Page 14 of Off-Limits Bad Boy Protector

He walked towards me with a bright, warm smile spreading across his face, his eyes crinkling at the corners. I kept my gaze fixed ahead, not acknowledging his approach. But, as he drew closer, his expression suddenly shifted, and he paused, his eyes locking onto mine. I sensed a flicker of recognition, like a spark had ignited in his mind.

He remembered the bond we shared through Leo. Leo was a friend from our college days. This memory had been dormant for years. His smile faltered for a moment. It was replaced by a look of curiosity. It was as if he was trying to reconcile the past with the present.

“Lisa? Lisa McClain?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.

I turned cocking an eyebrow. “Nehemiah! Oh my God!” I squealed in realization, rising to throw my arms around him. He smiled at me and gave in to the hug. I looked very different from the shy and quiet woman he remembered. I wore a nice pair of blue joggers and a blue crop top that flattered my slim figure.

He looked at me, his green eyes showing approval, and said, "Hey Lisa, what brings you here?"

I mustered a small smile in return. “I came in to see Cassie, but Leo got her stuck in his office for no reason!” I groaned, frustration obvious on my face. Realization flooded his face, and he nodded in understanding. “Ahhh. I just think those two have a rift that needs settling.”

Lisa’s eyes flashed. “No, they don’t! He took a bet on me and broke my heart. He’s just trying to create even more issues beyond what he has already done.” Nehemy bit his lower lip. “I don’t know, Lisa. He looked pretty in love with her back then,” he said with a shrug, shoving his hands into his pants.

Lisa rolled her eyes in frustration hoping the twin didn’t really believe that. “Yeah right!” He's convinced there's something worth exploring and is eager to dig deeper.

"Nehemiah, I appreciate your kindness. But, I’d rather not listen to ridiculous stories. He is somebody who clearly broke my friend’s heart and wants to make my life miserable," I said. I pursed my lips and cocked my head to the side, with my hand raised.

Nehemiah nodded. He tried to shift the conversation from the discord between me and his best friend. He appeared more interested in Lisa and might have wanted to unravel something. "How are you doing? I hope everything is going well for you."

My eyes lit up and I rushed towards the elevator, ignoring him.

Nehemiah watched helplessly as I turned towards my friend holding my hand. The two engaged in lovely girl talk and when Lisa guided my friend to a seat, he knew he had been forgotten. He let out a breath and headed out the office. Perhaps till another time.

Chapter 10

Somehow, I had to admit the job wasn’t all that bad. Leo was a thorn in my flesh, but I had been able to secure a loan and catch up on a couple of weeks' worth of house rent. Today, I wore a white blouse and tailored black trousers. I had just dropped off the script at the studio. I was heading back to my office to prepare the intros for the guests on the talk show.

As I entered my workspace, I sensed the tension in the air and paused. It was no surprise; Leo Woodrow himself was in the office. My gaze landed on his broad back, clad in the dark blue of his blazer. His voice carried across the room. I tried to walk as quietly as possible back to my workstation before he noticed.

You see, with our latest acquisition, we are able to dominate the market even further. Here’s the thing: you'll be glad you’re working at SoundEase because our expansion plans are unrivaled. I expect each of you to help. Together, we will make SoundEase the top broadcaster in the whole US.

I safely tiptoed to my seat and wedged myself behind my desk. My eyes narrowed at the self-assurance in his tone. He might wear a suit now, but he hadn’t changed much. He still loved the power. He basked in the attention. Everyone in the office gave it to him willingly.

He turned briefly. His eyes darted to my workstation. When he saw me, he smirked. I was getting tired of the lumps that kept forming in my throat whenever I locked gazes with him. I looked away, and he turned his attention back to my colleagues.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to introduce myself. His voice boomed across the room. "I'm Leo Woodrow, the CEO of SoundEase. This company has been in my family for a couple of generations, and it is my honor to continue to lead it.

"This is my personal assistant," he continued, gesturing towards Jack.

I had already blanked out. My eyes widened in astonishment and my heart skipped a beat. It wasn’t any joke. I hadn’t read wrongly. Leo was indeed the CEO of the company. I felt the feelings all over again and was plagued by disbelief and frustration.

His gaze swept across the room. Everyone muttered quietly and the minute he spoke, the room quietened once again.I’ve been going around the blocks trying to get to know everyone better. I want to get to know each of you. This is especially important because there are new team members. It’s important that I know the people who help us succeed. Starting from this end, state your name and role at SoundEase.

One by one, the employees introduced themselves, stating their names and positions. I could hear the respect and slight nervousness in their voices. It made no sense. My heart pounded violently against my chest as the introductions slowly approached me. I took a deep breath, bracing myself for my turn.

“Be composed . "Be composed," I muttered quietly. The man closest to my workstation stood up and introduced himself. Once he sat down, Leo's eyes turned towards me, a mischievous glint dancing in them. He locked his gaze onto mine. He saw through my feistiness to the anxiety beneath.

"I'm Cassandra Evans. I work as a broadcasting assistant," I said quickly. I sat down, hoping they'd move on. I could tell Leo was focused entirely on me.

"Well, well, Cassandra Evans," Leo called, his voice dripping with amusement. "Our interview was quite intriguing, wasn't it? I must say, I have high expectations from you," he teased, raising a playful eyebrow. He noticed the flash in my eyes, and for some reason, he liked that he was stirring the cat within me.

I felt a mixture of annoyance and unease. There was something about the way he looked at me that brought the simmering tension between us to the surface. I tried to push past it and reminded myself to stay composed. "Of course, Mr. Woodrow," I replied, my voice laced with bitter professionalism. "I'll do my best to meet your expectations."

Leo tried to hide the frown at my ability to maintain composure. Somewhere in there, he knew I was vulnerable. He just had to push a little further. Walking closer to my desk, he ignored the fact that several eyes were watching him. "Ah, Cassandra, I must admit, I'm curious to see if you'll finally stop being second best with this team." When he saw the flicker of irritation cross my face, he smirked in elation.

I swallowed hard. His use of that name always stirred up anger in me. But I quickly reminded myself to stay composed. I couldn't let his taunts get to me. I refused to give him the satisfaction. "Rest assured, Mr. Woodrow. My skills and dedication will speak for themselves," I replied. I was determined to stay professional.

Leo's lips curved into a sly smile, and I fought the urge to lash out at him. Leaning across my desk, his voice dropped to a whisper. "Indeed. But maybe the real issue lies in the past, and how it influences our present capabilities, don't you agree?"

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