After waiting for almost ten minutes, true to his word's the road cleared and traffic moved smoothly. After waiting for almost ten minutes, true to his word's the road cleared and traffic moved smoothly.
Stopping in front of the big gray and white painted building, Melissa straightened her skirt, took deep breaths walking into the building with every step wondering what kind of people she would be working with. She was not good at making friends upfront and without a doubt she expected some hostility. Sauntering to the front desk, the receptionist smiled at her. She was kind and welcoming and Melissa would tell she had been waiting for her. Showing her where to leave her suitcase, the receptionist directed Melissa to the elevator up to the managers office."Excuse me sir, Miss White is here." The secretary knocked at the managers office popping her head through the slightly opened door."Okay, show her in." Sightly raising his head, the manager invited Melissa to sit when she walked in with a click of her heel's. With lots of documents on his table, the manager took a while to address her and finally once he was done signing the documents he called his secretary. "Miss White, sorry for that." He seemed like he had forgotten of her presence until he looked up but Melissa had no complain. "Welcome to out company, Amelia my Secretary will show you to your office." He handed her over to his secretary after checking her appointment letter asking her to start work immediately."Thank you sir." Smiling at him, she walked out closely following Amelia to the office she would be sharing with two other colleague's. "Jenifer, Nancy this is Melissa, she will be working with you." As Amelia introduced her, she showed her to her desk as the two colleagues stopped their work to welcome her. "Hi Melissa welcome." They both smiled at her walking over. "When I heard of the new staff joining us, I didn't expect someone so young and beautiful. This is too much competition." Nancy lamented with her hand on her chest and though she didn't understand if she was just joking, Melissa smiled at her slightly raising her eyebrows. "Don't mind her." Jenifer winked at her push Nancy a little."Thank you...." Both Jenifer and Nancy were warm and welcoming contrary to her expectations. As bubbly as Nancy was, she reminded her of Lisa. Before getting acquitted to the project she was to work on, they showed her around the office and everyone she was to work with from other departments. Then proceeded to the conference room for a brief meeting, to discourse everything they had to finish a head of the official opening day of the hotel in a months time,as Nancy kept asking about her background and other projects she had worked not failing to talking about her experiences working in the company....After work hours Melissa went to the reception desk to pick her suitcase and get information about her accommodation. Though the company had said they would offer accommodation for the dilation she would be in town, they had not stated where she would live but she expected to stay in a hotel. After waiting for awhile with the receptionist instructions, a middle aged man approached her. "Miss please come with me." The man who identified himself as the driver assigned to drop her off, took the suitcase, walking out of the building to the car park. He looked quite serious but had a friendly smile making Melissa trust him."Mr can you take me to the cemetery first?" She asked when they got into the car. Since her parent were laid to rest four years ago she had not gone to visit. It all happened so fast, after the car accident and the burial all their property were taken by the bank. The house's, the car's where gone as the company went bankrupt. Often she thought that maybe someone was behind all what had happen. Her father was careful with all his business dealing, it was his legacy and he often told her she would take over when she was done with her studies. Having to take care of Tommy and lack of finances, she didn't have a way of investigating what really happened though she very much wished she could."Miss, we are here." The driver informed when they got to the cemetery gate. "Thank you, please wait here I won't take long." Leaving the car, she bought flowers at the gate and walked in. All she thought about was how happy they were, every time especially when they went for vacations as a family. Stopping at the two head stones side by side. Melissa sat down and called to her mum and dad. She wished they would help her understand what happened. "Why was life so cruel?" She asked herself. In one day she lost both her parent and everything they had worked hard for all their lives. "Was it retribution for what happened that night?" She didn't understand. "Mum,dad I miss you so much." She touched the headstone tears filling her eyes. "Why did you have to leave so soon mum?" The last she spoke with her mother was that morning she left the hotel. She hated lying to them yet that day she had done it when her mother asked her the time she got from the party. She used to tell her everything yet she couldn't tell her about it. Looking at her dad's name, she remembered how hard he worked, how dedicated he was to the company. "You put all your energy in that company dad, I'm going to find out what really happened. I'll make the person responsible pay." she swore in her heart, wiping her eyes wishing they were alive to see their grandson. Minutes later as she got back, the driver opened the car door and drove out of town. While seated at the back seat, Melissa thought he was to take her to a hotel in town but to her surprise, she was taken to a gated community. The high end part of the city that only authorized people could access, and with no bus stops around one would need to drive in and out of the community."Mr Adamson, I thought you were dropping me off to a hotel." She inquired from the driver when they stopped at one of the villa houses."Miss, you can call me Adams. I'll be your driver from today and yes the boss asked me to bring you to his villa since it would be uncomfortable to stay in the hotel." Giving her that polite smile, he opened the car door for her then proceeded to get her suitcase from the trunk."Does the boss live here with his family?" Curious enough she asked looking from the green lawns to the red granite painted building."His family lives in their mansion, he comes here often but he is out of the country for business." As he spoke, she just stared at the building. It was getting dark and with all the lights on in the house it looked breathtakingly beautiful. As they walked in the house they were received by two ladies, Mary and Jane. Appreciating the warm welcome, Melissa smiled at Mary who looked slightly older than her aunt as she introduced herself as the housekeeper. "Come, I'll show you to your room. Freshen up and get some rest." Walking Melissa upstairs to the first floor Mary opened one of the guest rooms. It specious looking nothing like a guestroom with a king size bed and makeup table with a floor to ceiling window next to a door that opened up to a bathroom and wardrobe. "I'll send Jane up to call you when dinner is served." With her settled in, Mary politely instructed. "Thank you." Watching the lady walk out after making sure everything was in order, Melissa thought of how generous her boss was. Letting her stay in his house, assigning her a driver and letting his employees serve her was not usually. "Does he need anything in return?" Knowing not many would do so much for nothing. But talking of the boss, she thought he was the manager she had met earlier at the office. He looked older and gentlemanly she didn't think he would have such thoughts. "Maybe he let me stay till he gets back." She told herself since she heard he was leaving for business from Nancy thus not needing to question his whereabout from Mary.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. Si
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.