blinded by love, I refuse to see his flaws but he was so amazing during the first few months of our relationship or whatever this is.

All I wanted was for things to go back to normal.

“Jeez for fuck’s sake don’t cry. You are embarrassing me. You always do this. This exactly why I can never make you my girlfriend. Now wipe those fucking tears and act professional. Please stop embarrassing me.” He whispers harshly and walks away fast when the elevator open so as to not be seen with me.

Ouch, but I am used to it now.

What happened to the Jerold I met? Zara is right, I can’t let a man treat me like this.

I wipe away my tears quickly as we enter the grand office and cool air hits my warm face. I take a deep breath in as my eyes land on a man facing his huge muscular back to us, cussing away on the phone making me more nervous.

As a woman, who is around 5’5, which I think is a good height, I feel too small in front of my boss who is known for his huge muscular stature.

I would always hear the female employees going ga ga over their Adonis of a boss whenever they managed to get a little glimpse of him.

My heart stopped beating as he turned around and kept his phone down. I could feel my hands shaking as I tried to hold on to my files as tightly as possible.

I feel a shudder run down my body as I gather up courage to look up as my eyes meet a pair of greyish green eyes. Confusion sprawls over my face before I adjust my eyes to look at this my ‘mafia’ boss’s ridiculously handsome face and my eyes widen.

I need to stop staring

But he so beautiful!

Xena look away now.

But-

Look away!

I look down immediately as I sense him coming closer to us. His delicious alpha male scent fills my nose making me feel butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

God, fuck me.

How hot is this man?

“Yes Mr. Hart. What is this all about?” I hear a deep demanding voice, it was clear that he was in no mood to discuss this complaint filed against him.

“Sorry sir, we have to do this. Ms. Remington here will listen to your side of the story and then give you a small briefing if this ends up becoming an actual lawsuit. We are just trying to avoid getting the lawyers involved here.” Jerold says in a meek voice, surprising me.

What happened to the man who bosses me around all the time?

“Hart, do I look like a man who cares about the law?” He asks in a sarcastic tone making me gulp.

“Sorry sir-“

“Fine, let’s get started. Ms. Remington, right?” My head shoots up as he takes my name and my eyes widen like saucers when I see him staring back right into my soul.

“Uh Yes.” I say as I clear my throat. “I will just ask-“

“She has some questions. If you don’t understand, I will explain it properly.“ Jerold interrupts me making my blood boil. He always does this. He thinks I am incapable of doing anything right.

“No, I think I can actually-“ I almost whisper as I feel my confidence draining.

“First we need to hear your side of this story.“ He interrupts me again and gives me a ‘shut the fuck up’ look. I just want the ground to open up and swallow me, “and then-“

“Hart, I don’t need you here, GET OUT.” I purse my lips to absorb the shock as I see Jerold mirroring my expression but obeying Axel immediately.

As Jerold leaves I feel all the blood drain out of my body. I am alone in a room with a man who has probably killed a lot of people and done god knows what.

“Please take a seat, Ms. Remington.” His voice brings me out of my trance as I hurriedly take a seat in front of him.

When did he walk away from me and sit down?

“Okay so I have a few questions here, but first let me just explain the complaint filed by Ms. Scott here. She says you used her for-“ I gulped as I realized what kind of situation I am in, “umm yeah for for-“

“Sex.” I hear a throaty chuckle as he rubs his forehead, “Ms. Remington, are you sure you are up for this?”

I take a huge breath in and I meet his alluring eyes when I realize that I’ve been looking down the whole time.

Maybe Jerold is right.

I can’t do this.

“Yes, I am.” I say as I clear my throat again, speaking clearly this time, “Ms. Scott has claimed that you allegedly used her for sex and offered her a better position in the company in return and then you fired her when she complained to sue for sexual harassment and for falsely promising her something.”

“Very good.” He says making my whole face heat up. I am a sucker for words of validation. Someone telling me I did something properly makes me very happy.

“Thank you. Now can you tell me your side of the story.” I asked him confidently and I see a small smile appear on his face.

He is so beautiful.

Xena, for the love of god, concentrate.

“okay, I think I fucke-“ He raised his eyebrows as my eyes widened, not being used to hearing obscenities, “I apologize, I slept with her once because she kept coming on to me multiple times. I never talked to her about a promotion or a raise. As an HR of this company, I am sure you know how against we are when it comes to top management asking for sexual favors in exchange for a better position. Also I don’t think I know what she works here as. I don’t think I wanted anything to do with her after sleeping with her once and she threw a fit after that and threatened to sue.”

I nodded, already knowing that he was telling the truth. Natalie Scott has always been known around the office as a woman who is obsessed with Axel Lancaster.

“Still you could have warned her that it was a one-time thing.” I murmur almost inaudibly. I think I was projecting my relationship insecurities on him.

I hear him chuckling, “I am sorry, I can’t be held responsible for a woman who refuses to read the signs and step away from a situation that will obviously never work in her favour. Like with you and Mr. Hart.”

My mouth falls open as stare at this absurdly attractive face,”Wh-What? No its n-not.”

“Save it, you cried right before you entered the room, which I am guessing has something to do with him, you also don’t speak up when he interrupts you and from what I have witnesses, he has no respect for you but you still choose to stay with a man like that. Women are smart enough to see the signs but I can’t do anything if they choose to ignore them.”

I stared at him dumbfounded.

Is it that obvious that Jerold mistreats me?

I am really discussing my relationship problems with a mafia boss?