Chapter Five - His Peculiar Mood Swings

Patricia led her to her floor where rows of finished designer apparel were arranged beautifully ready to be shipped all over the world.

"Mandy, look who we have here?" She said excitedly and another woman, a few years younger than Patricia, came out and grinned at seeing her. They looked quite friendly and Carmella smiled at their infectious mood, wondering why they were so excited to see her.

"Carmella, right? God, you're so young and beautiful. I can imagine why you're here right now," she giggled. "I'm Mandy Jones and I assist Patricia here."

Carmella blushed at her implications."Hi, I'm here to dress appropriately for the conference," she said, to drive away all unnecessary doubts out of their minds.

Patricia grinned knowingly at Mandy, as if not believing a word she spoke. "That is a designer pantsuit that you're wearing, aren't you?" She asked Carmella, taking in her dress with interest. She was clueless why she would need to change such an expensive outfit!

"Yes, but sir thinks it isn't good enough," said Carmella with a sigh.

"Oh, we have just the thing for you, dear. Let's dress her up so that JC forgets to bark and growl at us," said Mandy, while Patricia giggled.

"And then hope he faints seeing her," said Patricia, while Carmella's cheeks colored at their conversation. It seemed they had no filter to their mouths.

"Please, it's not what you think at all. Maybe this dress isn't up to the mark for the event. Can we hurry, please? I'm getting late," protested Carmella. These two were really so impossible, giggling like teenage girls.

"Right, hang on, I'll get you the perfect dress," said Patricia, walking away with Mandy while Carmella waited patiently for them. They came back with a deep wine skirt suit with a pin-tucked white top, and Carmella quickly changed into it. The suit molded well with her body, accentuating her curves. They gave her matching pumps, as she didn't want the pencil heels. They tied her hair in a French twist and they applied some foundation and matching lip gloss.

"Wow, girl! You look drop-dead gorgeous," said Patricia, admiring her handiwork.

"Thanks," said Carmella, checking the time.

Mandy grinned as she eyed Patricia, communicating in some sign language. "Someone will have a hard time controlling himself, " she said with a wink.

"I'm sure he has seen better!" said Carmella, but couldn't hide the blush that crept up her neck. Although she wanted to, she didn't have the time to look at herself in the mirror. She rushed to her office to pick up the stuff and headed to the conference room, ready to face a fresh round of insults.

However, Jaxon wasn't there in the conference room and she checked the setup and coordinated with Gilbert Prescott, the third partner who handled Marketing, PR, Admin, and more. "I'm so glad to meet you, Carmella, " he said with a smile. He was a close friend of Jaxon from his college days, and after hearing Ralph's detailed narration, had wanted to meet the new young PA, whom Jaxon had recently appointed. Knowing Jaxon, he had never expected his friend to change his rules for any woman, that too a college student, years younger than him!

"Likewise, " smiled Carmella, liking Gilbert's friendly and approachable nature. They discussed the topics to be discussed at the conference, and topics to be avoided. She was young and new to such a scenario, so he taught her how to conduct herself in front of the media. Carmella absorbed the much-needed advice, glad that she had met Gilbert. Finally, it was time. The media would arrive in ten minutes and a furious Jaxon strode into the conference room.

"Is everything ready, Giles?" he growled at Gilbert, who didn't at all look perturbed while Carmella flinched at hearing his booming voice.

"Easy, bro. What's got into you now?" Gilbert said, but Jaxon wasn't listening. His eyes darted towards Carmella, fixing the projector with fierce concentration, and he relaxed a little. So she was here while he waited for her in his office. His face softened as he watched her look so gorgeous in the outfit that he had designed. It seemed as if he had designed this dress for her specifically. He saw her long creamy, smooth legs exposed from the skirt and released a deep sigh. He hated it when she covered them in hideous pantsuits when she looked so much better in skirts. His eyes went to her hair and he frowned again. Why did she have to tie her hair? He sighed. He liked it open and cascading down her shoulders like a waterfall.

"I can see what's got into you, dude," whispered Gilbert into his ear, bringing him back to his senses. He had been so absorbed in her he had forgotten Giles's presence in the room. His cheeks colored slightly, and he looked at Gilbert's grinning face with dread. The shrewd guy had witnessed everything! Gilbert wiggled his eyebrows at him, and Jaxon's mouth lifted slightly at the corners as he tried to suppress a smile.

Jaxon looked back at Carmella and saw that she was still struggling. Gilbert excused himself to go get some coffee before the meeting started, taking pity on his friend. Jaxon took the opportunity and went up to Carmella. Startled, she looked up at him, standing so close to her. When did he come in? Was he mad at her for not being able to get the equipment ready for the conference? She licked her lips nervously, and her eyes widened with apprehension.

"S-sir, I was just trying to fix this. It came off, actually. I did nothing. I swear," she said with wide eyes, and he just stared at her innocent face. Nothing else registered in his head other than her soft dewy lips and beautiful doe-shaped eyed. He didn't like the lip gloss that she had applied. If he could, he would have licked it off her lips. He pulled out a tissue from a box on the desk and handed it to her.

She took it from his hand, her eye widening all the more. His thumb brushed with her palm and she felt an electric tingle shoot through her. She stared at the tissue, not knowing what to do with it. "Wipe your lip gloss off," he whispered, walking away to talk to the technical staff about the projector.

Carmella looked at his muscular back encased in the expensive suit as he left her alone for a minute. What was that? Where did her lip gloss come into the picture when they were discussing the damn projector? What problems could he have with her lip gloss? Nevertheless, she wiped off the lip gloss and threw away the tissue. Then she rushed back to her cubicle to get her tablet and files that Gilbert had asked her to be ready with.

On returning, she saw that the projector was fixed, and Gilbert and Jaxon were busy discussing something important.

"Where were you?" growled Jaxon, pinning her with a displeased look.

"I went back to get these, sir," she said breathlessly, showing him the stuff in her hands. Jaxon's face softened, and he gestured toward the seat beside him.

"Sit down here and get ready for the presentation," he told her, and she nodded meekly. Gilbert watched them with a knowing grin on his face. Carmella sat beside Jaxon and unlocked her tablet. The door opened and three reporters walked in, along with their cameramen.

"No taking any photographs of Mr. Craddock without his permission. JC Group will sue your channel if you do so," informed Gilbert sternly, and they agreed.

During the whole meeting, they discussed Jaxon's Spring Collection, which was a hit in the world of couture. Carmella noted down the minutes of the meeting. The whole meeting went on for thirty minutes and finally, it was over. The media wanted to take an interview with her too, but she politely avoided them just as Gilbert had taught her to.

The reporters went away and Jaxon and Gilbert sipped water, relieved that all went well. She carried her things and went to her cubicle while Jaxon and Gilbert chatted about their personal lives. Carmella knew she was just a PA and should keep her distance from the big bosses, however friendly they might be. It would do her good if she kept everything professional here at work. She edited the minutes of the meeting and emailed them to Jaxon.

Untying her hair from the tight French twist, she massaged her scalp, closing her eyes. "Leave it that way," Jaxon's voice startled her, and she opened her eyes in panic and embarrassment. Did she hear correctly? How did she not hear him come in? She should have been more alert. Hurriedly, she tied her hair in a ponytail and sat upright, going back into professional mode.

"I've sent you the minutes of the meeting, sir," she said.

"I know. Efficient work today, Carmella, " he said, with a faint smile tugging at his lips. She gaped at him with her mouth hanging open as he walked into his office. Did he smile at her? Did he call her Carmella? It sounded like music to her ears. Did he ask her to leave her hair untied?

Her mind was in turmoil. She couldn't believe that he had actually praised her for her work. He had also asked her to wipe off her lip gloss earlier. What could she deduce from it all?

Nothing. He's just PMSing, maybe. Otherwise, how could you explain such weird mood swings? Giggling to herself, she checked her mail and saw that he had already sent her another load of work to last her till lunchtime.

Finally, near lunchtime, she completed her work and sent it to Jaxon. She was now free to eat. She was actually ravenous by now. Ralph strode out of the elevator and stood in front of her cubicle, with his jaws dropped to the floor.

"How did you turn into such a hot, sexy creature overnight?" he asked, widening his eyes at her.

She giggled, "Patricia and Mandy's magic hands," she said, swirling around for him.

"Amazing, may I have the honor of eating lunch with you, milady?" he asked with a bow.

Carmella giggled more, "Sure, milord," she answered and Ralph laughed. The door of Jaxon's room flew open, and he stood there with a dark scowl on his face.

"What's going on here?" he growled at them.

"I was just whisking your PA away for lunch, " said Ralph with a wink as he pulled a scared Carmella away into the elevator before Jaxon could show more displeasure.

"Ralph, we shouldn't have lunch together every day. Sir doesn't approve of it," she said, hesitantly.

"I don't care. I want you to escape his torture for at least half an hour," he said with a shrug. Carmella sighed. It was useless making him see her point.

They ordered pizza and fries and shared the food. Others joined them too, and she enjoyed the light chit-chat and the filling lunch. Afterward, it was time to face the music.

She went back to her cubicle, but jumped up from her seat, scared when she suddenly heard a loud crash like some glass shattering. The sound came from Jaxon's office. She got up and opened his door, scared of what she would find inside.

Her mouth hung open at the sight. There were glass pieces shattered everywhere. He might have shattered the glass vases inside the office. His left hand was bleeding, and he just sat looking outside the bay windows at some distant bird flying.

"S-Sir, Oh my God, " she gasped, and he slowly turned around to face her. She saw a fleeting emotion, a pain in his eyes before he again shut himself out, with a blank, angry, poker face.

"Get out of my room," he yelled turning away from her, scaring the hell out of her.