I always knew there was something fishy about that email. I just didn't expect it to come from...Him. Jesse Erhart. LA's most notorious CEO. Somehow, he always managed to make it to the top three most handsome men of the year award. And he deserved it.
He was referred to as the Alpha male of the Erhart pack. A title he had earned if I must say. He was rumored to have the most shitty attitude and fired employees like he changed his briefs.
At the young age of 19, He became the CEO of the Erhart company and since then sales have skyrocketed by over 80%.
Yes, I did my research when I applied for a job last time. In preparation for any questions relating to him.
"Tell me, Miss Thompson, what's your definition of theft?" He asked as he sat on his desk. Legs stretched out and their arms wrapped across his chest.
"Do you want this job?" Jesse queried after I had been quiet for a long time.
I didn't wait a minute to answer "no." Then I had a rethink "Yes...yes, I do."
"Then answer my question when I ask." He was louder this time around.
"Yes. Theft...is it...when you take what isn't yours, forcefully." I made sure I emphasized the last word.
His muscles relaxed and he raised his brows "Good. So you stole from me. You took what was mine."
I looked up immediately "You're forgetting I said, forcefully, sir."
He chuckled, "You don't tell me what to hear." He walked back to his seat before giving me the signal to take mine.
I heard, that if you made enemies with the Erharts, any of them, your life in America was over. You might survive in Antarctica.
"Where is it?" He asked without looking at me.
I wasn't even sure if sitting was the right thing "It's at home." I stutter.
"You didn't think to bring it?"
"I didn't know I was going to meet you here," I said with so much frustration.
He looked up at me with his eyes staring right into mine "So you're saying it's my fault?"
This was torture "no. I should have brought it along."
He smirked and turned back to his computer punching the keys. He would usually turn at intervals and smile but somehow, it made me more tense.
"It says here you are athletic." He said, breaking the silence.
Is that all he wanted to know "Yes. I did a lot of extracurricular activities."
"I didn't ask that." He said in a rather low voice. "So, Miss Thompson, you'd like to work with the research department, isn't that right?"
Finally, I hurriedly replied "Yes."
But he smirked most cynically. "I think, you're too smart for that."
It was the first time he said something nice. It felt weird.
"My assistant just quit, he lost his mum. You should take his position." He smiled at me at the end of his statement.
"No," I yelled scaring the life out of him
"Am I that horrible?" He asked and grabbed his chest pretending to have a heart attack.
I sprang up to my feet "I'm not interested. In either of the jobs." I suddenly found the confidence to say.
Jesse chuckled "You remember when I asked what theft is?" He got up and moved towards me dragging his fingers through the desk. "Miss Thompson, theft is what I say it is."
"Whether you stole my jacket or not depends on how much money sits in the judge's account by the morning of the trial."
When he spoke, he drew closer and closer. His figure swallowed my little shadow. And when there was no more space between us, when our breaths touched each other, he lifted my face.
"Jail isn't gonna suit you momma. It ain't no Disney world." As he spoke I felt his hands travel up my thighs and this sent chills down my spine.
It did things to me I didn't know a simple touch could do. Made me want to draw him closer. But he stopped, just like Josh.
"This place might not be Disney World either, but I could do the magic..." He smirked and brought his lips closer to my ear "The magic Josh couldn't do."
"And if I say no?" I managed to ask.
"You'd still get the magic, but in a less Cinderella way."
"Belle then?" I asked.
He looked down at me "The one with the beast, the flower, and the talking house?"
"Yeah," I responded.
"Nahh. I hate fur." He grinned.
He looked more appealing each minute that passed. It looked like he grew handsome with every passing minute.
"Keep staring at me that way, and I'd take that as your approval to make you limp." He bit the top of my nose and smiled before returning to his seat.
"This isn't appropriate." I felt myself losing my breath. I found it hard to breathe. At first, he stared at me like he had a lot more to say but he only handed me a paper.
"Let me decide what is appropriate, I'll see you first thing in the morning." He said it with so much confidence. There was no way in hell I was coming back here.
Not after the things he made me feel. As I grabbed my bag to leave, my phone binged.
"That's a little present to say welcome," Jesse said and waved.
When I checked, it was $500,000. I looked back at him and thought to myself, it might not be that bad working here.
"Have a great rest of your day momma" I heard him say as the door closed behind me.