CHAPTER 6

Damien's POV

I wait eagerly for the elevator door to ring open before tapping my feet on the smooth, hard floor and leaving with my briefcase.

I make long, eager steps toward my office with the intention of calling Lisa and getting her to do what I say. She is my employee, and this is simply another typical task I may have her do for me at work.

I can't possibly handle all these females coming at me, trying to get me into their beds and break my vows.

I am unable to carry out such action. The lady I need is Lisa. I want her only for a year. She is controlling and subservient.

I enter the workplace, ignoring the welcomes of a staff member who passed me, shaking my head at the idea of attempting once again to obtain a female, perhaps from a church or dating website.

I go up to the office chair with the high back and lean down before touching on the intercom. Before she takes it up, it rings for a bit.

"Come to my office right now!" I impose my will with unyielding power.

I know that taking it out on her the hard way isn't the best course of action after letting the phone go without waiting for her response. I also won't ask her for anything.

Before I tell her my choice, I need to know hers first.

Of all the females I have met so far, she is the finest. I looked through my high school contact list when I came home last night in an effort to find a potential bride for my house.

Nothing.

No one is qualified for the job. All of them are the same.

What if Lisa declines the offer once more? Why even is she turning down the offer?

I am unable to identify a specific reason why she is rejecting without even considering it or attempting.

I'm startled out of my thought process by the knock on the door.

I motion for her to enter the room, shifting in my seat and getting ready to face her.

She walks in wearing an office blue shirt and a straight leather skirt that adhered snugly to her body.

Although I don't usually pay attention to my staff's attire, I am doing so today for my Assistant in order to get what I need from her. I want to know practically everything about her personal life, and I want her to dress well.

I don't think I've ever seen her dressed like this, but I think it's because I haven't been paying attention to how she dresses up until now.

She has her hair up in a bun and is also sporting a pair of leather boots, which makes me ponder what it would be like to see her hair loose.

She clasps her hands behind her back and bows kindly, "Good morning, Mr. Russell".

I respond, "Good morning, Lisa." "Sit."

She nods without making eye contact with me and then sits down in the chair across from my desk.

Have you given yesterday's proposal any thought? I enquire while carefully observing her and anticipating her thoughtful and encouraging answer.

She excels in her position. Why can't I have her if I have her by the arm's length?

There is a pause.

She shakes her head while still looking at her and waits for a response from her or simply from her face. Saying "I'm sorry, sir..."

"Why?" In an attempt to cut her off, trying to stay calm and not get upset at her.

I already understand what she is sorry for, but I still want to know the real reason she was rejected.

She goes back to being silent and doesn't speak or move.

The question "Do you have a boyfriend?" I ask, slightly raising my voice.

"What?" She quickly looks up. Obviously not.

After receiving the response, I feel relieved, but then I have a thought. How is it possible for a lady of her age to be single?

"So why are you turning down my offer? Why won't you do this task for me? The second rejection in two days, coming from none other than my own employees, whom I can direct as I want it, makes me murmur slowly as my stomach sinks.

But everything has a limit, right?

Talking things out appears to be the best course of action and the greatest method to win her over since I don't want to further alienate her with my harsh actions.

She eventually lifts her eyes to me, shaking her head, "Because this isn't what I imagined for myself." It is quite different from the life I had in mind. It is not at all what I had in mind.

I pretend to comprehend as I nod. If I may ask, what do you anticipate or have you imagined for your life?

She seems shocked that I am requesting information about her intentions. But in all honesty, I don't care about that; all I care about is how it is keeping her from taking advantage of my offer.

Isn't it a simple task?

I interpret the eerie silence that follows as a response.

I pick up my briefcase, which I had previously left on the floor before she came in, and I pull out the prepared contract I had written the night before I went to sleep.

I had written the one-year marriage contract and had her sign it this morning because I was so sure that my new plan would succeed, but now that she has rejected me once again without knowing what I have in store for her, my confidence has completely evaporated.

But I'm going to disregard it and carry out the strategy.

I present the contract to her after taking it out of the drawer. She furrows her brow in my direction.

I set my elbow on the desk, drop the briefcase, and address her. "I'm going to give you an extra $50,000 on top of the money I already promised, for a total of $100,000."

She takes a moment to absorb the sentence in her thoughts as her expression shifts from surprise to uncertainty to comprehension, and then she quietly gasps while covering her mouth with her hands and widening her eyes.

I add in a threatening manner, as if it would be sufficient to persuade Lisa to comply with my orders, "I know you need this money so I will advise you to take it now while it still last because I'm afraid I will find someone else to do this job tonight if you don't accept it."

I'm at a loss as to how to proceed, so I'll just add extra money to the original agreement and have her sign it right now since I don't have anybody accessible to discuss my offer with.

My heart starts to pound terribly in my chest in despair as she continues to shake her head, much to my greatest astonishment.

My mind makes a connection and I start to wonder. I asked if you were one of the women who refused the offer after learning there wouldn't be any sex, "Are you also one of those girls?"

"What? No. I'm not bothered. Her face first displays shock before becoming red.

Are you certain? I try not to giggle at her response while I maintain a straight face.

She answers with a "Yes, sir".

"Are you still a virgin?" I demand firmly, expecting an indignant response or a shocked scream, but surprisingly, she nods in accord.

What? Is she a virgin?

You say, "You want the money, don't you?"

She nods gently, perhaps to block out the voice in her head telling her not to accept my offer, and she squeezes her eyes tight.

"Good. Sign the agreement. I hurriedly thrust the contract in her hands, eager for her to sign it so we could finish the transaction.

She hesitates.

I comment loudly while leaning back in my chair with a carefree attitude. "Sign the contract and receive half of the payment right away!"

Her eyes widen as she sighs in frustration, grabs the pen that is conveniently on my desk, and hastily snatches the contract as if it would disappear into thin air if she doesn't do so.

She nods at me with imploring eyes and says, "I will sign it, sir." I'll sign it," she says again.

Next, sign it. I yell at her to take action and save me the burden of continuing my quest.

I smirk internally with pride at a job well done as she glances over each page without thoroughly reading it and sets her pen down on the signature spots.