Chapter 55: Cornered
\[Gianna’s POV\]
“What are you planning on doing?”
Gabrielle’s voice is even and dripping with curiosity as she speaks and I know that she is certainly coming up with a bunch of insane ideas.
“Are you going to try your best to avoid your new boss?” She continues when I don’t speak. “How do you plan on doing that when he will be at the company most days?”
“Just because he is at the company doesn’t mean that we will run into each other.” I tell her. “Anyway, I need to go and get some sleep, I have a big shoot tomorrow.”
“And you have a baby growing in your belly.” Gabrielle adds and I give her a look. “What are you going to do when you start showing? You can’t continue to model with a big belly.”
“I’ll figure that out when the time comes.” I tell her, standing and stretching. “Until then, I need to try to get as many gigs as I can to save up money.”
At least, that was the plan, but when the next day comes and I reach work, I find that everyone is in a frenzy.
As I step inside, I listen intently to the murmurings of everyone until I realize that this excited atmosphere is due to our new CEO starting.
Grimacing, I try to sneak around in hopes that I won’t run into the one that they are excited about, but the minute I turn a corner I find myself running smack into him.
“Ouch,” I hiss, stumbling back and rubbing my nose that had connected with his chest. “What are you made of? Bricks?”
“Good morning to you too,” Grant smirks, unphased by our painful meeting. “You’re quite chipper this morning.
“How can I not be?” I ask, putting on a sweet facade. “Our new CEO starts today.”
Honestly, I just wanted to finish with this greeting and go about my day, but to my dismay, Grant murmurs something to his assistant and then fixes his gaze on me.
“Does this mean that you’re willing to show me around the place?” He asks and I watch in horror as his assistant walks away.
“Hey!” I gasp, trying to stop the man who ignores me. “How can you just leave like that?”
“I asked him to go and collect the files on every employee,” Grant explains. “And since he’s gone, I need someone else to show me the way.”
“Then find someone,” I say, attempting to move past him, but his arm shoots out and stops me. “Watch it,” I growl, noting how close that particular arm came to touching my breasts. “You don’t want to get in trouble for sexual harassment on your first day.”
“It isn’t my fault that you’re breasts ran into my arm.” He points out.
“Right,” I huff.
Dammit. Why didn’t I realize that night that this guy was so irritating?
Was it the alcohol that clouded my perception or was he putting on an act the whole time.
“Hey,” Grant says, snapping me out of my head. “Is it really that bad to show me around?”
“First,” I say slowly, my irritation starting to bubble over. “My name is not “hey” it is Gianna. Second,” I continue, looking around us at the other models who are just waiting for the chance to approach Grant. “I’m kind of in a hurry and there are plenty of others who are more than willing to give you a tour.”
“I don’t want the others to though,” Grant counters. “I want my dear step-niece to show me.”
At his words, I cringe because honestly for him to call me that after everything we did was insane, but if he wanted to play that game, then I would play.
“I’m sorry, uncle,” I say sweetly. “But I have to tell you again that I’m in a hurry. I still have to get my hair and makeup done for a magazine shoot and every minute I stand here with you is a minute off my team working.”
Just let me go. I beg silently. Let me go and find someone else to bother.
“You don’t have to worry about that,” Grant says and I feel a wave of defeat crash into me. “Since I”m the boss, I call the shots and if we have to push your shoot back by a few minutes, then so be it. Now, let’s get going. I am a busy man and have very little time to look around.”
“Then why are you doing it?”
“Because I want to get a feel of the place that I will be working. Once I’ve done that I can properly assess whether or not something needs to be changed.”
Like you. I think silently, but just shake my head in annoyance.
“Come on,” I huff, motioning toward the main part of the building. “Since it seems that you aren’t going to leave me alone about it, I’ll show you around.”
For the next thirty minutes, I busy myself giving Grant a tour of the building, starting with the reception area and then the studio where the photos are taken.
After that, I move onto the makeup and hair room and once that is finished we head to where the wardrobe is kept.
Once we finish there, I show him the offices and the breakroom and then turn and fix my gaze on him.
“I’ve given you the grand tour,” I tell him, hoping that he will now leave me alone. “If you need someone else to show you anything else then find someone else.”
As I speak, I attempt to move past Grant, but once again he holds out an arm to stop me.
“What is it now?” I demand, eyeing the arm. “I did what you asked, so why…”
“Dinner,” he says, taking me by surprise. “I still owe you dinner.”
“You don’t,” I counter. “And even if you did, I’m not interested.”
“Do you hate me that much?” He asks, slowly moving forward while I stumble backward. “Because from our first meeting I got the feeling that you were interested.”
“Wha…what are you doing?” I stammer as my back hits a wall. “We’re at work… You shouldn’t…”
“No one will be coming this way,” he assures me a slow smile spreading across his handsome face. “So, you won’t be able to escape me until you tell me why you’re acting like this.”