Chapter 5 Hello, Dreamboat

Anna May

Alexie was an unexpected surprise --she had asked her to call her that. Anna really didn't know what to expect this morning when she woke up.

Well, she did expect to go to work early to start preparing for the week-long seminar. But, having a boss for a friend on her second day at work was really really unexpected.

She stood nervously beside her gorgeous boss, who looked like a runway supermodel with her platinum blond hair and her fathomless gray eyes. She was as tall as her at 5'8".

Mrs. Marini walked beside her when they exited the elevator and it made her looked like her personal assistant.

Her feet were comfy in her only pair of black 2-inch heels and her dark brown tresses neatly brushed up in a tight ponytail.

She knew she looked plain with her maroon A-line skirt neatly tucked in a white silk blouse. It was exactly the type of look she was aiming to achieve every day.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you, dear. Michael will be with us as well as my brother. We'll go to work together." Alexie smiled kindly at her. There was a strange glint in her beautiful eyes she couldn't place.

"Your brother, ma'am? I mean, Alexie." A brother? Should she get nervous? She doesn't do well with strange men. Especially the creepy ones. They brought back bad memories. She shivered at the thought. She felt Alexie grabbed her hand. They stopped before entering the dining area.

"Are you ok, Anna? Don't worry. You are under our protection. I'm sorry I forgot to mention, my brother is Alexander Northam, our CEO. He wants to meet his new employee. It's a basic protocol at the office." Thank God. She relaxed right away. Surely, her brother was a kind middle-aged man who was happily married with teenage kids. She nodded at her sincerity and smiled to reassure her everything was okay.

"There they are. Come on, dear," She followed timidly behind her. She recognized Michael. He and Alexie looked perfect together. She nodded at him shyly. He immediately wrapped his arm around his wife's waist and inclined his head towards her.

Then her eyes moved to the man beside him. She gulped audibly. The boss was not a middle-aged man. He looked so freakishly handsome it was unfair. His face was so chiseled like that of a Roman god. His perfect gray eyes looked stormy. He was looking directly at her and she was pinned where she was. She kept gawking at him. Couldn't stop it.

God, he was tall and massive with all the defined muscle hiding under his perfect Armani suit --so dominating, so powerful-- he walked with a lethal grace. Like a wolf hunting. She couldn't help but shiver. In a good way this time. For the first time in her life, she was attracted to a man. A beautiful man. Major panic setting in, she tried to find the closest escape route.

She was so afraid of this unfamiliar feeling. That sexy man approaching her with controlled grace was her boss. Nothing could come of this. She snorted. As if he would be attracted to her. God! She must look like a fool. Standing so rigid gazing at him with her wide amber eyes.

He kept walking towards her. Shit! What now?

Anna's gorgeous as hell boss stopped right in front of her. Her breath was caught in her throat. She inhaled sharply. A big mistake.

He smelled so good, she felt so dizzy with his scent. It was so fresh like mint and the ocean with a hint of his masculine musk.

She can vaguely hear Alexie made the introduction. Like a robot, she held out her trembling hand for a handshake. Her jaw slackened when he kissed her wrist softly, a brush of his soft pink lips that traveled all over her skin.

She shivered deliciously. What was that? Did she get electrocuted? Were those tingles and sparks? Did he feel it too? She looked up at him to gauge his reaction. But his sharp features were not easy to read. He still held her hand. For some reason she let him. His touch anchored her to the moment.

The spell was broken when he guided her to their table. He pulled the chair for her, sitting her to his left. She can see Alexie and her husband were busy with the menu. She inwardly frowned. Her wits were effectively scrambled by his innocuous touch.

"What would you like for breakfast, Anna?" -Shit! Why does he sound so sexy?-

His vibrant stormy gray eyes never left her face. She fidgetted in her cushioned seat. Deep, gravelly, and husky. As if rarely used. It made her instantly think of a darkened bedroom. -Oh, God! Where did that thought come from?-

"I...ah...I think I will have fresh orange juice, pancakes with blueberries, and Nutella if they have it, please." She mentally cringed. Her choice of food seemed unsophisticated in this type of elegant setting. Glancing at the waitress, who nodded while writing it down, she slowly breathed out. Thanked God no one seemed to mind.

"I will have bacon and eggs with black coffee. Make it for two. I'll have ham and a platter of assorted sausages as well." He murmured, his great gray eyes never leaving hers. She blushed and averted her eyes at his scrutiny.

"By the way, Anna. I forgot to tell you that all our managers, such as yourself, have their apartments. There is one prepared for you and you can transfer after work."

Thank God for distractions. She gave her attention to Alexie as she informed her of her new living arrangements. She thought what she suggested was wise since she planned to have her sisters here with her in the near future.

"I would be okay with a one-bedroom apartment, Alexie. I mean I don't want it to be expensive." Money was tight and she had to save for her siblings' visa. These hotel accommodations were for free but she doesn't want her bosses to think she was taking advantage of their generosity.

"You don't have to worry about it, dear. We will take care of everything. And you will be safe and comfortable in your new home." Was she this lucky with her job? She really hoped so.

"I don't want you to think that I am taking advantage," she muttered quietly, yet they heard her loud and clear.

"You won't, Anna." How could she argue when she got starstruck every time he opened his mouth? Why does he have to be so goddamn sexy? Peering at him, she could see amusement sparkling in his eyes. Does he know she was so into him? Her food arrived and she was saved from her rhetorical question --one she wanted to avoid at all cost.

She began to salivate at the aroma of pancakes and chocolates. The silver cloche was pulled from her plate, making her smile in anticipation. She glanced around, suddenly embarrassed. Maybe she should act more refined while dining with them? The bosses.

"Do you want something else, mia anima?" Alexander asked softly. Frown in his eyes. Damn, her cheeks reddened.

"Oh, no. I am waiting for you guys to start." She watched stupidly as he began to serve her. Spreading Nutella on her hot pancakes then adding her berries. He poured her a glass of fresh orange juice in her crystal glass.

"There, cara mia. Let's eat." He waited for her to take her first bite then he sipped his hot coffee. She watched mesmerized, her eyes following his graceful hands --he took a bite of his bacon then his ham-- focusing on his beautiful pinkish lips. The pair curve in amusement. She blinked and looked away. He caught her staring. She suppressed the urge to crawl under the table.

-Please stop embarrassing yourself Anna May.-

Taking small bites of her scrumptious meal, she tried to tell her mind to shift gears and think of other mundane thoughts. Impossible!

For all she knew, he might already be married to a gorgeous heiress with two kids. But she doesn't see any ring. That doesn't mean he doesn't a girlfriend or a mistress or whatever. Men like him have no use for someone like her. As what that monster told her before, she was not marriage material for rich men. She was only good for a fuck. Well, fuck him! She had kept herself intact for her husband. Her first love. The one who will be worthy of her. One who would help her care for her sisters. They were a package deal.

-You want me, you get the whole family.-

"Anna, dear. Are you ok?" She was startled from her dark thoughts by Alexie. She glanced up. Her boss was seriously frowning at her now.

Shit! She looked at her meal and gasped at the mangled pancakes. Wasn't aware she was murdering her meal. She had lost her appetite.

"I am fine, Alexie. I was just thinking. I'm sorry. " She avoided looking at the gorgeous man beside her. Her instant attraction to this man was ludicrous it frightened her.

"What bothers you, mia anima?" There goes his hypnotic voice once more. It was so deep and husky and it again reminded her of a lover in the dark of night. Like in some of those romantic novels she read. She wanted to get lost in it.

"Just my sisters, sir. I am wondering what they are doing right now. We have a different time zone." Well, that was a half-truth. She can't tell him everything. He will most likely avoid her like the plague.

"I see." -No, you don't, your majesty.- She can see the confusion in his eyes as he tried to read her. "You can have your sisters here with you, mia anima. Just tell me when." -Please don't make promises you can't keep. Please.-

"I will think about it, sir."

"Call me Xander, cara. I insist." She merely nodded, hating to commit to anything. "I ordered a sandwich, you might get hungry later. Come, let us get to work. You are riding with me. We have a lot to discuss." He pulled out her chair for her and took her hand.

Mr. Northam escorted her out of the private dining room, towards the entrance of the luxurious 5-star hotel. She can see men in black with earpieces scattered around them, their tight security.

A black expensive sports car stopped in front of them. Her Adonis guided her gently to the passenger seat. She inhaled sharply when he leaned close to her. Was he going to kiss her? God, he smelled so good. She closed her eyes, afraid of what she might do. Then she heard a click. He is securing the seatbelt for you, Anna.

She almost moaned, disappointed. Her eyes fluttered opened and she found him staring at her so intently, hunger in his eyes.

His long, elegant finger grazed her red cheeks, he bent towards her and dared to brush his thick lips on her forehead. "Soon, mio angelo, soon."

-What the fuck did he mean by that?-

__________