Chapter Seven
Jaxon freshened up and wore a tee shirt over his sweatpants and fixed his hair. He walked over to the living room and sat down to sip some water. Shortly afterwards, Carmella rang the doorbell and he went to open it, excitement coursing through his body.
She walked into his apartment shyly, carrying her stuff into the living room. She kept her things on the dining table as he stood like a statue near her. She looked up shyly at him, hoping that he wasn't getting any wrong ideas. "Did you eat anything sir?" She asked as professionally as she could.
Jaxon was amused. She looked so adorable with her nervousness. "Are you offering to make me something?" He asked, tilting his head and looking at her with hooded eyes. She looked towards the kitchen, unable to take in the tension in the air. Why was Jaxon Craddock in a good mood for a change? She just hoped that he didn't think that she was desperately trying to flirt with him.
"I could make you something if you haven't eaten," she said with her eyes on the dining table, fidgeting with her stuff.
"I haven't eaten anything since last evening, " he said and she looked up into his eyes with horror.
"Oh, what would you like to eat then?" She asked, opening her blazer and leaving it draped over the chair to go into the kitchen. Jaxon took in her curvy figure, as dark desires raced through his head. He wanted to tell her so much that he wanted to only taste her. She walked towards the kitchen and he stood there to compose himself.
Carmella checked his refrigerator and found that it was empty. There was some chicken. She found a carrot and a bell pepper and decided to make him chicken and vegetable soup. She started chopping the vegetables when he came into the kitchen and dragged a stool to sit and watch her.
"You need to restock your refrigerator sir," she said. He didn't answer. She looked up at him to see him just staring back at her.
"Why are you here Carmella?" He asked again in a very serious tone.
"I I told you I came to ask for work," she said as she added the veggies and chicken to the stock to simmer.
"No, I'm not buying that. So why are you really here?" He asked sternly.
"You didn't come to office sir, so I was concerned, " she said in a small voice.
"I told you that I won't tolerate anything apart from a professional relationship. Why are you throwing yourself at me again and again? Don't you have any self-respect? I know exactly what you're trying to do. I'm not a fool that I'd jump into a relationship with you. You're not even my type," He growled.
Shocked to the roots of her hair, Carmella just stared at him wordlessly. She switched off the flame as the soup was done. She looked at him with tears pricking her eyes. "I'm sorry. I was just concerned about you. I was worried that you were sick," she said as the tears fell from her eyes and trickled down her cheeks. She rushed out of his kitchen, collected her stuff and ran into the elevator. Her heart broke into tiny pieces at his humiliating words. Never had she felt so humiliated in her twenty years of existence.
She sobbed as she drove home. She didn't want to go back to work anymore. She didn't want anything to do with Jaxon Craddock in her entire lifetime. It would be better to join her dad and manage hotels all her life. She rushed upstairs to her room and sobbed into her pillow.
Jaxon sat down with his head in his hands. He had intentionally hurt such a young, innocent and pure soul. She was getting into his mind, playing havoc with his senses and he had to get her out. Surely she would leave the job after this and he would never have to see her again. He would never be tortured like this again. No woman could be trusted. He couldn't lose control over a mere slip of a girl.
But was he happy? No, he just kept seeing her tear stained face everywhere. His heart clenched at the sight of the hurt in her eyes, her words made him feel guilty but he knew it was for her good. He was too old for her and too broken. He could never ever trust anyone and she didn't deserve this.
He felt the fever returning and went and lay down on his bed. His heart ached at the thought that he had driven her out of his life forever. A tear slipped from his eye at the thought that he would never ever see her angelic face again. "I'm sorry my angel," he said releasing a rugged breath.
Carmella calmed down and had her dinner with her family. She couldn't avoid her mom and it was better to put up a brave, normal face and eat rather than be interrogated for an hour.
Afterwards she lay down and thought about what to do with her life. Should she quit her job at JC group? No she wouldn't. She was not a loser who would quit a challenge at the drop of a hat. She would go to office and complete her two years. She would be brave and professional only with everyone. She might be young but she couldn't be trampled upon.
Determined, she went to sleep. The next morning, she wore a black skirt suit and tied her hair in a bun and drove to the office.
Reaching office, she made coffee and took it to his room. He was sitting at his desk with his head in his hands. Placing the coffee, she said in an emotionless voice, "Good morning sir. Your coffee. Please send me today's work."
Jaxon looked up at her surprised to see her."Why are you here?" He asked her narrowing his eyes at her.
"I've signed a two year contract with your company, sir. I'll stop coming if you terminate the contract. I'm not a loser. So till either you terminate my contract or till it expires, I'll continue to work," she spoke firmly with conviction.
"I see," he said, thinking about what she said.
She turned to go back to her cubicle and Jaxon watched her. She really was something. He was excited that she hadn't left the job. He emailed her the day's work and watched her hypnotised through his camera.
A new design idea of a ultra feminine Womenswear, romantic with flowing lines and fabric came to his mind. He watched her and sketched his designs. There were around 40 designs and they came out superb. He watched them as well as Carmella. The designs would look so good on her! He named the line, l'amour meaning love in French.
It was past lunch time and she didn't get up once from her seat. She didn't go out with Ralph to eat. He went away disappointedly unable to convince her to eat. She sat doing her work on an empty stomach. His lunch arrived and he stared at her sitting at her laptop and only working. Did she want to die?
After ten minutes, he called her through the intercom. She came into his room, "Yes sir. I've nearly finished. Ten more minutes, please," she said, trying to hurry back.
"Why are you not eating?" He asked her. She looked at him with surprise and then looked at her feet.
"Thanks for your concern sir," she said, walking away.
"Carmella, come and eat with me," he ordered.
"I'm not hungry sir," she said, walking out and closing the door. She sat and sat down at her laptop.
Jaxon muttered curses and banged his fist here and there with frustration. When he couldn't take it anymore, he just got up from his seat and strode out of his chamber. He walked up to her desk."Come to my room and eat. It's an order," he said.
"Sorry sir. This order doesn't pertain to work. I can't abide by it," she said stubbornly, not looking at him at all. He just lost it. He held her wrist and pulled her up. She stumbled onto his hard chest from the strength and force of his move. He held her to himself, his arm going around her waist.
"I'm sorry. Now, will you eat?" He asked, staring into her eyes, drowning into her.
"Sir, please leave me, " she said struggling to get free.
"No, first say you'll eat with me," he insisted. She placed her hands on his chest to push him away.
"The more you struggle, the longer you'll be in my arms, Carmella, " he whispered.
Carmella instantly stopped. "Ok," she said and he left her reluctantly, going back into his office while Carmella followed him confused by his sudden change in behaviour. Did he apologise for yesterday's comments? She couldn't believe it.
