11:30 AM.

Fifteen minutes.

Damn.

I'm a professional. When I'm dealing with a person in the business world. Everything is professional. My standards are high when it comes to professionalism. I have established rules in my company that I intend to see through. And those rules are based on the standards of being professional.

Tardiness is something that I do not and will not tolerate.

I hate it when my staff or my people are not following simple rules such as going to work as early as 8 AM because they are being well compensated. Their paychecks are higher than most companies. I made sure of it. That's why my company has been at its height ever since it was established.

But I hate it most of all if the person I'm meeting with will show up more than fifteen minutes late.

And that Aaron fucking Stevens is late.

My mood went south the moment I realized that Aaron's secretary had the audacity to yell at me in my own office.

Considering I was immensely shocked at the turn of events, I was just left at the office with an unbelievable look on my face.

I never, and will never, raise my hand on women. My mother taught me better than that. She drilled into my mind that whenever I even think on hitting a girl, her face would have morphed into that of my mom's.

I can't fire Jessica because she does not work for me. So, I intend to transfer darkening mood to her boss, instead.

I called Aaron Stevens an hour ago and arranged a meeting with him after scanning the files, Jessica Johnson gave me. I have been brooding in this restaurant for a whole fifteen fucking minutes.

The two-way mirror that separates the VIP section from the rest of the restaurant provided me the view of the people eating or coming in and out of the place.

My eyes drifted to the woman I locked eyes with.

I felt her presence the moment I walked in. I felt her stares, demanding me to give her my attention. And when I did, I was trapped into those green eyes that was very much like my own, yet more beautiful.

The intensity of her stare can make any man cower in fear, or perhaps, fall on their knees and surrender. But not me. Those intense green eyes only made me want to discover her more. Like a scientist who wanted to discover the very depths of the ocean.

Although, her skin seemed unnatural, her complexion together with her brown locks complimented her eyes well.

The word beautiful will not justify the perfection that is she.

She didn't smile, nor did she show any form of emotion when she looks at me. But the expression on her eyes showed me more than I have to at that moment.

Her beauty is not the only thing that captivated me.

Sure, her lips looked ripe enough to be tasted, her cheeks gave a pinkish glow despite her artificial tan, but those expressive eyes are what draw me in.

Those eyes have power. They show intelligence, but most of all, they demand attention and respect. Her eyes proved that there are more to her than the beauty any man can see.

And then, she glanced my way. I know she can't seem me through the mirror, but something tells me that she knows, or feels that someone is staring at her.

That did not stop me from further assessing her features. Looking at her, really looking at her, something's odd.

Although, she looks familiar. But I can't remember where I saw her. I'm positive that we never met before, but at the back of my mind, I know I saw her before, I just can't place where.

Maybe in a newspaper?

I was still staring at her through the glass window, when someone took a seat in front of me. I fixed my eyes on the intruder.

Aaron fucking Stevens, at last.

I gave him a hard stare but ignored it as his eyes drifted to the table where the woman with green eyes was seated.

I felt my jaw clenched at the thought.

I looked at my watch and sighed.

"I heard you and your secretary are at each other's throats," I began.

A waiter arrived and gave Aaron a drink.

"I heard my secretary yelled at you this morning," he retorted back which only worsen my mood.

There's no point beating around a bush, then.

"Where's my secretary, A?" I said through gritted teeth.

He leaned back and gave me a smirk. "I think you already saw her, Nathan." He said giving emphasis on my nickname.

One of the many things I hate about this guy is his ability to piss me off by simply doing or saying little things; like calling me in an old nickname.

I cleared my throat in annoyance. "Do not call me that," I said firmly. "I don't have time to play with your games."

"Oh, come on Nate," he said giving me another nickname in a mocking tone which is really starting to get on my nerves. "You're the best student in your batch yet you didn't figure out that you've been staring at your secretary since I came here, or maybe longer than that. Unless you're staring at Jessica the whole time, that is."

Jessica?

As if reading my mind, Aaron laughed across the table. "You mean you haven't even seen or noticed Jessica across from the girl you've been clearly ogling at."

My eyes widened at the accusation. It's not that it's untrue but to hear it out loud...

I gave him another hard stare which I hope he will get the message, "I do not ogle PEOPLE!"

He forced himself to stop his mirth and raised both hands in surrender.

"Obviously, the girl sitting across Jessica is your secretary," he stated simply, while staring at the two girls. "Even though she said that she was just a friend, her best friend, rather, I figured she was lying."

"How sure are you?" I asked, still annoyed.

"Jessica is easy to read," he said, and I almost laughed at what I just heard.

"Oh. Is that right? So how was it, that she called you asshole earlier this morning?" I asked, mocking him in a way he did me. "You have heard of that, right?"

It's now time for me to smirk. He diverted his gaze at me, but his eyes seemed unsurprised at the statement.

"She did?" he asked curiously before smiling fondly. What the hell is he smiling about? "Once you work with her, you'll understand that she's not exactly your regular secretary."

That, I couldn't argue with

"Oh yeah. Your charm may have worked on other girls, but not to her."

"It won't, will it?" this conversation is getting ridiculous. His voice sounded melancholic as if reminiscing something from the past as his gaze lingered on Jessica. "She's feisty, wild, and does not take shit from people," he paused. "She calls on your shit."

He sounds like a wise old man. And I feel like if I stayed longer, he might give some romantic advice.

Before I could excuse myself, something flickered in his eyes that changed his demeanor. I relaxed, thinking that the fucker that was Aaron fucking Stevens. (That is not his middle name, by the way)

"But of course, just like any other girls I've gone out with, she would fall to my charms and I would whisk her to my bed."

The waiter came back and poured red wine in our glass. "Keep telling yourself that." I said as I took a sip from my glass.

"My secretary is efficient and reliable despite her smart mouth which makes my day to day life interesting. You have already received the files you need. I'm sure tomorrow you will have her as your secretary," he said pointing at the brunette across Jessica. "We can compromise our schedules of meetings with the company's clients tomorrow."

We saw the two women stand up, and I automatically stood as well. I saw Aaron did the same while still looking at the girls who are preparing to leave. We stood for a while looking like idiots as they exited the restaurant.

"Damnit! I'm whipped."

I am not entirely sure as to who voiced that or was it merely just my head pointing out something ridiculous.

When I looked back at Aaron, he was rubbing his neck.

"I need a drink," he said suddenly. I narrowed my eyes as if to tell him that we are not done discussing the assets as well as the shared files of our fathers.

"I'll deal with the papers first thing in the morning. Whatever left of it because I know you'll be working on it. I just..." he didn't finish or even let me argue. He just left a bill, and walked out, leaving me dumbfounded.

What the hell just happened?