Chapter 7

Ivory grew silent as Raiden’s unsuspecting words rung in her ear, unsure of how to respond. An interest he said? She had to be dreaming, right? Or was this interest less to do with attraction and more to do with something along the lines of a personal agenda? Whatever it was, it couldn’t be what it sounded like. Raiden De Ville could never have an interest in Ivory. She was plain, boring and forgettable.
An interest…the words flashed in every colour known to man behind her eyes. There was no way. Ivory refused to let herself believe in this man’s words. How could she after the scene she’d just witnessed with him and another woman. Were all men’s interest that fleeting?

"Would you find that so offensive?" He neglected to wait for a response. He could see the wheels spinning behind her bright eyes.

"Find what offensive?" She questioned, her palms sweaty and her throat dry as he drew her out of her thoughts. Ivory took a sip of the water on her desk in anticipation of his response.

"Would you find it offensive if I have come to prefer your company quite differently from our present arrangement?" He stared at her intently, she felt an unnerving fluttering in the pit of her stomach.

*She couldn't be flattered...could she?*
Whatever emotion she felt she couldn't name it and she didn't want to. Apart from the fact that she would be nothing more than a plaything to this celestial being, she was already involved with Braylen someone she knew would respect her.
The office phone rang out, evaporating the tension as Raiden's attention fell elsewhere. He answered the call and confirmed he was ready to facilitate a meeting at the present.

"You may leave for the day. I will be out of the office for the evening," he said and immediately busied himself.
Ivory nodded her head, packed up in record time, and exited.
Raiden wasn't sure how he had managed to make his employee and himself uncomfortable in one fell swoop. It took seconds for him to tarnish his one golden rule pertaining to work relationships. He didn't know what triggered him to reveal his darkest desire. Perhaps it was his instinct to protect her after Talia accused her of being his mistress, perhaps it was that precise thought of Ivory being his mistress that triggered his once concealed desires or maybe it was the thought of her thinking she wasn't in his league. The woman had to be blind! She possessed curves that even he was envious of and he willed himself not to think of anyone else but him exploring them.

He walked over to her desk, he had forgotten to ask her for the client's file. He had entrusted it to her a few days ago, he searched the top of her desk and found the file with ease, his eyes catching a glimpse of something under her table. He walked around the desk and saw a bundle at the foot of the chair. Raiden bent forward and picked them up with ease, these files triggering a sense of Deja Vu.

***
Ivory checked her watch again. She was beginning to feel impatient. She picked up her cell and dialled Braylen number, he answered on the third ring.

"Hey. You said you'd meet me at seven it's 8:15, so I was wondering if everything is okay," she questioned sincerely, Braylen was never late and she was anxious.

"Oh shoot!" He said. "I completely forgot, my mother, isn't feeling well so I am spending some time with her, rain check?" he pleaded.

"Oh, that's fine. I hope she feels better! Do you need anything?" she questioned.

"No, I have everything under control. Thanks for understanding," he said and the call disconnected.

"Not a problem," she whispered to the dial tone.

***
Raiden rocked back on his chair, his mind wandering in an attempt not to jump to conclusions. He hadn't heard the door open, neither the closing foot-steps.

"I sent the message to Ivory to come into the office a bit later today, she--" Felix stopped mid-sentence as he came to stand above Raiden's desk. His eyes instantly falling on that bundle Ivory attempted to keep hidden, they were sprawled atop Raiden's desk, staring up accusatorily at him, much in the same manner as his employer.


"Weren't these files intended to occupy a different desk?" Raiden questioned. Felix swallowed, he knew he wasn't being attacked in any way but the gaze on this man could scare a python.

"They certainly weren't intended to occupy your desk this soon." Felix retorted cryptically and instantly regretted it as the flame in Raiden's eyes ignited.

"I did take them to Ms. James', as per your direction." he amended, submissively.

"Then why did I find them hidden away in my office, incomplete?" he interrogated Felix. His anger rising. He didn't like his authority questioned or subjugated.

"I am sorry, I shall take them back to Ms. James' office." Felix placed his palms on the files hastily, he heard a sound unfamiliarly placed in a workspace. Raiden had slammed his hands down on the files, preventing them from being taken away.

"Why are they in *my* office?" Raiden repeated, lethally. Felix flinched at his tone, his mind wandering, for a split second, to Ivory and at that moment he had to admit that Raiden appeared devilish. Felix exhaled in defeat, he couldn't push his luck with Raiden. He muttered a silent apology to Ivory for the imminent betrayal.

"They were given to Ivory to complete on Emery's behalf." Felix didn't dare gaze upon his face. He knew better than to stand out in the face of an infuriated God.

"By Who?" he was practically seething hellfire at the notion.

"Ivory doesn't want to be the cause of any problems and, thus, asked me not to speak a word." Felix made a final feeble attempt to protect Ivory's secret.

"I don't give a rat's ass about what you assured anybody. I asked you to look out for her. Is this how you respect my wishes? Making childish promises." Raiden barked.

"It was Ms. James." the words seemed to echo dramatically in the silence.

"Emery thought she could delegate tasks as if she were me?" Raiden sounded almost crazed, though half amazed at this woman's audacity.

"I have been asking around about the relationship between the two and I have heard that Ms. James wasn't the easiest person to work with. She is very...domineering." Felix revealed cautiously,
Raiden felt as if his head was about to explode in anger. Every impression he formed upon meeting them both shattered, leaving him unable to form a clear picture.

" Leave the files. I will deal with it." this was Raiden's signal for Felix to leave.
He leaned into his chair and considered if he had been completely wrong in his assessment of Ivory. For the time she began working under him he saw no real cause for termination of her employment or any true reason to not promote her. She had seemed quite learned.
Raiden ceased these thoughts, the only thing he could do as a step towards rectification is to deal with the situation at hand. He rose from his throne, attached the button on his jacket, and pulled the files into his arms.

***
Emery cooed flirtatiously into the phone, her latest romance turning out to be her best yet. She hadn't expected her office door to swing open. She ended the call and stood up immediately as if on autopilot.

"Mr. De Ville." the words barely audible.
Raiden ignored her acknowledgment. He closed the distance between the door and her desk, he placed the files down, and began to retreat. At the doorway, he paused and exhaled. He spun on his heels and saw a mortified Emery as she looked at the bundle in recognition.

"Your actions were reprehensible, rash, and unprofessional." She gazed at him as the words dripped from his tongue.

"It's not what you think." She began desperately. "I don't know what version Ivory has invented but-"
His blood boiled at the mere attempt to blacken the victim. "Enough." the two syllables sufficient to hinder her poisonous mutterings.

"Ms. Remington, as she should be addressed by you, is no longer yours to intimidate," said he. "It would do you well to remember who the actual boss is." her gaze faltered. "Do not take it upon yourself to interfere with my people again or I fear you'll find that I am not as inclined, as your previous bosses were, to turn a blind eye on account of your seniority. " He neither required nor waited for a response as he made his way back to his office.

Emery was enraged. Who else could be blamed for such embarrassment if not Ivory Remington? "That Bitch!" she muttered vengefully collapsing the returned files to the floor in an unsightly mess. Her chest was heaving and her teeth clenched with such force that a headache materialised.