"I need your help. I have a proposition for you"

He has a proposition for me. What could that mean? I can feel my heart flutter as I think of all the different types of propositions he could ask of me. The thought of him ravishing my body till I scream enters my thoughts or of me on my knees sucking him dry. His cough brings me back to the room and I can see the knowing look in his eyes, the b.a.s.t.a.r.d knows what I was thinking and I instantly reach my fingers to the elastic band. What is wrong with me, it doesn't matter how handsome he is and how his words affect me, this man is my b.l.o.o.d.y boss and nothing can happen. Look at him, Grace, for Christ's sake he wouldn't want you anyway, not the way your mind keeps going. Why does my mind keep going there, I don't like s.e.x, I've never held any interest in s.e.x so why is now any different? I need help, I need desperate help. I begin to shuffle in my chair as I take my annoying thoughts out on my wrist.

"A..a proposition. What type of proposition?" I ask with a nervous laugh.

"Not the type you were just thinking of, Miss Grace." Oh gosh, the b.a.s.t.a.r.d knows. Please, floor, just swallow me whole and take me away from this madness before I embarra.s.s myself further. He looks at me with a wicked smile and I know he is just sat there in his calmness looking like Mr. Devil-may-care, laughing his head off at me. Oh G.o.d, please just kill me now.

"Relax, Grace." And there's that wicked smile again.

RELAX.

Relax? Is he having a b.l.o.o.d.y laugh? I'm sat here having naughty thoughts, thoughts I might add that I have never had thoughts of before, and now I am having them about my new boss and he's telling me to relax. I feel so sick and I'm sure the walls are starting to close in around me, or they are just burning with an invisible fire because I am sure my senses and limbs are on fire taking me to an unknown h.e.l.l. I have to go, I can't stay here and make a further fool of myself as I'm sure I will if I stay here a second longer. With shaky legs I stand from my seat and make a dash to the door just as I say "I have to go"

SAMUEL.

She left; she just got up and left me.

Again.

Man that woman is f.u.c.king annoying.

Number one NO woman has ever said no to me before.

And number two no woman has just left me standing like a d.i.c.k before and she's f.u.c.king done it to me on too many different occasions. I am beyond f.u.c.king frustrated at this female, but man I want to know what makes her tick. No-one ever says no to me and I always get my way, but this Grace, this f.u.c.king beautiful Grace Ford, comes into my life and turns my world upside down. There's a lot going on in that beautiful head of hers but, G.o.d, I want to find out what it is. I want to have her in my bed, but I want to get to know her too. Wow, that's deep, especially for me. Samuel Harding never has thoughts like this, but there is something about that woman and she's driving me insane. I need a pill or something, anything to calm my body and my mind down. I have enough going on without adding a female to the mix. I meant what I said when I said I had a proposition for her, I do, a business proposition, but if her facial expressions were anything to go by she was thinking of other things, naughty things. I bet she could be naughty if she let her hair down. That's right, sweet cheeks, just think what I could do to you, how good I can make you feel. Did I just call her sweet cheeks? Her cheeks do seem to glow while she smiles, sweet cheeks just seems fitting somehow and don't even get me started on the rose color her cheeks go while she blushes. I could see the way she licked her lip and then bit them after I mentioned a proposition to her, her brain was thinking up the possibilities and I liked it. I liked it a lot because it meant that she was affected by me, perhaps I'm not the only one that has been losing their mind since the first time we met. I hope so or otherwise I really do need f.u.c.king help.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

GRACE.

I get back to my desk and the longer I sit here the more difficult I find it to do any work.

What did he want to talk to me about?

Whatever it was I can be professional, I am professional, dammit. Just because he is beyond handsome and probably one of the richest men alive doesn't mean it gives me the excuse to go all female on him and not be professional while we are both at work. He is here for the next two months for Christ's sake, what am I going to do? Get up and leave every time he gets close to me? Of course not, they would fire me and then I would be screwed. I have a plan, just remember the plan, Grace. I won't be able to prove my mother wrong and all those others back in Somerset if I don't have my job. If I get sacked then I will be just like her and I am not like her, nothing like her. I keep repeating that mantra over and over again in my mind as I keep my fingers busy with my right wrist. I don't know how long I just sit there but no-one bothers me as they walk past, no-one ever bothers me and I'm so used to it that it never really affects me any longer. Not like when I was a child, back then I would be in tears as all the other children would stay clear of me because I was the little girl who smelt bad and was always dirty.

The window by my desk is closed due to the cold weather, but it doesn't stop the sound of Big Ben telling the city it is midday. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I just love the noise that clock makes. Just then I feel a shadow stop in front of me and after what has happened in the conference room that morning I highly doubt I will see Samuel, but because someone up above doesn't like me there stands Samuel. He actually looks pleased to see me, why is that? I give him a questioning look.

"Would you join me for lunch, Grace?"

"L...lu...lunch?"

"Yes, please, considering we still need to talk." His look turns into a boyish please don't run off on me again and it is as if a part of the walls that I have drawn up around my heart melt away. Not many I must add, but it is enough for me to feel the warmth spread throughout my body. As if he is nervous he pulls out a shaky hand and all I can do is take hold of it.

"O...Ok." I say as I begin to rise from my chair.

"I'll just go and get my coat and bag."

"I'll wait here for you" I hear him say as I make my way over to the staff room. All the way there my nerves are coming in fast as I wonder what this can possibly be about. I put my coat on and start b.u.t.toning it up as I try to control the need to vomit.

When I approach him he gives me a warm smile as he looks me up and down and I don't know how he does it, but every time he does it's like he's trying to undress me with those d.a.m.n eyes. It's as if with every look he's melting away my clothes and defenses, leaving me naked and vulnerable to his charm. I wish he wouldn't do that because I really hate what lies beneath so he definitely would, I mean let's think about it he's probably only interested in skinny b.i.t.c.hes. Did I just say that? I never use words like that and then I make the mistake of looking at him as he gestures me to follow him and my knees begin to wobble and I feel uneasy on my own legs.

He takes me to a fancy restaurant just ten minutes down the road from where The Harding building is. It's one of those restaurants where the likes of me wouldn't be welcome. Samuel opens the door for me as I step in and my breath is instantly stolen from me at the extravagance of the place. I know I don't belong here and I stop dead in the middle of the entrance while I am sure that everyone is looking at me, tutting at the girl who is making a show of herself. Wow, I feel so embarra.s.sed just standing here and then I am aware as Samuel stands by me and takes hold of my hand.

"Are you OK, Grace?" He's looking at me with those beautiful grey eyes with such concern in them that it takes me a moment to find my bearings and answer him.

"I should go." I pull my hand away from his and attempt to turn around so I can leave, but Samuel stops me when he puts a hand on my left shoulder. As he does it I can feel the heat increase throughout my entire body, leaving me as a quivering wreck. I feel him lean into my body and gently begin to remove my coat as I feel his breath at my ear. A slight breeze is felt along the side of my neck, leaving gooseb.u.mps in its wake as he moves down, lightly blowing till he reaches the juncture where my shoulder meets my neck and I feel almost lightheaded.

"I want you here, Grace. I need you." He says, in just a whisper so only I can hear and I feel my heart begin to beat more rapidly.

"You smell nice, Grace, your scent drives me wild." Oh G.o.d, I think I am actually going to faint right here in this fancy restaurant, and before I can move away I feel his lips behind my ear where he gives a little suck at the sensitive skin. I'm aware of the cold air that attacks me as his warmth leaves me and I've only ever once felt such regret.

"Come." I take in deep breaths trying to control myself at his words as he yet again takes hold of my hand and leads me towards the staff desk.

"M...Mr. Harding good afternoon, sir, can I take you to your table?"

"Yes, please." He responds and I watch as the lady eyeing Samuel up smiles nicely at him. It seems I'm not the only one to be affected by this man's allure. The woman, who seems to me to be far too thin, shows us to a table which is situated at the far end of the dining room away from everyone else. Yikes, I'm actually going to be alone with him again, I'm bound to do something to make him wish he never took me to somewhere like this. Always the gentleman, Samuel pulls out my chair and once I am seated he goes to sit opposite me. Am I supposed to be able to sit here watching him and not melt? This man must be crazy. The waitress hands us each a menu and then begins to pour Samuel a small amount of wine to taste. I watch completely fascinated as he tests the wine. I must look an idiot. I watch as his nose sniffs the smell and the way his lips look as he takes a sip, the same lips that were by my ear and I can't help, but reach and touch the area still able to feel his moisture.

"Very good." I love that accent; I could listen to his voice all day.

"Very well, sir." And the waitress pours us each a gla.s.s of wine. As she leaves I can't help, but reach for my gla.s.s and take a sip. The wine is cool and sweet on my tongue and through my lashes I can see that Samuel is watching me intently.

"W...what did you want to talk about, Samuel?"

"Do you like the wine?"

"Y...yes. Yes, thank you." And I can see that charming smile of his again. He takes a sip of his own drink before speaking.

"I'm sure you could tell that something was not right at that meeting?" Thank G.o.d he's getting back to the topic at hand, I can talk about this, and I am a professional after all.

"It seems like it, but I really don't know why you would need my help." I say with a nervous tone that I can't seem to shake.

"I'm here alone, I'm just one man and to get to the bottom of this I need support. If what I think is going on is going on, then I will need your support even more." All I manage to do is nod my head. I really cannot think of what he wants from me, I'm just the apprentice for Christ's sake. I begin to take another sip of my wine as the nerves intensify just as he opens that beautiful mouth to speak.

"I'd like to offer you a new job." I nod while trying to swallow the liquid that's pooled within my mouth.

"Grace, I would like you to be my personal a.s.sistant." Before I can stop myself my full mouth is opening trying to shout out "What?" Instead of the words my lips just seem to spit out half the wine and I'm horrified when it reaches Samuel's cheek. I keep my eyes down as I reach for a napkin to wipe away my embarra.s.sment. I can't believe I did that, please just kill me know. Before I can hate myself any more than I already do I hear a strange sound? Is that laughter? Of course its laughter, everyone in this restaurant is laughing at me and Samuel is probably hating me right know. I feel gentle warm fingers at my chin as they attempt to push my face up, as I do I can see Samuel look at me with a gentle smile. Oh he doesn't look annoyed, he looks happy. I still feel embarra.s.sed and as I feel his eyes continue to watch me I look down at my right wrist as I play with the elastic.

"Look at me, Grace." He sounds so concerned as those words escape from his lips and I still can't control my embarra.s.sment so I just remain looking at the table. His fingers lightly tighten around my chin and I so want to look at him but I don't, and I can feel my cheeks begin to glow.

"Grace."

"Grace, please look at me." I take in a breath as I take the courage to raise my face and look at him. As I do Samuel is leaning forward towards me with his fingers still on my chin. As our eyes meet, he lets go of my chin and puts his arms one on top of the other.

"I know what you're thinking" He knows what I'm thinking? What is he, a mind reader?

"And I meant what I said, Grace." He takes in a deep breath while his eyes remain on mine.

"I need you. I want you to be my P.A." Oh G.o.d, I can't get my head round this, he could ask anyone, but he's asking me. Why? What's he got planned? If he wants to turn me into a laughing stock then I can do that on my own. I've already done it.

"Why?" I ask nervously and he moves back against the back of his chair as he puts his hands on his lap.

"There's something about you, Grace Ford, and I think we could work well together." I reach for my gla.s.s to take another sip of wine; I think I'm going to need it.

"What would I need to do?" I ask, just as the waitress comes back to our table to take our order. I don't listen to what Samuel orders, but I ask for the same as I keep thinking of what I would have to do as Samuel's P.A. I'm going to have to spend all my time with him, how on earth am I going to be able to do that without losing my marbles? I won't be able to do it. It just can't be done; the man is too handsome even for someone like me who has never been interested in the opposite s.e.x before. I can feel the bile rising up my throat, threatening to embarra.s.s me further. I just need to go, go back to my wonderful job as an intern.

"Don't think about it, Grace." And he places his hand upon mine, watching me intently.

"I know you want to run off, Grace, but I can't see why"

"I...I.Um." I can't get the words out and I just look at him looking as stupid as ever.

"Why can't you see what I see? We would work great together and I really need you to help me understand what's going on at the office." I don't say anything; I just seem to sit there mute like an idiot.

"You could ask anyone, Samuel. Why me?"

"I think I have already answered that. To be honest with you by the end of next week we will be losing a large amount of staff and I need someone who I can trust help me get this part of the company back on track and I think that's you." He looks at me intently as I think over what he has told me. This thing that's going on within the company is obviously big and if he wants my help this could really help with my career and help me get my dream of a house quicker. I can see him reach into his suit jacket pocket and pull something out as he hands it to me.

"That's a contract I pulled up. When we finish off here, why don't you take the rest of the day off and go home and have a look through it. Don't rush in tomorrow, just get there in time for lunch and we can make a start in the afternoon." He takes a breather and then starts up again.

"Just so you are aware there is a clause that you are available whenever I need you. You will have to give up your job at the club." Without thinking I just respond with "I never liked it there anyway." Why did I say that? He didn't have to know that.

"You didn't belong there. You're too sweet, Grace." Our eyes meet together again and I don't know how long we just sit there looking into each other's eyes until the waitress comes by with our food. I eat it, but I couldn't tell you what it is, I just keep thinking of what Samuel said to me. I wonder if he means it or if he's just being nice to me just so I will work for him. There are so many other people he could ask, but he asked me and I can't seem to get my head over it. No-one has ever been nice to me before, the only thing that has ever been aimed at me is hate and anger and I don't know what to make of it. How am I going to cope with being close with him everyday? I must be pulling the elastic at my wrist too tight because all of a sudden I can feel the pain and all the thoughts that have been racing through my mind make me feel ill and I can feel the sweat begin to pool at my brow. I look up and Samuel has finished his meal and is looking at me as if he has asked me a question.

"What do you think?" He's looking at me with a questioning stare.

"What?" He just smiles at me like the way I am acting around him is what he expects and he is happy about it.

"Will you accept my offer?" Oh G.o.d, how I want to accept his offer, I just don't know how I will survive it without destroying myself in the process. The more I think about it, though, it could really help me prove everyone wrong and that's what my main goal is.

"I need to think." I say as I nod my head. He gives me that boyish look again and another part of the wall around my heart seems to melt away. He stands up and holds out his hand for me while he says.

"Let's get you home, sweet cheeks." It's not till we are out in the cold air that I think about what he said. Did he just call me Sweet Cheeks?

Does he have a nickname for me already?

I'm in trouble.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

SAMUEL.

I can't help, but keep looking at her out of the corner of my eye. She's so beautiful and the crazy thing is she has no idea how beautiful she is and what she's doing to me. I don't think I really know either, but to be fair that's half the fun.

When we leave the restaurant I manage to call my driver so he can drive us back to her home. I already know her address and from the research I know it's not a nice area, but I ask her for it anyway and she says, with reluctance it seems. I carry on watching her and her whole body is tense and on guard as if she expects something bad to happen. Don't worry, sweet cheeks, you're safe with me. I still want to see her in my bed, but there is a much greater need to know her overruling my bed. I would have loved to have asked Grace to come back to my hotel room, but after our encounters I know that is the wrong path to take. I still want her, I desperately want her, but for some strange reason unbeknown to myself I want to see her happy and content. As I watch her sitting uncomfortably in the limo with me I can tell there are many layers to this girl and if I want to have my way with her then I am going to have to work hard at it. I can see it won't be a problem, she is actually fun to be with when she isn't so scared of the world and I know she is affected by me. When we first entered the restaurant I thought she was going to run out on me again, but I had managed to calm her down, I got real close to her and I could feel her whole body shiver at the closeness. Her scent was like flowers and it did crazy things to my c.o.c.k. I can still feel the big guy struggling being so near her. It will all be worth it come the end when I could feel her walls contracting around me.

I look away from the window and I can see she is doing that crazy s.h.i.t with her wrist again, why does she do it? Has she been hurt in the past and that's the only way she can cope? At that thought I feel instantly mad and I want to protect her from further hurt or pain. s.h.i.t where did that come from? I gently place my hand over the top of hers so she can't keep pulling that band and I feel her stiffen at my touch, even though there's a slight flush to her cheeks. I love her cheeks; I love how they look when she smiles. I look out the window again and I can see that we are driving through a rough part of the city. I know her area isn't nice but please tell me she doesn't live here, but my worst fears are confirmed when the driver is pulling up to some outdated four storey houses. I don't even know if you could call them houses. I wouldn't ask my worst enemy to live in one of these, but the driver is opening the door on her side so she can get out and I follow behind her. h.e.l.l, that a.s.s is amazing. We stand just by the limo door and I watch her beautiful eyes dance around their sockets in unease; she doesn't like the fact that I can see where she lives, no s.h.i.t Sherlock. As I eye the area that she calls home all I can think of is how to help her get away from this s.h.i.t. I know my new offer would help, but will she accept it. I wonder if she'll come live with me. f.u.c.k, there goes another crazy thought and one I have been having too many times as soon as I did some digging and found out more about her. Even though I knew she lived in a rough part of the city nothing could have prepared me for what I am now looking at. The place is the pits and even if she tells me to take a hike I would get her out of this place because someone as special as Grace deserves better. What's wrong with me? Stop thinking stupid things, especially about a woman. I got to get out of here and before I know what I'm doing I give her a quick kiss on the lips and it's like my whole body is alight with an intense heat, a good heat that sets my skin alight in tingles.

s.h.i.t, I'm so screwed.

GRACE.

He kissed me again He actually kissed me for the second time and I can feel my lips' sensitivity as I brush them with my fingers, as I watch his limo drive away. I turn around and look at the building I call home and I feel such hatred for it, I just dread to think what he thinks of me now, having seen where I live. I take in a deep breath and head to the house which houses my little room.

When I get in I throw my handbag and coat on the small kitchen side and fill the kettle with some water, I need my cup of tea fix. As I wait for the water to boil I can hear the couple above me shouting again, no doubt he's been caught cheating again while his girlfriend sits at home with their toddler, both eating away all the hardworking people's taxes. My taxes, taxes that I could use to better my stupid little life. At the sound of water reaching its boiling point I am drawn away from my thoughts of the couple above and finishing making my hot drink. I take it over to my bed along with the doc.u.ment Samuel gave me and settle against my pillows. I have no idea what this said contract will say so with shaky fingers I begin to open the envelope. Inside there seems to be two pieces of paper. Whatever it says there's not a lot of it, so hopefully that means I can take it as a good sign. I begin to read and the first thing I notice is that my new position of personal a.s.sistant to Samuel Harding will be effective immediately; I will be there to support Mr. Harding in his role as he investigates the business. There will be traveling involved and that instantly panics me as I don't have a pa.s.sport, but I have always wanted to travel. There is a whole world out there just waiting to be explored and I would love to have the opportunity to see it all, maybe with this role I will get the chance. I work my way through the doc.u.ment and it states that I won't have a nine to five shift pattern, I will work whenever Samuel needs me and then I get to the nitty-gritty stuff and my defenses suddenly erupt, engulfing me in a blackness I had forgotten.

CHAPTER NINE.

GRACE.

I storm through the front doors of the building like I am a woman on a mission. A mission where I have to know exactly what was going through Samuel Harding's mind when he drew up this b.l.o.o.d.y contract. He must be completely insane if he thinks I would agree to this. I make my way past the security desk and I can sense the stare that is coming from the guard that sits there. Before he can even ask I pull out my security card and pull it up with shaky fingers as I think about that stupid doc.u.ment in my bag. The lift arrives as soon as I press the b.u.t.ton and I storm in and press the b.u.t.ton with such force. I can't quite believe it as I think about it as the lift takes me to the man that is slowly getting under my skin. Invading my every thought and turning me into a puddle of female emotions and hormones. I don't like the reactions he is brewing up inside me, but I will not let him win, I am better than that. I will not allow a man to affect me in such a way that Samuel Harding is and I will fight for my sanity.

The doors open to my floor and with everything else since I opened that envelope I storm through the floor till I find myself outside my new boss's door. I take a deep breath as I go straight into opening the door without even knocking. Samuel is standing by the window looking out at the view of Big Ben as he speaks into his mobile.

"Look, I don't care how you do it, just do it!" He shouts down the line and I instantly feel sorry for the person on the other end of the line, and this guy wants me to work directly for him when he speaks to people like that. He must have heard me come in because as soon as he has shouted the words he turns around to stare right at me with a frown on his face. Oh s.h.i.t, he doesn't look happy, his handsome facial features are shadowed with an anger I would never want to know.

"I've got to go. When I phone you back I expect a better answer." He places the phone down on his table and I can feel his eyes roam all over my body as he watches me fidget from my place while pulling at my band within his domain. He is the lion and I am the victim waiting for this amazing predator to attack and take the life right out from me.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" At his c.o.c.ky words and the look in his eyes the tables have turned and I suddenly became a fighter rather than the victim he made me feel. I feel a fire burn from the depths of my soul and I am ready to let this overly-confident guy who messed with my every female thought to hear exactly what I think. Without even thinking of it I slam the door closed and I can feel the vibrations through the floor go up my legs. I grab out the envelope that is burning a hole in my bag and shake it above myself so he can see how mad I am.

"What the h.e.l.l is this?" He raises his eyebrows as he watches the envelope and then looks back to me.

"Well, Grace, it seems to be an envelope."

"You b.a.s.t.a.r.d, you know exactly what this is." I say as I force it down on his table right by his mobile. I watch as a questioning look graces his face and I can feel the anger getting worse when he opens his d.a.m.n mouth again.

"Why don't you tell me, Grace? You seem a little annoyed."

"A little annoyed? Are you having a laugh?" And I point to the envelope as I dare to tell him what I really think.

"That is absurd"