Chapter Three - The Impossible Boss

"Only on one condition. You have to join today," ordered Jaxon, even more, amazed at himself for coming up with such impossible conditions. The young woman's confidence and grit impressed him as she handled all the hurdles he placed before her with ease.

"Yes sir," she said again with the same confidence that bowled him over.

"And such hideous clothes won't do from tomorrow. You have to wear proper corporate clothes," he barked, his glance checking her out with displeasure.

She looked down at her favorite skirt, but didn't find anything wrong with it. It was a very good combination, actually. Yet she didn't argue and just sighed.

"Yes, sir, " she said quietly, her face falling at his rudeness. Jaxon softened at seeing her disappointed face. He didn't want to encourage her in any way, but every time he snubbed her, strangely, he felt a tug in his chest. Her expressive green eyes always reflected the hurt that she felt at his harsh words. She was so naïve that she hadn't learned the art of hiding her feelings that he had mastered at a young age. It surprised him that despite the hurdles he threw at her, she didn't argue or protest.

"Good. I'll prepare an agreement for you to sign. In the meantime, I want you to go through my month's schedule and make me a fresh one for the next two weeks," he ordered. Getting up from his couch, he went over to his desk and spoke into the intercom. Then he walked back to the coffee table and picked up the documents that he was studying.

The door opened and Ralph walked inside. His eyes widened with surprise seeing such a young and beautiful creature sitting inside the office and Jaxon knew he was bursting with curiosity.

"Ralph, meet my new PA, Carmella Parker. Ms. Parker, this is Ralph Van Halen, Head of Production, Clothing," he introduced with a poker expression knowing fully well how curious Ralph was to know how he had hired Carmella out of all the male candidates he had interviewed.

Ralph shook hands with Carmella. "Welcome to the JC Group, Carmella," he said with a grin. Jaxon's blood boiled as he held her hand longer than was necessary. He saw the small smile that Carmella flashed at Ralph, which made his grin widen while Jaxon seethed. How could she flirt with Ralph and not with him? He blinked with horror at his line of thought. No, the faster he got rid of her the better. He had to fix himself before he again dealt with Carmella Parker.

"Ralph, give her my schedule for the month. She needs to prepare my revised schedule for the next two weeks. Show her the office next door where she'd be working," he said, taking a deep breath and dismissing them.

"Come this way," said Ralph, and they walked out of his office. After they left, instead of starting his work, Jaxon switched on his camera and monitored what they were up to. He saw them grinning and laughing together, and his blood boiled more. He chided himself for asking Ralph to do the honor instead. He should have shown her to her workstation since she was his. His PA! How dare she flirt with Ralph! He fumed and glared at the two of them, all his work completely forgotten. She was his assistant, not Ralph's. He couldn't get any work done seeing the two of them together. How long could it take to give her the schedule and go back? But Ralph lingered near her for fifteen long minutes, and Jaxon just smashed his fist here and there in his room, pacing more, fuming more.

When he couldn't take it anymore, he opened his door and strode out to her cubicle. "Is it done?" he growled, pinning her with his hawk-like stare. Ralph looked at him incredulously, his eyes twinkling with amusement and curiosity. He was dying to pull his best friend's leg but controlled himself in front of the new recruit.

"I'm working on it, sir," Carmella answered, the smile disappearing from her face as she squirmed in her seat under his scrutiny.

"Ralph, that would be all. Thank you. I'll see you later maybe," he growled and Ralph grinned knowingly,

"I'm going, Jaxon. No need to be an ass," he leaned in to whisper into his ear and then went into the elevator with a chuckle, leaving the two of them alone. Jaxon focussed his attention on Carmella and calmed down a little.

"I need coffee, just now," Jaxon ordered, and left to go back to his office.

"Ye,s sir," said Carmella and got up to go to the pantry opposite her cubicle to make him coffee. She was confused. Should she make black coffee or a cafe latte? She decided to make black coffee since he was always so bitter. A person like him should live in alone and work alone. He was a menace to society.

She knocked on his door and entered his room. "Sir, coffee, " she said, placing the coffee on his table. He didn't look up from the documents that he was reading, so she left to finish her work. The moment she left, Jaxon sipped the coffee. He closed his eyes and savored the strong taste of the perfect cup of black coffee that she had made for him. He could have this at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

A faint smile tugged at his lips as he realized he would be getting this coffee every day instead of Ralph's shitty one. It made him concentrate on his work better and uplifted his mood, too. After an hour, Carmella emailed him his schedule.

Relieved, Jaxon went through it and smiled, since it was actually perfect. He checked his old schedule and saw that she actually had taken the pains to reorganize everything, incorporating all his rescheduled meetings, too. He saw she had covered actually three weeks' schedule, including his meetings with the council and International Fashion Week. He would return to New York after three weeks.

He prepared the papers she needed to sign before joining work. Once he had prepared the agreement, he summoned her and he crossed his fingers that she would agree to all the terms and conditions.

"What were you doing for the past hour? You didn't ask for more work?" He growled, thinking that she was taking a break when there was so much to do. He was furious.

"I was studying the company profile, sir. I was reading about the products that the JC Group manufactures and the reviews about them. I was also taking an update about what all production work is going on and the deadlines too," she said in a soft voice.

His tone softened, and his anger evaporated at her answer. "Sit down and read this agreement and sign," he said, handing her the agreement.

She took it from his hands and sat down on the chair across from his desk to read it while he watched her. Why was it that whenever she was around, his eyes revolted and did what they wanted to, that is, just stare at her? He couldn't look away from her slightly parted lips as they read the agreement. Her long lashes were thick, curled, and gold-tipped and touched her cheeks. Her slightly pink cheeks and her perpetual glow attracted him and he sat there mesmerized by her, unable to concentrate on his work.

"You cannot resign for the next two years, Ms. Parker. Hope you've read that clause," he stated, and Carmella looked up at him with wide eyes.

"Oh," she said and looked back into the agreement. What was she getting into? Was she doing the right thing? Why should she bring coffee and tolerate his rude behavior when she was a fashion designer in the making? He might be experienced, but so would she be when she completed her studies. She was not inferior to him in any way.

"If you don't agree to a two-year contract, then you don't get the job, " he pointed out. Carmella thought about her fate. Should she then manage hotels all her life? No way, she hated it.

"Okay sir," she sighed, picking up her pen and signing the documents. Jaxon released the breath that he was holding. He was glad that she wasn't contemplating leaving him. He needed her. Only professionally of course.

"I will go on a round of all the departments and you will follow me," he spoke, already getting up and buttoning his suit. She nodded and picked up the tablet that Ralph had handed her on behalf of the company to note down everything on the go.

Jaxon stepped into the elevator and she followed him into it, standing pressed against the wall in case he got the wrong idea. Jaxon noticed her nervousness and the way she stuck to the elevator walls and kept her eyes directed at her feet. He felt something stir within his heart. She was such a young, helpless, and delicate creature, so innocent and untouched that he softened towards her.

Carmella couldn't understand why he always had to keep staring at her. She was aware of his hot gaze upon her as she stood in the corner of the elevator. She daren't look up in case he got the wrong idea. They reached the topmost floor, which was the HR department. Everyone gaped at her as she followed Jaxon around. It was the hot topic of their gossip! He introduced her first and then took an update. She noted down whatever was necessary and they went to the next floor, which was the Production Department. Ralph was in his office, holding a meeting with a man and a woman. Jaxon strode into his office, and he looked up, but grinned at Carmella. Carmella smiled back while Jaxon gritted his teeth, feeling the familiar surge of jealousy hit him again.

"Francesca, Glenn, this is my PA, Carmella Parker. Ms. Parker, meet Francesca Scottsdale, our Production Manager, Accessories. This is Glenn Moorehead, Director of Visual Merchandising," he introduced and they both stared at her with their jaws dropped.

"Hello, good to meet you all," Carmella said shyly as they all looked at her minutely. Carmella noted their curious glances directed at her and felt even more conscious of herself.

"Let's go check out the production teams," said Jaxon, leaving Ralph's office to go down the corridor. Carmella followed him but Ralph whispered to her on her way out, "See you at lunchtime."

She nodded and rushed out. Jaxon noticed the interaction like a hawk, but he couldn't say anything in front of everyone. He furiously went on with his inspection, blasting everyone the whole time. Carmella silently followed him and he completely ignored her very existence. Unable to understand what suddenly went wrong, she nervously stayed in the background, following him around.

At last, the inspection was over, and she was glad that she could rest on her tired legs. "Come into my office," Jaxon growled as she was about to go to her cubicle to sit down. Her legs were aching badly, and she needed to rest them awhile.

"Yes sir," she said and followed him into his office. He sat at his desk and turned towards her.

"I warned you, I will not tolerate any flirtatious behavior in my office. Didn't you get my warning?" he yelled at her. His insinuation shocked Carmella and rendered her speechless. When did she flirt?

"I don't think I flirted with..," she started, but he rudely cut her off.

"Then what were you doing with Ralph, dammit?" He yelled.

"I, he," before she could finish, there was a knock on the door and Ralph came inside with a grin on his face, to aggravate Jaxon's frustration.

"Lunchtime Jaxon. I'm whisking away your PA for half an hour. Surely you'll release her to have lunch?" Ralph asked, holding her wrist and leading her away.