Chapter 107: Awkward Business Transaction

I took a sip of water to moisten my dry mouth and cleared my throat before returning my gaze to his sharp gaze. 'So, may I ask why?'

'You can.' He removed his leg, leaning forward to place his bottle on the table, resting his arms on his knees, but said nothing more. Wasn't he going to elaborate on that?

'Okay,' I tried to maintain eye contact. 'Why?'

'I've heard good things about you.'

I felt my face heat up. 'Thank you. So, why am I here?'

'Well, to design.' He laughs, and I feel stupid but also a little irritated. Is he laughing at me?

'Design what exactly?' I asked. 'From what I've seen, everything is pretty perfect.' He certainly didn't want to modernize this beautiful place. It may not be my forte, but I know class when I see it.

'Thank you,' he said softly. 'Do you have your portfolio with you?'

"Of course," I answered as I reached for my bag. Why he wants to look at it is beyond me. It won't show anything like this place.

I put it on the table in front of him and expected him to drag it to his side, but to my horror, he stood in one steady motion and walked over to me, dropping his beautiful body on the sofa next to me. . Oh Jesus. He smells good - all fresh water and minty. I held my breath.

Leaning over, he opened the folder. 'You're very young to be such an accomplished designer.' he muses, slowly opening the pages of my portfolio.

He's right, I am. Just thanks to Herman for giving me free rein to expand his business.

In four years, I dropped out of college, took a job at an established design firm - which had financial stability but lacked freshness in modern ideas - and made a name for myself behind it. I was lucky, and I appreciate Herman's faith in my abilities. That, along with my contract with The Modern Property, is the only reason I am where I am at the age of twenty-one.

I was self-supporting myself when my Billionaire father, Marco Fernando Senior went to Shanghai, China. And, my lone brother, Marco Fernando Junior did not guide me, while his life was in turmoil during high school. I want to become an actress, but I want to live by my own life independently. Coming back to my senses, I looked down at his beautiful hand, her wrist adorned with a beautiful gold and graphite Rolex. 'How old are you?' I blurted. Oh, good God. My brain felt like a fried egg, and I knew I had just blushed a sharp shade of red. I should just keep my mouth shut. Where is that from?

He glared at me, his green eyes staring into mine. 'Twenty one.' he replied with a poker face.

I was slightly mocking, and he raised his eyebrows as if asking. 'Sorry.' I whispered, and returned to the table. I'm confused. I heard him take a heavy breath as his beautiful hand came down to my portfolio to start flipping through the pages again, his left hand resting on the edge of the table.

I noticed there was no ring. He is not married? How could that be?

'This, I like a lot.' He pointed to TMP photos.

'I'm not sure my works on Modern Property would fit in here.' I said quietly. It's too modern - luxurious, yes, but too modern.

He looked up at me. 'You're right, I'm just saying...I really like it.'

'Thank you.' I felt my color deepen as he studied me closely before returning to my portfolio.

I grab some water, resisting the temptation to throw it in front of me to cool me down, but I almost do when his pant-clad thigh brushes against my bare knee. I quickly shifted to break the contact, I glanced out of the corner of my eye to see a small smirk on the corner of his mouth. He does it willingly. Too much.

'Do you have a toilet?' I asked as I put my glass back on the table and stood up. I have to go and fix myself. I'm a messed up mess.

He quickly got up from the couch and came back to let me pass. 'Through the summer room and on your left.' he said with a smile. He knows he's affecting me. The way he's smiling at me, knowingly, I bet he has this kind of reaction from women all the time.

'Thank you.' I stepped out of the small opening between the table and the sofa, my task difficult as he made no attempt to give me more space. I have to get past him, and I hold my breath until I'm out of his body.

I walk to the door. His eyes were on me; I can feel them burning a hole in my clothes. I roll my neck to try and rid myself of the goosebumps jumping on my nape.

Stumbling out of his office, I headed down the corridor before wandering into the summer room and staggering past the ridiculously fancy lavatories. I adjusted myself at the sink and faced the mirror. 'Jesus, Shaira. Get together!' I scored my reflection.

'We have met the Lord, haven't we?'

I turned around and saw a very attractive business lady, messing up her hair at the other end of the room. I had no idea what to say, but she just confirmed what I already suspected - he has an effect on all women. When my brain couldn't come up with anything appropriate to say, I just smiled.

He returned my smile, amused and knowing the reason for my confusion, before disappearing into the bathroom. If I wasn't so hot and nervous, I might be embarrassed by the way I see myself. But I'm hot, and I'm very nervous, so I shake off my embarrassment, take a deep breath, and wash my tender hands with fresh-fruit-scented hand wash. I should have brought my bag. I can do some Vaseline on my lips. My mouth is still dry and my lips are suffering.

Okay, I have to go back there, get the detail and leave. My heart begs to be let go. I am totally ashamed of myself. I pinned my hair again and left the bathroom, returning to Mr. Montero's office. I don't know if I can work for this man; I was just too affected by him.

I knocked before entering, I saw him sitting on the sofa looking at my portfolio. He looked up and smiled, and I knew now, I really had to leave. It is impossible for me to work with this man. Every molecule of intelligence and brain power I possessed was drained from my body by his presence. And most of all, he knows it.

I give myself a mental pep talk, and walk over to the table, ignoring the fact that he's following my every move. He leaned on the sofa in a gesture for me to squeeze past, but I don't. I sat across from the sofa, perched on the side.

He shot me a questioning look. 'You alright?'

'Yes, I'm fine,' I replied shortly. He knows. 'Would you like to show me where your intended project is so we can start discussing the requirements?' I forced confidence into my voice. I'm just following the protocol now. I really have no intention of taking this contract, but I can't walk out - as tempting as it is.

He raised an eyebrow, obviously surprised by my change of approach. 'Sure.' He stood up from the sofa and walked over to his desk to get his cell phone. I arrange my things, put them in my bag, and follow his gesture to take the lead.

He quickly caught up to me, opened the door, and performed an extremely gentlemanly bow as he stopped it from opening. I smiled politely - even though I knew he was playing with me - and went out into the corridor, towards the summer room. I gasped as he placed a hand on the small of my back to guide me.

What is he playing? I'm trying my hardest to ignore it, but you would have to be dead to not notice the effect this man has on me. And I know he knows that. My skin was burning all over - almost certainly warming his palm through my clothes - I couldn't control my breathing and walking was taking every bit of coordination and effort I had. I'm pathetic, and it's bloody obvious he's enjoying the reactions he's drawing from me. It must be quite entertaining.

Annoyed with me, I sped up my pace a bit to break his hand's grip on my back, stopping when I reached the point of two possible routes.

He reached out to me, pointing across the lawns to the tennis courts. 'Are you playing?'

I actually laughed, but it was a comfortable laugh. 'No, I don't want to.' I could run, but that was it. Give me a bat, racket, or ball, then you're asking for trouble. The corners of his mouth twitched into a smile at my reaction, making his eyes greener and his generous eyelashes lengthen. I smiled, shaking my head in admiration of this glorious man. 'You?' I asked.

He continued to the entrance hall, following me. 'I don't mind the odd game, but I'm more of an extreme sports kinda guy.' He stopped, and I stopped with him.

He looks ridiculously fit and toned. 'What kind of extreme sports?' I asked.

'Snow-boarding, mainly, but I tried my hand at white water rafting, bungee jumping and skydiving. I'm a bit of an adrenalin junkie. I like to feel the blood pumping.' He watched me as he spoke, making me feel like I was being examined. You have to anesthetize me before you can make me do any of his blood pleasures. I will continue to run often.

'Extreme.' I said, studying this handsome man of age I didn't know.

'Very extreme,' he confirmed quietly. My breath catches up again and I close my eyes, mentally yelling at myself for being such a loser.

'Shall we continue?' he asked. I could hear the humor in his voice.

I opened my eyes to meet his sharp green gaze. 'Yes, please.'

I wish he would stop looking at me like that. He half smiled again and walked into the bar, greeting the men I saw earlier by clapping them on the shoulders. The woman is no longer here. The two men were very attractive, young - the probably late twenties - and perched on bar stools, drinking bottles of beer.

'Guys, this is Shaira Rose. Shaira, this is Henry Villegas and Andrew Monroe.'

'Good afternoon.' Andrew draws. He was quite miserable. His looks - he's handsome in a rugged kind of way - and character, tell me he's smart, confident, and a business type. His black hair is perfectly styled, his clothes are clean, and his eyes are cunning.

'Hi.' I smiled politely.

'Welcome to the pleasure dome,' laughed Henry, holding up his bottle. 'Can I buy you a drink?'

I noticed Mr. Montero shake his head slightly with an eye roll. Henry grinned. He is Andrew's polar opposite - all casual and laid back, in old jeans, a Super dry T-shirt, and converse. He has a cheeky face, complimented by a dimple on his left cheek. His brown eyes twinkled, adding to his cheekiness, and his mousey brown, shoulder-length hair was all over the place.

"No, I'm fine, thanks." My answer.

He nodded at Mr. Montero. 'Engelbert?'

'No, I'm good, I'm just giving Shaira Rose a tour of the extension. She'll be working on the interiors.' he said, smiling at me.

I silently teased myself. Not if I have anything to do with it. Anyway, he's kind of jumping the gun, isn't he? We never discussed rates, briefs, or anything else, for that matter.

'About time, no more rooms available.' Andrew whispered into his bottle. Why haven't I heard of this place?

'How was the boarding in Cavite Newest Resorts, my man?' asked Henry.

XXX