Everything He Wants: Claimed by The Billionaire (3 page)

"I do. I think that everyone has one. Hopefully we are all blessed to find that
one
in our lifetime."
Their eyes locked. The level of passion rivaled the lightning that had flashed mere moments before.
Perhaps it was time to take things to the next level, lay all his cards on the table. Roderick was about to reveal his feelings when Laila foiled his plans, quietly whispering,
" I guess I should head back to bed.  "Goodnight."

She felt off kilter, but it was from more than the thunder and lightning consuming the sky outside.
 

"Goodnight," Roderick
finally returned silkily. 
 

There was no way
that he could  get any sleep now, so Roderick headed to his study, tried to temporarily banish thoughts of Laila from his mind. Though he knew it would prove to be an impossible task. He thought about her, fantasized about her every day and she invaded his dreams by night, regularly. He had never even thought of entertaining a romance with an employee. It made for bad policy. But what he was feeling for Laila was too intense, too real to ignore. Roderick detested waiting when he wanted something. And Laila McKay was what he wanted.

    
Two
weeks later, Roderick was finishing his review of  the third quarter financial analysis. He typed a few sentences then saved the information to the excel spreadsheet. Glancing at his watch, he noted that Laila was due to meet him in five minutes. He grabbed the bow tie of his tuxedo and closed the laptop, planning to resume his review when they returned from the gala. Had the event been purely social, he would have begged off and continued working but he had given his word that he would be in attendance at the fundraiser. As his father Jean-Luc had often repeated, a man's word is his bond.

Roderick had requested that Laila accompany him to the black tie affair that evening, since she
had mentioned on a previous discussion that she supported the work of the well esteemed foundation, herself. He had ordered several dresses be delivered from an upscale boutique, for the object of his affection, to select from. After her initial surprise, Laila had agreed and he was anxious to see which she had chosen. As he headed to the foyer, Laila was descending the curved stairs. She was fitted in a champagne colored floor length gown, strapless, with long ringlets of hair cascading down her back. Her only jewelry was the pair of pear shaped diamond earrings that were delivered that afternoon, from a jeweler that catered to the wealthiest clientele on the west coast.

    
"You look stunning." It had been his favorite of the gowns sent over from the boutique. Apparently, she had been taken with the exquisite dress as well.

    
"Thank you. And you look quite handsome, though your tie needs some help."

     
Laila reached up and adjusted his tie, the brief contact elevating the raw current running between them.

     
"Merci."

    
"Shall we go?" Roderick escorted Laila to his sports car and settled her in the passenger seat before climbing into the driver's side.

    
Roderick drove his prized cobalt Bugatti as they began the trek to the private function, being held in Beverly Hills, thirty minutes away. As they traveled the highway, they chatted, the unspoken attraction causing them both to become more garrulous as they focused on everything but their obvious yearning for each other. For Roderick it was torturous, being so close to her, longing to hold her, touch her, kiss her. But not right then, with her perfume, her closeness, the way she looked, having fully aroused him. If she so much as lightly brushed his arm at that moment, he'd likely run off the road. So he let her do most of the talking for the remainder of the ride, lost in his ardent thoughts, trying to settle his pervasive desires.

    
Thanks to his lead foot, they soon arrived at their destination and the valet was parking the luxury car. Roderick and Sarah entered the grand ballroom and almost immediately they were greeted by his assistant, Summer Emerson, who was dressed in chartreuse colored sheath and matching stilettos, her chestnut hair in loose curls that framed her heart shaped face. She gave Roderick a warm hug then greeted Laila with a tepid,

"Oh, H
ello."

    
Her smile didn't quite reach her hazel eyes. Laila knew that Summer wasn’t sure what to make of her. Was it disapproval, jealousy or mere protectiveness reflected in her eyes? Summer had worked for Roderick for the past seven years and was loyal, efficient and fiercely protective of her boss. Summer reminded Roderick that he was to give a brief introduction of the chairman of the board of directors, after the cocktail hour. The fundraiser typically netted several million dollars and the nonprofit’s board hoped that year’s event would be no exception.

   
They spied the mayor, a few city council members and  various members of Southern California elite. As they mingled, Roderick introduced Laila to some of his friends as well as business associates. His arm remained wrapped securely around her waist and Laila couldn't help but wonder
what would it feel like to truly be his woman
? As an unknown woman dressed in an emerald gown suddenly grabbed Roderick and embraced him, Laila felt pangs of jealousy singeing through her body.
But he was her boss. She had no right to feel this way!
.

    
She soon learned that the affectionate woman was the wife of the Vice President of Channing Enterprises, Benjamin Whitcomb, who appeared at the attractive redhead's side moments later. Laila needed a breather.

    
"Roderick, please excuse me.”

    
She hastily retreated to the ladies room to gather her runaway thoughts.

    
In the large lighted mirror, she blotted her foundation and reapplied her lipstick. Though her heart was still pounding, she was determined not to appear affected by her boss. Why did he have to be so handsome, sexy and all around perfect, but off limits to her?

   
Exiting the modern and expensively designed ladies room, she heard two men ahead of her, talking animatedly.

    
"That Channing. You heard about the deal he just made. Now the word is, he's got his eye on the Simstone Corporation."

    
"Well then, I feel sorry for them. Once he sets his sights on something, it’s over. Finito"

      "Yes
, he's certainly one ruthless bast...”

"Gentlemen, can I interest you in an Hors d'oeuvre?" a server
with silver tray in hand, interrupted.

    
Was Roderick truly
ruthless
as the men stated? When it came to family and friends, his concern and loyalty was unquestionable. Laila reasoned that a man as successful as he was, could expect to have a few detractors, even enemies. Laila shuddered at the thought of being his
enemy
. She couldn't imagine it. Not with the state of her rising feelings for Roderick. No, thinking of him made her feel things she had never felt before, made her want to do things she had never done.

   
Laila continued down the richly carpeted hallway to the main ballroom, rejoining Roderick.

    "Are you al
right?" Roderick saw that Laila's face was flushed.

   
"I'm fine," Laila retorted, intent on appearing unaffected.

     Recognizing
that dinner was due to be served, she quickly suggested,"Let's eat. I'm famished." She hoped that the meal would provide a welcome reprieve from his questions as well as her capricious emotions.

                                                 ***

     After dinner the band began to play. The soft notes of a love song had barely began when Roderick asked,

   
"Join me for a dance?"

   
Laila had never even considered that accompanying her boss would include such intimate contact. But she did what her heart commanded and simply said, "Yes."

   
As Roderick held her close, she could feel his heart beating. It sounded like a thousand wild horses galloping. She felt the exact same way. His strong arms encircled her and her head rested just below his firm jaw. She inched even closer and closed her eyes
.
   
 
It felt so good, so  right being in his arms. Laila had to stifle a moan.  He smelled of cologne that was as a delicious elixir, handmade solely for him: Potent. Virile.  Handsome confident, powerful. It just made him all the more attractive, irresistible. Yet Beyond that, there was a connection that had been forged between them, that was real. She felt like when they were together she never wanted that moment to end. And when he left, her mind was enthralled with when they would meet again. Butterflies, the quickening pulse,wayward thoughts. In a short time,  he had managed a devastating effect upon her emotions.
But how did he feel about her
?  Laila sensed the mutual attraction but was it more than that? Did he care for as she had begun to care for him. Did it even matter? Laila
had to keep her emotions under control
. Dating the boss was off limits. Or she had to find a new assignment.  She would rather not find new employ. It wouldn't look good to abandon assignment. Moreso, Laila had grown rather fond of Sarah, and Sarah in return. But these feelings for Roderick were dangerous, how long could she keep them stifled, unfulfilled? Tonight she wasn't the nurse Laila McKay. The daughter. Or the sister. She was Laila McKay, the
woman falling head over heels, against her better judgement, for Roderick Channing.

  
  Laila
had been working at the Channing estate for nearly six months. She had quickly taken to Sarah Channing and truly enjoyed interacting with Roderick's delightful mother. But then Mrs. Channing's health began to take a turn for the worse. She was unable to walk more than a short distance and became increasingly confined to her bed. But Sarah insisted that she maintain her most cherished activities, such as her annual tea that benefitted local arts programs.

   
Laila had assured Roderick that it might do his mother good, that he could hire a planner to organize the event, alleviating any potential stress to Sarah.

   
“Even in her state, she still needs to be active, involved, in her own way,” she suggested.

    
Roderick's eyes had angrily flashed, his response adamant. “I know my mother rather well and what's best for her."

    
Laila sighed. "Well then you know how important this fundraiser is to her," she argued.

   
"Sometimes, my mother pushes herself too far. Last year, she was clearly overwhelmed and her health was far better. No, I won't have her taxing herself. And that's the final word."

    
"Well you are the boss," Laila proclaimed, with more than a hint of attitude, not caring that he noticed.

    
She exited hastily, not bothering to close the door. Normally Roderick would have fired an employee for being so impetuous. But not in this case. He actually admired Laila and her willingness to stand up for what she believed in, even to him.

    
He smiled for a moment then grew serious again, as he continued to reflect. He supposed that if his mother had an organizer and per Laila's suggestion, if she was on hand, with his mother's physician on call, it would probably be fine. It would make his mother happy, undoubtedly. Now, more than ever, that mattered to him.

    
He sighed. Roderick wasn't a man that often apologized. But he could admit, at least to himself, that he may have been wrong. And it touched him immensely that Laila truly cared for his mother, too.

                                                                                                                     
***

Sarah was
receiving a light massage followed by hair styling ,in the salon located on the second floor.
 

Laila planned to grab a
 sandwich then join Sarah in the salon. She quickly greeted the chef and despite his protests that lunch was about to be served, declined, instead gathering  condiments, meat, cheese and whole grain bread for a light meal.
"Laila."
She turned to see her boss, glass of white wine in hand, a few feet away.
"Care to join me for lunch?"
"I was going to just grab a quick bite. Your mother is in the salon."
" Then I'm sure that she's fine. Come."
His tone was firm, insistent.
"Sure."
 

Though the lunch that Chef Alain
had prepared looked wonderful, Laila could barely eat. Roderick was wearing  a  slate colored shirt and slacks that provided a mesmerizing contrast to his green eyes.

"Are you headed to office," Laila inquired, seeing that it was Saturday and he usually played polo Saturday afternoons but instead was clad in business attire.