Perfect Revenge (Revenge Series Book 1)

by Catherine Edward

  He shut down his computer and noticed Samantha getting into the elevator just as he exited the office. Their eyes locked for a moment, and she stopped the elevator door from closing, waiting for him to get in.

  His head pounded as the muscles in his back ached. He cracked his neck until he heard a satisfying pop.

  "Back pain?" Her voice floated through his eardrums softly. Axel opened his eyes to see her giving him a concerned look.

  "Yes."

  "Do you want me to book an appointment with the spa?"

  Once again, Axel bit back the cruel retort that bubbled in his throat out of habit. She was always kind and considerate. He did not remember any woman care for him after his mother. He considered her suggestion and decided that he needed it.

  "That would be nice, thank you,” he replied with a tight-lipped smile and averted his gaze from her eyes that had a way to soften him a bit every time he looked at them.

  His response took her by surprise, and she nodded quickly before dialing the stored number on her phone.

  He wasn’t the one to thank often.

  "I have booked it at seven p.m. Is that fine?"

  "Yes. I don't have any else to do this evening."

  Samantha often wondered about the lack of Axel’s social life. He didn’t date or hit the clubs, if he was not at work, he was at home.

  "Have a good evening, Mr. Finlayson," Samantha said, exiting the elevator when it stopped at the ground floor.

  Axel stared at her retreating back for a moment before closing the door and hit the button for the basement. Today he almost offered her a ride home and had to bite the inside of his cheeks to stop himself.

  What was happening to him?

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  "Tough day, I presume."

  "Yeah," Axel replied to his father as he plopped down on the couch in his luxurious three bedroom home in Brooklyn.

  "Mom, can you make me some coffee, please?"

  "You drink too much coffee these days, Axel. Do you know coffee can cause insomnia and restlessness?" His mother's concerned tone brought a smile to his lips. He’d lost his sleep a long time ago and he didn’t think he could have a peaceful sleep again. No matter what his therapist said, the guilt he felt for his child and the memories wouldn’t just go away.

  "I know mom. But, it's better than consuming alcohol, isn't it?" He asked and watched as his mom nod and go to the kitchen to make his coffee.

  "It hurts her so much to see you like this, Axel. You are our only son and we really wish you would move on." His father sighed, placing the newspaper he was reading on the table.

  "I have moved on dad. Our company is climbing the charts."

  "Axel, you know very well what I am talking about. You haven’t dated in ten years. Hell, you are not even getting within a half-mile radius of any women."

  “Dad, that’s not true.” Axel shook his head, letting out a dry laugh.

  “Don’t tell that being around your female staff count. Axel, you fired an employee for telling you that you looked handsome!”

  "They are all the same dad. They only want my money and not the heart that comes with it."

  "Not all the women are same Axel. If they all are social climbers, then you are not looking at the right place."

  Axel let out a humorless chuckle, "honestly speaking dad, I don't feel like looking at all."

  "Look at me and your mother. When she fell in love with me, her wealthy father was against our relationship. She left all the riches behind, just to be with me. There is a woman for you out there, and when you find her that will be the fourth happiest day of my life."

  "What are the first four?" Axel asked, knowing very well what the answers might be.

  "First is the day I met your mother. Second is the day of our wedding and the day she accepted my proposal, really can't choose between both,” Henry chuckled. “Both days are special for me. Then the third is when we found out that she was pregnant with you and the day I held you for the first time. Again, both days are equally important to me." His father had a lovely smile and a distant look on his face as he recalled his memory.

  "I agree with you, my love." His mother smiled lovingly at his father as she placed the coffee mug in front of him and went to sit beside his father.

  Axel did not have any siblings, his mother had some complications while she was pregnant with him and after witnessing the eighteen-hour labor she went through his father decided against having further kids.

  His mother, Sara was born to a Spanish business tycoon, Rodriguez Del Campo. She fell in love with his father when they met in college and has been together ever since. When Axel’s grandfather found about their love, he gave her an ultimatum to choose between his father and family, she chose his father and here they are happily married for thirty years.

  Axel looked at his parents with a mixture of pride and envy filling his heart. There was too much love between them as they gazed at each other lovingly.

  He always wanted the same for him and he even thought that he had it all until she destroyed it. He doesn't know if there was another woman in this world, who can mend his heart and make him trust in a relationship again.

  “Axel, can you drive us to Manhattan this week? It’s been a while since we saw Naina,” Henry asked, changing the topic.

  “Sure, dad.” Axel smiled fondly at the thought of his adopted sister, who was pregnant. “Here, take my card mom. Buy her something she likes.”

  “No need, my dear. Your dad already bought everything.”

  "Okay. I am heading to the spa and will be in time for dinner," Axel got up from the couch to leave.

  "Axel, grandpa Joaquin called. He wants to meet you," his mother informed.

  "Sure mom. I think I can wind up a few things and why don't we all go there for a week, it's been too long." Axel also missed his cousins.

  His mother's grin widened as his father nodded in acknowledgment. He could tell that she missed her home and family.

  This should keep them busy for a while.

  A small smile found its way to Axel’s lips at the thought of his ninety-five-year-old great-grandfather, whom he was named after. Though his own grandfather gave him a cold shoulder, his great-grandfather has always been kind and loving. He always kept in touch with his parents and once Axel graduated, there was a decent amount of money waiting for him in the bank.

  Axel started a small business initially exporting seafood and his business grew considerably. His father resigned his job as a janitor and worked in his company. Within two years, he was able to pay their family loans and buy a decent home.

  Jenson had contacted him with a profitable deal when he was still new to the business and he has come a long way from there. His father retired five years back and now his parents are finally able to enjoy their time together.

  Though his great-grandfather had given him a few million, Axel made his first million in business four years ago and since working hard towards his goal of becoming a billionaire.

  His hands automatically unlocked his car as he got in and drove towards the spa. There were so many things to wind up if he were to travel to Spain.

  Leaving for a week shouldn’t hurt.

  Chapter – 2

  Axel felt more relaxed and well rested the next morning. Having a quick breakfast he jumped into his car driving to the office, his fingers drummed against the steering wheel as his mind considered his father’s words. Though he wasn’t expecting to find love, the talk with his father made him think.

  He wasn’t just looking for the women at the right place. In fact, he wasn’t looking at all. Then, there was a small part of him which wished he had the same thing as his parents.

  Axel shook his head to clear his head when he reached the familiar building. He owned the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth floors of the Westco international building with his office being on the sixteenth floor. There was an added bounce to his steps as he walked to the elevator.

  The elevator din
ged indicating that he has reached his floor and his eyes searched for Samantha the moment the elevator doors opened. It has become a habit that he looked forward to seeing her contagious smile the moment he stepped out of the elevator.

  He didn’t realize that his face fell when he couldn’t find Samantha at her seat. He’d already started walking towards his office when her cheerful voice greeted him.

  "Good morning, Mr. Finlayson. I went to get your coffee."

  Axel turned to face her and the usual smile she had on her lips, seemed to lift his spirit up. "Morning, Sam. And, thanks for the coffee.”

  Sam???

  Samantha was taken by surprise once again, but didn't comment as he moved past her table, to his office. She blinked twice trying to figure out what just got into her boss. “You’re welcome,” she whispered to the air before going to her seat.

  Axel bit the insides of his cheek scolding himself, what was he thinking? What would Samantha think about him? He was nothing but professional to her in the past year. That must be because he was feeling great all this morning.

  Shrugging the thoughts off, he powered up his laptop getting into work. The knock on the door pulled him out of the file to see Samantha poking her head in.

  “I have spoken to our logistics team and everything is going on as per our plan."

  "That's great. Is there anything that requires my attention?"

  "No, you also do not have any meetings scheduled for today."

  "Ah... Samantha, I am planning to visit my grandfather in Spain. I want you to clear my schedules and make the necessary arrangements for my family. Let's meet for lunch and discuss the required arrangements that had to be done before I leave."

  "Sure. Have you decided the date yet?"

  "No. I want to make sure this deal goes without any hustle before this trip."

  “Okay.”

  Axel got back to work wondering if he can push the trip to an earlier date.

  The lunchtime came sooner and Samantha knocked at his door again at one p.m. "Should I order you something or you want some sandwiches like yesterday?"

  “Order something. We have a lot to discuss,” he replied as he typed away on his keyboard.

  The next few hours flew in a blur as they ate and discussed his schedule and the other things that needed his attention. Samantha jotted down the tasks in her little hand note as he spoke.

  “So there is no way you can free my schedule for the next two weeks?” Axel asked in a tired voice as he looked at his calendar, absent-mindedly chewing his lower lip, his blue eyes narrowed at the computer screen.

  Samantha had to avert her gaze from the sight that distracted her considerably. She’d started seeing him in a different light for the past few months and her logical brain screamed red alert as she did everything to not look back again. His blue eyes always seemed to speak volumes and there wasn’t a single time he ever tried to make an inappropriate comment that seemed to lure her like a moth to the flame.

  “Yes. The next two meetings I’ve fixed are crucial for our business,” Samantha replied apologetically. She could actually do the meetings on his behalf, but that wouldn’t look good considering she was only his secretary.

  “All right, here, I’ve forwarded a few reports I received from the marketing and human resources. I want you to go through it. Also, go down to the human resource department and personally check if Grace had come to the office,” he ordered. “According to her social media, she just checked into Mohonk Mountain House.”

  Samantha nodded immediately and got up from her seat. She almost grinned to herself when she successfully managed to exit the room without looking back.

  Axel kept staring at her retreating back, admiring her curves that often seemed to distract him these days. There was definitely something wrong with him. He shouldn’t be ogling at his female staff this way. He didn’t remember a time in the past ten years, he’d watched any other women like the way he watched her.

  Samantha wasn’t like the women, who tried to gain his attention. Yet he didn’t understand why his eyes stalked her every move. It wasn’t until Jenson told him a few weeks ago that he realized that he indeed watched her.

  Axel, however, couldn’t seem to control his reaction when she was around. The need to see the little twinkle in her eyes every time she got excited about something, the small twitch of her lips when she wanted to bring up something, the way her entire face lit up when she smiled only seemed to increase.

  With a heavy sigh, he pushed aside the thoughts of Samantha that seemed to captivate him and continued to work. He can’t fall for a woman again and he definitely shouldn’t be stalking his secretary.

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  Alicia hurled the newspaper that questioned her relation with Xander into the wall. It said that she was just another fling for the Hollywood heart-throb and there was nothing serious between the couple.

  How would there be?

  Alexander McGregor never portrayed any sort of affection towards her when they were in public. It was her, who approached him at one of the parties they both attended. It was her, who got his number and started calling him when he wouldn’t call her for a week.

  She’d been attracted to the Hollywood hunk ever since she laid her eyes on him and was over the moon when he finally accepted to take her on dates. However, their relationship didn’t go any farther. Xander seemed to take it too slow for her liking.

  If she had her way, she would have already had him on the bed. Even last night, she’d worn a sexy red dress that was slit from mid-thigh, showcasing her long legs. She’d crossed and uncrossed her legs, giving him a glimpse of her red sexy underwear during their private dinner and he didn’t even seem fazed by her display.

  Any other man in his place would be drooling by the end of dinner and would’ve been ready to kiss her feet just to get into her panties, not Xander.

  She needed to figure out some other way to make it work. Xander had a bright future in the film industry and he’d rose to fame in the short three years of him being a newbie with no industrial background. He’d earned millions for a single project and the attention she received just by being his date was addicting.

  Unlike the other times, she didn’t have to do any stunt to keep the media’s attention on her. One date with Xander and the paparazzi seemed to flock around her, wherever she went. There was only one woman, who understood her and the one who could help her get on with Xander.

  Alicia smiled wickedly as she dialed the number for Alana McKenna, her mother.

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  By the time, Samantha finished with her work it was five past thirty and she hurried to the elevator remembering that she had to pick up a gift for her friend’s upcoming birthday.

  There were eight elevators in their building, but this was the rush hour and all eight would be full considering that staff worked on the entire building would be wanting to go home. She thought of taking the stairs and decided against it as she remembered the inconvenient pair of heels she decided to wear this morning.

  She noticed Axel exiting the office and walking towards her. Her body stiffened in awareness as he approached the elevator. She gave him a tight-lipped smile, which he returned with a curt nod. Fortunately, they didn’t have to wait long before the elevator finally came with only four occupants, all men.

  The relief didn’t last long as more men flooded in at the next two stops. Samantha was forced to the back corner of the lift and she brought her hands in the front to protect herself being squished. This was why she’d always left the office earlier or took the steps when she worked late.

  But then, someone shifted around her and her hands came into contact with a hard chest and she looked up to lock her eyes with the familiar blue ones. Her breath caught in her throat as their bodies pressed together unintentionally as two more men entered.

  Samantha had never been this close to Axel before and the experience was both thrilling and unnerving. She had no option but to stay put. Th
e heat from his body seeped through her clothes, scorching her skin in a delicious way as her face heated up.

  She could feel every part of his hard muscles pressing against hers as she flattened her hands on his chest, feeling how firm yet soft he was, wondering if his skin would feel as smooth as it looked. Samantha averted her gaze as his eyes stormed with different emotions she’d never seen before.

  This was uncomfortable for them yet she couldn’t help the sense of relief that flooded her mind because it was Axel and not some other men. When the elevator came to a stop on the ninth floor, one more man tried to get in much to the dismay of the others.

  Another push had them glued together like two sheets of paper. Her breasts pressed flush against him and the small friction had her nipples harden against her thin shirt, embarrassing her from head to toe. Her lips parted slightly in horror and she prayed that he didn’t notice it.

  Axel clenched his jaws as he adjusted himself around Samantha so she wouldn’t feel his arousal. This was the last thing he expected to happen to him after a long day of work. He’d noticed her discomfort as the crowd pushed her back. She was trying to cross her hands so her assets wouldn’t be pressed against some men’s back.

  When the elevator stopped again, he tapped the shoulder of the man who was pushing her unintentionally and took his place. What he didn’t expect was the way he reacted to the simple touch. The crowd only seemed to increase with every stop and he internally cursed when her warm body pressed against his.

  Her breasts flattened against his chest and he was painfully aware of her tight tips that were now poking at his chest. Samantha’s face reddened like a tomato and he knew that she was definitely not comfortable.

  Better him than anyone else, his subconscious chirped, making him snap.

  The mild fragrance of her perfume teased his nostrils and it took all of his strength to not close the distance between them and capture her slightly parted lips.

  Both of them looked relieved when the elevator hit the ground floor and the crowd departed, leaving them with two other men. Axel stopped Samantha when she tried to exit, she pulled her blazer close trying to hide her aroused peaks.