Tamed by the Billionaire (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Series) (3 page)

“It’s what has to be done.  I can’t prepare you for the world by pampering you.  You’re a woman now, Serena, not a child.  From now on I will treat you as such.” 

For a long while Serena could only stare back at him, her dismay burgeoning till she felt she would burst into tears right in front of her father.  That had worked for her in the past but somehow she knew it would not work for her now.  With a sob of frustration Serena spun on her heels and stalked back to the door.  When she got there she turned and glared at Richard.

“I'll do what you say because I have no choice but I will never forgive you for this.”  With that she marched out, slamming the door behind her.

******

Serena rode hard as she hit the open field.  Her eyes were narrow slits and she was breathing hard as she leaned forward in the saddle but it was not because she was exerting herself.  It was because she was seething.  She could not believe her father was making her cancel her long awaited trip.  He'd even threatened to cut off her allowance.  In all her life she could not remember her father ever speaking to her in that way.  And he'd said it was because he loved her.  And he was showing his love by making her work for one of his old fogey business partners?

Well, she was going to make him change his mind.  And she knew one way that she could do it.  She would get an ally.

Within minutes she was trotting the horse up the dirt track to the back of her grandmother’s house.  She was lucky to have a grandparent who lived just a few miles away, someone who always had time for her and who listened to what she had to say.  If Serena was upset about anything at all she knew that Grandma Sylvie would be there for her.  This was one of those times.

Although it was not yet eight o’clock when Serena knocked on the kitchen door the smell of eggs and hot chocolate already wafted through the air.  Within seconds the door flew open and Grandma Sylvie stood there smiling, her gray hair in rollers.

“What took you so long?”  She took Serena’s hand and pulled her into the kitchen.

“How did you know I was coming?”  Serena stepped into the kitchen then gave the petite woman a quick hug.  “Are you psychic or something?”

“No.”  Sylvie’s eyes twinkled.  “Your dad called.  He knew you were going to head right here after the little talk you both had.”

“He told you about that, did he?”  Serena pulled out a chair and sat around the kitchen table while Sylvie bustled about doing what she loved best.

Sylvie loved cooking, especially for people who had problems.  She'd often told Serena that it was her way of helping.  If you came to her with your woes the least she could do was make your stomach happy.  Right now she was making a cheese omelet just the way Serena liked it - with lots of onions and green papers wrapped in the middle.  She quickly slid the omelet onto a plate and laid it on the table.  She poured two glasses of orange juice then pulled out a chair and made herself comfortable beside her granddaughter.

“So.  Tell me all about it."  Sylvie put her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her palm.  Her green eyes sparkled with interest.  "Richard gave me his version but I know you're ready to share yours.”

“He practically threw me out of the house, Grandma.”  Serena was pouting but she didn't care.  She was so angry.  “He told me I had to get a job.  Can you believe it?”            Sylvie chuckled as she popped a piece of egg into her mouth.  “Sure I can believe it.  You just finished college so the next step would be to use those skills in the working world.  Or did I get things wrong?"

“You’re forgetting something.  I was supposed to be in Europe a couple of weeks from now.”  Serena folded her arms across her chest and frowned.  "That was supposed to be one of my graduation presents.  You know that.  Now I’m going to have to stay here and work for some old geezer."  She shook her head.  "I don’t understand why he would do this to me.”

“You’ll understand in a while,” Sylvie said as she reached over and patted Serena’s arm.  “Now eat something before you wither away.  You’re so skinny already.”

“Oh, Grandma.”  Serena got up and began to pace the floor.  “You just don’t understand.  Daddy is trying to sabotage all my plans and I don’t get it.  Why does he hate me?”

Sylvie burst out laughing.  “You are such a drama queen.  You know your father doesn’t hate you.  He loves you.  Don’t you see that’s why he’s doing this?”

Serena scowled.  “This has nothing to do with loving me.  If he did he would let me go away like I planned.  My best friends are going.”

“Serena.”  Sylvie’s voice became serious.  “Sit down and let me talk to you.”

Serena knew when to obey.  She went back to her chair and waited for the lecture she knew was coming.

“And stop fiddling with your fork.”  Sylvie slapped her hand and Serena pulled it back.  “Now, young lady, it’s time to wake up and smell the coffee.”  Sylvie gave her a stern look.  “Your father…and I…have spoiled you rotten.  You’re a sweet girl and no one can deny that.  But what is also true is that your dad has always given you everything you wanted, and so have I.  I agree with Richard.  You’re a woman now.  We can’t keep treating you like a child.”  She reached over to take Serena’s hands in hers. “You have a lot to learn about life, Serena.  And remember, you are Richard’s only heir.  All your father is trying to do is to get you ready for life.  You must understand that.”

Sylvie put her hand under Serena’s chin and lifted it so that their eyes met.  “Do you promise me that you'll do what your father asks?  Will you do this for me?”

Serena tried to look away but her grandmother’s stare was so intense that she felt transfixed.  When Sylvie dropped her hand Serena heaved a sigh of resignation then nodded slowly.  “Alright, I'll do it.”  Then she set her mouth in a mutinous pout.  “But if the old geezer I'm going to work for thinks I'm going to be his new gopher, he'd better think again.  And he'd better be nice to me or else he'll wish he'd never met Serena Van Buren."

CHAPTER THREE

As Serena drove along Bay Street she was lost in thought.  She was on her way to Steele Industries for her first day at work and she was not looking forward to it.  In fact, she was busy thinking of ways to derail her father’s plans to make her a 'working woman'.  Yes, she'd promised her grandmother she'd give it a try but she hadn't promised she'd be a model employee.  Maybe she could get herself fired on day one.  She bit her lip, giving it some thought.  Was that a good idea, though?  Effective today she would no longer receive a monthly allowance and would need to earn her own money.  And she'd have to survive that way for the next six months.  She shuddered at the thought.  She had never felt so trapped in her life.

She found the place easily enough and pulled off the road and into the parking lot where she slid into the last empty spot.  The sign said reserved but right then she didn't have time to be choosy.  She reached over for her Hermes handbag then slid out of the SUV, the slim skirt of her Chanel suit making it impossible for her to hop down.  She put on her sunglasses then slammed the door and walked briskly toward the main entrance, her stilettos tapping loudly on the pavement.

Serena entered the lobby and for a moment was taken aback by the magnificence of the main entrance.  The lobby was huge with a high cathedral ceiling from which a massive chandelier hung.  The black marble tiles on the floor glistened and as she looked down she saw herself reflected in their sheen.  The walls were covered in the same dark marble but those were accentuated with gold trim.  The company logo on the wall and the handles of all the doors were in gold.  She had to admit the building was impressive.

She approached the massive receptionist desk and, putting on her most formal tone, she said to the woman sitting there, “Serena Van Buren, here to see Mr. Roman Steele.”

“Good morning.”  The woman acknowledged her with a nod.  “Do you have an appointment with Mr. Steele?”

“Uhh, yes,” Serena said quickly, too embarrassed to tell the woman that she was reporting for her first day at work.  “He’s expecting me."

“I’ll have someone take you up.”  She directed Serena to have a seat in one of the soft black leather chairs along the side of the wall. 

She’d been sitting there for less than a minute when a statuesque woman with raven-black hair exited the elevator and approached her.  She was impeccably dressed in a wine-colored suit and matching pumps.  She had the body and gait of a model. 

“Ms. Van Buren?”  The woman’s voice was husky, almost as deep as a man’s.  Serena tried to hide her surprise behind a bright smile.  She stood up and took the woman’s outstretched hand.

“Yes, I’m Serena Van Buren.”

“Welcome,” the woman said then released her hand. “My name is Theresa Lederman.  I’m Mr. Steele’s personal assistant.”  Then her brows knitted.  “Did you have a problem getting here?  We were expecting you some fifteen minutes ago.”  The disapproval was evident in her tone. 

Serena immediately bristled and straightened to her full height, not that it made much difference since Theresa Lederman had a good four or five inches on her.  She gave the woman a frosty look.  “I’m not used to driving on Bay Street at this time of morning.  I had no idea the traffic was so heavy.”  Then she frowned, angry at herself for even responding.  She’d never had to explain herself to anyone before.  And who did this woman think she was to ask her about being late?  She was nothing but a glorified secretary, after all.

The woman looked down at her and nodded.  “Well, this is your first day so I can understand.  But you will have to head out earlier tomorrow.  Mr. Steele postponed a meeting specifically in order to meet you this morning and he’s already lost fifteen minutes.”  She beckoned Serena toward the elevator.  “Unfortunately, he’d wanted to spend at least an half an hour with you to get you started but now he’ll only have a few minutes.”

“I’m…sorry,” Serena said grudgingly, suddenly feeling guilty for her previous display.  She was going to have to check her attitude.  She gave an inaudible sigh.  Being an employee was not going to be easy.

At the tenth floor Theresa punched in a code and the glass doors automatically slid open.  They entered another beautiful lobby, a smaller, more intimate version of the one below.  She strode down a hallway then stopped in front of a door and knocked.  Serena heard nothing but apparently the woman did because she pushed it open then stepped aside to allow her to enter.  “Ms. Van Buren,” was all she said by way of presentation then as Serena stepped into the room she pulled the door shut behind her.

Stepping hesitantly into the middle of the room Serena looked around at the expansive office, impressed with the elegance of its décor and the wide bay window with its impressive view of the city.   A quick survey revealed that the long anticipated Roman Steele, the man who would hereafter control eight hours out of each of her weekdays, was nowhere to be seen. 

Okay, now what?  Stand here like an idiot or plop self into one of the chairs and wait?  Where the heck was he, anyway?

As if in answer she heard the rustle of paper then a deep voice behind her.  “Welcome, Miss Van Buren.” 

Serena jumped.  She turned toward the voice then stared in wide-eyed surprise at the startlingly handsome man who filled her vision. Tall and broad-shouldered, he towered over her five foot three inch frame in an immaculate suit the color of midnight.  Ink-black hair framed a tanned, rugged face that spoke of strength, power and pride.  Eyes the color of black diamonds bored into her, making her flush under his intense scrutiny.  When his firm lips curled in what could only be amusement, she dropped her gaze and her eyes sought refuge in the rich crimson of his tie.

She’d been staring like a doe caught in headlights but she couldn’t help it.  Roman Steele was so shockingly different from the middle-aged balding man she’d expected.  Who could have known he’d look like he belonged on the cover of GQ?  And why in heaven’s name was her heart racing like she’d just done a hundred-meter sprint?

Serena took a quick breath, trying desperately to steady her pulse.  She lifted her face again.  “Where did you come from?” she asked, then cursed herself for sounding so breathless.

He cocked an eyebrow then giving her a crooked smile he waved his hand in the direction of a door which stood slightly ajar.  “I was pulling a file from the vault.”  He seemed amused at having taken her by surprise.  “Please.  Have a seat.”  He waved her to a chair then went and sat behind his massive desk of deep mahogany.  “I’m glad you could finally join us.” 

Serena felt her face redden at his sardonic tone.  “I got caught in traffic,” she began then bit her lip, realizing how easily the man had intimidated her. 

She’d had a plan to come into this office and, through either intimidation or charm, get herself out of this predicament.  She’d planned to get her new employer on her side, get him to talk to her father, reason with him about how unnecessary the internship was.  She could see that intimidation was not going to work here.  This man was too bold, too sure of himself...and too darned handsome.  Risky as it might be she would just have to try charm instead.