Chapter 34

Thank God that this CEO is not the grouchy old man I've heard so much about.' Samantha thought to herself as she entered Leo's office. She felt confident this time around because Ted had a smile on his face when he walked out. So she was sure she would too by the time the meeting comes to an end.

"Good afternoon sir, she greeted the man who had his back turned to the door.

"Please sit, I'll be with you in a moment," Leo replied without turning around. He was looking down at the street below, hand-stuffed deep into his pockets while talking into the wireless blue tooth earpiece stuck inside his ears.

He was on the phone with his mother who wanted to know why he left Claire alone by herself at the party and why he didn't come home to sleep. He knew this was going to happen, that they would plot and manipulate his mother to do their bidding.

That was why he decided he would rather work all night at his office than listen to their whining all night. Leo blamed his grandfather because none of them would have had the opportunity to be in his business in the first place if his grandfather had not insisted he moved back into the mansion with them.

"Mom can we please talk about this later. I have a visitor that I have to attend to right now."

"Okay just tell me one thing... Who is Rose!? His mother asked like she didn't just hear him say he has a visitor that he has to attend to with him in his office.

"Oh fuck!" Leo swore softly and sighed deeply. "Must she always cry to you about everything that happened between us?' He asked in exasperation.

"Don't you ever use the F words while talking to me again Leo, do you hear me!?"

"Yeah, I heard you. I'm sorry. Now I need to attend to my visitor..." He replied dismissively.

"Have you answered my question before you started to rush me off the phone!?... I asked you who Rose is to you?

"And I said I will see you when I get back home because I have a visitor with me, mom!" Leo replied his mother firmly before ending the call.

'This is getting too much and it has to stop! Do they think they can manipulate me through my mom simply because I respect and care for her!?' Leo thought to himself in annoyance. He loves his mom but it's high time everybody knows their place in his life and he's going to show them soon.

He's the future head of the Salvadorian family. What kind of head would he be if he allows his family to dictate and easily manipulate his will?

Even though he was angry, Leo managed to calm his anger and put a smile on his face before turning around to meet his new staff, the genius girl he's heard so much about.

His heart skipped a bit when he turned around and saw her. The smile he just plastered on his face slipped off and was replaced by a grimace. The image of her and Dave passionately kissing yesterday flashed in front of him and his anger started building up all over again.

"You!" He thundered

Samantha who was texting Abby was unaware a storm was brewing over her head until when a voice suddenly boomed, startling her into almost dropping her phone. Shoving her phone inside her bag, she looked up to check for the cause of the man's outburst.

Emma had plotted and planned a million wicked ways in her head to get back at the man who might have condemned her to the life of pain and misery. But now that she was in the same room with him, her courage failed her and fear took over. She was scared stiff. Frozen in place with her eyes trained on his furious ones.

"You!?... You are Samantha-Rose Da-Silva the intern!?" Leo asked. His voice sounded cold and deadly to the scared and frozen Samantha who looked cornered and helpless.

She couldn't do anything from where she was sitting in front of his desk. Even if she had the opportunity to do something, what would it be? Throw the neatly stacked files placed on his desk at him, or perhaps the pen and stamp pad sitting alongside each other?

There were no heavy objects anywhere on his table, not even a mug. Except for his laptop but then how far would that go considering the distance between them.

Her brain was all muddled up. She couldn't even remember what she learned at her self-defense class while in Switzerland. Even if she remembers, what could her 5 feet plus do to his 6 feet plus athletic build?

She could even scream but who would hear her. She was sure the room was soundproof so there's no need to waste her energy on fruitless efforts.

Looking at the deadly look he had on his face, Samantha slowly stood from where she was sitting, backing away with her purse-string clutched in her hand. Seeing her retreat, Leo too slowly walked towards her like a predator seeking his prey.

"Who put you up to this?... Your father?... Brother?..." He asked her coldly

"..."

Samantha couldn't utter a word. She couldn't even think clearly. Her heartbeat was so erratic, she would have suffered a heart attack if she was not a healthy and strong woman.

"Who!?" Leo thundered when she didn't answer his question, startling her into bolting for the door. But before she could run even halfway to freedom, he pulled her back by her arm and slammed her hard against the wall.

The impact knocked the breath out of her. Breathing hard, she closed her eyes and braced herself for the slap that might come after her back hit the wall but nothing.

Leo just grabbed her by the chin, to get her to look at him. "I asked you a question bitch and I expected an answer in return!... Who put you up to this!?" He shouted. His furious eyes boring into her scared ones. His breath was hot on her face and his grip hard, she was sure it would leave a mark on her fair skin if she managed to escape with her life.

"Put me up to what? I-I had no idea about what you're talking about. Please... Please let me go..." She begged desperately.

"You don't know what I'm talking about?" He asked and laughed derisively. "Why did you run like you were guilty of something if you don't know what I was talking about then... Why!?"

"Why wouldn't I? You wanted to kill me..."

"Well, I will kill you right now if you don't start answering my questions... Who sent you!? What kind of information do you seek?... Or perhaps your wretched family believes they have what it takes to take over my Empire!?... How stupid can you all be!?"

It was past two pm. The effect of the calming herb tea Samantha drank before coming for her interview had now totally worn off.

She was supposed to take another dose of tea by 1 pm to keep her from misbehaving. Since she thought she would be home before 1 pm, she didn't come with a flask of tea. What Leo said about her family ticked her off the wrong way.

'Who the fuck does he think he is? The CEO of the whole universe!?' Samantha thought to herself in anger. It was as if she was just waking up from a deep slumber.

No longer afraid of what he might do to her, she pushed herself away from the wall and towards him, while making eye contact with him in the process. Even though she wasn't saying anything, her attitude was now defiant. Challenging him with her eyes to make good his threat.