Chapter 17

*Louise's point of view*

I could feel the tension in the elevator and I didn't like the way it made me feel. Everything was so awkward and I had no idea why i knew that Alex was in a pissy off mood since I had taught him a lesson on respecting other people's property but honestly that didn't come even close to explaining why he kept on grabbing hold of me and dragging me everywhere as if I was incapable of walking fast.

'Alex! could you please slow down!' I cried as I lost my footing and stumbled over my ankle, a sharp pain shooting through my leg. All of a sudden, Alex stopped and turned towards me with a look of concern etched on his face.

'Are you okay?' he asked me anxiously. Irritated at him for most likely making me sprain my foot, I sent him a small glare before straightening myself and leaning some of my weight on him to support me.

'No, I'm not fine, thanks to your bully tactics, but I will be, so let's just get this meeting ver with before my ankles swell to triple their size,' I muttered as I limped into the conference room, ignoring the worrying glances Alex kept shooting me. I know I shouldn't be this irritated with him but his high-handedness was beginning to seriously annoy me. Yet when he pulled a chair over for me so I wouldn't have to walk further, I couldn't help but smile at his thoughtfulness. making sure I was comfortably seated, he then walked to the front of the room where a smartboard was set up. Throwing me one last look, he jumped into his presentation and I opened my notebook and started writing down everything that was said, asked and discussed. I was determined to show him that I would be able to handle this job and do it well. Five minutes later and I was already beginning to regret the gusto in which I had started this as my fingers began to  cramp. and when some questions were asked in french, I struggled in spelling the words as it was pronounced which ended up slowing me down.

Eventually, I gave up on trying to appear like I knew what they were talking about and tried to ever so discreetly record the conversation on my phone. I thought I had succeeded with this until I looked up and saw the well-difined jawline of a man tilted awkwardly as if he was just looking in my direction.

My face began to heat up as I realised he must have seen me , skiving out of the task. glancing at him again, I found him to be full blown smirking at me before pulling out a black device that looked remarkably similar to a recorder. Looking at his laughing eyes, I glanced around and found several of the other assistants holding similar devices while looking bored out of their minds.

lLetting out a sigh of relief, I slouched down in my chair, before remembering where I was and sitting straght. knowing Alex, he would probably quiz me on the damn meeting so I made sure to take excellent notes on everything that was discussed in English.

When a break in negotiations was announced, I sighed a breath of relief before slowly limping towards the bathroom, I really needed a wee and felt it would be too rude and distracting should I have let mid through discussions. After completing my business and washing my hands I limped out of the bathroom and straight into a wall.

No, it was not someone's rock solid abs, it was a rock solid walls that left my face feeling distinctively sore and hot from embarrassment. Hoping no one noticed, I quickly turned around and limped in another direction only to stop when I heard laughter. To my right was the same guy from before doubled over with silent laughter. Narrowing my eyes at him, I realised he looked very familiar.

'Do I know you?' I asked confused. I had never travelled to Paris before, and unless he had somehow visited London and the restaurant I worked at, I found that to be very unlikely.

'Not necessarily,' He replied, with a heavy french accent that kind of made me want to melt in a puddle  happiness.

'whats that supposed to mean?' I asked, trying to appear as if his accent wasn't doing all kinds of things to my belly.

'It just means, I would've remembered making an acquaintance with such a beauty as you, ' he said, throwing me a devastating smile.

'Charming, I'm sure,' i said grimacing, all attractiveness vanishing the moment he said that disgusting one liner, 'now if you don't mind, I need to get back to my boss.'

'Your boss? oh, you mean the man that was glaring daggers at everyone and silently plotting my murder,' he said amusingly as he fell into stride with me. I shot him a confused look.

'What are you on about,' I asked, surely he had the wrong man, if anything, Alex was probably glaring daggers at me and plotting my murder. ok, that wasn't fair, I did purposely wind him up and pick fights with him for no real reason.

'That man over there,' he whispered as he leaned closer towards me causing me to slightly lean away without making it too obvious, 'has made it clear to every hot-blooded male in here, that you are his property and his alone.'

'What do you mean, 'His Property?' I asked narrowing my eyes at him, ' i am not an object that he can just claim, I am no ones but myself.'

'Really? then you should probably tell him that yourself,' he said smirking at me as I looked up and found that a furious looking Alex was stomping his way towards us, looking completely like the petulant child I'm sure he still is.

'By the way, the name is David,' he said winking at me before turning around and leaving me to deal with angry Alex. This time, however, I knew not to stir the pot, so I just hooked my arm through his before smiling at him guiltily and pulling him back to where the seats and refreshment were.

'Who was that?' he asked me stiffly, obviously trying to suppress his anger. Smiling at his efforts, I felt unjustifiably proud.

'No one important, I don't even know his name,' I lied before sitting down. I didn't need any more drama with Alex than there already was if anything David said was to be believed.