Tamed by the Billionaire(2)

“You would take her under your wing, be a mentor to her?”

“Right. I’ll give her responsibilities that will equip her to help you in the management of your company. There’s just so much you can learn within a six month period but I can structure her role and experiences so that they’ll give her a foundation in business. You can build on that once her internship is over.”

Richard looked doubtful. “You know she could easily get that experience at my office.”

“True, but how seriously do you think she'd take her job knowing that she could leave work, go shopping and never get fired?”

Richard's lips tightened. “I see your point."

“Now I can’t promise you that after six months your daughter will be an angel but what I do promise is that she’ll leave my company with experience in the various aspects of business.”

“Sounds good so far,” Richard said, still with a hint of doubt in his voice. “I’m going to have to figure out the best way to break this to her. I know she had her heart set on touring Europe right after graduation but now this? She’s going to have a fit.”

“And you, dear Dad, are going to sit her down and let her know she starts work at Steele Industries the first week of July.”

“That’s just a week after she gets here.”

“What better time to start? It will be before she gets used to being at home, all relaxed. She needs to jump in head first.”

Richard nodded then he expelled his breath and on his face was a look of relief. He rose and stretched out a hand to his partner in crime. "Roman, as of the first week of July my daughter is in your hands. Let's shake on that." There was a twinkle in his gray eyes as he smiled. "I just hope you know what you're getting yourself into.”

Roman grasped Richard's hand. “Don't you worry about that. By the time I'm done your Serena will be a new woman." He smiled, full of confidence, as he released the man's hand. "You can trust me on that.”

******





Serena listened distractedly as her friends chattered away. Her mind was not with Tammy and Jan today. Graduation was just two days away and she was looking forward to her father flying from Toronto to be with her in New York for the ceremony. The day after graduation she would go back home with him where she guessed he would throw her a massive 'surprise' party. She knew what was coming so she'd have to start practicing her 'Oh, my gosh. I'm so surprised' look. Serena chuckled to herself. Her dad was so predictable.

Her smile widened as she remembered something very important. She'd had a great four years at the exclusive Alexander University and would be graduating magna cum laude. Daddy would be sure to give her a wonderful gift for that. She was dying of curiosity, wondering what it would be. The sun-yellow Porsche she'd admired on her last trip home? Diamond earrings? What if it was that Ferrari she'd pointed out at the auto show? Serena could hardly contain her excitement but she bit her lip and stayed silent. No, she wouldn't blurt her ideas out to her friends. She really didn't know what the gift would be. The only thing she was sure of was that it was going to be expensive. It always was.

“Serena,” Tammy said petulantly as she pulled on her friend’s arm, “you haven’t heard a word I said, have you? I was asking if you wanted to go into Saks.”

“That's fine,” Serena said, slightly annoyed at being pulled out of her reverie.

“It’s only two days before graduation,” Jan said, raising her eyebrows at Serena. "Aren't you the least bit anxious since we haven't even bought our dresses yet?"

“We’ll be wearing graduation robes,” Serena said, rolling her eyes. "Nobody will see our dresses." Right then she wasn't interested in anything as mundane as a dress.

“We’re going to take our robes off sometime, aren't we?” Jan pressed.

Serena sighed then turned her attention to her friends. She'd much rather head for the Gucci store to look at handbags or do her shopping at Prada but she felt a pang of guilt. She'd been ignoring them all day. Time to make them happy. “You’re right,” she conceded. "We need to get some new clothes. Let's go."

The shopping trip was pleasant and by the time Serena and her friends were finished she had six new outfits. She knew she only needed one for the graduation ceremony but the others had looked so beautiful she just couldn’t resist the temptation of taking them too. And anyway, it was no big deal. She had a platinum card and her Dad took care of the bills every month. She didn’t even see the statements. They were all sent straight to his office for payment.

“I’m tired,” Tammy said, yawning, as they headed towards Serena’s Mercedes Benz SUV. They were all loaded down with shopping bags.