Taming The Cold Hearted Billionaire

Natalie's POV

I finish getting ready for work in my bedroom. Taking one final glance at my outfit in the mirror, I step out into the hallway. Instantly, my dog Buddy starts barking and leaping onto me.

"Morning, Buddy," I say with a smile, scratching behind his ears. He barks once more before racing down the staircase. I follow him down toward the kitchen. My family doesn't reside in some grand mansion filled with extravagance. We survive on what we're able to make.

Something mouthwatering fills my nostrils as I enter the kitchen. My mom is preparing breakfast. Grace Hamilton-she works as a baker.

"Good morning, Mom," I greeted her, settling into my seat at the dining table.

"Morning, Nat," she replies, beaming at me.

"Where is everybody?" I ask while serving myself some pancakes.

"Derek is right here," my eighteen-year-old brother announces, strolling into the kitchen shirtless, his hair still damp from his shower.

"Where's your shirt, Derek?" Mom asks, carrying over the remaining pancakes. He gives a careless shrug and drops into his chair.

"Somewhere in my bedroom," he responds, piling the leftover pancakes onto his dish. What an animal.

"Save some for your sisters, you animal," my sixteen-year-old sister says as she enters. I shake my head at our identical reaction. He truly is an animal.

"Then you should move faster, sis," he mumbles through a mouthful of food. Mom smacks the back of his head and prepares my sister Claire's plate herself.

"Learn some manners, Derek," Mom scolds. Claire grins at Mom and accepts the plate, taking a seat beside Derek, who's now shooting daggers at Claire with his eyes. I glance at Mom.

"Where's Dad?" I inquire.

"He's already left for the bakery. There was an early delivery this morning. I'll head over after you all leave," Mom explains while tidying up the kitchen.

"He needs to take better care of his health, Mom," I say with concern.

"I tell him that constantly, but he refuses to listen," she sighs. I turn my attention toward my siblings.

"How's school treating you both?" I ask.

"It's ," Derek mumbles with his mouth crammed full of food. I stomp on his foot beneath the table. He yelps in pain.

"Don't speak like that-it's revolting," I say, narrowing my eyes at my brother.

"You just voiced my exact thought," Claire says, smiling at me.

"Mine's going well," she adds, continuing to eat. We finish our breakfast and say our goodbyes to Mom and Buddy. I watch my brother and sister climb into his vehicle, heading off to school. I slide into my car-or rather, my dad's car-and drive toward my workplace.

Both my siblings attend school. Derek is in his senior year and will soon be heading to college. He has a deep love for football and captains his school's team. He's awaiting news about a scholarship to Stanford University. We can describe him as your typical bad boy-popular and quite the player. He's the spitting image of our father, Richard Hamilton, with brown eyes and brown hair.

And my younger sister Claire is a sophomore. She's performing admirably in her classes. We share similar mindsets. We both inherited Mom's blue eyes, though our hair differs. She received Dad's brown hair while I inherited Mom's dark blonde locks.

My parents operate our family bakery called 'The Golden Crust.' This establishment has been functioning for nearly forty years. My grandfather established it in memory of my grandmother, and eventually my dad assumed control. Dad fell into despair when Grandfather passed away five years ago, but Mom helped him recover. They adore each other deeply. This bakery provides an adequate lifestyle. We manage reasonably well despite occasional challenges.

As for me-Natalie Hamilton, twenty-four years old. I completed my education in business. I've been employed at various smaller firms for two years. And currently, I'm working for one of the top three corporations as an executive assistant to the CEO for ten months. The compensation is excellent.

I arrive at the building within fifteen minutes and exit my vehicle. I wave at my friend Jessica at the reception desk and step into the elevator. I reach my floor and head to my office. I grab the boss's agenda and knock on his door. He calls out, "Come in."

I enter and observe the CEO of this corporation. Dominic Sterling-one of the most sought-after bachelors in Seattle.

"Good morning, sir. Here's your schedule," I say, offering him a smile. He smiles back, his eyes roaming over me.

"Good morning, Miss Hamilton," he says, accepting the folder. He outlines my assignments for the day as I jot down notes.

"Okay, sir. Anything else?" I inquire.

"No, that's everything for today," he says, his gaze still fixed on me. I nod and exit his office. I return to my workspace and search for the file he mentioned. Suddenly, someone embraces me from behind. I gasp in surprise.

"What are you doing tomorrow on Sunday?" a deep voice asks. I relax, recognizing the voice immediately.

"I'm heading to my parents' bakery to assist them. They have a large order to fulfill," I explain, placing my arms over his.

"Can't you visit my place instead? We can stream a movie, or I can take you somewhere," he suggests. I spin around and face Dominic.

Yes, he's my boyfriend. We've been involved romantically for approximately six months now. He was the one who pursued me initially. I accepted because I'd developed feelings for him when I first came here for my interview. Now I care for him deeply. He's the most wonderful boyfriend I could ask for. He's taken me on numerous dates.

"If I had the time, I'd genuinely love to visit. But not tomorrow," I say, meeting his eyes. He appears disappointed.

"I'll contact you the moment I complete my work. Does that sound acceptable?" I ask. He immediately brightens and presses his lips to mine. I return the kiss, smiling against his mouth. I can honestly say I'm falling for him. We've been maintaining this as a secret.

I pull back and gaze into his green eyes.

"Let's resume our work. Don't want to leave things unfinished," I say, removing his hands from around me. He pecks my lips once more and returns to his office.

I settle into my chair, smiling to myself. I feel fortunate to have him. I haven't mentioned anything to my parents about this relationship. I know they'd be supportive, but Dominic insisted we keep it private. This is the longest relationship I've been in. Every boyfriend-I can count only two-betrayed me within a few weeks. I didn't bother pursuing relationships after that. But I sense something different with Dominic. I know he won't hurt me.

I continue working, and soon lunchtime arrives. I met Jessica in the cafeteria. We're the same age. We chat while having lunch. She knows I'm dating Dominic. Suddenly, she stops eating and stares at me.

"Natalie, can I ask you something?" she asks, studying me with concern.

"Sure," I responded, taking a bite of my food.

"What would you do if you discovered Dominic is betraying you?" I start coughing at her words. I gulp down some water and compose myself.

"Why are you asking that?" I have a question.

"Just curious," she says, avoiding my gaze.

"Well, I know he'd never do that to me. He cares for me deeply," I say, smiling at her. She smiles back, but it appears forced.

"Okay," she says, resuming her meal. I also continue eating. We finish and return to our work.

Soon it's time to leave for the day. I gather everything and head to Dominic's office. I knock and enter. He appears startled and looks at me. He quickly shoves his phone into his pocket.

"What are you still doing here?" he asks, approaching me. I look at him, confused. Why is he behaving like this?

"I'm heading home. I came to say goodbye," I explained. He sighs and draws me into his arms.

"Sorry, I was just surprised when you entered like that," he says.

"It's fine. I'll contact you tomorrow," I promise.

"Okay. And I've arranged something special at my place tomorrow. So don't miss it," he says, winking at me. I blush, looking down.

"I'll leave now," I say. He suddenly grabs my backside.

"Okay, bye," he says but doesn't release me. I feel uncomfortable when he grabs my backside. Like I don't want him doing that here. I gently push him away, creating some distance between us. He releases me.

"Bye," I say, waving at him. I exit the room. As I'm heading toward the elevator, I notice a woman seated in the waiting area. She appears to be a visitor, but she's stunning. I simply shrug and step inside. When I reach my car, I search for my keys. But I can't find them. Then I remember I left them in my office.

I head back inside the building to my office. I hear some commotion in Dominic's office as I pass by. He must be speaking on the phone.

I retrieve my keys from my desk and walk out. I freeze when I hear a loud noise again from Dominic's office. I move closer to it. The sounds resemble someone groaning and moaning. My heartbeat accelerates as I hear more.

Don't let it be what I'm thinking.

The door is slightly ajar. I push it open a bit more and peer inside. My heart stops at what I witness inside.

Dominic is having intercourse with a woman. Both are completely undressed as Dominic takes her against his desk. I feel a tear escape from my eyes. The woman who's with Dominic is the same woman I noticed before I entered the elevator.

"Who was that girl who exited your office when I was waiting?" she asks, moaning.

"She's nobody to me, just my assistant," he says, groaning. Nobody.

"When will you end these secret encounters? You've been summoning me up here for four months now. I want to see progress," she says. I press my hand against my mouth when a sob escapes from me upon hearing her. He's been betraying me for so long.

"I've been anticipating something, and I believe I'll receive it tomorrow. I'll be a fortunate man if she provides what I desire," he says. Tears stream down my face hearing him. He isn't the Dominic I've known.

"Who is she? What are you referring to?" she asks.

"Nothing important. Now let me complete what I summoned you for," he says, continuing what he's doing. I look away, not wanting to witness what they're doing. I sprint to the elevator, crying. When I'm about to reach my car, I collide with someone. I look up and see Jessica. She appears confused. But I embrace her immediately.

Did she know Dominic was betraying me? That's why she asked what I'd do if I discovered it.

Natalie's POV

"Nat, can you bring the donuts that are on the table?" my dad calls from outside. I grab the tray of donuts and head out toward the counter. I hand the tray to Dad.

"Thank you, Nat. Why don't you take orders now? I'll head inside," he says, arranging the donuts in the display case.

"Okay," I reply, positioning myself near the counter. My dad disappears into the back. I scan our bakery. Only a handful of customers are seated with their orders, enjoying their time.

It's been a month since I discovered the truth about Dominic. I haven't seen him since that day. I immediately resigned on Monday. I asked Jessica to collect my belongings from my office and deliver the resignation letter for me. I didn't want to see his face, so I left without a word.

I told Jessica everything I witnessed and heard once I calmed down from crying. She listened to every detail I shared. She admitted she knew something before, but she didn't have any evidence to show me, so she hesitated to mention it. If she had told me, I wouldn't have believed it anyway. Because I had such intense feelings for Dominic. It's my fault that I was falling for his fake affection he was displaying toward me. He called me numerous times, but I never answered. Eventually, I blocked his number.

Dominic didn't feel anything for me-he just wanted to use me. Thank God I didn't fall for his scheme. Now when I think about it, he'd been pressuring me to spend time with him at his place. But I'd always make excuses and avoid it. After a few months, I thought I'd gotten to know him better and decided to visit his apartment to spend some time-nothing more. But I discovered his true motives now.

My family didn't ask questions when I told them I resigned. Looking at my face, they knew something was wrong and didn't pressure me to explain. I love my family. I've been working with my parents, assisting them in the bakery. Until I secure a new position, I've decided to work here and support them. I've submitted applications to several companies, but there's been no response from them.

"Can I get a black coffee with no sugar?" my thoughts are interrupted by a deep voice. I look up and see cold brown eyes. I shiver slightly at his intense gaze. He's handsome, but his cold eyes and expressionless face make him even more striking. I might have encountered him somewhere before. I shake my head, dismissing the thoughts.

"Yes," I responded and moved to prepare his coffee. The entire time, his gaze burns into my back until I finish making his drink. I complete it, grab his cup, and place it on the counter.

"That'll be-" He cuts me off by placing a fifty-dollar bill on the counter.

"Keep the change," he says coldly and takes the cup. I stand there stunned as he settles into a chair. I don't like what he just did. I grab a donut, place it on a plate along with his change.

I approach his table and set the plate in front of him. He looks up from his phone with those cold eyes.

"We don't keep the change. We earn money for what we create. This isn't a charity to accept handouts," I say, placing his change on the table. I turn and walk away, but I stop and return. He's glaring at me, though his face shows amusement.

"Please eat this donut and try being kinder to others. Don't behave like your plain, boring coffee," I say, heading back to the kitchen. I instruct someone to clean the tables outside, and they leave.

"You came inside just in time. I was about to call you," Mom says, approaching me with a tray of cake slices.

"Can you arrange these outside?" she asks.

"Sure, Mom," I say, taking the tray back outside. I neatly arrange the slices in the display case and stand up. I look up and let out a small squeak, placing my hand on my chest.

"Oh God," I say, looking up again. "Do you need anything, sir?" I ask, staring into those same cold brown eyes.

"Can I get two slices of cake to go?" he says, looking directly into my eyes.

"Sure," I say, smiling at him. As I pack his order, I can sense his stare on me the entire time.

"That'll be five dollars," I say. He hands me the exact amount and exits, taking his cake. I watch through the window until he vanishes from my view.

"Can I get a coffee with a slice of chocolate cake?" someone asks in front of me. I turn back to the customer and prepare their order. It's ten in the morning, and I've been here since six.

I just want to erase the memories I shared with him. Since I've been working here, I keep myself occupied with various tasks. Even though I'm terrible at baking, I assist my parents with other responsibilities.

Soon evening arrives, and I'm still working in the bakery.

"Nat," my dad calls from behind me. I turn toward him.

"You've been here since six this morning. Why don't you head home and get some rest?" Dad says, wiping down the counter in the kitchen.

"I don't want to go home," I say, staring down at the cup I'm holding.

"Nat," he says, coming over and embracing me. I sigh, hugging him back.

"I don't know what occurred, but you need to spend some time outside. You can't remain here forever. When was the last time you took Buddy for his walk?" he asks, pulling back. He places his hands on my shoulders.

"I don't know," I mumble, fidgeting with the hem of my shirt.

"That poor guy is missing you. Why don't you take him for a walk? It'll also help clear your mind," he says, smiling at me.

"Okay. But should I leave with everything like this?" I say, gesturing at the mess.

"It's nothing I haven't handled before. Now go," he says, turning me around and gently pushing me toward the back door exit.

"Okay, okay. I'm leaving-no need to throw me out," I chuckle, saying to him. He releases me and returns to cleaning, chuckling to himself. I exit after saying goodbye to Mom, who's at the counter.

I walk back to my house. It's only a fifteen-minute walk. As I enter the house, Buddy attacks me, making me tumble to the ground.

"Buddy," I giggle as he licks my face, wagging his tail frantically. He's a border collie who's been with us for four years now. He's my sweetheart.

"I missed you too, boy. I'm sorry if I haven't spent much time with you," I say, rubbing his back. He just appears sad.

"Wait here. I'll freshen up and come back," I say, getting up. He barks as I head to my room.

I wash my face and change my clothes since they're messy from the bakery. I put on a grey sweater with black jeans. I go downstairs, grabbing Buddy's leash. I attach the leash to Buddy and take him outside.

We begin walking toward our favorite park in the neighborhood. I've been taking him there for nearly two years now. We enjoy spending our time there. I look up to see dark clouds gathering. I hope it doesn't rain just yet.

I stand at the park entrance and look at Buddy. He also looks at me with his mouth open, as if we both know what we're about to do.

"Let's see who wins this time," I say, releasing his leash and sprinting into the park. I hear Buddy's bark behind me as he chases after me. We know dogs win easily, but it's enjoyable to play anyway.

We run around the park as Buddy chases me. I laugh loudly as I dodge Buddy from side to side. He barks, trying to catch me. The park isn't crowded today-only a few people scattered around.

Soon I grow tired and collapse on the grass, catching my breath. Buddy comes beside me, licking my face.

"I missed this. Sorry, boy, for not taking you out for a month," I say, rubbing his neck. He barks in my face. I chuckle, kissing his head. I smile at him as I pet him. Buddy glances around and dashes off for a run.

I sigh, looking up at the sky. I lie back on the grass and gaze at the clouds. It's peaceful here-no crowds, no disturbances. I adore this place so much. I forgot to come here when I was feeling down. This seems blissful, but too peaceful-it allows your thoughts to spiral in your mind. After a few minutes of lying there, I sit up and wipe away the tears that have fallen.

I don't want to cry, but these thoughts keep returning to me. I'm crying because I miss Dominic. Even though I meant nothing to him, I cared for him deeply. I thought someone would be there to love me and care for me, and I thought it would be Dominic. He made me feel that way. And I was foolish enough to fall for his act.

I search around for Buddy and spot him standing by a tree, looking slightly upward.

"Buddy," I called out. He just barks at the tree. I stand up and walk toward him. As I approach the tree, I notice a figure standing behind it.

"Buddy, come on, boy," I call out, stopping in my tracks. Buddy just barks again at the figure. I feel a water droplet land on my hand. I look up at the sky and feel another drop fall on my face. I smile at the sensation. Soon, drop after drop, it begins raining. I smile even more as I feel the rain.

I raise my hands and close my eyes. I spin around, laughing as I enjoy the rain. I'm completely soaked, just savoring the rain, ignoring everything else. Soon Buddy comes barking at me, mimicking what I'm doing. I run as Buddy chases me.

I stop running when I notice a figure watching me from a distance. He's wearing a black hoodie with the hood pulled up. His face can't be seen. He's standing near the tree where I spotted Buddy earlier. Is he the same person Buddy was barking at?

"Nat!" I hear a voice behind me. I turn around to see my brother running toward me with an umbrella.

"What are you doing standing in the rain? Come on before you catch a cold," Derek says, reaching me and covering me with his umbrella.

"I like the rain," I say. He simply puts his arm around me and guides me to walk out of the park. I glance back at the figure, only to see he's vanished. He's nowhere to be found.

Buddy barks behind us as he follows. Soon we're in my brother's car, heading home. But I'm thinking about one thing.

Who was he?

Natalie's POV

I dry my hair with my towel as I emerge from the bathroom. I settle into the chair and open my laptop. I sneeze while opening my email.

This isn't good. I've caught a cold because of that rain.

I don't know how much time I spent playing in the rain until Derek arrived. Buddy is doing fine downstairs with Derek. I hear a knock at my door. I say, "Come in."

The door opens, and I turn around to see my sister entering with a mug.

"Here's your hot chocolate with extra marshmallows," she says, handing me the mug. I take it and inhale the aroma, closing my eyes.

"You're the best. Thank you, Claire," I say, opening my eyes and looking at her. She sits on my bed. I take a sip and moan in delight.

"How are you so talented at this? I can't even cook to save my life," I say, taking another sip.

"I don't know. I just enjoy cooking and baking," she says.

"Just like Mom," I say, smiling at her. She smiles back. As I'm drinking, I sneeze.

"You caught a cold, didn't you?" Claire asks.

"Maybe," I replied.

"Why did you play in the rain when you knew you'd get sick?" she asks. I finish the drink and place the mug on my desk.

"Sometimes it's worth getting sick to play in the rain. It feels like whatever's trapped inside me is being released from my body. I feel liberated," I say, smiling sadly at her.

"Did something terrible happen at your last workplace?" she asks, taking my hands. I squeeze her hand.

"Nothing happened. I'm more than relieved to have left that corporation," I say. She nods. Suddenly, her eyes moved to my laptop.

"You received an email," she says. I glance at my laptop, and sure enough, there's a new message. I open it and take a sharp breath when I see where it's from. It's from Ashford Industries-one of the top corporations in the country.

*Hello Miss Natalie Hamilton,*

*We have reviewed your resume and examined your work performance. We are impressed with your track record. We have selected you for an interview for the assistant position. Mr. Ashford will be personally conducting your interview. We would like you to be present at the company at ten in the morning on Wednesday. For entrance clearance, click the file below.

Your regards,

Ashford Industries

I sit motionless, reading the email. Not even in my wildest dreams did I think I'd receive an interview at Ashford Industries.

"You have an interview on Wednesday!" my sister exclaims behind me. I turn toward her. She's beaming at me.

"That's one of the largest corporations in the country, Claire. I didn't think they'd even consider me," I say, still in a daze.

"You should be thrilled-you're going to land the position," she says, shaking my shoulders.

"I'll be beyond thrilled if I secure the position there," I smile at her. I do a mini celebration dance in my chair. She laughs at me.

"You're laughing at me," I say, tickling her. She squeals, falling onto the bed. I climb on top of her and tickle her more. She laughs, trying to escape.

"If it's the tickle monster you're summoning," I hear Derek's voice behind me. Soon I'm tackled onto the bed with him tickling me endlessly. Even Claire joins him. I laugh loudly.

"Stop, stop! Ah ha ha! I can't breathe!" I say. They both release me. I relax, staring at the ceiling. I sit up and punch my brother's arm hard.

"You act like a child sometimes," I say.

"Well, I am your little brother," he says, making puppy eyes. It's awful.

"Don't do that."

"I'm going to throw up."

Claire and I say simultaneously. We laugh at our synchronization. Derek looks at us, pouting.

"I have cruel sisters. They don't care about me," he says dramatically, wiping away invisible tears.

"Drama king," I say, chuckling at him.

"What were you celebrating before I came in?" Derek asks.

"She got an interview on Wednesday," Claire says happily.

"Really?" I nod at Derek.

"Well, that's excellent," he says, smiling at me.

"Can you sing something for me? It's been so long since I've heard you sing," Claire asks.

"Why not? Come here," I say, moving back on the bed until my back hits the headboard. Claire rests her head on my lap. I wait for Derek, but he looks hesitant.

"Come on quickly, Derek," Claire says, looking up at him. He sighs and places his head on my other leg. It's always been like this. Since we were young, I would sing them songs as they fell asleep. But time passes so quickly. I run my fingers through their hair as I begin singing.

*You and I must make a pact*

*We must bring salvation back*

*Where there is love, I'll be there*

*I'll reach out my hand to you*

*I'll have faith in all you do*

*Just call my name and I'll be there*

*I'll be there to comfort you*

*Build my world of dreams around you*

*I'm so glad that I found you*

*I'll be there with a love that's strong*

*I'll be your strength*

*You know I'll keep holdin' on*

*Let me fill your heart with joy and laughter*

*Togetherness, well it's all I'm after*

*Just call my name and I'll be there*

*I'll be there to protect you*

*With unselfish love that respects you*

*Just call my name, I'll be there*

I sing our favorite song, looking down at them as I run my fingers through their hair. Claire has closed her eyes with a gentle smile on her face. Derek is staring ahead, lost in thought. I close my eyes and continue singing. After I finish, I look at them. They're both asleep.

I hear sniffling from my doorway. I look up and see my parents. My mom is leaning against Dad, crying silently. Dad is smiling at me. I smile back.

I love my family.

*

I'm late. I'm late.

I rushed inside Ashford Industries after parking my car. I showed the security guard the clearance I received in the email. I ask the receptionist where the interview is located and hurry toward the elevator. I sigh in relief when I check the time. I still have two minutes to reach the floor. It's on the second-to-last floor-the 54th floor.

Today is my interview day at Ashford Industries. I woke up late and had to rush to get here. I didn't even check my appearance in the mirror. I hope I look presentable.

The elevator opens to the 54th floor. I exit and look around. Six people are seated, and a woman is typing at a desk. I approached her.

"Excuse me," I called out. She looks up at me. She appears to be middle-aged, around 45-50.

"Yes, are you here for the interview?" I nod. "Then you can wait for ten minutes. It'll begin soon," she says, smiling at me.

"If you don't mind, can I use the restroom before it starts?" I ask. She smiles at me.

"Of course, dear. Walk to your left, and you'll find the restroom," she says.

"Thank you," I say, making my way to the restroom. I enter and examine my appearance. I sigh in relief-I look decent. I smooth my hair and apply some light-colored lipstick. I exit and sit with the other candidates.

After five minutes, the interview begins. One by one, people are called inside by the woman at the desk. I'm the last one.

"Natalie Hamilton." I stand when I hear my name.

"You can go inside. Mr. Ashford is waiting," the woman says. I nod. I approach the door labeled "CEO - Mr. Vincent Ashford." I knock on the door. I hear "Come in." I entered.

The office is stunning with elegant furnishings. I appreciate this. I see a man approximately my father's age sitting behind the desk.

"Good morning, sir," I greeted him.

"Good morning. You can take a seat," he says, gesturing to the chair in front of the desk. I sat down. He picks up a file and begins reviewing it. He furrows his eyebrows.

"Miss Natalie Hamilton." I nod. "You have excellent experience across multiple companies," he says.

"Yes, sir."

"So you worked for Morrison Industries. It was a reputable company. Why did you leave?" he asks, placing the file back on the desk. I shift in my seat, growing nervous.

"I have my personal reasons, sir," I say, looking down.

"Well, I have no complaints about your experience. But I'm curious about your resignation from Morrison Industries," he says.

"You don't need to be concerned. I didn't do anything wrong, nor did I harm the company. I worked diligently the entire time I was there. And if I secure this position, I assure you won't be disappointed. I'll make certain of that," I reply confidently. He nods.

"Can you do me a favor? Can you retrieve that black file from the shelf behind you?" I glance back and look at him. I nod. I stand up and search for the file. I find it and turn around.

But the office door swings open, and a man enters. He's the same person I encountered in our bakery that day. Cold brown eyes. He looks sharp in his suit, but he appears furious.

"Why the hell didn't you inform me you were conducting interviews for an assistant?" he shouts at Mr. Ashford. The man hasn't noticed me yet.

"Why should I inform you? I'm the CEO of this corporation. I can do whatever I want here," Mr. Ashford says, rising from his chair.

"But I fucking-" I don't let him finish his sentence as I interrupt him.

"Hello, mister. Watch your language," I say, stepping in front of him. He looks at me. His eyes widen slightly, though they remain cold. He appears shocked and confused.

"Who do you think you are, interrupting me when I'm speaking?" he asks after recovering from his shock.

"I'm Natalie. You're not God here, so I can interrupt whoever I choose," I say, glaring at him. He glares back and takes a step toward me.

"Who the hell are you to tell me to watch my language? I can say whatever I want," he hisses at me.

"I may be nobody special, but show some respect when you're addressing an elder," I say, pointing my finger at him. He looks amused but continues glaring at me.

"And if I don't?" he says in a low voice, moving closer to my face. He's tall. I feel something stir in my chest, seeing him so close to me.

"Then I won't hesitate to slap you hard across your face," I say, looking fiercely into his eyes. His eyes darken further as fury blazes in them.

"If you're going to speak to Mr. Ashford politely, stay here while I step out. And if you don't want to, then you leave and return when your temper cools down," I say. He shoves the chair roughly in anger and storms out, slamming the door behind him.

"Oh God," suddenly Mr. Ashford begins laughing heartily. I'd forgotten he was still present.

"I'm so sorry, sir. I just didn't appreciate how he was addressing you," I say, looking down.

"You did nothing wrong, dear," he says, chuckling at me. "But do you know who he is?" he asks, settling back into his chair. I look at him, confused.

"Your expression says everything, dear," he says, smiling at me.

"So, Miss Hamilton, when will you join our corporation to begin your first day?" Mr. Ashford asks, looking at me with amusement.

I stand motionless, staring at him in shock.