The Billionaire's Secretary

Attraction

Elizabeth's POV:

At work, I'm bored out of my mind so I decide to call Lisa ;AKA my mom. At least she was. Now, I'm not so sure.

“Elizabeth my baby girl!, ” she says with so much relief and love, “are you alright?”

“Yes...mom. I'm alright.” tears well up in my eyes.

“Honey please come home. We miss you so much. ”

At this point I let the tears fall down my cheeks.

“I can't. I'm not ready. I don't know if I'll ever be.” I whimper.

She stays silent for a moment. Obviously hurt.

“I understand.” she says finally. “And thank you for calling me. I just wanted to know if you were ok. Tell me when you're ready to come home.”

“I will. ”

I hang up the phone and burst out crying.

I must have been crying louder than I thought because the next thing I hear is:

“Whoa Elizabeth, what's wrong? Why are you crying?”

I look up to see the face of the man I haven't been able to get off my mind; Cody Milore.

I immediately wipe my tears away and get up. I can't function properly in front of him. So I leave. As I rush to the elevator he runs after me.

“Elizabeth talk to me!” he says worriedly.

I ignore him and the elevator doors close before he enters.

He probably thinks I'm a weirdo but I really can't be normal with him around.

I stay in the ladies room for about an hour or two crying my eyes out. Why? The guilt of making my mom feel horrible. The guilt for the sleepless nights they have. The guilt for making them feel like bad people when they have been the best parents a girl could ask for.

“Elizabeth? Please talk to me darling.” says a familiar voice.

I open the door and hug Miss Milore tightly. She pats my back gently as I cry silently. My tears fall onto her shoulder messing her perfect lavender suit but she doesn't seem to mind. Instead she just patiently waits for me to calm down then she makes me sit down on the bench.

“What happened Beth?” she asks with concern.

“I'm so sorry for being unprofessional.” I sniffle, fighting back the tears. “I'm just going through some stuff right now but it won't happen again.”

“You know... I'm also adopted.”She says sitting down beside me.

I look at her in shock.

“How did you...”

“Your mother called. Well Lisa called. Asking if I could excuse you for any strange behavior. Then she told me anything. ”

Suddenly there was warmth in my heart. She really loves me doesn't she?

“You said you were adopted?” I ask to break the silence.

“ Yes. But I was told from a very young age. My mother died during childbirth and my father put me up for adoption. This may sound weird but it was the best thing that's ever happened to me.” she says with a smile. “You'll be fine. But for now, talk to her.”

I know she's right. I have to talk to my mom sooner or later.

“I... I'll visit her today after work.”

“Why wait?” Melody says helping me up. “Go now. You can take the rest of the day off.”

I'm overwhelmed by the kindness of this woman. She treats me like her own daughter.

“Thank you ma'am.”

We walk out of the ladies room arm in arm and everyone makes way for us. Well for Miss Milore. Cody walks up to me like he had been waiting.

“Are you alright Beth?” ask examining my face. There a thousands of butterflies in my stomach when he touches me.

“Yes... I'm alright now.” I say shyly.

Melody smiles knowingly. It's probably obvious to her that I like him.

“Cody, I'm afraid I'll have to cancel our meeting. I have to escort Beth home.”

“Oh no that won't be necessary ma'am. I can go on my own.” I protest.

“You can't leave mom. I'll get her home safely.” Cody assured her.

“Very well.” Miss Milore turns to me and squeezes my hand. “You can do this.”

I just nod in silence. I can feel the jealousy radiating off the women in the office. Giving me dirty looks and cold stares. All because Cody had his hand around me.

As he led me out the office, I could feel sparks all over my body from his touch. He opened my car door for me and he went in on the driver's seat.

“A nice car you have here.” he says suddenly.

“Um yes. I got it a gift from my best friend.” I respond looking at my lap.

“Well she, or he has good taste.”

“She. It's a girl.” Oh God! Did I have to make it so obvious that I wanted him to know I was single?!

He smiles like he knows what I'm thinking.

“So where are we going?” he asks starting the car.

“Um...just drive.. I'll direct you.”

We listen to the music for most of the ride with me occasionally telling him where to go until I decide to actually conversate.

“Do you work for Miss Milore or are you partners?”

A little surprised by my question, he chuckles.

“Well...I guess technically I work for her. Occasionally though. I don't get paid or anything. I meet up with her clients and charm them. I'm kinda like bait. Believe it or not, my mother isn't very good at making conversation and small talk with people.”

“I find that very hard to believe. We talk for hours everyday.” I say in disbelief.

“She happens to be more comfortable with you for a reason I don't know. But next time you have a meeting, really look at the way and manner she talks to her clients.”

I just nod in agreement.

We pull up in front of my house and my heart starts racing. Another realization hits me as we get out of the car.

“Wait how are gonna go home?”

“Oh don't worry. Britney lives a walking distance from here.”

I can't help but feel jealous when I think of the fact that he's going to her house. To do what?

“Oh does she? Where?” I ask trying to sound like I didn't want to punch Britney's perfect face.

“Lanola gardens.”

Lanola gardens is an area where rich people live. There are mansions and beautiful luxury apartments that probably cost a fortune. Where I live, is about a five minute walk from Lanola gardens. We live in a very nice neighborhood because my parents inherited our huge house. So you would probably think we're rich.

“Ok then. Thank you for driving me.”

“No problem.” he says offering me his beautiful smile.

Could it be that Cody only dropped me off because he wanted to go to Britney's place all along?

I fight off the thought and walk up to the door. I knock. I have never knocked ever before bit weird to just waltz in like before.

Mom opens the door and smiles. She look tired and restless. She has bags under her eyes and looks like she hasn't slept in weeks. Her hair is messy and unkept and she looks like she's aged from the last time I saw her. Two weeks ago.

I smile back and walk in.

Cody's POV:

I'm gonna be honest; It didn't sit well with me when I saw Elizabeth crying. I wanted to take away all the pain and strangle whoever or whatever was making her sad. I was surprised by my reaction to the situation. I don't even know this girl.

I surprised myself even more by offering to take her home and lying that Britney lived close so she wouldn't worry about me. The truth? I hitch hiked back to town.

Sure I did all of that but do I like her? Buying her a gift basket was me trying to make her smile and dropping her home was an excuse to to spend time with her. I even go to the office more often just to see her. So maybe I like her. But the the question is; does she feel the same way?