Chapter Five
"You want me to work for you?" She asked him when she came to her senses.
"Yeah," he confirmed.
"Why? I don't want anyone's pity. I'll get a job after the wedding, " she told him.
"Why should I pity you? I need a personal assistant as soon as possible," he told her. He was surprised at himself. He was a hard taskmaster and never in his lifetime did he appoint any personal assistant for himself. He didn't like anyone's work and preferred to do all his work himself. His employees trembled with fear in his presence and his command was the law. So, he was himself perplexed how he proposed Karen to be his personal assistant without knowing anything much about her professional qualifications and expertise.
The truth was that he wanted a way to see her everyday, talk to her, feel her close to him, hear her voice. It was like an addiction that he couldn't control. Everyday it became his mission to find a way to be close to her. He was never like this. Instead of checking his everyday work schedule, he tried to check with Chase what Karen's schedule was.
"Oh, then when can I start?" Asked Karen. She was actually bored the whole day at Scarlett's house. After a workaholic lifestyle, she didn't have enough to occupy herself with. If she worked here in Travis Springs for a month, she would earn something while keeping herself busy.
"Tomorrow?" He asked, again surprised at himself. It seemed that his mouth had a way of its own. It listened to no reasoning whatsoever.
"Ok, but if I don't like it, I'll leave after the wedding and return to Austin," she told him, turning her face and looking him in the eye. Mistake, his face was so close. It seemed that she was drowned in their blue depths.
He sat staring into her eyes, as a turmoil of emotions swept over him. No, he wouldn't let her leave. Once she joined, he would somehow detain her. He had to make her his. His calculating mind needed to devise a plan to keep her here in Travis Springs.
"Ok, come to my office tomorrow at 8 o'clock in the morning," he tried to speak casually. He didn't need to scare her now. "Enough of serious talk. Let's eat dinner. Come," he said leading her inside to his luxurious dining room. A huge ten-seater lighter shaded wooden dining table with white leather upholstered chairs adorned the room matching with the white marble tile and inlaid, hand scraped hardwood floors.
He held out her chair for her to sit while the food was being served by a middle-aged woman. "Sally, this is Karen," he introduced, and looking towards her, he said, "My housekeeper, Sally. She cooks for me too."
"Hello Karen, nice to meet you, " said Sally.
Karen smiled at her warmly. She looked very motherly. "Nice to meet you too, Sally, " she said.
"I've served dinner, Jayson. Anything else?" She asked.
"No Sally, you may go home. Thank you," he told her and she happily left.
They enjoyed their dinner. Karen actually liked him contrary to how she had been feeling, before knowing him. It seemed that he wasn't what he showed. He was unhappy and lonely. He tried to cover it well but something was bothering him. She would find out eventually.
After dinner, like a true gentleman, he dropped her home. He opened her door and she got down in front of Chase's house. "Thanks for the dinner. Would you like to come in?" She asked.
He just shook his head,"Maybe another time," he said, staring at her. His mind was at a dilemma, whether to kiss or not to kiss her. Her pink pouty lips were pulling him like a magnet yet his mind was warning him. If he kissed her, she wouldn't join his office tomorrow.
"Ok then, see you tomorrow morning," she said. She was aware of how his eyes were hooked to her mouth. She knew that he wanted to kiss her. She also wanted to taste his lips but controlled her urges. He would be her employer. It was a bad idea.
"Yeah, I'll text you the address," he said, turning and leaving. It took all his willpower to go away, but he had to do it. Kissing could happen another time.
The next morning she reached Jayson's office, Meyers & Sons, fifteen minutes before time. The middle-aged lady at the lavishly decorated yet contemporary reception, guided her to the waiting lounge outside Jayson's chamber. She went inside to inform him of her arrival.
Karen sat there, admiring the interiors. She could feel a few employees taking a peek at her discreetly. The door flew open and Jayson strode out of his chamber towards her. His receptionist came out of his chamber after him. She as well as the other employees stared at him with their jaws dropped to the floor.
"Good morning, good to see that you're early, come let's talk in my room, " he said, leading her into his chamber as he glared at all the others. They immediately looked at their work and continued with their usual schedule.
Jayson closed his door and led her to a small room that was connected to his. "This is your workplace, Karen. Just start the laptop and set your password. There's a welcome email with details about the company. Read it. I have dispatched the ongoing cases that we are dealing with. There's also a list of our legal advisers and attorneys and what each are dealing with. Check everything and then go to each individual and take an update about the cases that they are dealing with. Send me the file once you have all their details," said Jayson as she started her laptop and nodded at him in understanding.
"Yeah," she said, setting up her password.
Jayson nodded and left. His table was a little away from her chamber, so he had set up a camera in her room. He had to see her face all the time without looking like a pervert. So returning to his table he switched on his laptop and stared at her through it. She was looking so beautiful in her formal black pencil skirt and white blouse. Her hair was left untied and neatly fell to her shoulders. There was not a trace of makeup on her face yet she looked like a goddess. His eyes went to her lips as she bit them deep in concentration.
He would be a dead man if he kept watching her. Soon there would be no cases for him if he left all his work and simply stared at her.
