Chapter 3

Kelvin’s POV

I tried to push her pictures out of my mind, but it wasn’t working.

Ms. Hampton was everything I could think of at the moment. She had hurried out of my office with wet eyes, and knowing I had made her cry made me feel guilty.

I had spent all the time she was in my office fighting my growing attraction to her. I hadn’t expected my new secretary to be a 5’7” beauty with raven black hair that touched her waist, charming brown eyes that melted your heart if you stared too long, and a body that made me harden against my will.

I searched the employee database and pulled up her record.

“Grace Hampton,” I said aloud, loving the sound of her name on my lips.

I stepped out of my seat and walked over to clean up the shattered debris on the floor. For all her beauty, Grace Hampton was clumsy and unfit for a job here. I couldn’t imagine her hurting my business with her incompetence.

My face hardened as I recalled the events of the past two years. After Vivian walked away from our marriage and three kids, I had thrown myself into work, hoping to fill the hollow in my life. I couldn’t get over her betrayal and absolute neglect of the kids.

I met Vivian seven years ago on a flight to New York. She was pretty and fresh out of college. We bonded quickly, and after dinner later that evening at an Italian restaurant, I knew she was the one.

There was a fire in her eyes when she spoke to me, and she didn’t seem to mind the age gap. She was the most enchanting twenty-one-year-old I had ever been with, and I couldn’t get enough. When I proposed eight months later, she was ecstatic. We honeymooned in Hong Kong, and I was literally walking on air.

Our marriage was perfect; she was satisfied staying home being a freelance photographer while I spoiled her silly with luxury shopping and exotic surprise trips. After the twins came a year later, I was the happiest man in the world. They cemented our relationship, and watching them crawl around the house made my heart expand with love.

Our daughter came two years after the twins, and I couldn’t ask for a better life. My advertising agency was doing so well, and I had the most beautiful woman in the world beside me. However, everything came crashing down that fateful summer when I walked in on Vivian moaning, legs spread in the kitchen while her lover feasted between her legs.

Everything changed after that day. She confessed her feelings had changed over the years, and she was tired of our marriage. Two weeks later, she moved out of the house to her twenty-seven-year-old lover, leaving the kids behind without batting an eyelid.

I sighed and returned to my desk. Reminiscing on the painful memories helped me push Grace’s thoughts away. It didn’t matter how much I wanted my curvy ex-employee; I couldn’t risk another chance at love and commitment.

I was buried in my job when the shrill ring of my cell phone jerked me back to reality. I stretched and hit the answer button.

“Where the hell are you?” my younger sister’s voice said over the line.

“Kira, I’m at work. You know that already. How are the kids?”

I heard a squeal and loud screams of joy in the background, and a smile came to my face. I loved my kids more than anything.

“Why didn’t you mention these kids are so energetic? They hate my cooking too.”

“Kira, you suck at cooking. Why don’t you order some food for the kids and yourself?” I could picture her sitting cross-legged in the den while the kids ran around excitedly.

“You need to get a babysitter. Someone needs to get these kids on track.”

I leaned against my seat. “Hiring a competent babysitter isn’t simple. I can’t risk bringing in someone who isn’t going to be the best.”

Kira groaned. “It’s babysitting, Kelvin, not running an advertising agency. There are tons of people who are great with kids and would appreciate the pay.”

“Kira, you didn’t call me to whine about having to babysit the kids for a few days,” I teased.

“I can’t do this anymore, Kelvin. I love these kids, and you know it, but I can’t keep up. Please find someone soon and save me.”

I laughed at Kira’s exaggerated drama. Being a spoilt rich heiress certainly has its downside.

“Alright, Kira. I’m going to find a babysitter soon. Put the kids on the phone.”

After talking to the kids, I instantly felt better. They relied on me for their safety and care, and being depended upon made me feel needed. My throat closed over with emotion as I pondered Kira’s words.

I couldn’t keep depending on my sister to raise my kids. I needed help.

I opened my planner and wrote, “Find a nanny for the kids.” I was going to take some days off work and ensure I interviewed the candidates myself.

Happy with my choice, I returned to work, but another call on my cellphone interrupted me. This time, it was the head of marketing.

Two minutes after the call, I slammed my laptop shut and shrugged into my suit. His words still lingered in my ears.

“The Devon deal is on. We need to be in New York in a week. Mr. Gray wants you on the team, or he’s backing off.”

I had one week to find a competent babysitter for the kids. I wasn’t going to waste one second of my time. I picked up my car keys and hurried out of the office.

I moved quickly down the corridor to the VIP elevator. One of the perks of being a billionaire CEO is getting facilities that make your life easier. As I stepped into the spacious elevator room, I looked up to see Grace hurrying after me.

“Wait, please. Hold on!” she called as the doors started to close.

I stuck out one of my legs and stopped the progress of the door. My eyes narrowed as she approached, and I felt my heart flutter lightly.

What was it about this woman that unsettled me?

She stopped outside the door, and I could tell her makeup was smeared. Had she been crying?

“Mr. Morgan, I need you, please.” Her voice was throaty, and her breasts heaved up and down as she spoke.

“Come in. We can talk here.”

She slid past me into the elevator, and I got a whiff of her perfume. It was so light you would miss it if you weren’t careful. It was a floral, cool scent that haunted your senses minutes later.

As the elevator began its descent, I moved to one end of the enclosed space and stared at her.

“Ms. Hampton, you don’t give up easily, do you?”

She rubbed her palm on her skirt, and I could tell she was nervous. “You wanted to talk to me, but you aren’t saying anything yet.”

She looked up into my face, and I averted my gaze. I didn’t want to look into her dreamy eyes. It unnerved me.

“You need to hire me back.”

Her confident words made me look up quickly. It was a mistake. My eyes locked with hers, and I couldn’t drag them away. My eyes skirted down her features and settled on her lips. There was still a stain of red lipstick, and I wondered if I would get a dab of color on my lips if I kissed her.

I scoffed and ignored the erotic direction of my thoughts. “Why would I do that?”

She took a step forward. “What happened in your office was a mistake. Anyone could have done the same. Give me a chance to prove myself.”

“You already had that chance, Grace. You blew it.”

Her eyes widened at the mention of her first name, but she said nothing. “I don’t think you are the right candidate for the job.”

I could see the hurt in her eyes, but I wasn’t taking chances anymore. I questioned my stubbornness in not taking her back. Beyond her supposed incompetence, it was dangerous having a woman like Grace close to me.

“Are you always this narrow-minded?” she said suddenly.

My eyes widened at her boldness. “Is that what you think?” I hated to admit it, but I was enjoying this conversation with her.

“Yes. I can’t understand why you aren’t willing to give me one more chance to prove myself. If you have doubts about my competence, I should at least be given a chance to prove my worth.”

Her intelligence was refreshing to witness. “I see. So you are essentially asking for a second chance?”

“Yes.” Her voice was firm.

I took a step forward, drawn to her in a strange way. I couldn’t stop my legs even after I saw her eyebrow arch as I approached.

I stopped in front of her and looked down at her face. Up close, she took my breath away. My eyes roamed her face, noting every curve. When I spied her mouth, I felt my heart quickening. I wanted to pin her against the wall and ravish her pretty lips. I wanted those eyes closed in passion as I moved inside her.

The thoughts spinning through my head gave me chills. I took in a breath, struggling for control.

“I have a proposition for you, Ms. Hampton,” I said slowly.

She didn’t back away as I expected. Rather, she straightened and looked into my eyes. “I’m listening.”

I bent my head, hovering a few inches from her lips. “How would you like to work as a babysitter?”