Grey was confused about what was going on in his head. Why did he have a sudden urge to be protective of his new employee? Surely it had to be because she had his mother's eyes. He had linked her to his mother making him protective.
That had to be it.
He heard her outside asking Evan what she had done. He felt a pang of pain realizing that she was terrified of him just as everyone was. But in all honesty, he didn't even know what to say to her if she walked in through that door.
As if on cue, the door burst open revealing a shaken Bella. "Sir I'm really sorry about this morning please don't fire me" she pleaded putting her palms together in repentance.
He looked up at her watching as her straight brown her poured over her shoulder and her green eyes lit up the room. "Have a sit miss" he instructed pointing to the chair In Front of him, and she did quickly.
"I'm really sorry sir" Bella apologized again raising her head to look at him,their eyes meeting and she froze. Being so terrified of offending him she hadn't really dwelt on how handsome he was. He stared back at her before slowly peeling his eyes away.
What just happened?
Did she just have a moment with the CEO of J&C?
"I didn't call you here about this morning" he replied sitting up. "I called you here to establish some ground rules especially if you are going to be working with me personally"
"Okay sir" she nodded in anticipation.
"First. I don't condone any dating in my office. This is a serious environment and I don't want you getting distracted" Grey warned his mind going back to the scene he met this morning.
"I don't think I woul_ yes sir" she nodded, not bothering to explain herself. "Go on" he urged on, wanting to hear what she had to say.
"I was just trying to say I didn't think I would date anybody in the office. I'm not interested in that" she responded in a low voice.
"Good" he replied, reclining back into his chair. "You can leave now"
"I-is that all?" She asked quietly, trying to mask her annoyance that she had come all the way here just for that.
"Yes it is. Or is there anything more you want to say?"
"N-no sir" she responded getting up. She gave a small bow before practically sprinting out of the office.
Bella came out meeting Katrina's worried face which she quickly masked as soon as she saw her. Bella gave a small smile walking towards her.
"Thank you" she breathed.
"For what" Katrina asked monotonously as she clicked on her computer.
"For caring"
"I don't"
Shaking her head, Bella quickly walked away towards the elevator relieved that she could finally eat. As she walked into the cafeteria kelvin and Casey walked up to her worriedly.
"What did Mr Grey say?" Casey questioned clearly worried for Bella. "How did you know?" Bella asked with a small smile.
"Honey. The only reason someone in this office would run like that is if Mr Grey wanted to see them" Casey replied and kelvin nodded.
"Oh" she nodded. "Nothing much, just that dating is prohibited in the office"
"No it's not" kelvin replied.
"Yeah" Casey chimed in. "Mr Grey doesn't care about those kind of things"
"Well he said for those that work with him personally" Bella tried to defend.
"I and Katrina dated for about a month" Kelvin said again. "Unless this is new, I've never heard of it"
Bella looked at the duo as they looked back at her sugestfully. "Whatever I wasn't planning to do either ways" she sighed walking away from them. "I'm starving, where can I get some food?"
"Here. Got this for you" Kelvin replied, stretching a tray towards her.
"Thanks" she grinned sitting down and they joined her asking several questions about her life.
~. ~. ~
Grey sat down staring at the email Evan had just sent to him. It was titled "Isabella Casey Marie" making him smile.
He clicked on it reading through her details. "She is 24. Lost her mother one year ago, never met her father". He kept reading till his eye caught on to something.
"In debt with a famous local loan shark: 40,000$. Took debt to pay for her mother's treatments"
He furrowed his brows reading through the details of the debt, she had only managed to pay 8,000$ back and was being threatened.
"Why are people being so stupid taking loans from these kinds of people?" he sighed, sitting up from his chair.
He continued reading through her details, totally engrossed, when another email popped up on his screen. He clicked on it,
Dear Carter Grey
You're cordially invited to join us for a celebration tonight at Edwin's foundation. The event starts at 6:pm. Come and join us for an evening of merriment, refreshments, and profitable business conversations.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Best regards, Edwin Richard
Grey groaned, picking up his ringing phone as his father's name flashed across his screen.
"Good evening son" the old man breathed through Grey's speakers. "I'm assuming you just got the email from Mr Richards"
"What are doing dad?" Grey questioned with a sigh rubbing his forefinger on his brow. "We didn't agree I was going to be rushed into it"
"I'm not" his father replied defensively. "I just think this is a good chance for you to bond with his daughter... umm Clara that was her name right?"
"You don't even know her name" Grey whined getting up. "I'm not free tonight I can't go. I mean this is so last minute"
"You have to son. This is a good deal for the company, and besides you guys were in love weren't you?"
"I wasn't dad" Grey replied frustratedly as he ran a hand through his hair. "You guys literally forced her down my throat"
"Too late" his father said before dropping the call and before he could fathom Clara walked in with Katrina trotting behind her.
"I'm sorry sir, she wouldn't take no for an answer" Katrina apologized bowing a little. Grey waved her away before turning his eyes to Clara.
This evening was going to be pure hell.