Chapter 7 His gaze

Amelia had reached early that day waiting for a propitious start of her project 'Aurelia Square'. The girl at the desk in the lobby informed her that Tony had arrived earlier than the others awaiting their abutment in his personal cabin located on the topmost floor of the building.

She settled on her desk to be followed by Tony arriving immediately and all the employees rising from their seating to reverence his entrance.

His gaze searched everywhere and finally fell on her delicate form. He seemed to have turned up to see her in person. He smirked with his gaze still fixed at her and made a beckoning sign to Lucas who rushed to his side swiftly. He whispered something in Lucas' ears without shifting his gaze and then departed the place in heavy strides.

'Did he come here only to talk with Lucas. He could have conveyed it easily over the phone.' Amelia could never decipher his gaze or his actions.

Lucas then approached Amelia to inform her that Tony wished to see her presence in his cabin after completing yesterday's work. "It would take around half an hour to complete the work. I will immediately see him once its done."

"Nevermind I will personally go and inform the boss that you will see him only after half an hour. If he wants to see you instantly I will inform you likewise". Lucas was unlike his arrogant usual self. He was more concerned in notifying the boss and playing his personal assistant cum messenger. She had never seen him stressed and fret this much in the past one year.

After the work was complete, she took the folder to his office. She knocked the partially opened door but no one answered it. Since Lucas had specified that big boss has instructed that she delivers the work before half an hour, she opened the door slightly and peeked inside but found no one there.

With the intention to keep the files on his table, so that he reads it on his arrival, Amelia entered his personal office. After keeping them on the table, she retreated back when she heard the husky voice.

"Who is it?" Tony called from the adjacent room. The door was open; she thought of stepping in to remind him of the completion of the files.

She marvelled to see that it wasn't an ordinary room but a fully equipped gym and Tony was standing shirtless with dumbbells in his hands. Sweat was dripping on his well sculpted body. If not a billionaire, he could have been a model easily. What caught her eyes were the round tiny scars on his flawless skin. Her gaze shifted to his bulging biceps which were enough to catch any women's attention. And then her eyes met his brown eyes which were staring right at her. He let out a smirk as if he caught her checking him out again..

"I am s...sorry to have bothered you sir" her feet quickly darted away when she heard him

"wait." He howled. Her stopped moving and she turned to see him hurriedly approaching her. He stood so close without his shirt to her that she could feel the heat emitting from his body. This seemed unsettling for her as though he was deliberately flaunting his muscles for her to see. Her gaze lowered as she didn't want to see his smirking face.

The bulge in his pants caught her eyes which added to her anxiety. Her eyes widened in shock and when he looked up to meet his gaze, she saw that his smirk was gone and he was now wetting his lower lip with his tongue. She could clearly see lust in his eyes that increased her uneasiness even further. She blinked her eyes a couple of times. Tony could sense her discomfort and stepped backwards to give her air to breathe.

" I presume you have completed the work given to you". He broken the silence in the heated atmosphere that had formed between them.

"Y...yes S...sir" her speech faltered.

"good then. Meet me after office hours so that we can discuss further. Currently I have important meetings to attend, so should be busy till 4 pm; we shall meet around say... 5 pm".

"ok s...sir I will be ready by then" she quickly retreated that area in high velocity.

Amelia had never been discomforted by anyone earlier. Even the humiliation she faced when Lucas was her immediate boss was bearable. But Tony seemed to seemed to have a paralysing effect on her body and mind. She decided to refuse the project as his presence around her felt very intimidating.

After the office hours got over, Amelia walked to his cabin to find him sitting on his chair like a king. He was fully clothed this time, no skin exposed hands on the armrest, upright posture and feet on the floor.

He gestured her to sit and she took the seat right in front of him. "Sir, I have a request." She gulped her saliva. " I don't think I am capable of working and helping you in this project." He narrowed his eyes. "and why do you doubt your capabilities?". Amelia felt its awkward to answer simple questions. How could she work when simple communication with him made her feel uneasy?

"what would happen to me if you leave me" there was a long pause, Amelia didn't understand what his sentence with negative connotations implied. " If you leave me alone in this project" he completed the remaining part. His sentences always emitted multifarious meanings and full of concupiscence.

His gaze was fixed at her; he didn't even blink while talking with her. She was at loss of words. How could she explain that his lustful gaze daunted her so much that she even struggled to articulate simple words.

"If you wish to quit the project, then you better send me your resignation letter as well. I don't wish to have unreliable incertitude employees in my company." He smirked with his gaze on her.

She closed her eyes for a moment and pursed her lips. She didn't have a choice. Quitting the company meant working as a waitress again. "I am sorry sir, I won't request my absence from this project again. My job is too important to me and my family." Tony was enjoying her malaise thoroughly.

"I am glad you didn't refuse me. Now, I want you to go through these designs" he said gesturing towards a folder on the table "study them and add your remarks to it. They will be presented and sent for the tendering after 2 days. So I want you to hurry up as there isn't much time left. You can stay and work in the company after office hours. You are aware that you will be paid for your overtime. Don't take any work ensure. Ensure you reach home before 8, don't overburden yourself with work more than that. I want my employees to sleep well and dream well so that they work to their maximum potential." A devilish grin on his face was noticed by her. She wondered if he had a different meaning other than the literal one with different implication. ' sleep well dream well' were not the kind words an employer like him would use. She took a leave and exited the room quickly to relieve herself of the suffocation she had with him.

**********

Tony's POV

Tony is sitting in his office watching Amelia working in her desk, through CCTV cameras. He moves his thumb on the laptop containing images where her lips are there, as if trying to feel them.

'Did your father give me a choice? No my dear mouse.'

**********

Flashback

10years back

Tony a.k.a Antonio Hernandez

Today is my first day at Brently universal school, the most renowned in the city. Only the elites get admission in this school, I am lucky to have acquired full scholarship; my family isn't even capable of purchasing the shoes they wear.

My fees, books, uniform is sponsored by a rich businessman named Giovanni Castellino. I had to quit my previous school and stay at home as I was unable to pay the school fess. My mother worked as a maid at a rich man's house who tried to harass her sexually and when she rebelled giving him a tight slap, he not only fired her but also ensured that's he stays jobless for a long time.

For 6 months my mother was forced to sell her valuables to make our ends meet. My drunkard father always made things difficult by harassing her for meaning, at times stealing it too. I had seen him get physically violent with her couple of time when she refused to give him money. He had once throttled her to the point that she college. Had I not intervened that day, my mother would be lying 6 feet deep buried in her grave.

Its difficult to fight with my father as he is very tall, above 6 feet and muscular and I am skinny and hardly 5'5" in height even though I am 16 years old. Still I fight against him but I fear if left unprotected, he may surely kill my mom some day.

My mother isn't the only one to receive his blows. My dear sister had her hand fractured during an argument 2 years back after which she eloped with her boyfriend leaving us a note. I am happy for her that she must be blissfully enjoying her life with her boyfriend after leaving this monster of our father.

I am standing in the classroom facing the rich sophisticated bunch of elites who are scrunching their nose after Miss Caroline, our English teacher introduces me, like I smell some stinky garbage brought from the slums. All except one, the girl with emerald eyes.

When asked who wishes to have me as their bench partner, she bites her lower lip and gives a sweet smile, shifting to the other end of her seat indicating the vacant place besides her. I can see some envious glances of the boys around when I approach her seat.

She extends her hand forward, " Hi, I am Amelia." I shake the delicate hands I have ever touched. I can't take my eyes off her, her eyes, smile , beauty they all seem to be plating some magic on me. I understand why the boys around seem jealous. Everyone wants to have this goddess close to them and she seems interested in me only.

********

I am in the principal's office with a man sitting on a chair and his back facing me and the principal Mr. Salvatore standing in front of him like a humble servant. Mr Salvatore was standing with a slight forward lean and hands folded; it seems the man sitting in front had some authority.

"Good evening sir" I greeted the principal bowing my head slightly.

"Good evening Antonio, how was your first day at school. I hope you enjoyed today?" . Glad to understand that the principal showed deep interest in finding about my experiences and feeling, I was about to open my mouth to answer, when he abruptly cut the conversation and arrived on the topic of prime importance.

"Meet Mr Giovanni Castellino, your chief sponsor."

I saw Mr Giovanni turn his neck sideways to give me a glimpse of his side face. I saw a deep scar on this face that extended from his jawline to this forehead which stopped right above his right eyebrow. I walked to him and I extended my hand forward, "Glad to meet you sir," .I was thrilled that I got to meet the man who played god in my academics.

He had square shaped jawline with bulky face, small pox like scars all over the face bushy eyebrows and no smile. He didn't even throw a glance at me, I withdrew my hand back without meeting his handshake. I had heard that rich people have no time for greetings. They cut the formalities are arrive at the point to be discussed. So he didn't bother to shake my hands.

"I want you to tutor my daughter in Mathematics."

Was this an order; I stood in silence expecting to apprehend the scenario.

"Mr Castellino has a high opinion of you. At a young age of 14, you won the national Mathematics quiz which has made learn more about you. He thinks you are completely capable of tutoring his daughter and doesn't have the slightest doubt in your competencies."

Was I glad to hear that I am competent enough to teach his daughter? My mother always mentioned to stay away from these ultra rich people to have a peaceful life. Her past experiences showed how they can create hurdles in your daily life if you step on their ego.

I was still thinking when the added benefits were quickly explained by Mr Salvatore. "you will be paid 50$/ week that is 200 $ per month. I heard your family faces difficulty in making ends meet. 200$ is not a small amount. You will only have to shell out 2 hours a day means 6 hours a week for Miss Castellino.". I was still trying to comprehend the situation.

"let me remind you that your annual fees of 20000$ has been completely sponsored by Mr Castellino alone."

Why does he want a teenager like me to teach his daughter. We have great Maths teachers in our school. Mr Philips, the teacher who taught us today would specifically be interested in earning more income.

As if reading my thoughts the principal answered, " Mr Giovanni is sceptical with the idea of an adult male teaching his daughter. She is a teenager and the situation can a bit erm... hormonal." I wanted to see that the same hormonal situation can occur with my case too but Mr Giovanni scanning me from top to bottom made me realize that my short height, thick rimmed spectacles, bunny teeth, skinny structure will not attract any ' hormonal daughter' and this suit beneficial for Mr Giovanni.

"Can I get a day to think?" Mr Giovanni arched his eyebrows. "I should reconsider the sponsorships I offer to less privileged children from now onwards." The words weren't meant for the Principal but for my ears to hear.

Should I refuse his proposal, I could even loose my sponsorship. I could never afford the exorbitant fees of this school; the other cheap schools were also far beyond my league. Which meant that I had no choice in simple language.

"I am ready Mr Giovanni to teach your daughter." I could never imagine the rich and their ways to manipulate you. I always thought my scholarship was a noble gesture by this rich man. Never know he had a hidden agenda behind it. There was one think that this man taught me that charity is never free.

"Smart decision. See you at 6pm at my house then. You will get car services for conveyance. My driver will come and pick you." Mr Giovanni then stood up and quickly strode out without even glancing at us. The principal who had been standing all along now took a seat and let out a small sigh in relief.

Flash back ends