Billionaire Romance: Desires (Complete Series) Page 4

  He only had fifteen minutes now to get there, so he walked out once more, into the coolness of the autumn air and to his car. It wouldn’t take him long to get there, and he was somewhat grateful for the reprieve he’d offered himself a few moments ago. Had he gone to see Melody with that much tension, then there would have been no controlling him. He had no intentions of barreling over this one, but to savor the time he had with her, and now that he could focus, that was exactly what he was going to do. He checked his rear view mirror as he circled the driveway, making sure to alarm his house before he left. He slipped out onto the main road once more, and his heart raced like an anxious teenager. He thought about the fact that she would soon be his personal live-in assistant, and he hoped she wouldn’t be repulsed when she learned it was him all along. She seemed like a proud woman, despite the despair he’d witnessed today, and he didn’t want this to backfire. He crossed his fingers and his heart strings that she would stick around even after she knew. But for now, he just had to play his cards right.

  Billionaire Romance

  Desires #2

  MELODY’S STORY

  CHAPTER 1 - MELODY

  Melody wasted no time in tossing the contents of her shopping bags onto the bed to get another look and feel of the expensive clothing she now owned. She had always admired the Smither’s Boutique collection of fine clothes, but she had never been able to afford them. Now she was absolutely glad that she had run into Phillip, or she would never have had these. She held them up before her in the mirror, twisting from side to side as she admired herself and imagined how she would look in them. He must be a reasonably wealthy man, she thought. Who cared, though? She had these to look forward to.

  In such high spirits, she sashayed to the kitchen where she browsed through her cupboard, wondering what she could use to cook dinner for a man such as him. She was not the best cook, but she did know how to make some delicacies. And what was it that he ate? She was beginning to grow frustrated when she heard her phone ring. She bounded to it, half expecting it to be him.

  “Hello?” She answered almost seductively.

  “Melody?” The person on the other end began.

  “Yes, this is she,” she responded, now disappointed that the voice was not his own.

  “It’s Crystal,” the girl said.

  “Crystal?” =She asked, catching her bearings and trying to mask the disappointment in her voice.

  “What, you expected someone else?”

  “No,” she lied. “What have you been up to? Got any promotions lately?”

  “Actually, I’ll be in the neighborhood and I wanted to stop by later. Is that alright?”

  “No!” Melody answered too quickly. “I, er, I have an appointment.”

  “An appointment? Tonight?” Crystal asked, cynicism thick on her tongue.

  “Okay, I have a date, and he’s supposed to be coming here,” Melody finally admitted. “I’m supposed to be making dinner, but I’m clueless what to get a man like that.”

  “A man like what? What man are you talking about? I know it’s not Mark...”

  Melody stopped her. “Someone I met this morning, by accident. I ran into him and he spilled coffee all over my clothes, so he took me out to make up for it.”

  “Wow, not a story you hear every day. And you already invited him over? Well, what’s he like? Let me see if I can help,” she offered.

  “Well, he is financially endowed, that’s for sure; he took me shopping at Smither’s Boutique to replace my outfit, and he bought much more than just the one suit.”

  “So he’s tasteful then. I suggest you get some wine, light garden salad; a man like that usually takes great pride in his appearance, so he tries to keep his figure slim.”

  “Okay,” Melody said, while taking a mental note.

  “Maybe you can make breaded chicken, or steak in red wine, or something of the sort. If you want ideas you can always call up one of the fancier locations and ask what’s on the menu and adjust to your budget.”

  “No, I think I like that steak in red wine sauce idea with the salad. Even better is the fact that I already have those ingredients; a girl always has to have red wine right?”

  “Right. And don’t forget to leave mine in the refrigerator. I will be dropping by tomorrow, that is if he doesn’t kidnap you tonight. And I guess you met him on the job hunt? How’s it going?” “It’s a hassle, still right? The job market is too saturated.”

  “Tell me about it. Everywhere I go there are so many persons waiting to be interviewed for the same position...It is discouraging.”

  “Don’t worry. Something will turn up soon. Anyway, let me not hold you up any longer. Good luck with the date,” she said and hung up.

  Melody glanced at the clock and saw that it was half past three; she had some time until seven. She went to search her pantry for the ingredients she would need for dinner. She did have red wine, but she had to run to the green grocers to acquire some fresh vegetables and fruits for her salad, not to mention picking up those steaks—she just hadn’t wanted to let on how tight money is, so the fib had seemed necessary.

  Later, she was standing in the kitchen, chopping celery sticks and dicing carrots when her thoughts drifted to the handsome stranger she had met earlier. He was dazzling, and she could tell that he was older than she was, but his face bore a very distinguished look. She had looked up from her purse, ready to fly into a rage when her mind was arrested and imprisoned by those brown eyes that pierced into her own. She had lost her words then, and her footing as she was preparing to trip, when he held onto her, and there was no mistaking the longing she had felt then.

  Ever since Mark had left, she’d not been intimate with anyone, and the way Phillip had held onto her reminded her of the touching she craved. She would have easily walked away, ignoring the coffee stain on her clothes, but she was glad he had insisted to the contrary. A big grin spread across her face now, and she grew excited at the prospect of getting to know him better. The fact that he was financially secure was a big bonus to Melody now, though her independent spirit would not allow her to fend off of him, she reminded herself. She sliced and diced and chopped and julienned until she was satisfied with the end result. The atmosphere was permeated with the sweet aroma of her cooking, and she could not remember the last time she had outdone herself in this manner.

  She walked to the phone on the kitchen wall and dialed the number for the building manager. “Ms. Clover, please,” she said when the porter answered.

  “This is Miss Clover,” the elderly woman answered.

  “This is Melody, from 25. Is anyone using the rooftop tonight? I would like to arrange a dinner there.”

  “Hold on,” she said, and Melody could hear her flipping the pages of her log book. “No, it is free tonight.”

  “Perfect. Put me down for tonight.”

  “It will cost you extra,” the woman added. “Would you like Sam to arrange for lighting and music?” She asked.

  “That would be nice, thanks. And I will pay whatever it costs.”

  “Okay. Sam, the lady...”

  Her voice faded as Melody hung up and she could imagine her barking orders to the handyman. She had only just put the phone down when it rang again, just as she was turning to walk away.

  “Well, aren’t we busy today?” She said to the inanimate thing. She picked it up and answered. “Is this Melody Mitchell?” She heard an almost familiar voice ask her.

  “Yes, this is Melody,” she replied, her breath now rolling up into a ball and preparing itself to lodge in her throat.

  “I am calling from PC Innovations.” The woman paused, and Melody’s breath caught in her throat. This was the same office she’d gone to earlier, the one that had mixed her up.

  “I hope this isn’t another error,” she replied bluntly. “I was already there this morning.”

  “No, Miss Mitchell, this call is deliberate, and once again I apologize for the inc
onvenience to you.”

  “What is the nature of the call this time, then?” Melody inquired.

  “It would appear there is an opening after all, and you have already been chosen for the position. Congratulations, Miss Mitchell, and welcome on board.”

  Melody froze when the woman had stopped speaking. As far as unconventional went, this day had to be at the top of the list.

  CHAPTER 2 - MELODY

  “Miss Mitchell, are you still there?” The woman on the phone asked.

  “Yes, I am, but how is this possible, and what position is this for?” She wanted to know.

  “This position was recently made by the Director himself. You had applied for the personal assistant position at the office, but there is a position open for a house assistant: that is, someone who will handle his other affairs outside of the office, and other matters directly associated with this company, as well as the other organizations he is a member of. Would you be interested in this position Miss Mitchell?” The woman asked.

  “Y-yes,” Melody stuttered, not feeling like she was in a position to reject any job offer, even if it was unconventional. “I am very interested, thank you.”

  “Good. You can come by the office tomorrow, and I will fill you in some more and introduce you to our Director. You will be seeing him a lot.”

  “No problem, and thank you Miss...” she realized she hadn’t gotten the woman’s name.

  “Miss Facey. See you tomorrow, Miss Mitchell,” she said, and hung up.

  Melody stood there a while longer with the phone in her hand. Could any of this be real? She felt like a dam that was just about ready to overflow its boundaries. Two good fortunes in one day: what were the odds of that? She skipped to the bathroom now, feeling lighter than she’d felt in weeks. She had just gotten a job offer, and she was about to have dinner with one of the most charming men she had ever met. So, what would she wear? She ventured to the closet and took out piece after piece, trying to find a most suitable outfit to wear. By the time she was through, she had the entire collection of clothes in a mountain heap on the bed. She threw herself face down on the heap and screamed. She rolled from the pile and now lay next to it, staring at the ceiling until she was swept away in a tornado of emotions created by her thoughts of him and the day she had had.

  Her hands drifted to her secret stash, and she began to rub her hand against the hard fabric of the jeans she wore. Something about the roughness of the material triggered some feelings that were resting dormant in her, that is, until this morning. She pulled her knees up on the bed and let her palm lay flat on the covered triangular area as the other wandered up to cup breasts, now growing ripe with anxiety. As thoughts of him began to overwhelm her, she bit her lips and imagined his hands squeezing her, pulling her to him. She remembered his touch and how firm his hand had felt when he caught her this morning. For a fleeting moment, she wondered if he was already taken, and a panic started to rise in her. Still, the idea turned her on even more, and she soon unzipped her Capri shorts, letting her hand slide inside her lace underwear and travel to that region not so often visited.

  She longed for his tongue to get familiar with her most vulnerable spots, and she squeezed her legs together as she felt her juice begin to spring on her fingertips. She massaged her rising mound with it, slowly at first, and then more vigorously as the feelings came on more insistently. She was panting heavily now, and getting swept away as she lost all sense of time and place. So far gone was she that she didn’t realize the phone ringing next to her until it was on its final ring. She reached over and grabbed it up, annoyed at the person who had interrupted her private moment.

  “Hello?” She almost barked, and her voice instantly tamed when she heard who was on the other end.

  “Sounds like someone had a bad day,” he said, and she recognized his voice instantly.

  “Oh no,” she said almost in a whisper, anticipating what she thought he was going to say. “Are you cancelling dinner?”

  “What makes you think I would?” He teased.

  “Because you’re calling me now,” she said. She closed her eyes as she waited for the proverbial axe to fall.

  “I just wanted to make sure you hadn’t chickened out,” he told her. “I’m driving out now as we speak.”

  She sprang up on the bed and looked over at the clock. It read six-thirty. She only had thirty minutes to spare, and she hadn’t even gone to check on the settings on the roof. “Oh good,” she said breathlessly. “I’ll be waiting,” she could hear the smile in his voice as he hung up. She hastened to shower then, stuffing the clothes back into the closet first, and instantly deciding on a pair of leggings and a loose cotton top that hung from one of her shoulders. In ten minutes she was done showering, and she twirled her hair into one loose hanging bun, snapping it together with a butterfly clip. Loose tendrils escaped at her nape and temples, but she only considered them accessories, as the only thing she had on otherwise were her earrings and a bracelet she almost always wore.

  She hurried to the elevator, and got to the landing upstairs, where her breath caught in her throat when she saw what Sam had done. She had to buy him a drink one day, she thought. She had never been here for an occasion like this, and she was impressed at how the space could be transformed. She was leaving to return to her apartment when she ran into him.

  “Are you the lady who asked for this?” He asked her.

  “I am, and it is wonderful, thank you very much. I owe you.” He grinned broadly and was walking away when she realized she would probably need his help a little bit more. “Hey, Sam, could you give me a hand downstairs?”

  “Sure thing, Ma’am,” he said as he bowed his head and followed her. She would need his help in bringing the food back up. When they got downstairs, he remained at her door until she called him inside and handed him the tray with the salad, the steak, and some bread pudding she had from earlier in the week. She followed him up once more, now bearing the ice bucket and an additional glass of wine along with water. Then, she hurried back down for the cutlery and china. Finally satisfied that everything was to her liking, she stole downstairs once more to await her guest. Never had she felt so anxious until this moment, and when she heard the clock in the lobby chime seven, she could feel the knots forming in her stomach. She checked herself several times in the mirror, spotting away sweat beads with a paper towel she had at hand. She couldn’t rest comfortably and she almost fell out of the chair when she finally heard a rap on the door. She bounded to the wooden barrier separating her from him and then inhaled sharply before she opened the door and greeted the man that would make her dreams come true tonight.

  CHAPTER 3 - MELODY

  She held the door back for him and leaned against it. He didn’t move right away, and she grew self-conscious as he stood there looking at her. “What’s the matter?” She asked him.

  “Nothing,” he said as he moved closer, never once taking his eyes off of her, not even when he lowered his head and kissed her on the cheek. She felt her breath stop just then, and was glad he moved away lest she suffocate and never make it to dinner. “You just take my breath away.”

  Okay, that did it. She was turning into mush the longer she was in his presence, and she had to turn and walk away before she melted completely. He followed her and she could feel his presence looming over her like a shadow. When she turned around again, her hands flew to her mouth as she saw him with a black box in his hand, one that he was holding out to her.

  “My father always told me never to visit a lady empty-handed,” he smiled.

  “You didn’t have to,” she said humbly, while longing to know what was inside the little treasure chest. “I’ve cost you enough today.”

  “Like I said, my father told me that...”

  She laughed as he began again. “Okay, I see you won’t be letting that go any time soon. Thank you,” she said as she extended her hand to take his gift. “I didn’t get you anything. I am af
raid we didn’t have the same father.”

  He laughed then. “Thank God for that, otherwise I couldn’t be standing next to you now.” He stood there looking at her with the box in her hand. “Are you going to open it?”

  “Oh,” she said, having temporarily forgotten the box in her hand. She lifted the cover and was impressed by the necklace and earring set inside. They bore an onyx color, a thin thread of gold for the chain, and a pendant with a single stone set in the middle. She stared at it like she was in a trance and then looked into his eyes. “It’s beautiful.”

  “You’re welcome,” he said and smiled. “Nice place you have here,” he complimented her as he surveyed the small space. “It is cozy.”

  Melody was glad she didn’t keep her apartment messy; sure, there were a few things that needed replacing, like the brown carpet on the floor that was slowly changing color. She had gotten it with the apartment and had not been able to afford anything better. Now that she had a job, she would ensure that she did.

  “So, I smell food, but I don’t see any food,” he observed. “Is this food like the special clothes the Emperor wore?” He asked her, and she nearly doubled over laughing as she remembered the story of the Emperor’s clothes that her mother used to read to her when she was a child.