1: First Meeting

"Ma'am please stop!" The voice boomed behind me but I was quick enough to open the door and barge into the office room.

My eyes looked around until they land on the person sitting behind a wooden black desk working on his laptop. On the sound of door hitting the wall, he looked up with slightly widened eyes but even before a second they were back to normal.

He looked at her emotionlessly with his eyebrow raised.

"—Sorry sir! I had tried to stop her but she pushed me away—." The poor sectary with dishevelled hair came running in the room after her and complained in loud voice.

"—How dare you?!" I walked closer to his desk and placed my both hands on his desk with a loud thud ignoring his passive expression and secretary afraid voice.

"Do I know you miss?" He asked with furrowed eyebrow as if trying to remember if he knows me. A clear shock coarse in me.

This man didn't knew me or not have seen me but but blinded demanded marriage with me!!

"I won't marry you!" I told him with clear anger in my eyes.

This time he looked at me with a shock visible in his grey orbs but he was quick to overcome it.

"Oh..I see it's you." He spoke dryly as his eyes traveled from her feet and then to her face. They stoped for a good 2 second at her bust before he looked again at her face.

His face expression clearly showed he didn't expected her to look this way. I smirked internally. Of course, I am a beauty queen and this isn't the first time a man looked at her that way.

"Yes! That's me and I won't marry you so just take that idea out of your mind!" She spoke harshly. James eyes narrowed at her comment. He looked at the secretary and spoke calmly, "Helga you may leave and close the door behind."

The secretary was quick to follow his instructions.

"You can sit..." he spoke as gestured her to the chat.

"I am not here to sit! I am here to let you mr.— uh whoever you are! I won't marry you." I seethed back having enough of his expressionless face.

"Russo. James Russo." He spoke back calmly as he leaned back on his leather seat.

"What?" I asked him arrogantly, "do you think I care who you are? I don't! Now do as I say, tell my father that you will not marry me—

"Shut up!" He spoke harshly and I was taken aback by his manner of speaking.

"You can't talk to me like tha—."

"I said shut up woman!" He spoke again louder and more firm. His eyes were now more dark than before.

“I don’t wish to marry you! At least not someone as bratty as you! It’s my grandparents thinking to resolve the matter quick and fast without much hassle. But if you really want a fight, then go and deny to get married and see your father and brother get wasted for the rest of their life behind the prison and if you think you will get to have all the luxuries than know it very clearly the moment you refuse, nothing will be left with you. No shelter no food and property. If your good for nothing father and brother go in prison you also are out on streets.” He spoke each word clear and so cold that I started to sweat.

No he is bluffing! My mind refused to accept any of his words.

But my father’s words kept ringing in my ears......

We will soon be bankrupt Sapphire ! I need your help daughter.....only way out is this marriage....please think of our business....we will come to roads.....

I shook my head and looked at him with loathe. He stood up from his leather seat and I had to crank my neck up. Gosh! He was tall. Like really tall. But if his thinks he can intimidate me by his hovering frame, than he had another thing coming!

I, Sapphire Ronaldo, know how how to make arrogant men like him to bend on their knees!

He walked straight to me and stood only at a step distance. I desperately wanted to step back but just to show him that I am not least intimidated by him, which I am not, I stayed rooted to my place.

I gulped as he leaned forward. His minty and forestry fragrance was so refreshing. I gritted my teeth and maintained my eye contact with this ruthless beast!

"It is your choice," he said stepping so close to me that our lips were almost touching. "Either do as I say or see your family ruin."

Anger shot in my veins, "I don't take orders from annoying snobs like you, mr. Russo!" I countered back confidently while maintaining eye contact.

"Then I guess I will have to add that to my agenda; teaching you to take orders." He snapped back. My nails unconsciously dug into the the palm of my hand.

“Now get out.”He spoke in low voice as he stepped away from me.

I gritted my teeth and shot him the most venomous glare.

He just stared back at me with his bored taunting expression.

I threw one last glare before I started walking to the exit but before I could step out, I slipped unconsciously on the slippery floor and when I thought I will be heroically saved, I was proved wrong the next second when I dropped hard on my butt on his office floor.

“Ohhh!” I groaned hard in pain and unconsciously looked at him who was looking at me with raised eyebrows and amusement clear in them.

I huffed before getting up and gathering the stuff that had spilled out of my bag during my disastrous fall. I was too embarrassed but I didn’t wanted him to know that.

He stayed quiet as I picked up everything from the floor. Standing straight, I raised my head high and giving me a stink eye, I again walked to exit, this time more carefully.

“Close the door behind you.” He ordered in authoritative voice. I looked back at him and gave him a stink eye before slamming the door hard shaking it to its hinges.

Serves him right!