The Billionaire's Desire

Grace’s POV

“I asked for a cup of black coffee, Ms. Hampton. I don’t want to believe you are daft.”

I gasped at the calm, cool voice that delivered the insult and cursed under my breath.

“I’m sorry, sir. I must have mixed it up,” I said, wondering if my grumpy boss was going to fire me on the spot.

He raised his face to meet my eyes, and I struggled to quell the fluttering feeling in the pit of my stomach. I couldn’t tell if it was from my tense state or the fact that two buttons on his crisp white shirt were unbuttoned.

Kelvin Morgan was the sexiest forty-year-old man in Los Angeles. He had a great face topped off by his short, sandpaper-curly hair, blue piercing eyes, and plump lips that were naturally a light shade of pink.

He looked like a king on his throne, seated behind the expensive oak desk that glistened in the sunlight streaming into his penthouse office.

“If you cannot get my coffee order right, how on earth am I going to trust you to take down notes during meetings?”

I hated the fact that his clear blue eyes held mine, unwavering. It was like he could read my thoughts.

“I can promise you, sir. I’m very competent at my job. It’s only my…” My voice trailed off. It was embarrassing enough to mix up his coffee order; I wasn’t going to worsen it by telling him I was homeless.

My landlord had kicked me out of the tiny studio apartment I shared with my best friend, Kimberly.

Perfect timing.

It was my first day at Sky Communications Inc., the biggest advertising agency in LA.

“Boyfriend?” He snorted. “Isn’t it too early to have your head in the clouds for some boy?”

I bit down on my bottom lip, remembering my ex-boyfriend who had stolen my savings and disappeared with a girl he swore was his cousin.

“I don’t have a boyfriend,” I blurted out a bit forcibly, pushing the ugly memories away.

I looked up to see a quick grin, but it was gone in seconds. “I don’t care about your personal life. I just want to know if you are the right candidate for the job. Your CV is quite impressive, but I’m not impressed.”

I took a step back in shock, and my red kitten heel scraped the floor. I swore aloud and started to move forward, but a twist in my ankle sent me off balance, and I landed on the antique flower vase, which shattered on the floor instantly.

I froze. He was definitely going to fire me now. It was no news that my salacious billionaire CEO, Kelvin Morgan, hated clumsy employees the most.

“Ms. Hampton, you don’t belong here. I’m most certain you are going to burn down the office before the end of the day.”

There it was. I was getting fired on my first day at work!

I tried my best to wipe the embarrassment off my face and straighten my spine. I needed this job, or I was going to be in a real mess.

“I’m so sorry, sir. I must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed.”

He scoffed, and I bit down on my lips, dreading he would hear the curse I muttered in my heart.

“This is the second time you are apologizing. I expect you to clean up the mess you have just made.”

“Right,” I mustered and promptly knelt beside the broken china, picking up the tiny shards. I was so engrossed in the act that I didn’t hear him behind me.

When did he move from his seat?

I jumped at his presence behind me, and my shoes twisted again. I screamed and started to fall. With a curse, he reached for me and caught me just before I made a complete fool of myself and fell face down on the floor.

I was going to thank him profusely when I realized I was standing in the circle of his arms, and his blue eyes bore into mine, ruffling my cool exterior. Up close, his eyes reminded me of the ocean, and I lost myself in the sexy pools.

“Ms. Hampton, are you doing this on purpose?”

His words were like a slap to my face. I blushed hard and struggled against him, but his muscled body didn’t budge. I took in his scent; it was manly, not overpowering, but perfect for a man of his status. My nose flared up, and I swallowed hard.

“I… I would never do something like that, sir,” I sputtered.

“You could have a chance at this job if you stopped undressing me with your eyes.”

I froze against his hold. I might be fiercely attracted to him, but I would never put on a lame show to get his attention.

“I didn’t undress you…” My voice trailed off and I realized it was pointless arguing about that.

His hands moved to my back, dipping dangerously to my ass. I wanted to break free from his hold, but I was caught up in a strange excitement that longed for his touch.

“Ms. Hampton, you are fired,” he said slowly, enunciating each word.

I dropped my jaw in shock. “I really need this job, sir.”

I hated the desperation in my voice, but I couldn’t help it. I didn’t want to go to my parents’ place, and it killed me to beg cash from my friends. I hated my ex more than anything at this time.

“You should have thought of that before you mixed up my coffee,” he said and stepped away from me. There was a strange light in his eyes, but I was too strung up to consider it.

“Mr. Morgan, I can do this job. Please give me a second chance.”

He moved back to his seat and crossed one leg over another. “Nothing is going to change my mind. I can deal with getting my coffee orders mixed up, but not with a dreamy-eyed woman who is living in her head. Sky Communication isn’t for someone like you.”

I pushed myself forward and noticed him narrow his eyes. “I know you are one of the best ad agencies in LA, and you are currently working on expanding to New York City.”

I saw his lips dip in a small smile, and then his face hardened almost immediately. “There’s more to our business than hearing our expansion plans from the grapevine. We didn’t get here by hiring people like you.”

His last words made me reel. I fisted my palm, hating my life and the handsome man before me. How could he be so adamant?