Lost in You (#Book 2)

Chapter 11

“Rachel…” he moves forward. I can’t back any further away. I quickly put a hand in front of me as if to protect myself. My throat is dry, and my heart threatens to stop beating if I say one more word. Austin’s eyes change color. I detect what I so rarely see in him: Guilt.

“Don’t make that face!” I try to regain my senses and my breath. I can’t let him get the upper hand. “You just fired me, Austin, what do you want?!”

His metallic eyes burn into me. he doesn’t say a word, which hurts me more. He seems dumbfounded, unable to realize what’s happening. “Okay, I see you don’t even have anything to say for yourself… Open the doors! I’ll get my things, and I’ll leave. You’ll never hear from me again.”

“Rachel, stop…” I reach for the elevator buttons, but he holds me back, squeezing my arms. “Stop!”

“Let go of me!” I said in the same tone as his. I struggle. God, I must look pathetic! I feel in pain, like a wounded animal. I feel like the little mouse caught between the cat’s claws. Austin’s playing with me and I’m nothing. Nothing but entertainment that has become too cumbersome. “I promise you I’m going to whack you…”

I stifle a sob in my throat. No way am I going to give him the satisfaction of collapsing in front of him. “Let me at least leave without having to beg you to let me go!” As I try to reopen the doors, he blocks me once again.

“I don’t want you to leave.”

“Austin, do you ever wonder what I want?”

“I know what you want, and if you gave me the chance to say something, I could talk to you about it.” Is it another trick to get the better of me? Is he trying to prolong my agony a little longer? “I didn’t think you’d burst in here like that…” A thin smile is drawn on his perfect lips. “… but I should have known.”

I frown. He’s making fun of me, on top of it all? “I’m very angry that you left the hotel.” He states. As if I care… “Things are too tense at the moment for you to go around without an escort.”

I shake my head from side to side. “Okay, I’ve heard enough, let me go, now.”

“That’s not true!” he moves so quickly towards me that I back against the wall again. He puts a hand next to my head and stares at me. As an ultimate protection, I slap a hand against his chest to keep him at bay. I can see he’s holding himself back, but I can feel his breath on my face. As if his anger was about to burst out.

The elevator doors open. “I’m sorry, Mr. William, I’d…” someone said from outside but Austin’s imposing body prevents me from seeing anything. He turns his head slightly and gives an order that leaves no room for negotiation. “Not now!” With a sharp blow, he presses the switch to close the doors.

“Listen to me carefully, Rachel.” He says more composed.

“That’s what I always do!” I snapped.

“Hush!” he frowns and puts his index finger on my mouth. For a moment it seems to me that he’s lost in the contemplation of my lips. “I wanted to have the time to prepare things properly, but as always…” he sighs and breathes out deeply “… as always, you take me by surprise.”

“What? Have you bought me a hotel now? Or perhaps even a spa?...” my words were spiteful but he places his forehead on mine and plunges his eyes deep into mine. My heart almost explodes.

“I’m going to have to do something about that.” he says wondering.

“About what?” I can’t decipher the hidden meaning of the smile that appears on his lips.

“About that insolent mouth of yours.”

“Don’t expect me to just do what I’m told, Austin, it will never happen, I’m not your puppet and I’m not afraid of you.”

“I know.” I feel him stretched to the limit. He hates losing control. “You’re going to follow me, and then you’ll decide if you want to leave.” His tone is dry, hard. I know it, he’s just put on his armor. The one he puts on to avoid being vulnerable.

“All right you have five minutes.”

“I don’t need more.” He smirks.

“Prefect.”

As he moves away from me to press a floor number, I feel like I can breathe again. Battling with him is exhausting. It’s like fighting a Titan. He just fired me from his firm. What’s he got to show me that’s so important?

The door open onto an empty room. Austin invites me to follow him. We take a few steps. The sound of my heels is smothered by the brand new carpet covering the floor. I see several tables stacked at the back of the room. Lots of wires protruding from the walls and hanging down everywhere. the false ceiling hasn’t been fitted yet.

Chairs are stacked up. I’m on a floor that’s being refurbished. Large windows let in a pleasant light. The sun shines on my face as if to give me some support. I look at the empty space, not understanding. What are we doing here?

Austin rolls a chair over to the center of the room and swivels it around. He sits down and leans his elbow on the armrest. “Let me present you to… your department.”

“My… what?” shock is evident on my face.

He gestures to the space with his hand. “Your department.”

I let out a hiccup of surprise. MY department? “Wait… you…”

“I have four minutes left right?” he smirks. I shut my mouth, frowning and fold my arms across my chest. I’m caught off guard. “I want you to manage the planning and monitoring of the humanitarian actions of our organization, and you’ll be working closely with Mark Levis’s department.”

I’m utterly gobsmacked. “You’re right, I ignored your aspirations, I took you as my assistant just to satisfy my own desire. You intrigued me, I wanted you close to me… But your skills will be put to much better use here.”

“I don’t understand…”

“Oh really?” he gently passes his index finger across his lower lip, his satisfied look not leaving his face. I take in the space again to escape his piercing eyes, an entire department? Under my orders? Does that make me a branch director?

“You’re telling me that you want me to run an entire department, that I have a position among your … directors?”

He puts a hand on his face and looks down at me, not unhappy with the effect he’s having. “You’re probably one of the few people to stand up to me… you never say amen to all my decisions. And even if it annoys me most of the time, it could be a great thin for the firm.” I raise an eyebrow and place a hand on my hip, his remark makes me smile inside. “I’m not doing you a favor, Rach.”

“I…” He interrupts me with the casualness that characterizes him and looks at his phone. “Three minutes.” He says. I’m completely blown away. I thought he’d just fired me. But he’s actually promoting me…

Austin suddenly gets up. “You were right about the boutique. It took me a while to understand, but I want to make it up to you. You told me you love your job here, and I trust you. You are an excellent member of staff, you have the right profile for this job. You’ll be in charge of a whole department, you’ll have a lot of responsibilities, decisions to take, difficulties to overcome.”

“You’ll be envied, resented, you’ll have to impose yourself, leave your comfort zone, it’ll be hard, but I believe in you… You haven’t got this job because of me Rachel. You’ve got it because you deserve it. You’re fully invested in what you do. I’ve seen that you want to manage the Congo file, and you’re going to manage it, and much more.”

“You want to change things, you want a better world, you have the power of William Enterprises with you. You’re going to recruit a team, and for that, you have carte blanche, we’ll have a meeting every week about what actions to take.”