TEMPTING THE BEAST

Chapter one: The break up

A new day: Monday Morning

It was a very bright and beautiful day with the sun high up in the sky smiling down at everyone. Despite the beautiful day everyone seems to be in a hurry, the cars moving at a fast pace, the pedestrians hurrying up and down the street with no clear-cut destination seen. It was as if everything and everyone was on a fast-forward mode and then suddenly the pause button was pressed and everything froze in front of a tall oval office building, the DIXON AND SONS EMPIRE, a multi-billion dollar company which started off as a small real estate company but has now branched off into other spheres of business, now they not only acquire old buildings they also acquire a failing company which they revive and sells much more than what it cost to acquire it.

The top floor housed the CEO's office, a very large office compartment with a ceiling to floor windows that gives a beautiful top view of the city, and inside sat a well-dressed gentleman in a clean-cut blue suit, his broad shoulders filling up the suit nicely. He has a nice undercut, with its full top neatly palmed and swept backward.

His large hands are clicking seriously at his laptop, his well-sculpted face marred by a long ridged scar that took half of the right side of his face frozen in an intense concentration, his entire focus snapped by the work he was doing on his laptop.

He was trying to get all the work that had been piled up due to the mini-vacation he took to spend time with his parents, a mandatory holiday that his mum's institutes every last weekend of the month to make sure that her kids are not just all work and no play. It was something he dare not miss, and so no matter how much work is left on his table at the end of the last Friday of the month, he abandons them for a trip to his parent's mansion.

Around his office space, everything seemed organized and in place, all the files cataloged on a shelf, his desk neat and organized. His writing materials were all organized into a small rectangular box, his coffee cup a safe distance from his right hand to avoid being spilled by accident.

The atmosphere was quiet and serene and very far away from the noise of the city until it was broken by the loud noise of a phone ringing in the outer office. The sudden noise did not break the intense concentration of the man in the office as he continued to work without a pause.

The phone kept on ringing until suddenly it stopped.

In the small outer office attached to the CEO's office, the secretary, a very pregnant African American waddled her way back inside from taking a leak to find the phone ringing, knowing how much her boss disliked noise hurried to it and picked it up.

" Mr. Dixon's office, how may I help you, " Marilyn spoke gently and professionally into the phone.

" Oh, " she exclaimed with a lift of her left brow when she realized who was calling. It was a personal call for her boss, rather than a business call.

Marilyn wondered why the lady on the other side didn't call her boss on his line but didn't voice that thought only asked the woman to hold on so she can inform the boss that she called.

She didn't take offense when the lady rudely told her to be fast about it that she was on the clock. She was used to the lady's rudeness as she was a recurrent feature in the place being that she was the boss's girlfriend.

Slowly mindful of her protruding tummy she got off her seat and waddled to her boss door, and knocked once, and opened the door knowing full well that no order to come in will be issued.

" Miss Lance is on the phone, " she said to her boss who had not bothered to look up at her entrance.

" Tell her I am busy, will call her back, " Maxton answered in a detached cool-tone without pausing what he was doing. He didn't have time to chat with Laurel knowing fully well how the call was going to go and it will end up in a shouting match, something that is becoming a norm for them now these past few months, and he just doesn't have the strength, not the time.

He and Laurel have been dating for two years now, she was the only one who had lasted that long with him since the accident. Not willing to dredge up bad memories, Maxton quickly pushed down everything in his mind and focused on what he knows how to do the best work.

Marilyn sighed knowing how the fiery-tempered brunette is going to react when she tells her that. The actress is like a child who wants everyone to be at her beck and call, always demanding attention and not happy when is not giving. She is not going to be a happy camper. She shook her head at her boss relationship with the woman, it looked more like a business relationship than a loving one.

Outside the door, she spoke into the phone but the line was already cut. The woman released a sigh of relief at having been spared the energy she would have used in placating the spoilt princess.

The day went by so fast that before Marilyn knew it lunch was around the corner. Having been couped up in the office she decided a little exercise was in order as decides to have her lunch in the cafe across the office building.

She midway for a little chit-chat with her friends in the office before she took the lift downstairs.

Once she was done she decided to get her boss a little something, knowing how immersed he could be in his work she was sure that he wouldn't remember to eat anything if she didn't get him anything. The man breathed and lived his work, for the ten years she had worked for her boss, who took over from his father at the young age of twenty, she has never seen him take a break, and if not for the break her boss mother insisted that all her children take, the man would have been walking 24/7 for 365 days with no break.

Sometimes Marilyn believes her boss to be a machine, because despite all the work he does the man still looks good with no sign of stress. Yep a machine that is what he is, she concluded taking the order from the young man's hand.

When she got back in she went to drop the lunch she brought only to find her boss she found him still in the same position she saw him this morning, head bent at his computer, an intense concentration on his face as he stared and typed on his computer.

Marilyn winced at the thought of all the tension and knots that will be in those broad shoulders and strong neck. Probably won't have it is the machine he is, she thought in mild amusement and headed towards her boss, who finally looked up as she approached.

Maxton had been so keen on completing the work that piled over the weekend that he hasn't lifted his head for a breather until he felt someone enter his office a second time. He looked up to see his very pregnant secretary waddling his way in his direction, a brown paper on her right hand and a cup of coffee on the left.

" Is it lunch already? " He asked.

" Yes boss, " Marilyn answered stretching out the lunch bag and coffee in her hand.

" Thanks, Marilyn, " Maxton said affectionately, something you will only hear when he is addressing his family or his secretary who he had come to appreciate her diligent and hardworking attitude she made everything easy for him when he took over from his father, had helped him adapt and encouraged him when he felt that he was In over his head, and thought he was a little fish swimming in the big sea and was worried about not meeting up to his father's standard. She had told him not to try to be his father that he should find his path and that advice he had taken and ran with it and the last ten years he had been able to expand and grow their company from a multi-million dollar company to a multibillion-dollar company.

The Greene family had been with their family ever since the creation of the company. Her mother had been my dad's secretary and when she retired had gotten her daughter to replace her. He was going to miss her when she goes on leave, and sincerely hopes that he will be able to find someone as efficient as the woman.

Marilyn gave the young man a fond smile before turning to return to her office. Midway to the door she paused and turned back. " Sir about the interview for my replacement will you be conducting it personally or should I inform HR to do it? " Marilyn asked her boss.

" I will be conducting it myself, " Max answered taking a bite of his lunch. There was no way he was leaving the duty of finding his secretary to other people, he needed to screen them, judge for himself the kind of person they are cause they will be walking a lot closer and he didn't need a slob or someone who is not able to keep up with him.

Marilyn nodded and continued her way. Maxton finished his lunch and went back to work, and the next time he came up for air everywhere was dark. He checked his watched to see it was 8 pm. " Damn, " he cursed, he had forgotten to call Laurel.

He stood up and began to pack his things. Just as he put in the last item his phone rang. He looked at the screen to see it was his younger brother calling.

" What can I do for you? " Little brother, he spoke into the phone, his voice losing his usual coldness.

" I found a new club I think we should check out, I have called Marlon and he is in, are you in? " Maximus said from the other end, his voice high on excitement.

Maxton sighed despite how much he would have loved to hang with his brothers he can't, he needed to see Laurel. They haven't seen each other for a week because he had been too busy at work and had been postponing their meeting. " I can't little brother, have a date with Laurel," he said in a regretful tone

" WHAT! Bro, don't tell me you are still with that mannerless bitch! " Maximus cried from the other end of the phone, his distaste for his brother's girlfriend clear in his voice.

Maxton's fist clenched at his side as his mismatched eyes grew cold. " That woman you are calling a bitch is my girlfriend and I will watch how you insult her, " he said into the phone, his tone tight and hard.

Maximus sighed, wondering at his brother's loyalty to the bitch whom he believes is only a matter of time before she betrays his brother, but Maxton was right, no matter what the woman was still his girlfriend and he should show more respect.

" I am sorry, " he apologized in a low tone staring down his feet like a child being scolded for being bad by his mother. He respects his brother so much and dislikes when he says something to anger him.

" Bro, you know that the woman is only with you because of your money and fame, right? " Maximus said quietly into the phone. Despite not wanting to anger his brother he couldn't help pointing out the main reason he didn't want the bitch for his brother.

" At least she is not pretending to be somebody she is not, with her I know what I am getting, and not some people who pretended to love me only for it to be a joke, " Maxton said his voice growing colder as memories he didn't want to remember surfaced in his mind.

Maximus sighed again. Her brother had long given up on love after the woman he loved abandoned him because of his scars.

Five years ago, Maxton was involved in a fatal accident that nearly killed him but he had survived only it had left him with a scar on the face, that many women find repulsive and the few that are willing to tolerate him are only there because of his money like the bitch he was currently with. Even though his brother has given up hope on finding someone who will look beyond the scar to see the man beneath he was sure that such a woman was out there.

" Is alright bro, go do what you gotta do but you owe me an outing, " Maximus said jokingly trying to lighten the mood.

Maxton's lips twitched at his fun-loving brother. " Don't worry you have got a deal, he said in a light tone before cutting the call.

Maxton finished his packing and walked out of the office. The whole place seemed deserted as all the other workers have gone home. At the executive garage used only by the top members of the company only his car, a black tinted Audi A5, 2020 model.

His driver, a huge African American man, having heard his approach came out of the car to open the back door for him. He held it open till he was inside before he entered the driver's side and they drove away from the parking lot. Stop at any of the florists by the roadside he said to his driver.

Few minutes into their drive they saw one. He asked his driver to park and then he came down.

Once he walked into the shop he felt eyes on him, he looked up to see the woman selling the flowers wince and make a face when she noticed his scar. He pretended as if he didn't see it and looked around the shop searching for Laurel's favorite flower. A blue daisy.

He picked up a bouquet of it and dropped a 100 dollar bill on the counter, " keep the change, " he growled at the woman and walked out.

" Take me Laurel's apartment, " he said to his driver when he came back into the car.

" Do I wait for you, sir? " The driver asked when they arrived in front of the apartment complex.

" No, " Maxton replied in a curt tone stepping out of the car.

At his girlfriend's door, he knocked and waited for the door to open.

A few minutes later the door opened to reveal a skinny tall brunette wearing a chiffon black sling hand nightwear and a black flowing robe over it. Without a word to the man standing outside, she walked back inside leaving the door open.

Maxton sighed at the anger he glimpsed on his girlfriend's face, guess I am in for a silent treatment tonight, he thought following the brunette inside.

Inside the living room, he saw the brunettes sitting on her couch, one leg placed under her thighs the other dangling to the floor, and she gazed fixed to the TV screen, but from the rage burning on her face, you will notice that what was on the TV was the least of her problems.

" I got you some flowers, " Max said stretching out the daisy he had picked up from the florist on his way back, his tone calm as if he was trailing a land mine and scared of tripping one.

Malicious mocking laughter broke the woman's lips. She continued to laugh as she stood up to take the flowers from Maxton's hands.

" You got me flowers, she said in a low sweet mocking tone spreading her hands before her features twisted into something ugly and the laughter disappeared and her lips curled in disgust.

" You think your useless flower is going to make up for blowing me off all week, she snarled, tossing the flower to the floor, the rage back on her face. "Who do you thinks I am, a toy that you can pick up when it suits you, when you need someone to fuck, cause no one will willing want to fuck not with that ugly scar, and then when you are tired you toss aside only to come running back with a bunch of useless flowers thinking they will make up for your lousy attitude, " Laurel continued to rant unaware of the change in the atmosphere of the room.

Her words hit Maxton like an arrow going straight for his heart as his whole body grew cold. He couldn't move, the pain was too much. Even though he hadn't loved the woman at least he had cared, and to have her say those things to him chilled his body, he needed to get out of here before he does something he will regret. Without a word to the still ranting woman he turned on his heels and walked out of the apartment knowing in his heart that it was over.

The brunette continued to rant for a while before she realized she was alone, " fuck, " she cursed out loud running out the door after Maxton but by the time she got to the apartment lobby and outside she could only catch his shadow as he was being driven off by a yellow taxi.

" FUCK!!!!!! " She screamed in frustration before turning back to her apartment, knowing that she has messed up