Meeting Mr. Mogul(34)

The farewell was short and slightly emotional between my dad and him,  but they were men. They sucked it up and insulted each other until the  end. His flight was on Monday early morning, which made it hard for me  to take him to the airport as I had to get to work. So he stayed at  Terry's place on his last day.

When Monday morning came, it felt like I just woke up from a dream and  came back to reality with a kick rather than a kiss from a prince.  Without warning, my mind raced back to the conversation I had with  Alexandra. What did she mean about William not asking me out? Maybe she  saw the article and started to assume that I was like her other  secretary. I needed to straighten out that misunderstanding.

As I entered the company building an hour later, I felt as if  everybody's eyes were on me. I made a quick scan around the lobby as I  made my way towards the elevator. And every time my eyes landed on  someone, they would turn and walk away from me. Something is up.   





 

"Hey Andy!" Danny called in a whisper.

I looked at her in confusion, not sure why she was whispering. Danny  gestured with her hand for me to come closer as I remained standing,  eyeing her with trepidation. I snapped out of it and walked towards her,  scanning the room again as I felt someone staring at me again.

"Andy, did you see the latest article?" Danny asked as I reached her, her voice low as a whisper.

I look at her with my eyebrow raised. "Why are you whispering?" I asked as I grabbed the paper she held out to me.

"You're on the paper again. And you're not going to like the photo of  this one," she stated as I looked down to check what she meant.

I took in a sharp intake of breath as my eyes went wide. It was a  picture of William and me, his hand on my arm as he dragged me towards  the hospital. I knew that I should have insisted him to leave me. And  then it clicked. Maybe this was why Alexandra assumed all those things.  She saw this photo.

"When was this out?" I asked as I checked on the date of article being published.

"Yesterday," Danny replied as I found the date.

"Is that why people are staring at me?" I asked in defeat as I scanned the lobby again. I caught a few eyes on me.

"Yes. No. Okay, yes, they are looking because of this," Danny replied as she tried to comfort me.

I turned to look at her in pleading eyes. "Help me out please?"

She gave me a weak smile before replying. "Already on it but..." she  trailed off as her eyes landed on something, or rather someone behind  me.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" William asked, stunning me before I could turn to look who caught Danny's attention.

"This isn't really a good time to talk to me," I pointed out grimly as I  quickly make another scan of the lobby, where everyone was glancing at  William and me not so discreetly.

"Right. Then let's go up to my office," William stated after he made a  quick scan of the lobby, too. He grabbed my arm, pulling me towards the  elevator.

It was very amusing how people almost jumped out of our way as we walked  towards the elevator, their eyes firmly on us. Suddenly, I felt  self-conscious. Do they think I'm some tramp who slept their way up to  this position, although I work for Alexandra and not him? How am I going  to work while these people looked at me like a slut?

When the elevator door closed, I heard William let out a sigh. I turned  towards him, finally realizing that we were alone in the elevator. I  perused him for a second until he looked towards me. I tore my eyes away  from him and moved a little further from him.

"I know what you're thinking," he stated grimly, breaking the silence.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I tried to remain oblivious to  his presence. Suddenly, my thoughts rushed back to the last time I was  alone in the elevator with him. I'm not letting that happen again. I'm  prepared now, I think.

"I'm so sorry about that. I didn't know that there was paparazzi  following me. I assure you that would be the first and the last time,"  he said, sounding like he had already taken care of it.

"What do you mean the first? Haven't you seen the other articles about  us?" I asked as I faced him angrily. I don't know why I'm angry since it  wasn't his fault. Or maybe it was. "You should have distanced yourself  from me. This friendship thing is really not working," I added.

He was about to say something but he closed his mouth after I said those  words. His eyes hardened a little as he took a step closer to me. I  shrunk back until I felt the cool metal wall against my back. This  situation was starting to seem very, very familiar.

"Is that what you really think about everything? Do you really hate  being that close to me?" he asked softly, yet his voice was deep and  menacing.

"It's not like that..." I countered as I tried to sound stern, but my voice had failed me.

"Yes. It is like that," he interjected as he took another step closer to me.

I held up my arm as he stood only inches from me. "Wait!" I exclaimed in  frustration. This was not how I envisioned things would go.   





 

Without warning, William raised his hand as he lightly caressed my cheek  with the back of his hand. I looked up at him in shock. "You know, you  are the only woman who can resist me this long. I think I have to try  harder, which is something I have never done in my life," he admitted  quietly.

"What are you talking about?" I choked out.

"You know what I'm talking about," he said as a smirk played at the ends of his lips.

Before I could ask or say anything, the elevator doors opened. William  moved away from me and walked towards his office without giving me a  second glance. I followed behind him absentmindedly and sat down on my  chair. I don't know what just happened. I will pretend that it never  happened.

"Andy! Hey! Are you daydreaming?" Maggie asked with a playful grin as she waved her hand in front of me.

"No," I replied sheepishly as I felt my cheeks flush in embarrassment.

"Have you read the newspaper?" she asked as her eyes gleamed with amusement.

I eyed her for a second as I tried to read her expression. "Did William ask you to do something about it?" I asked in suspicion.

"No. He just ignored me and went directly into his office. Since you  came out with him in the elevator, I assumed you both talked," she  stated as she raised her eyebrow at me questionably, yet the glint in  her eyes didn't falter.

"No. We didn't," I replied softly as I turned away from her and started up my desktop computer.

"So, have you read what the tabloids have printed?" she asked as she placed a newspaper on my desk.

I didn't give her a reply and glanced down at the newspaper. I was  preoccupied with the photo of William and me that I didn't bother to  read what was written under it. I mentally cringed as I finally read  along the lines. I was right about the slut bit and being the new item  to his lists of girls he supposedly dated. But what made me stiffen was  the part where the journalist assumed I was pregnant. I mean, do I look  that fat?

"Do I look pregnant to you?" I asked Maggie, as I glanced down at my  stomach. It was slightly flat, since it was covered with my blazer and  silky shirt.

"You are not fat, Andy. Trust me," Maggie assured as she returned to her  desk. "But, are you not fazed about the fact that people think you are  together?" she asked as she looked at me seriously.

"I am pissed about that," I replied angrily. "Can we not talk about  this?" I pleaded grimly as I turned back to my computer, pretending to  be busy.

"Sure," Maggie replied with a soft chuckle as she turned back to her work.

I couldn't really concentrate on my work as Maggie's question lingered  on my mind. William and I together, what kind of alternate universe  would that happen in? I've hated the man since we met. I supposed that  at some point, he grew some sort of feelings towards me … or me towards  him. I slapped myself to get that thought out of my head. I did admit  that William Maxwell could be sexy at times. And, he may have a softer  side to him.

When I glanced down at the clock on the lower right side of my monitor, I  stood up and excused myself for an early lunch. I needed a breather and  a cup of coffee. So, I headed out to the coffee shop across the street.

When it was my turn to order, I froze in place as the person in front of me looked at me with wide eyes.

"Andy, hey. Long time no see," Mase greeted half-heartedly as he gave me a small awkward wave.

"Mase, hey," I finally gathered enough courage to talk. "I'm sorry I  couldn't call you last time..." I continued trailing off, not sure how  to explain to him why I didn't call.

"No. I should be sorry for hitting on you. I didn't know you were dating Mr. Maxwell," he interjected, giving me bleak smile.

"What? No. We are not..." I defended frantically as I tried to find the  words to explain to him. But then, I remembered the photo and the  article. "God!" I hissed in frustration.