For those of you who are rereading this, I thought this chapter (Originally titled "I'll Leave You Alone...For Now") was a little long so I split it into two. The next chapter will be called "I'll Leave You Alone...For Now" and will be in Michael's POV. Enjoy! xoxoxo

Don't forget to vote and comment. Your words support and encourage me.

Love, Lisha xoxoxo

I can't say that I was expecting a job offer let alone a trial today, although I don't have any complaints.

"Yes mamá, I'll be there... I know what I said. Just tell papá I'll be home a little later is all." I sighed into the phone. "Ok...ok...OK! Yes, I have to go! I love you too mamá. Bye."

I hurriedly hung up the phone with a sigh of relief before turning to address Mr Jackson.

He looked so mysterious in the fedora and sunglasses he had put on before we left. They suited him well but I did miss his beautiful soft brown eyes...

"I'm very sorry, sir."

"Oh no. It's fine. Believe me, I know. My mother is just like that." He chuckled. "And please, call me Michael. I don't mind."

This man's charisma is unreal.

We stepped inside the private building and into what looked to be a restaurant and I looked around in awe. The walls were black and covered in red roses. There were gold candle holders that held red candles and were shielded with glass on every wall with similar ones with shorter candles on every table.

The place wasn't packed but there were still quite a few people. No one was there alone, most were couples and dressed in suits or evening gowns.

When we stepped further inside, Michael removed his hat and sunglasses. Many of the customer's heads lifted from their conversations as if they "sensed" something, then all eyes fell on us.

Are they all staring at me?

I looked up at Michael who was quite a bit taller than me, but then again, I am quite short, even in my heels.

His face was serious and as his eyes travelled around the room causing everyone to look away from his authority stricken gaze.

Ooookayyyy...

Before I could ask, a grey haired, pale, slim man appeared before us.

"Good afternoon sir, madam. May I take your briefcase, miss?" He asked holding out his white gloved hand.

"Oh, um, yes. Thank you." I handed him the case with a polite smile.

He nodded politely to me before turning to address Michael.

"The usual booth, Mr Jackson?"

"Yes. Thank you, Max."

"Right this way."

He walked ahead of us and we followed him to a grand staircase.

We climbed the stairs until we reach an open floor where we were taken to booth situated in the end corner of the dimly lit room. Max left our table after we thanked him again. Michael gestured for me to sit first and I did, sliding into the middle section of the booth. He sat beside me on the red leather curved seats making himself comfortable by resting one arm behind me.

He picked up a menu with his other hand scanning the wine page with his bottom lip between his teeth in concentration. My mouth gaped slightly admiring the way his pearly whites trapped the soft pink flesh that is his lower lip in a light grip. The simple action caused me to shift in my seat slightly. I couldn't possibly help but stare...even if it was just for a little while.

Oh come on. At least I wasn't laid across the man's lap begging for a spanking.

I could just see the cynical side of me grinning like the Cheshire cat as I seriously considered my bad minded thought.

Damn you, imagination!

His eyes shifted from the wine list to me causing a short gasp to escape my lips. I turned my face away looking down at my manicured nails with rosy cheeks. Michael chuckled causing me to realise that he'd spotted me staring.

Rats...

I blushed harder craning my neck lower in embarrassment.

"You know, Scarlet? You've already failed the first test." He smirked.

I snapped my head up to look at him smirking so sexily; My expression shocked.

"What? How? I-I..." I spluttered.

"You gave Max your brief case and now can't take notes. Rule numero uno," He held up a single sexy...long...finger.

Cynic, I swear to god, behave!

"Be prepared." He flashed his pearly whites showing that he wasn't serious which relaxed me a little.

Can this man be any more perfect? And his try at a Spanish accent was sexy. HOT DAMN!

"Oh. Well in that case, I'm still going strong then." I smiled back.

I pulled out a pen and small pad of paper from my suit jacket pocket.

"I'm all ears."

"Very good. Can you fit an office in there too?"

"Oh well let me see." I rummage through my pockets jokingly before we both broke out into laughter.

Once the laugh was over, we were silent for a short while. Max came and went after placing a bottle of red wine and some warm bread rolls on the table.

"Scarlet, do you mind if I'm a little unprofessional for a minute?" He asked whilst pouring me a glass of red wine.

"Umm, sure. I don't mind." I took the glass and brought it to my lips.

He stared as I took a sip and it didn't bother me one bit.

Although it should. This man is practically my boss.

"You know, you're a very...very beautiful young woman." He put emphasis on the word "very" as he seemed to move even closer to me darting his tongue over his plump, lower lip.

He took my hand after I place the glass down and kissed it sweetly.

The man was dripping with charm and I was dripping...literally...

I turned away and cleared my throat.

Gosh, I'm blushing and I'm sure he can see it like a fish sees water.

Damn...

"Th-thank you." I stammered out.

"You're very welcome." He said, his voice slightly lower in tone.

Fuck...

He smiled seductively as he picked up his wine glass.

"So, Scarlet Jimenez eh?" He swirled the last of the contents in his glass. "No middle name? The "other names" line on your application was blank."

"Well that's because there wasn't enough space." I answered simply as I buttered a roll.

"Not enough space? How come?"

"I have seven middle names, all named after my five aunts on my father's side and my two grandmothers. My full name is Scarlet Leigh Luciana Valerina Camila Valentina Isabella Sofía Jimenez." I said, my accent thickening.

I took a breath after I'd said my unnecessarily long name.

"But you don't have to remember it. No one does first time." I giggled taking a bite out of my roll.

He smiled wide raising a challenging brow at me then taped his lips.

"Well let me see here...Miss Scarlet Leigh Luciana Valerina Camila Valentina Isabella Sofía Jimenez."

...Did...he just--?

"Wow!" I stared at him with wide eyes and he laughed hard at my shocked facial expression.

"It wasn't that hard." He said through laughs then sighed. "So what do you think?"

"About what?"

"This place. What do you think?"

I hummed in thought as I let my eyes wander around the beautiful room. So different from what I'm used to in classy restaurants I'd been to but just as, if not more, magnificent in stature.

"It's different. It seems dark and spooky but you gotta be able to see the beauty behind it. The red roses against the wall, the candlelight...it's like there's some secret hidden here, even though it seems to be its own secret." I pause and watch as he stared at me with an unreadable expression. "Am I confusing you?"

"Oh no, no. I was just thinking that you seem to know great deal without even realising." He grinned.

"Umm...I'm not following you." I tilted my head in confusion.

"Well, you're right. This place is a secret. Only people with a certain heritage and their guests can come here. There is a secret hidden within these walls and you might be closer to knowing than you think." He winked.

With my head still tilted in confusion I added a confused arched brow and Michael simply chuckled to himself. I sat up straight and brush off the strange feeling I had about this place before shrugging taking another sip of wine.

I might be closer than I think?

People with a "certain heritage"?

Don't let curiosity take over you, Scarlet. You don't want to come off as nosy. I want this job.

"So," Michael clapped changing the subject. "Let's begin. Start by noting down this table number and address because I come here quite often."

********

It was about two in the afternoon and we were still at the table laughing and joking with one another. You'd think we'd known each other forever with the way we so casually interacted with one another. I'd quite literally let my hair down and Michael's fedora was resting on my head.

"We didn't get back to NYC until four AM." Michael shrugged playfully.

"You're kidding!" the next second, we were holding our stomachs laughing again and I loved to hear him laughing.

It was so contagious that you just had to laugh too.

"Oh Michael, you are something else." I swatted his arm playfully.

"Trust me, girl. You have no idea." Our laughing died down as he stared deep into my eyes with a kind of intensity I'd never experienced before.

I cleared my throat and turned away from his sexy stare.

Come on, Scarlet! This man is your possible future boss. Stay professional! You are getting WAY too comfortable with this guy.

"Umm, so, how'd you get to the stage you're at so quickly?" I quickly changed the subject then occupied my mouth with another sip of wine.

I should probably stop soon.

"What do you mean?" He asked still staring at me, a soft smile gracing his stunning, sharp features.

"What I mean is, you don't look much older than me, yet you run your own business. You must have been top of your class to get so far so quickly. You're already so successful."

"Well, actually, I'm nearly thirty. Almost seven years your senior." He smirked

"Really?" I gave him an incredulous look.

No way is this fine specimen nearly thirty! He could pass for early 20s!

"I'll swear by it, girl. There are two reasons why I'm in the position I'm in today. You're right. I was at the top of my class in college, but that's not the only reason. I also excelled my father's expectations which was perfect for him because he was ready to retire. RBH was my father's business before he passed it down to me when I was twenty five even though I wasn't next in line so I guess you could say I have what I have out of inheritance, coincidence, but mostly and in other words, I got lucky."

Luck? Really?

I shook my head in disagreement, braving a look into Michael's deep chocolate orbs.

"You still earned it, Michael. No matter how you may look at this, you still worked hard and your father saw potential. That's why he picked you over whoever was supposed to be next in line. Don't downplay your success." I smiled up at him hoping he believed me.

He lightly smiled back then looked down into his lap shyly.

Is he shy? Oh my god! He's getting shy! And it's so fucking adorable!

I put my hand on his shoulder and leant forward to look at his face still hanging down eyeing something interesting on the table.

Just as quickly as my fingers made contact with Michael's shoulder, he turned and looked at me with widened eyes and for some reason...I couldn't break eye contact...couldn't say a word...I couldn't even move...

The last thing I remembered was seeing Michael's mouth moving with no sound before I passed out.