Chapter 8
ALICIA
When we get to the canteen, it's packed full of other workers. The canteen is a moderate-sized room with tables scattered around. I search for an empty table while Clarissa goes to take our order. There's no unoccupied one except at the back and it has two females I recognize, already sitting at it. One of the cashiers and the HR officer are both females.
One of the things I like about Harry's Cargo is it's an all-female company, no males are working here. I make my way over to them and slide into one of the seats, sending hi's their way. They chorus their greeting in between mouthfuls of food. Not long after, Clarissa comes back with our orders. A sandwich and a soda for me, and a lame-looking burger with chips on the side and a soda for her.
I lean close to her and whisper. "At least you got a burger."
She rolls her eyes at me and sticks out her tongue. I'm going to cut it off one of these days, for sure. A few seconds later and my concentration is solely on my food, taking small sized-bites, just as mother taught me to, while conversation sizzles around me. Suddenly, one of the girls opposite me squeals. I look up to see her pointing in a direction. I follow the line of her hand to where the television is placed on the wall.
Its volume is increased and a silence so thick falls on the canteen as all eyes settle on it. A frown settles on my face wonderingly as I listen to the newscaster's voice. "We have with us in the studio, Mr. Ash Thunder. I'm sure he needs no introduction—"
I lose the train of her words as I put my attention back on my food, but then I hear a deep male voice and my head snaps up once again as I put my eyes back on the T.V. Goose pimples erupt all over my skin as I look at the man speaking.
I see you've got a big mouth on you, maybe you should put it to more pleasurable use instead of sprouting threats.
I shiver as I remember the way his lips had curled as he looked at me. And when those hands, which had tattoos lining every digit of his fingers, had traced my lips, I had the insane urge to bring out my tongue and lick them.
As he speaks, a dimple so deep, appears on his face, transforming it into something boyish. Some locks of his jet-black hair fall to his forehead but he doesn't push them away. His smile is-
Someone sighs and I became distracted. It's a long drawn-out sigh borne out of need. "This man. . . he's so. . . hot."
I look at the person who said those words, noting with obvious distaste, it's the head of HR. The woman fans herself and licks her lips. The same woman who's got three kids and has been married for ten years. I shake my head as I glance at the girl beside me.
That one's mouth is slightly open. Everywhere I turn, expressions of awe are pasted on the faces of every female in the canteen as they stare at the television, spellbound. They're ogling him. Openly. I can't take it, shouldn't have to take it. I stand abruptly, my half-eaten sandwich forgotten on the plate.
"Alice, where are you going?" Clarissa calls out to me.
"Mr. Harry needs me, remember." I throw over my shoulder.
She doesn't respond. She doesn't need to. I know she's gone right back to ogling Mr. businessman on the T.V. My feet make quick work as I walk back to my office. I pick up a pad and a pen from the table and make my way to Mr. Harry's office on the second floor. I pause in front of it for a few seconds to still my fast-beating heart before I knock on the door. I hear a come in, so I twist the handle and it opens inwards.
Mr. Harry sits behind his desk but he's not alone. A man is sitting in front of him. I pay him no mind as I stand a short distance away. Mr. Harry pauses in mid-sentence and beams a smile at me. "Ah! Just the person I wanted to see."
"I came as quickly as I could, sir." I force a smile onto my face.
"That's great, Alicia because I need you to take this gentleman back to your office. He wants to send some cargo to Italy and I need you to tell him how much it would cost."
I open my mouth, ready to protest that it's not my job, but the man sitting in front of him turns and the words die on my lips.
"Hello, ma'am . . . we meet again."
It's him.
The one with the tattoos.
The man with the dimple.
The one that has the devil-may-care attitude.
And now, I can put a name to the face. . .
Ash Thunder.
My mouth goes slack as we stare at each other. His eyes are like a vacuum sucking the very air out of me, making it hard for me to breathe, making it hard for me to see. I don't want to be affected by this man but his energy is undeniable. It seems with the snap of his fingers he can make the world jump, stop, or do anything at his bidding.
Frankly speaking, that kind of control. . . it's damn hot.
His eyes rove over my body. It's subtle but I catch their downward shift. I jut my chin, wondering if there are any stains on the blue pantsuit I have on. His eyes flick back up to my face and his lips twist into a smirk.
Arrogant bastard.
I drag my eyes away from his and shift them back to Mr. Harry. "Very well, sir."
I don't tell the man to follow me, I know he'll do so anyway. I turn around and walk out of Mr. Harry's office, anticipation making my heart beat faster. I sense, rather than hear him walking behind me. He's as light as a cat on his feet. It makes my skin prickle. Heaven knows I don't want to be in the same space with him, talk more of room.
Unfortunately for me, I've got to suck it up seeing as I can't help it. Before I'm able to walk any further, he catches up to me and lays a hand on mine.
Goosebumps immediately break out all over my body.
Uh, oh!