TAKEN BY FORCE

Chapter Nine

Dragging herself into her office she didn't know what the day held for her. “I’m guessing you had an awesome weekend that’s why you forgot all about me all weekend”, assumed Cindy as she took a seat next to Liana indirectly asking for details of her dinner date with Logan.“Ooh I know it looks that way but it’s entirely the opposite”, “really! Tell me about it”, she crossed her legs and paid attention to Liana.

“Trust me you don’t want to know and I don’t want to bore you to death”, “is that your way of saying you don’t want to talk about it?”

“Cindy I’m quite busy right now I promise I will.......” before she could finish what she wanted to say she was staggered when she looked up and saw Mr. Logan standing by her door. “Miss Rhodes can you please give us some privacy”, he requested “of course Mr. Logan, Uh Liana we shall speak later”, Cindy excused herself. “Mr. Logan with all due respect.....” “Shhh Liana let me speak, I owe you an apology”. Damn right you do! She thought to herself. “I don’t know what to say but all I can say is that I’m truly sorry I didn't mean to offend you or to manipulate you as you put it”, he sincerely apologized.

“You are forgiven, now if you don’t mind I would like to get back to work”, “one more thing, would you let me take you out for dinner tonight as my way of apologizing?”“No! Uh that won’t be necessary, I already have plans for tonight”, she declined.

He had thought switching to Mr. nice boss was going to help him get in Liana’s good books but he thought wrong, he wasn't pleased but he wasn't going to give up on her, he thought she was playing hard to get not knowing that she really wasn't interested in him. “Okay, how about tomorrow night then?” he persisted. “Mr. Logan! I can’t I told you that I’m seeing someone and he wouldn't like it if he heard that I was dining with you or any other man for that matter he is a jealous man”, she stated.

Finally he gave up and left her office, the minute he left Cindy eagerly rushed back in. “Something is definitely going on between you and Mr. Logan and you are going to tell me all about it right now”, she demanded with excitement. “Cindy! Nothing is going on, what makes you think there is something going on?”

“I've worked here for a very long time and throughout all the years I've been here I've never I repeat never seen Mr. Logan personally seeking an employee in their office, he just rings them and orders them to step into his office if he wants a word with them but today for the first time in history he didn't do that he came to you, now that’s going to raise eyebrows and start some heavy gossip around here I’m telling you”, she warned.

“Oh is that right, I didn't realize it was so but you know what they say there is a first time for everything”, “Liana don’t be like that I’m your friend tell me what’s going on, is he courting you? That wouldn't be a surprise you are very pretty”, she exclaimed.

“Ha! Ha! Ha! You are just trying to sweet talk me into opening up, that’s an old trick”, laughed Liana. “No I’m not, I was just being honest, okay if you don’t want to tell me then its fine I will back off”, she muttered.“Cindy the truth is I’m not really sure of what’s going on that’s why I can’t tell you anything right now”, “Okay then its fine I will let you get back to work now”, she murmured as she walked over to her desk. Liana and her friends hooked up for drinks after work. She was glad neither of them brought up the subject of her and Derrik. When she got back home she was surprised to find Josh waiting for her in the living room with a bouquet of beautiful flowers.

He got on his feet the minute she walked in. “Liana I miss you, please understand that nothing is going on between me and that woman, please trust me because no relationship can survive without trust and I don’t want to live without you so please don’t make me Lia”, he implored. Liana stood quiet for a moment thinking of how to proceed, she then decided to give him the benefit of a doubt. She threw herself in his wide open arms and Josh gave a sigh of relief knowing that she was back in his life. He asked her out for a late dinner but she declined stating she was tired and wanted to go straight to bed. Being a gentleman he understood and left.

Two months passed by quickly, Liana was still seeing Josh and she had fallen madly in love with him but they were still not intimate. Derrik Logan had surprisingly kept his distance. One afternoon while in her office she got a call from Logan asking her to step into his office right away, the way he sounded so serious frightened her.

She immediately left her office to his. “Take a seat”, he ordered in a husky voice. “What’s this about?” she asked after she sat down as instructed.

“Half a million dollars has disappeared from one of the books of accounts, the figures don’t add up and it’s one of the books you were working on I've confiscated it to hand it to the authorities”, he informed. Liana heaved and blinked her eyes she was thunderstruck. “That’s not possible Mr. Logan”, she shuddered. “Miss Crawford this is no time for games, you have to know that this is a serious matter and just because I’m a nice man I’m giving you one week to return the money failure to that I will have no choice but to turn you over to the authorities and you will be arrested for accounting fraud, blacklisted and your chances of ever getting employed anywhere will be ruined, you may leave my office now”, he rasped.