Chapter 10

Ivory's level of concentration rested on nil. She hadn't been able to do much since she had received the news that she was to accompany Raiden to a business meeting. Her eyes went back and forth between Raiden and her computer screen. Perhaps her nerves were misplaced but she dared any woman not to be nervous in such close proximity to such a man.
Raiden felt Ivory's eyes staring at him. A small smile eased across his lips. He knew she was nervous, the emotion easing out from every pore. He revelled in the fact that she was affected by him. He usually couldn't be bothered by female appreciation yet he found himself craving hers.

"Has Felix informed you of our evening schedule?" His voice travelled across the room and settled pleasurably in her ear.
It took Ivory a good couple seconds to register what that blissful voice was saying to her. " Uh-huh." She nodded her head as an accompaniment.

"Good. You can take lunch an hour earlier and when you’re back we'll leave." He advised, paying no more attention to her.
Ivory stared at her watch, she had a good hour and a half to make some progress until she took an early lunch. She pushed the nerve-wracking thoughts away and forced herself to concentrate.
At around noon, Raiden packed his laptop and files. He came to stand in front of Ivory's desk. He stared down at her, a suspicious smile on his face. A smile Ivory found debilitating. She stared up at him blankly, her senses dulled. "Shall we?" he said and she clumsily stood up, knocking her knee on her desk in the process.

"Damn it!" she muttered but he was to close and the words reached him. His fingers enclosed her arm and eased her back on her chair. He knelt beside the desk and held her calf.

"Are you alright?" Ivory wasn't sure if she could bear this side of him. It was easier to stay aloof when he had that scowl on his face day in and day out. Once the pain subsided it became abundantly clear how close he was. His heady scent filled her nostrils.

"UH HUH." she nodded, halfway hypnotized.

"Sure?" he applied some pressure on her knee as a test.

"I am fine," she said, once she was able to form words again. "Don't suppose this is a reason for me to miss the meeting?" she smiled.

"Not a chance." He responded with ease. "Maybe lose the heels in case they cause any discomfort," he suggested, rising to his full height.

"It's fine. Not the first time I occasioned damage to furniture," she replied in an attempt to keep the mood light, however, the smile her comment solicited was enough to render her speechless. This easy, charming side of Raiden was a surprise to her, she couldn't yet decide if it was good or bad.
Felix shot Ivory an encouraging smile and a covert thumb up as Raiden's back was turned. Ivory rolled her eyes and continued to follow Raiden into the elevator. "Will this be your first time attending a business meeting?"

"Yes," she answered instantly, nodding her head more than was required for emphasis.

"Is that why you've been nervous all day?" Raiden intentionally placed the spotlight on her emotions.
Ivory gave a nervous chuckle. It was better if he thought that was the reason. The last thing she needed was for her boss to operate under the misapprehension that she was crushing on him. Which she wasn't. For a man of his calibre, it was usual for her to be affected.... nervous...but it just meant she was no different than any female who came face to face with a living-breathing celestial.
Out in the parking lot, he walked her to his car and pulled open the front door. She reluctantly entered and he closed the door behind her. She inhaled to steady her nerves before he entered through the driver’s seat. The drive was filled with silence. Raiden kept looking towards her, she faced the window, her eyes glued to the passing scenery and her fingers grasping each other restrictively. He had the urge to place his palm over her hands and allow them to relax, but he resisted. Raiden knew it was just a mechanism to shut him out, a tiny smirk playing across his face. He allowed her solace and drove in silence.


***

The Bradford's did cater a lot in ensuring their lifestyle matched up to the name. The entire company was humming to life in the most elegant of ways as someone led Raiden and Ivory to the meeting location. Ivory could do nothing but savour her surroundings, she couldn't help but think that despite the grandeur the business lacked energy. Every employee she gazed at had some variant of a scowl. Only the woman attending to them seemed attentive, but Ivory assumed that had more to do with Raiden's presence.

They were ushered into an occupied room housing a large oval table in the centre accompanied by chairs. Ivory fell into step behind Raiden, his height dwarfing her and restricting her sight.
They were approached by a slender framed brunette. Her eyes regarding Raiden familiarly.

"Raiden." she cooed, extending her arm for him to take. It was the first time Ivory heard someone speak his name so casually, so intimately.
He regarded her outstretched arm and returned his gaze to her face, a cordial smile fighting to maintain its place on his lips.

"Mrs. Bradford." he acknowledged. Ivory did a double-take. The leggy brunette, who couldn't be older than thirty-five, was married to THE Brandon Bradford? The man was old enough to be her father. Not that Ivory was judging but the news came as a surprise.

"Come now, Raiden, surely we can surpass such formalities between old friends, call me Naomi." she flashed him a dazzling smile. Ivory began feeling uneasy, Raiden was tensing, she saw it on the pulsed vein at his neck and the tightening of his shoulder blades.

"May I introduce my assistant, Ms. Remington." Raiden eased aside to reveal Ivory's presence to Naomi.
Ivory felt as if she had ripped off her protective sheath and was about to get burnt. Naomi Bradford stared at Ivory as if she were nothing more than an inconvenience.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Bradford." Ivory stumbled forward, extending her arm. Raiden couldn't keep the warm smirk from materializing as a result of Ivory's clumsy nature.

"I thought you never hired female assistants." Naomi turned her gaze back to Raiden, leaving Ivory's hand floating in the air. Ivory's arm drifted down. Raiden turned serious.

"Regardless of who I employ, they act for and on my behalf, a disrespect to them is a disrespect to me." He quoted seriously. "Now if you'll please excuse us." He walked past her and towards a group of three men liaising with the table.

"AAhh, Mr. De Ville, come come, we are in need of you counsel." the eldest of the group waved them into a conversation.

"I see you have replaced Felix on this occasion." a man who appeared closer in age to Raiden came to stare Ivory dead in the eye. His gaze was clearly appreciative.

"Dare I say..."

"I prefer you not to complete your observations." Raiden was instantly annoyed. The men took no offensive passing it off as Raiden's usual business only demeanour when in fact he had been anxious for the men to not see what he saw. A woman who could tempt the Saints. Even in the unflattering pant suit…

"This is Ms. Ivory Remington." he introduced, unable to stop the men from vying for her attention under the guise of civility. He was beginning to re-think his decision to bring her here. The attention she received unnerved him.
The men dispersed to entertain further introductions as the room continued to fill. Ivory and Raiden were left in the company of Matt Boman although Raiden knew the young-ling hadn't stuck around to entertain him.

"So does Ms. Remington have a first name?" Matt turned his attention solely to Ivory once Raiden seated himself.

"I would hope so." Ivory responded incredulously, " or I fear I would find myself in awkward situations." she made an attempt at diversion. She was about to take her seat abreast Raiden when Matt vied for attention again.

"Is this one of such awkward situations?" He flashed her, what Ivory supposed was, his most brilliant smile but it couldn't compare...to who? She rather not explore the answer.

"It's Ivory." She conceded, averting her gaze. Her fingers clutching the chair like a life-line.

"It's been a pleasure, I hope our acquaintance may expand," he said.
Ivory's gaze widened instantly. Her mind a dark empty abyss.

"I-I-uh-"

"I am certain Ms. Remington will not mind further pleasantries Mr. Boman, however, if I may, I require her assistance,” Raiden interjected and Ivory exhaled the breath seeking solace in her lungs. Ivory was about to sit when Naomi walked over to the pair.

"I am terribly sorry, But I am afraid that we hadn't expected you to bring an assistant. We haven't enough chairs." She smiled vehemently at Ivory whose fingers unleashed the chair from her grip speechless.