BOUND TO THE BILLIONAIRE

An annoyed sigh escapes my lips.

New York was famous for its crazy lengthy traffic and while it may not be as crazy as the traffic Shu -my friend- claims is in Beijing, it sure is to make a person go crazy especially on a Monday morning.

I draw my lips gently in between my teeth wondering if I should walk the remaining distance to work or risk being late by sitting in the uber. My eyes fall on the man sitting by the side of a Dunkin shop on the pavement, his palms open and a scarf covering his face despite it being summer.

I stare at his shirt which was neat in contrast to his trousers, his backpack held close to his chest as he watched people walk past him.

My heart peels out of my chest.

Freshly homeless?

Ok. Change of plans.

I grab my bag and step out of the uber making sure to pay with a small sorry.

"Here" I pull out the lunch I had packed for myself handing it over to the man watching as his dull brown eyes light up.

"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice low and cracky.

"Sure! Apparently I don't like cheese as much as I thought." I give him what I think is a disarming smile but by the contorted look on his face, it might as well be an alien proving his paternity by my smile.

"Alright, thank you." he reaches out to accept it.

"You know, down the street, just around the corner at the 31st, an organization shares meals there every Thursdays."

He looks up at me again, "I see. Shouldn't you be going?''

I frown, 'is he telling me off?'

"I should." I say nodding my head slowly while he just looks at me.

'Whatever. I'd better get to work.' I say in my mind and turn away abruptly.

"What the fuck?!!" I screech, staring down at brown liquid stain spreading over my white shirt fast.

"Shit. My coffee." A cold voice says from above me.

"Fuck!. Couldn't you look at where you're going?" I yell, searching my bag frantically for tissues.

"Lady, you just wasted my entire coffee." a self-concieted voice speaks above my head.

"The fuck? You spilled your coffee on me." I say emphasizing the 'your' while dabbing the spreading stain with tissues that do nothing to help.

"I'm very busy and I don't have time to trade words with you. But, I'll give you this advice, Next time look at where you are going." The cold voice speaks again.

Now, I'm a fairly decent person, but right now, my anger is about to boil over the top because this person is exasperating.

I raise my head, ready to put this guy in his place but my mouth forgets how to speak for a moment as my eyes hit the most beautiful face I'd ever come across since my birth.

He stood tall in an Armani suit, broad muscled shoulders that seem perfect for the term, 'I'll give you my shoulders to lean on', his skin had this olive warmth tone to it but his eyes were the ones that captured me.

Piercing green eyes stared right at my soul, almost hypnotizing me to agree the coffee spill was my fault.

Thick wavy brown hair curled over his ears, long in the back reaching the nape of his neck with the hair acting unruly that made me want to run my fingers through in order to correct it.

But he pushes it back with a careless practiced sweep that made my hand instantly jealous that his got to touch such gorgeous hair.

"Done gaping at me?"

"W--wh--a -wh-at?" I splutter my cheeks heating up.

"You need to apologize for wasting my coffee. Naturally, I'd say you should get me another but I don't want to take all your life savings."

My mouth opens again, "What the ---. you are incredulous! And since I'm not sure your dumb brain will know the meaning, let me spell it out for you in simple terms, YOU ARE CRAZY."

He stares at me with a scoff, bending to reach my height, "You sure about that with the way you're the one closer to hell?"

I gasp in surprise, turning my body to the side to allow someone pass by me,"The fuuuuck did you just say to me?. You were the one with your attention on your phone while walking."

"I'm busy. I have to get to a meeting. See you never hopefully." he says giving me a mocking smile, putting his hand on my shoulder pushing me sideways causing me to stumble.

I grab his phone out of his hand in annoyance.

"Now that's completely childish. Give me my phone." he turns back, his eyes flashing.

"Since you lack enough common sense, I'm curious what this life lesson will do for you." I say, and hurl the phone down the pavement, a smile coming to form on my lips as I hear a satisfying crack.

"What the heck, lady!" he yells and runs after his phone.

"Hmmph. What a crazy guy, don't you think?" I sneer pointing to the direction where the conceited handsome god ran to.

"Not really." the beggar replies me, his mouth full of the lunch I had given him.

I roll my eyes, realizing that we had just been entertainment for this man. Plus, so much for not expecting anything in return, the least he could have done was to support me.

"Why are you staring at me?" I snap.

"Aren't you going to work?" he asks, taking another mouthful of the meal.

"Work!" my eyes widen and I begin running towards my workplace. Even the uber I took earlier was nowhere to be found on the road.

Honestly, that handsome god has to be a cursed one, because I'm at creeping into the office crouching while hoping no-one will notice I'm late or my coffee stained shirt.

"Hazel!"

Shit. I spoke too soon.

"Ms. Mallory." I stand up straight, plastering a fake but collected smile on my face.

"There was dirt on the floor. I was cleaning it." I add, laughing nervously, while hoping she makes no comment about why I'm holding my bag vertically against my body or why I'm

blatantly lying to her face.

She gives me an unimpressed look that can rival the one of my sixth-grade teacher successfully and I have to tell you that woman was a terrifying witch.

"Dave wants you in his office."

I tense.

My manager? For what?

As a PR officer on the lowest rung of administrative level, I have learnt to be invisible, so what does Dave want with me?

"Dave d-- does?" I clear my throat hoping my shaky voice didn't convey my fear.

"It's been over 10 minutes he's asked for you, so if I were you, I'd think of something better than dirt on the floor as my excuse and get to his office." She giggles and saunters away.

I groan inwardly, Raven Mallory and I must have been enemies in our past lives because she takes every opportunity to bully me.

And I have no idea why?! I mean, she's better paid than I am, has a better work title, work descriptions and me, I'm just here.

I rush to the cubicle I share with Sophie - a lady with beautiful big eyes but with snarky comments aimed at me every time.

"Hey. What's with your shirt? Decided your life was boring so you chose to make it interesting by playing in the mud?"

"Hi Sophie" I reply ignoring her question.

"You're late." she says, continuing to stare at my shirt.

"Well done, Captain Obvious." I say under my breath.

"You're sure Dave's not going to fire you today?"

I take a deep breath in, "May I borrow your jacket?" I stretch my hand to her jean jacket hanging on her chair.

Sophie laughs awkwardly, "Nah. It's not mine, you know. It's my niece's and she's already pissed I took it today, so if I give you, she'll be even more angry."

I bite my lips, fighting the urge to scream, "How would she know, Sophie? I just want to use it to get to Dave's office and back."

"Maybe you can borrow a scarf from someone to cover up the stain." Sophie contorts her face in annoyance.

"No-one's going to have a scarf readily available in summer." I reply.

"Same for a jacket." she smiles at me in a contortingly sweet manner and take the jacket off her chair, stuffing it into her bag.

I sigh again, 'is it really that hard to borrow me a jacket? Or am I just having a more terrible morning courtesy of that coffee spilling jerk?'

I stare at my shirt, the conspicuous brown color against the white shirt so noticeable that I can't hope Dave wouldn't see it.

"Hazel, you haven't gone to see Dave yet?"

I turn my head to see Raven headed towards me, a Starbucks cup in her hand.

"I'm heading there now." I say to her and grab a couple of papers from my desk holding it close to my chest as a last minute resort to hide the coffee stain.

I stand in front of Dave's door, the plaque on the door reading 'PR MANAGER' a pretty white color on black creating a contrast that brightens it.

I should hope that Dave will be nice to me this morning, but I've already had a shitty morning and hoping has not been going well for me this morning so I just raise my hand and knock.

Tap. Tap.

I hear a distant voice saying,"Come in."

"Good morning Dave." I say to the Brown haired man furiously typing something on his laptop.

"Hazel?" he calls out, not looking up from his laptop.

"Yes sir?"

"I hear you assisted Raven with the MAPO conference emailing."

Well, I did it all by myself after Raven dumped it on me but Dave doesn't have to know that.

"Yes, I did." I say.

"Well, that failed. Raven could do better without your help. Don't badger her that you want to learn. We don't have the resources to make up for your mistakes on important occasions."

My mouth opens gaping like a fish.

I have no idea what to focus on right now. The fact that Raven set me up to take the fall or that the work I put my complete energy into failed.

I swallow tightly, ignoring the tight knot forming in my chest.

"That will be all." Dave dismisses me.

" How did the S.E.A.M perform?"

"Quite well. Leave Raven to handle her projects next time. She's experienced and advanced than you are."

I blink, letting a soft chuckle excape my lips.

"Is there a problem Hazel?"

"Nothing." I begin, "-- Just that Raven had me assist' her with the MAPO project because I did S.E.A.M project alone and it was excellent." I complete raising my fingers to make air quotes.

For the first time since I entered the office, Dave raises his head to look at me, "The S.E.A.M project was your work?"

"From the idea to the execution, it was mine, yes sir." I reply.

I know my answer might land me in a worse position with Raven Mallory but I don't care at the moment.

Sorry. Not sorry.

My self-destruct button is in play already. I'm fucking frustrated.

Dave presses a button on the intercom and speaks into it,"Get Mallory into my office now please."

He regards me with curious eyes while we wait for Raven to come in which doesn't take long at all.

"You sent for me?" She asks with a smile as soon as she comes in.

"Hazel says the S.E.A.M project was hers. What do you say?"

Raven stares at me shocked, and I stare right back at her.

Naturally, I wouldn't dare to do this, but my self-destruct button is in play now.

I don't give a fuck about anybody right now.

"Raven? I am so disappointed in you for stealing another worker's successful idea and trying to pass it off as yours." Dave says.

"I apologize sir but it was the only way to get the project recognized to get the okay for take-off." Raven says.

"I'll tell you what I tell my sixteen-year old daughter. No excuses cover up your mistake. Own up to it and figure how to rectify it." He shakes his head and turns to me, "You can go Hazel."

"Wait, are those documents for me?" Dave looks at me with anticipation.

"Ermm--" I laugh awkwardly clutching the papers closer to my chest to cover up the coffee stain.

"Why did you come late to work today Hazel?" Raven asks me turning Dave's attention to me while smirking and watching as my eyes widen with frantic fear.

What a bitch!

"Effective immediately, this company is under new ownership-Steele International."

HR-.

I stare at the email. I click over and over again in an attempt to Refresh and refresh.

Surprise!

Nothing changed.

"The Xavier Steele?" Sophie leans over whispering conspiratorially.

Today she was dressed in a pencil brown skirt that hit just above her knee, a monochrome blouse and a gold chain belt that sat carelessly across her hips, no jacket, but I didn't need it anyway.

"Xavier Steele?"

"You don't know Xavier Steele?!" Sophie screams causing eyes to turn to us.

Raven's eyes meet with mine and we break eye-contact instantly.

Dave's reprimand has not made her any nicer to me but she has not specially gone out of her way to make my life terrible.

For that, I'm grateful, since I'm no longer in my self-destruct mode.

"Is he someone important?"

"S0meone important?" Sophie looks at me with incredulous eyes.

"Like a NEPO baby, you know?" I say.

"How on earth did I think you were better than me?." Sophie scoffs.

I brush the brunt of her backhanded insult, "Are you going to talk about Mr. Xavier Steele or not?"

"Keep the Mr. out of your mouth Hazel, because Xavier's a treat!"

"So like a pretty Nepo baby?" I raise my eyebrows.

"Shut up. He's better than that. You should be tied to the stake for speaking about Xavier Steele this way." Sophie replies shaking her head at me.

"Whatever. I'll look him up online." I grab my phone.

"Don't!" Sophie holds her palm out in an attempt to stop me.

I roll my eyes in response.

"Honestly. This man should be described to you, not just by seeing. It's like chocolate fudge caramel cake. The sight is beauty but the taste describes heaven."

I sigh. Sophie's crazy. Plus I don't really think chocolate fudge caramel cake tastes like heaven.

"The first thing you should know is that Xavier Steele is a crazy man. By your standards and every other person's standards about his background, then yes, he qualifies as a Nepo baby. BUT! He's not your random trust fund baby."

"I'm following you Sophie. Go straight to his business mannerisms. How is he like?"

"I'm getting there, chill the fuck out. So, his first business was in real estate when he turned 17 years old. he expanded into the construction industry with the profits from real estate but after a year, he sold the company. Mind you, the construction company was also successful. He said he sold it because he didn't feel called to solve the problem of the construction industry." Sophie raises her index finger up.

"It sounds like he's great with business." I say flippantly.

"It's greater than great. Since the construction, he's built a conglomerate of businesses in Fashion, Tech and Electronics. Recently, during an interview, he declared his interest in Cars and buying a company."

"Buying not building?"

"Asking the right questions." Sophie smiles and I'm mesmerized by a fraction of a second on how beautiful her smile is.

"Xavier Steele is not just respected but also feared in the business world. Why is that?" Sophie picks up her pencil and starts drawing invisible circles on our shared desk.

"How would I know? I don't even know the guy, how much more why he's feared." I frown.

Sophie giggles, throwing her hands up in the air, "That's because he's deeply invested in M&A."

"Buying and Selling of companies?"

"Yup. He acquires them, folds them out, squeeze out every last penny and sells them for bits, all without running any loss on them. I tell you Hazel, all business venture this man has gone into has only been a success."

"So he's great at what he does."

"That's not it alone. His face looks like -------------------"

"I see. But if he's majoring in acquisition and sales of companies, doesn't that mean he's going to sell our company as well?" I interrupt her.

Sophie pauses then shrugs, "He doesn't really sell companies that are in his major nicheee. You get?" she says drawing out the word niche.

"Nope. I don't understand."

"Goodness, you're terrible at this."she rolls her eyes at me.

"Gossip, maybe." I respond with a half-hearted shrug.

"We deal in electronics and he has Electronics as one of his major business activities. So, he's probably just going to acquire and merge."

"That goes against normal business laws. He's supposed to expand his market and move into different industries."

"Probably removing the competition. I thought you weren't concerned. Why are you asking?" Sophie regards me curiously.

"I'm concerned. People have been known to lose their jobs after a merger or acquisition."

Sophie rolls her eyes at me, "Xavier Steele wouldn't even have time for your bullshit. He's the one who founded Zerf-AI."

"He founded Zerf?!"

"Welcome to the real world" she snorts.

"Wow, so he's that good. What will then happen to our CEO and board of directors?"

"What the fuck is your business with caring for people who don't give a shit about you?" Sophie snaps.

"All I know is that, I'm not concerned about people that do not pay me the same salary as they collect. Plus, they settled this without informing us."

I shrug. I could see Sophie's point, and although I didn't agree with her, it'd be a crazy thing for me to try argue with her.

"Oh, here is his picture. Isn't he so yummy?" she shoves her phone in my face and I'm forced to suddenly lean back to get my eye focus back.

"I told ya!. You're fucking speechless. This man is so fine." she giggles, punching me in the shoulder with her free hand.

"It's not that." I whisper, my eyes glued to the phone.

"Then what?"

I pause staring at phone and then her and then the phone.

How do I say I made the biggest mistake of my life this week?

Because my eyes are currently staring into green eyes belonging to the bastard who spilt his coffee on me.

Correction.

Handsome Greek god/Coffee bastard is about to be my boss.