Getting back to his hotel room after finishing his meeting, Mark sat on the coach briefly closing his eyes only for her face to popup.
Since he saw Melissa again, he couldn't get her out of his mind. That day at the hotel as their eyes met for the first time in years, he still got that electrifying feeling just like the first time. She was older now but more beautiful reminding him of why he couldn't stop himself that night. Now having agreed to his job offer to disign the hotel, he chose to leave the country not only for business but most importantly so she would have time to get acquitted with her work and settled in his house. He needed her to get hooked to her job so she sign's the contract and for her not to leave when she finds out he is her employer and house mate. "Sir Melissa White reported to the office and the driver took her to the villa as ordered." James his assistant had to keep him informed of everything Melissa did."That good." His lips slightly curved up. Since his plan was in motion only time would tell. If she will fall into his trap or not."Instruct Adams to keep an eye on her and not to let her leave on her own. Also get two more bodyguards to follow them whenever they leave the villa." Standing up Mark instructed tagging his tie loosening it as he took off the suit jacket."I don't think she will agree to people following her around." "That why I need the best. Someone who knows what they are doing, no one should spot them." "You really think they will go after her?""We can't take any chances. Melissa is quite stubborn she will surely try to find out what happened to her father's company and they won't want that. They will do all they can to stop her so we have to be a step ahead in order to take them down." He said sitting on the sofa to check the documents he had to sign. Though he didn't want any harm to be fall her now that he had finally got her, he didn't have much of a choice. "Okay, I'll make the arrangements but are you sure you want to use her as a batie?" James knew the history between them and though it was necessary, he didn't think it was right. If anything ever happens to her mark would be diverstated. They could find other ways but mark insisted in this."We need her for this James, with her we can smoke all of them out but I won't let them harm her." "I'll get our best men to keep Melissa safe Mark but if it gets dangerous we'll have to use other means." "I know." As James walked to the door, he stopped turning back to face him. "Sorry I almost forgot.""What?""Your grandfather wants you to go to the mansion as soon as you're back.""Why, is there a problem in the company?" His grandfather though retired kept up with the company's operations and any rising issue would easily drive him to the edge."Guess its about your engagement sir.""The engagement with Sasha?" He looked at James who noded then went back to his documents. "Tell them I don't have time. Better yet I'll talk to grandfather myself, you can go." His grandfather had promised an old friend of his their grand children's marriage to unit the two families merging their two companies. For years they tried to have the engagement official but Mark kept pushing it off. Though he never spoke openly, he didn't like the idea of an arranged marriage and his parent supported him but not his grandfather who wanted a great grandchild soon and a young woman from a wealthy family as his granddaughter in law. To his grandfather class was all that mattered in marriage.Now that his fiancee to be was permanently back from abroad where she had gone for studies, the old man planned to hold an official engagement party in a months time but Mark had his own plan's which he hoped his grandfather would understand........ "Yes aunt, I'll take of myself. Miss you two so much. Bye." Finishing a video call to her aunt, chating for awhile with Tommy, Melissa changed her clothes then went down for dinner. She missed her son so much, this being the first of many nights away from her baby felt like a stone lodged in her throat. She wanted to go home, be with her little boy but she had to stay. She needed to make enough money to help with his school and other expenses. 'This way miss." Jane who was waiting at the bottom of the staircase ready to serve her, directed her to the dinning room. "Thank you." Like Mary, all the other staff treated her as the mistress of house. Following their boss's orders. She thought, but she didn't think it was okay. Being just an employee she didn't see herself more special than the others."Miss is there a problem?" Noticing the displeased look on Melissa's face, Jane inquired wondering if she didn't like the food they had prepared. "Is it the food okay miss? If not we can have it changed though it will take some time." She questioned then explained when Melissa didn't respond."Oh no, on the contrary, the food looks delicious but I'm not used to eating alone." She said remembering her aunt and son missing them more. "Why don't you sit and eat with me?" She offered pointing to a chair beside her."Sorry miss, I can't. I'm only here to serve you. I wouldn't want Mary to scold me." Jane refused vehemently shaking her head. "She can't scold you, just say I asked you to." She insisted. "Sorry miss.""Really, Okay then since you can't sit at the table with me then we can eat in the kitchen or wherever you people eat." Not waiting for Jane's reply, Melissa took the dishes walking out the reare door. Stepping into the kitchen, she looked around the spacious room with all the modern furnishing and equipment. Though no one was in the room, she followed the murmurs and laughter outburst that came from a room next to the kitchen only to meet almost ten people enjoying dinner. There were dishes on the table though not as many as they had prepared for her. As soon as their eyes fell on her, they kept quite. Looking at the group of employees seated at a side table eating and charting amongst themselves, Melissa almost turned back. Didn't expect so many people.Having the many sets of eyes on her, she could tell they were surprised by her presence there. Unable to say sorry then turn back, all she could do was smile."May I join you?" She requisted placing the dishes in her hands on the table. "Miss you have to eat at the dinning table not out here." Mary stood picking the dishes up. "Thank you Mary but I want to eat here. That table is so depressing. Seriously I shouldn't be in there, I'm an employee as well." Taking the dishes from Mary, she placed them back on the table. Mary didn't understand her but couldn't question. Their orders were to give the young lady anything she asked for. Meeting Jane's eyes who was behind Melissa with more dishes, Mary gave any argument taking her seat. "She is right, Melissa you can sit with us." One of the men invited making space for her to seat. With Jane serving food on her plate and anyone who wanted to taste the new dish, mary sat quietly letting Melissa join them as others introduced themselves to her, from the gate man to the cook, the laundry lady and the gardener. Eating with other employees was lively and fun and though she didn't talk much, she enjoyed listening to their stories. Having people around helped her forget all her problems and with that she went to to eat with them everyday.Living in the gated community, the driver had to drop off Melissa to work every morning then pick her up in the evening. Soon their was a rumor that the CEO's lover was working in the company when they saw his driver but Melissa didn't pay much attention to it. Having not seen the lady who was driven to the company by their CEO's driver, many didn't take it seriously. Since joining the company, Melissa got along well with her two colleagues and the other employees at the company as always helped each other complete the project."Ladies, today lunch is on me." Nancy said while arranging the design paper's on her desk preparing to leave the office."Nancy, what the occasion? We always eat at the company cafeteria or is the food not up to your standard today." Jenifer asked mockingly.Taking her bag, Nancy stopped to stare at Jenifer. "You think? Anyway a friend opened a restaurant some two weeks ago and invited me for lunch since I helped with interior design and yes, of course I can
After the brief lunch break, Melissa was able to complete her days work on time. As she got off two hours earlier, Melissa walked a few blocks from her office building then took a taxi to the address where her father's former secretary worked.Since she got to the city, she was able to reconnect with the former secretary but it had taken her several weeks of convincing her to meet and share any information she had about the company that could be helpful."Hello I'm here." Alighting the taxi a few blocks as directed, she walked then made a call confirming their meeting place once outside the building. "Come up to the procurement office at the fifth floor. If anyone asks, say your company sent you to get some document don't say whom you're going to meet with. I'll be waiting." Looking at the phone in her hand that had gone silent, Melissa wondered why the lady was being so mysterious.Tucking the phone in her bag, Melissa went into the building thinking of what to say if anyone stops h
At the airport "Sir where to?" James, Marks assistant inquired when they got to the car, as they had just landed at the airport from his business trip. "Drop me off to the mansion. I need to talk to grandpa." He responded checking his phone briefly then tucked it in his pocket. "Any progress on the case I asked you to investigate?" Inquiring, he looked out of the window at the tall buildings along the way, with her face constantly popping up in his mind. "No, we are still working on it, but we can only get to them through Ms White." "I can't risk her safety to bring down the organization." He said running his figures along his chin, wishing he could keep Melissa out of the way. "She is in deep in this, and they are going to target her, especially when they find out she is trying to dig information of what happened to her father's company." James informed him handed him an iPad with Melissa's recent activities. "Ms White has been meeting up with the people who worked with her fat
"Oh! Come on Grandpa, you can not do this to me." Mark raised his hands then dropped them in frustration, as he leaned on the office desk looking at the stubborn old man. Raising his eyebrows, the old man looked at him the way he mostly did at the conference room. "Grandpa, that promise was made years ago when I was a small boy. I didn't have anyone in mind then, but now I already have someone I like." "You! What do you mean someone you like?" Pointing at him, he questioned getting more agitated. "I love someone else grandpa, and this marriage with Sasha won't be a happy one. If I'm not happy, I can't run the company well, besides we don't need a merger, the company is doing well. We will keep doing business with them anyway." Using what he believed was his grandfather's weakness, Mark made his argument. "You think I only care for the company, huh?" The old man questioned looking at him intently. "I love you my grandson, and very much want to see you happy, but I can't let you mak
Mark Johnson was her host? Staring at him, Melissa still couldn't believe it. She had told herself no way they could meet until she believed buy now here he was. He was much more handsome than he was in those damn magazines, and she didn't know what to do. "Should I run? No, you can't, smile and act like nothing happen. Just smile Mel." She convinced herself but her face was frozen, she could only frown. "Melissa dear are you okay?" Mary inquired seeing the frown on her face. Still in shock, she looked at Mary forcing her brain to coordinate with her body. "Yes I...I'm fine. Wel..welcome sir." Moving to give way, she felt dizzy almost falling as she lost her footing but Mark held her. As his arms wrapped around her tiny waist, an electric bolt ran through her spine. "Hi, Melissa are you okay?" He smiled still holding her gaze. Unable to form any words, she nodded stepping from his arms flinching when he tried to support her again as she hit the chair behind her. Taking the s
"Oh! Melissa, what is wrong with you?" With a deep sigh she fell on the bed burring her face in the pillow. "How could you let him get under your skin that easily?" Dragging herself from the bed, she lamented walking to the bathroom. After having the longest shower, she got in bed but couldn't sleep. Still remembering her make out session with Mark, she touched her lips reliving the kiss and feeling disappointed at the same time of how easily he pushed her away. "You're so stupid Melissa, how could you let your guard down like that? You can't fall for him, this is no time for love." She reprimanded herself for thinking about that kiss. Since that night four years ago she was wary of men touching her. Turning down every man that asked to be more than a friend, but tonight she let Mark touch her, and it felt right and natural to lose herself in his arm's. Melissa had never let her mind think of what happened that night, but while lying in bed her thoughts took her back to the smal
"Ahem! Miss we're here." As they pulled up at the mall parking lot, the driver announced waking her from her deep thoughts. Last night lying in bed a few doors away from Mark messed with her mind. She couldn't sleep very well as that kiss kept popping in her mind making her imagine of doing more than just kissing him. Hoping to buy time to think of what she would do next, she left early avoiding running into him. "I want you." With his words still lingering in her mind, and after what happened between them, Melissa wished she could leave his home, but it was not that simple. "Thank you Adams and please call me Melissa, you don't have to be so formal." Meeting his eyes on the rearview mirror, she spoke smiling at him. Being an employee like them, it did not feel right being treated as the mistress of the house. "Okay, sure won't forget next time." "Fine, and oh, don't wait up for me, I'll be meeting with a friend later, but I'll call when I'm done so you can come pick me up.
Thinking of Mark , and the fact that she had to live in his house, scared Melissa a little. Him being her boss with the history between them made her uneasy having to face him everyday at home, but luckily it was just for a few days."Just act like any other employee." She told herself holding a second cup of steaming coffee in her hand. She needed to find that man, get the evidence her father had against Mr Steven, and make him pay for all he made her go through."I have to get that information before I complete my project." She thought to herself feeling the pressure almost overwhelming her. Melissa only had a few weeks for her contract to expire and when it does, she won't have a reason to live in Mark's house. Though she planned to tell him about her son, she didn't think she could use him to stay a little longer. Or could she? Thinking about it, Melissa hoped it wouldn't get to that. "Hi Mel, sorry I'm late. I had to pass by the office first. You know how it is running you