CHAPTER 32 – A SERVING OF YOUR SMILE
Mackenzie took a step forward, asking, “What are you doing here, Mr. Axford?”
Chase’s sea blue eyes moved to meet hers for a split second, then he raked his gaze down her body. A heated swirl of desire had charged up in him from the moment those doors opened and she stepped in.
On those long legs in a black skirt that made her waist look even smaller than usual, and the white shirt that was buttoned all the way to the crook of her neck.
It made the soft bulge of her breasts all the more noticeable. His needy gaze found it’s way back to her distressed face, and it was the most beautiful thing he had seen all year.
Her thick and dark curls were bound back into a ponytail that swept down her back, bouncing with each slight movement she made.
Tiny baby hairs curled around her hairline, so delicately, so fragile that he was filled with the ferocious urge to grab her, kiss her, make her straddle his thighs while he did the most X-rated things to her beneath her skirt.
But her hazel eyes were glaring at him, with wispy dark eyelashes that batted seductively each time she blinked.
“Chase.”
Her voice sternly calling his name pulled him back to reality, where she had been repeatedly asking him what he was doing in her workplace.
His response was cool, in contrast to the heat in his groin. “I came here to eat, Mackenzie.”
“Oh, we both know you don’t eat in restaurants like this, Mr. Axford.” Mackenzie said in exasperation.
Chase tilted his head slightly, like a master coolly watching something extremely entertaining. It infuriated Mackenzie that Chase seemed so relaxed and even amused to see her get so worked up.
That glint in his devastatingly beautiful eyes told her he was enjoying her struggle to remain calm and professional under so much frustration.
“Mackenzie.” He said. “Sit down, if you really want to have a conversation.”
The way he said her name, coupled with the subtle force in his tone reminded her of that depraved kiss he subjected her to in the cage of his board room. It sent shivers all over her heated skin.
“No.” She bit back. “I’m not sitting down. I’m here to wait on you, so please, make your order, Mr. Axford.”
As if to prove her point, she moved closer and held the menu out to him.
She watched him slowly glanced at the menu, then back up at her with a dark look that translated to, “What I really want to eat, Mackenzie, is not on the menu.”
Flutters threatened to spread through her belly, but she clamped down on it with all her strength. She could not let him see how close she was to melting in her own skin from the overwhelming pull of his testosterone to her own needy female sex hormones.
Especially alone in this room.
Alone.
The last time they had been alone… stop thinking about that kiss, Mackenzie, She told herself harshly.
Chase finally took the menu from her and flipped it open with staggering disinterest. After what seemed like a few seconds, he flipped it back closed and made his order.
“I’ll like to have all of your attention, Mackenzie Torsney, with a serving of your smile, and less of that glare you’re giving me right now. Zero interruptions, please.”
He looked back up at her with defiance and amusement in his eyes, then dropped the menu on the glass table.
Mackenzie closed her eyes briefly, sucking in a deep breath. When she opened her eyes again, she spoke up,
“Please be serious, Mr. Axford. What do you want to order?”
“That’s my order.” He said flatly.
Mackenzie’s voice shook with a strain as she placed a hand on her hip. “I don’t have time for this, Chase. I’m here to make money to pay in order to terminate the contract you tricked me into signing. So, please make your order and let’s get this over with.”
Chase’s voice darkened till it almost sounded threatening. Almost.
“Do you think, this job could possibly get you two hundred thousand dollars? And you have to pay that amount, five times. Do I have to do the math for you, Mackenzie? How much do you even intend to pay a month?”
Mackenzie went mute, because she knew he had a point. He was right, and she hated that he was right.
But at this point, she didn’t care. She did not want to think too deeply of the details. Thinking about the mess she had found herself in, could make her completely lose her shit this time.
The past couple of weeks had been so rough and tough on her mental, physical and emotional endurance. She had only been bottling it all up, trying to appear calm and put together for herself, her friends and most importantly, her kids.
A tiny part of her inner turmoil had slipped out when she had seen those Pink Camilla flowers on her doorstep, and she had gone all hulk mode on the poor plants, destroying them with so much anger and violence that shocked her friends.
Thank goodness her kids didn’t see that.
That was just a tiny slip, but if she actually did the math of the gigantic debt on her neck, she would snap. Completely. And it would be ugly.
Chase continued, his deep rich voice filling the silence, “I am not at the top of the chain of cutthroat business tycoons for nothing, Mackenzie. I did not offer to pay you two hundred thousand dollars a year, for charity.
“You are an amazing designer, and I’ve seen your work as a manager in one of the Axford branches. There are testimonies of the effort and dedication you put in your job, and your former colleagues had a lot of good words to say about you.”
Something that had been neglected, deep inside Mackenzie slowly began warming up with every word he said.
“I need your skills and your service. That’s is why I want you to accept my offer. Don’t take it personally.” He said, giving her a challenging stare. Then he added, “Unless you have no confidence in your skills.”
Mackenzie’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.
She had a lot of confidence in her skills. Her designs came from a place of complete trust and inner security. But what she currently could not understand, was how working for Chase was suddenly beginning to make so much sense.
His words sounded so convincing, and not just that, but he had made her feel so appreciated. All her life, no one apart from her father, had truly noticed and commended all her hard work. But now, Chase did.
It had always hurt something fragile inside her each time people ignored or scoffed at her efforts. Like Jeffrey and his mother did for years. It ruined her self-esteem.
Now, Chase was effortlessly bringing it all back. Just with a few words. But they were genuine. And that’s what made the warm, soft feeling inside her expand till she could no longer be pissed off at him anymore.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.
Seeing that Mackenzie was quiet, Chase knew he had successfully gotten her to really think about his offer. She absently nibbled on her pink bottom lip, and that made his cock heat up in his pants.
He reclined further into his seat and said,
“I’ll have the most expensive meal on the menu. And a bottle of red wine.”
“Coming right up.” She whispered.
In a moment, there was a costly three course meal serving spread all across the glass table in lavish glassware. For an appetizer, there was Baked Buffalo chicken wings. The main dish was Zillion Dollar Lobster Frittata, coupled with 24-Karat gold leaf Kobe Beef steak. The grand opulence sundae was for dessert.
Mackenzie was bent over the glass table, smoothly raising the smoking cold wine bottle from the ice bucket, twisting it open and tipping the dark red liquid into a tall glass. She was actively trying not to imagine what the bills for his order would look like.
This restaurant was not five star, but it was very costly, like most restaurants in the heart of Greensville.
Chase watched her move to pour some water into a glass, and his eyes travelled up the skin of her bare thighs exposed in her bent over position. He wanted to put his hands under that skirt and see what he would find between her legs.
Find out if she was as affected by their proximity, as strongly he was.
Although he could already tell by the pink flush of her cheeks, and the glassy look in her beautiful eyes, that she was turned on as well.
He just had the territorial urge to do something right now to claim her, place his scent on her and mark her like some obsessive animal. Ever since he dropped her off by the side of the road, watching her run off, he was almost going insane with the desire to fucking see her again.
Now she was right in front of him, and he could not let loose. Because he was trying to convince her, not scare her away.