3

'Lena' Adeline Allen was in love with her boss. Well, she wasn't always in love with Edgar Dragenar.

She had first arrived at the Dragenar Enterprise building with a folder full of her few achievements in life, just fresh out of college with a Business Administration and Management degree, Lena had walked into the elevator and right into a huge form packed with solid muscles. She jumped back immediately protecting the front of her pearly white shirt which she had carefully washed and pressed for the interview.

"Oh shit! I am so sorry, Miss." The voice was strong. She bent her head back to look at him and frowned. He had a head full of dreadlocks that were uncomfortably sticking out, he was holding a brown bag against his impressive chest. He sounded sincere but that wouldn't change the new stain on her shirt.

"I'm sure you are," she responded icily, mistaking him for the janitor or maybe a maintenance worker.

"I can help you with that…"

"Get your hands away from me," Lena was close to tears as she wiped at the stain. The elevator doors were closing. She pushed past the man making sure her shoulder jabbed his arm. "Thanks for ruining my day, I hope you ruin yours too!" she yelled in his face as the doors closed.

She had been sitting in a cool waiting room for an hour enjoying the simple expensive décor, marveling at the priceless paintings on the walls, and enjoying the friendly chatter between the receptionist at the desk and guests who wanted to meet with Edgar Dragenar wondering how she was going to explain the stain on her shirt during the interview when the elevator doors opened and in walked the tall man from the elevator but this time the dreads were gone replaced with a crew cut and he was freshly shaved, dressed in a dark blue suit that was worth more than her entire possessions.

"Good morning, everyone," he greeted flashing white teeth that turned her insides to mush. As he shook hands with his guests Lena shrank back hoping he wouldn't notice her. She wanted to die.

"Mr. Edgar," the receptionist in his waiting room stood.

"I guess my schedule is tight again, Stella?"

"Yes sir and so is my mine. Turns out receptionist and assistant duties clash. Luckily, the Assistant applicant is here."

When Edgar Dragenar turned iridescent brown eyes to her she almost fainted. She realized in horror that she was sweating further staining the armhole of her shirt.

"Adeline Allen?" he asked, his voice cool and it reminded her of spring water running over rocks. Calm and soothing. She suddenly realized he was waiting for her to take his hand.

"H-hi…good morning sir, Mr. Dragenar I mean." She was stammering so hard, her face was as hot and red as her hair. "I didn't know you were – that it was you – I'm so sorry – I was…"

"Miss Allen," Stella laughed. "Mr. Dragenar doesn't bite."

"Right." But the way he watched her with amusement in his eyes and that sexy smile convinced her otherwise. She suddenly didn't want to go into the privacy of his office for the interview, if he still wanted her interviewed, he might gobble her up for how she had treated him downstairs. But how was she to have known!

"Come into my office," he invited. "Gentlemen," he said to his guests. "I will be with you shortly."

He turned and walked away and she timidly followed thinking of the numerous ways she could apologize to him but when she shut his door behind her he surprised her by holding out a white tissue.

"For the stain."

She collected it blushing furiously. "Mr. Dragenar, you must believe me when I say I didn't know it was you in the elevator," she gushed. "I understand if you wish to kick me out now…"

"You are hired."

She blinked. "What?"

"I said you are hired. You can ask Stella to show you the ropes and resume as soon as possible. My schedule has been a mess since my last Assistant quit. She couldn't handle the pressure and judging from your outburst down there it looks like you can." He walked to his desk, a huge mahogany structure set in front of black glass windows. "Also pardon me for bumping into you looking so rough this morning. I can assure you that my day is quite ruined now that I have a room full of guests to attend to with little time to get prepared."

She watched him dumbfounded, unsure of what to think of his idle chatter. That was 1 ½ years ago and even now she still wasn't sure of the character of a man she was beginning to love and with every smile and just the sight of him she was falling faster. He was always busy, he worked hard making sales, buying stocks, sponsoring new projects, and building new hotels. He had friends, many of whom invited him to galas, weddings, and red carpet events which she never thought in her humble teenage years she would be able to attend. But working with Edgar Dragenar made everything possible.

He was funny, quick to flash a smile here and there and through her experience working with him she finally understood why his Assistants retired quickly, they either fell in love with him or broke down under his ever-busy schedule. She couldn't break down, he paid too well. Her current boyfriend thought Edgar worked her too hard but he never complained when she brought her paycheck home.

He was also very secretive. Though he was a public figure, one of the leading men of Sunny Island and other islands beyond, she suspected there was more to him than what he let the public see. He hung out with beautiful models and actresses on the red carpet when necessary and he joked with his over 200 workers but there was a side of him she knew existed but she wasn't sure what it was. He had the company yet he was always busy outside it. It wasn't part of her job but she couldn't help but worry.

Of all the things she knew about Edgar Dragenar, and the many things about him that confused her, it was his relationship with his youngest daughter that puzzled her the most. He talked every other day with his other children but he rarely spoke with Sarah Dragenar and when they did speak the conversation wasn't always pleasant. He didn't approve of her choice of study at the University, he hated when she went out unattended by her driver who also served as her bodyguard. Lena didn't know what she needed a bodyguard for but it wasn't in her place to ask.

Was Edgar Dragenar being overly protective of his daughter? Not that she knew, she was an orphan straight out of foster care. She worked and studied hard until she got her degree so she had no idea how parents were with their children.

But even with that character flaw she still loved him. Which was why tonight she was putting on her best red dress to dinner.

It's not a romantic dinner, she reminded herself. We are hosting potential business partners. Yet she couldn't stop herself from applying more red lipstick.

"Hmm, you look yummy."

She paused to rub her lips together glancing at her on and off again boyfriend through the bathroom mirror. Terry was leaning against the door dressed in only boxer shorts.

"You don't dress this nice when it's just you and I."

"I don't think a pizza date requires a dinner dress and heels."

"But a business date with your boss does," Terry muttered loud enough for her to hear.

"A business dinner with business partners with my boss."

Terry made a noncommittal sound as he slipped up behind her and pressed a kiss to her neck.

"Okay whatever, as long as you come back still looking this good. Do you have a few minutes before you leave? I don't want your boss to get you out of this dress before I do."

Lena struggled to get him off her. "No one is getting me out of anything." Hopefully not you, she thought to herself, avoiding his kiss as best as she could. He smelled like alcohol again. "Look I have to go. I'll be back…when the meeting ends."

She nudged past him. "There is food in the kitchen, you came in late last night so I left your food in the fridge."

Terry rolled his eyes. "Okay, whatever."

Lena got her keys and left, walking down the stairs to the lobby. A taxi was waiting in front for her. She was about to board it when her phone rang.

Her heart raced. It was Edgar.

"Sir?"

"Lena, could you do me a favor, please? There's a last-minute emergency I need to take care of, I want you to attend to our guests tonight."

It took her a while to get over the fact that he had used her nickname and when she did her heart fell.

Again.

It wasn't the first time one of these emergencies came up. There were 20 possibly 40 times a month these emergencies occurred. What…?

"Adeline?"

She caught herself quickly. The taxi driver was getting impatient. "Yes sir – yes I understand, sir."

"Good. I trust you."

She heard the beep. With a sigh Adeline squared her shoulders, she climbed into the taxi, and told the driver to drive.