Tamed by the Billionaire(11)

“No problem,” Serena said, her tone light as she rose to face Theresa. Little did the woman know that inside she was shaking. “Let’s go.”

Theresa looked surprised at her boldness but she held her tongue, turned on her heel and headed toward the elevator. Serena followed some distance behind, not wanting to seem like a wayward child being escorted to the principal’s office. She felt the weight of curious eyes from the nearby cubicles but she held her head high, refusing to look to the right or the left. She desired no distraction. She needed her wits about her to face the imminent wrath of Roman Steele.

The two women rode the elevator in silence. At the tenth floor Theresa strode down the hallway, knocked on the heavy oak door and, just like the day before, opened it and stepped aside. On her face was a look of something close to…sympathy?

Serena blinked. That did not make sense. The woman had no reason to feel sorry for her. But then the door was pulled shut behind her and there was no more time to think about it, no more time to prepare. She’d been thrown into the den with the lion.

Serena’s eyes snapped over to Roman’s desk and there he sat, face rigid, dark eyes flashing with an anger she could feel clear across the room. She stood stock-still, heart pounding in trepidation. Her fingers curled into fists as she fought to steady her nerves. Come on, Serena, what’s the worst he can do to you? He certainly can’t kill you. Still, she did not budge, opting to stay close to the door…just in case.

She was still contemplating her next move when, in one fluid movement, Roman got up from behind the desk and began to walk toward her.

Serena gasped and took an involuntary step back. When her bottom smacked the door she realized there was nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. What the heck had she gotten herself into?

But then, to her relief, he stopped in front of the desk and pulled out a chair. “Are you going to stand there all day, Miss Van Buren?” He held out his hand, directing her gaze to the empty chair. “Have a seat.” Then without so much as another glance in her direction he went back around the desk and sat down.

Serena expelled her breath. The man wasn’t coming to get her, he was simply offering her a chair. What was she thinking? She’d been so wired up, expecting his rage, that she’d imagined his anger. Her sudden fear had been unfounded. She was not out of the woods yet. She’d be stupid to think that. But at least it seemed that he would be calm and collected about things.

Before she could lose her courage Serena walked over to the chair and perched on the edge, hands clasped tightly in her lap. Okay, Roman Steele. Do your worst. I’m ready for you. She was preparing herself for the fight she knew was coming.

He did not cut corners. Folding his arms across his broad chest he gave her a cold stare. “So what’s your excuse today? More traffic on the road?”

Serena shrugged in as casual a manner as she could muster. “No. I just didn’t feel like coming in early today.”

Roman stared at her in stunned silence. Then his brows fell and he glared at her. “You seem to misunderstand your position here. As an employee of this company it is your responsibility to get to work on time-”

“And what do you do with employees who don’t follow the rules?” Serena cut him off before he could launch into the lecture she knew was coming. “You fire them, right? Well, I would suggest you give me my walking papers because you and I know this is not going to work out.”

“Oh, so that’s it. You’re working to get fired. Well, don’t hold your breath. It’s not going to happen.”

Her shock at his response made Serena hop to her feet. “What? What do you mean, it’s not going to happen? You have to fire me.”

Roman’s lips curled in a sardonic smile. “Oh, do I? Sorry to disappoint you but you’re stuck here with me. You’ll leave in six months and not a day sooner.”

“You can’t do this to me.” Serena’s voice cracked with frustration. “I’ll never fit in here. I’ll never do what you want. You need to fire me. Now.”

Roman leaned forward in his chair, his face as hard as rock. “Never.”

Serena gasped. What kind of game was this man playing? Why couldn’t he see reason? “I don’t want to be here and you don’t want me here. Why don’t you fire me? You know you want to, so what’s stopping you?”

Roman’s nostrils flared. “You don’t know what I want to do right now.”

“Of course I do,” Serena retorted. “You want to take your perverse pleasure in torturing me. You know I can’t quit because of my father’s conditions. The only way I can get out of this is if you fire me. So why don’t you just do it? You want me to beg? Is that what you want?”