Page 7 of Billionaire Corruption
“Yes!” I laughed, nervously. “Sorry, I’m Grace, Grace Bishop.”
We shook hands, laughing awkwardly.
“Nice to put a name to the face. I like it, your name. It suits you.”
His voice was deep and confident and seeing him in his office, in the smart suit made me feel unsure of myself.
“I wasn’t sure if you’d remember,” I admitted.
“How would I ever forget that?” He said, and for a moment, he seemed a little less confident and self-assured.
“I know. It was terrifying.”
“I’ve been avoiding lifts ever since, you know?” he said.
“Me too.”
“Really?”
We’d started moving closer together, without realizing it. We were standing about a foot apart and I found myself struggling to breathe. I wanted to move away but I was unable to move. He was looking at me, his dark blue eyes so intense, drawing me closer.
I don’t know what would’ve happened if there had not been a knock at the door, his PA coming in.
“I want to remind you about your lunch with Mr. Baskin?”
“Oh, right, thank you, Sarah.”
He’d stepped away from me when she opened the door, breaking the spell.
“I’d better get back,” I said, eager to get a hold of myself again.
“Wait,” he said.
“I’d like for us… to.. I don’t know…talk? Sometime?”
I nodded.
“I have this lunch now…” he looked at his watch.
“You know where to find me,” I said and somehow, that came out more flirtatious than I’d intended. I blushed and he smiled.
“I sure do.”
I rushed out of his office, past the stern-looking Sarah and found my way down the stairs. I went straight to the office kitchen to get myself some coffee and take a minute to compose myself.
I stood in the corner, facing the coffee machine and focused on my breathing. I couldn’t stop thinking about what had just happened. Why did this man have such an effect on me? It was as if I’d been unable to talk or think clearly when I was around him. I’d never experienced anything like this before. It was almost as if he’d had some kind of hold over me. I found it very disconcerting. I had wanted to see him again, it was true, but somehow, I had not expected this. I was completely thrown, shaky, almost. I didn’t like feeling like this, so shaky. I almost had the feeling that he had been about to kiss me again in his office just now and what would that look like? I was supposed to be working on an investigation into his company.
My thoughts were going crazy, and I had to close my eyes, focus on my breathing.
Behind me, some colleagues came into the kitchen, wanting to get coffee. They were deep in conversation, ignoring me.
“The entire exco team got a quarter of a million in bonuses last year! Can you believe that?”
“I know. There is definitely something fishy here but trying to follow the paper trail will take forever.”
“Mr. Faull will figure it out,” the woman said confidently. “I’ve seen it before. Once he gets the bit between the teeth, he doesn’t let go.”
Mr. Faull was in charge of our team, a senior accountant with a fearsome reputation in our company. He didn’t look that intimidating, with his thin hair and his thick glasses but, when he looked at you, his gaze was intense, and he hardly seemed to blink. It was unnerving.
