“You know why I called you up here today?” he asked. Violet gave him her full attention. Around the office she’d heard women swoon after the boss. He was older than she. At least in his forties she’d assumed. His hair was dark, no shades of grey. His eyes were green, and his body large and well built. She didn’t usually take notice of men, but over time she considered seeing which one was a threat and which ones weren’t. Her mother had warned her about them from a young age.
“N-no,” she said, cursing herself as her stammer returned. Whenever she was nervous she found she had difficulty over her words.
“You have no clue at all?”
She tried to think of something that could be amiss with her performance, but she was drawing a blank. “I don’t know, Mr. Ashwood. No one has ever complained about my performance, and I make sure everyone gets what they need.” Violet couldn’t lose this job. She needed the income to help pay for all the college debts she had accumulated over the years.
Her mother hadn’t thought about anyone but herself when she’d opened her veins on the day Violet had graduated.
Refusing to go down the road of bitterness she stared at her boss and prayed he didn’t want to fire her.
“This is nothing to do with your job. Actually, I hope to promote you. My personal assistant is going on maternity leave, and I want you to take her place. I’ve seen the way you work, and I want to see you taking on that role,” he said, closing shut her file.
Silence met his statement.
“Thank you. Erm, I don’t want to seem rude, but I’m not qualified in that field.”
“Miss Moore, you put yourself through college and are as qualified to handle this role as any other women I have here. Stacey will train you in the next six weeks, and you’ll take over from her,” he said.
Violet didn’t know what to do. “I just want to make coffee and hand out the mail. I can do that.”
His hand slammed on the desk, making her jump. Her fingers tightened round the handles of her chair. Any acts of violence scared her. She kept her gaze on his hands, thankful it stayed in the one place.
“I’ve told you what you’re going to be doing. Don’t argue with me.”
She nodded her head.
“Good. Now that’s settled I’ve got a few questions I want you to answer.” Cadeon picked up a pen and opened her folder.
Moving her hands away from the chair she clasped them together in her lap, hating the initial fear that came forward whenever a man was angry. Why couldn’t she be like other women and argue or march out?
Confrontation wasn’t her.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
Another nod of the head. There was nothing more she could do.
“Do you have any family?”
“No,” she said.
“Is there anyone waiting for you back home? A friend, a room-mate, lover?”
“I don’t know how any of this is relevant to the position,” she said, her cheeks on fire from his comment about a lover. Having a lover would mean trusting the opposite sex. She didn’t trust the cat that lived next door with her elderly neighbour, let alone a man.
“I need these questions answered.”
Licking her lips she shook her head.
“Boyfriend or partner?”
She shook her head.
“I need you to write down all your phone numbers so I can reach you at any time.” He got up and came round the desk and handed her a board to lean on and a piece of paper with her work picture at the top. Cadeon passed her a pen.
Violet began writing her home address and her personal details. Her hand shook as she felt him behind her, leaning over her shoulder. His breath moved her hair across her neck, the close proximity making her nervous.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
“N-nothing.”
“You’ve stopped writing.”
“I’m sorry.” Closing her eyes in the hope to gather her bearings she filled in the rest of the form. Her hand shook, and her eyes blurred as she tried to control the flow of tears. Cadeon didn’t scare her. His dominating presence and what she witnessed in her past scared her.
Clicking the pen she gave him both the sheet and the pen back.
“Can I go back to work?” she asked.
“You may. Tomorrow I want you into work, so Stacey can start your training. I look forward to working with you.”
Violet nodded and ran for the door. She gave a tug, and it wouldn’t budge. Trying to contain her whimper of frustration she tried with both hands, but nothing happened.
“Here, let me.” Cadeon leaned over her and tugged her door. His whole body pressed against her back. “See you tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir.” Violet ran out of the room and raced towards the stairs. On the floor underneath she went straight to the bathroom and locked the first stall that was empty. Sitting on the seat she placed a hand over her heart and tried to bring her breathing back to normal. Ever since taking the job at Ashwood Enterprise she’d promised herself to fight her fear and start living like a normal twenty-one year old. That was a year ago. The fear and pain, no matter what she did, lived with her always.
****
Cadeon watched as Violet left his office. For the past year he’d seen the young girl, and with every look, he’d wanted to see her. The obsession he felt for the woman was startling. He opened her file and read through all of her personal details and then the piece of paper he’d made her fill in.
There was no one in her life. Taking out his mobile phone he stored her numbers into his important information and wrote down her address in his notes before putting the device away.
He was a man who knew what he wanted, and he wanted Violet. Cadeon saw her innocence and the pain shining in her eyes. The last year, he’d seen her interactions with men. She didn’t spend too long talking, enough time to pass mail and hand over coffee. The women in his office didn’t like the way the men tried to gain her attention. He knew why. Even though she kept to herself and wore unflattering suits they saw the beauty beneath. Her brown hair shone like gold, and her pale skin complemented her complexion. Brown eyes he’d never seen smile but held a wealth of pain no woman of twenty-one should know. Her figure was another startling feature. When she turned or bent over, the full curves of her h*ps and heavy br**sts could be seen. She had the figure of a fifties’ actress. Everything about her brought out his possessive instincts. He wanted to care for her. The age gap between them was irrelevant. Cadeon knew how to care for her.