Chapter 1
Formerly Dark Love Rivals
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The handsome billionaire, Alexander Barclay continued to scrutinise my design proposal with interest as I completed my presentation.He was sitting at the head of the conference table with his chair turned sideways flicking through my architectural plans and drawings for the Levan Tower he wanted to build in Canary Wharf London with his partner Jack Anderson.I was one of three others including Jack Anderson’s own son competing for the honour of having their design accepted and heading the project.
Jack Anderson gestured for me to sit down at the table next to two other male colleagues and two women.
“That was very impressive, Ms Hart.Your presentation was detailed and I really like the concept of the tower being triangular,” Jack Anderson told me, appearing genuinely enthusiastic about my design.“Alex, what do you think?”
It was the first time I had met Alexander Barclay.Jack appeared to handle the day to day running of Anderson Barclay, just one of the many companies Alex owned and ventures he was engaged in.He was tall with short fashionably styled dark brown hair.The toned muscle, clearly evident by the way the designer charcoal coloured suit and waistcoat clung to his body was athletic and very tight. His handsome dark features were enticingly masculine and accentuated by the neatly groomed dark facial hair lining his mouth and jawline and he had the most unusual combination of green, blue and grey coloured eyes which I believe are termed as glasz. He was sexy with a capital S. Power radiated from him and his presence filled the room forcing the other occupants to fade into the background.
He looked up at me and smiled taking my breath away.
“Yes, very impressive.It is unique.I have never come across a design like this before.”
He shut my presentation booklet and put it back down on the table.I could feel my cheeks warm as he swept his captivating eyes over me with appreciation widening his smile when he detected my embarrassment.
“I also liked your budget calculation for the whole project.It is well within the parameters I was looking at.Still we have some other candidates and their projects to review,” he told me as he stood.It was my cue to leave.
I nodded.“Of course.Thank you for considering my proposal.”
I walked towards the door passing by him.He stopped me and reached out to take my hand and shake it.
“We will be in touch by the end of the week once we have made our decision,” he said widening that enigmatic smile again, resting his eyes on my lips.For one moment I couldn’t look up at him.He made me feel like a bashful sixteen-year-old.He could have any woman he wanted and I had no idea why he was checking me out.Maybe I was imagining it and fantasising he would have any interest in me.Anyway, I just wanted him to choose my design for the tower.That’s what was important.
I removed my small hand unable to stop thinking of how large and masculine his own was completely covering mine.His eyes twinkled at me as I moved towards the door.
A week later I was summoned to Jack Anderson’s office.
“Take a seat, Ms Hart.As you are aware The Levan Tower is more Alex’s project in our Docklands office buildings venture and he had the overriding vote on deciding which proposal to accept.By the way, he sends his apologies for not being able to be present today.In short, Ms Hart he and the rest of us were in unanimous agreement that your design is an intriguing challenge that we wish to pursue.”
“That’s fantastic.Thank you.”
I was ecstatic.
“Alex wants you working as Project Manager and assembling a team to assist you today.Can you do that?”
“Yes, I will get on it straightaway.”
This was a huge career opportunity and I knew exactly who I wanted on my team.But the moment we all started work it became apparent that there were some who were in disagreement with my promotion and did all they could to make their feelings known and my life unbearable until I gave up and surrendered my role.
I couldn’t take much more. My work as an architect for Anderson Barclay was my life and this new project was my greatest opportunity to shine and advance. It was just a shame I was going to have to give it up and try something else. For one month I had endured sexist jibes, comments and innuendos from the team of mostly male colleagues surrounding me and sarcasm from the female members, colleagues I had once considered my friends. None of them were happy I had been given the chance to design and head up The Levan Tower project.On top of that the request for me to be head architect and handle the project came from the billionaire Alexander Barclay himself and had caused a stir or resentment among those in my team.
My email had been hacked and I had received anonymous abusive and threatening messages.It didn’t stop there.My male colleagues were more than determined make me feel uncomfortable and raided their arsenal of weapons to use sexual harassment against me.It was unprofessional and childish.The conversation around me involved talking about sex and what I was wearing underneath my skirt. There were constant derogatory and inflammatory comments. It was like being at school again! I couldn’t eat or sleep.I couldn’t take anymore
That morning I made up my mind to leave. None of the pain or worry I was experiencing was enough to warrant me staying and putting up with it any longer. It was a year since I’d left my husband and finalised the divorce.I wanted to move on with my life. I didn’t want to be a victim any more like I had been with Gary’s mental abuse yet here I was again at somebody else’s mercy.
Flattening my mid length blonde curls in to a long sleek bob I strengthened my resolve not to be beaten on my pale features and in my deep emerald eyes. Today I would leave and sue the firm for sexual harassment. Every time I ’d complained I had been ignored. My best friend was the office Manager and she had done everything she could to help but because the main culprit harassing me was the son of Jack Anderson my pleas fell on deaf ears upstairs with the management team.Alex Barclay was away on business all of the time and not involved in the day to day running of the enterprise.I was unable to get anyone else to believe me. It was time to leave and lament the great opportunity I had been given.
I was marching to Anderson’s office when his son Paul crossed my path in the corridor. No one was around and although I made to ignore him, not liking the wild drug induced look he had in his eyes, he appeared determined to confront me.
“When are you going to stop complaining and let me in under that icy exterior and explore those dainty curves of yours?” he joked cornering me.
“Get lost, Paul,” I said trying to walk around him.
“No, baby not this time. You and I belong together,” he laughed pulling on my arm and reaching up to stroke my cheek with his greasy fingers.
He wasn’t a bad looking bloke but his lechery on top of his cocaine habit made him a dangerous man to cross. He made the mistake of putting his hands around my waist and pulling me to him to kiss me.He stank of alcohol.
I tried to push him away but he just laughed and gripped me harder.He brought his wet lips down hard on mine.
“Let go,” I insisted using all of my strength to push him away.It was useless.He was far too strong for me to manage on my own and my heart felt as though it was going to burst out of my chest it was thumping so hard.There was no one around.He could do anything to me and no one would know.Never the less I cried out for help praying someone would hear me from somewhere and come running.
“No. Give it up.”
Paul squeezed my breast and tried to hitch my skirt up. I kicked his shin hard and punched his arm. He grimaced with pain and yelled out when I did it again desperately trying to stop him touching my thigh under the black pencil skirt of my business suit. A dark cloud covered his face and unexpectedly he curled his hand in to a fist and struck the side of my face.
I fell to the ground dazed in shock.He started to pull me up.
“I am going to teach you a fucking lesson, bitch.”
Paul raised his fist again and punched my stomach.He was aiming his fist once more when a voice stopped him dead.His fist hung poised in mid air.
“Paul.What the hell are you doing?”
It was Jack Anderson.His father.Paul lowered his hand and pushed me down on to the floor.Jack ran along the corridor to help me up. Paul just glared at his father and took off in the opposite direction. Jack put his arm around my shoulders as I clutched at my aching stomach to support my slumping form and led me in to his office and onto a chair. He handed me his handkerchief to wipe the blood from my face and poured me a glass of water.
“I don’t like what has happened to you but I don’t want you to go to the police,” there as high anxiety in his voice as he watched me sip at the water and get my breath back.I couldn’t stop shaking. “I am trying to handle Paul at the moment,” his tone was desperate. “He has problems. Name your price and there will be no need to involve the police.”
“No.I can’t do that.” I dabbed my bleeding lip with his handkerchief while I recovered my senses.My face was throbbing, my lip was swelling and my jaw felt as though it had been dislodged.I moved it back and forth to make sure.
“I came here to tell you I was leaving because you are allowing him and the others in the office to sexually harass me. I am going to sue the company. You’ve done nothing to help . . .” I stopped panting with the smarting pain from my injuries trying to keep my tears and trembling at bay. “I don’t want your money.The police need to be involved.I won’t be paid off.”
“Then you better leave. If you go to the police I will make life difficult for you,” he warned pointing his finger angrily at me. “I will protect my son whatever it costs for the sake of his mother. I know people and you won’t dare go to the police when they pay you a visit.”
I stood up horrified at his threatening speech believing it best to leave. There was nothing more to say.
“Get out. I mean it you try anything and you will get hurt.”
As I ran out of the office in tears I bumped in to my best friend Lana. I just wanted to get away but she made me tell her everything.
“I will deal with this. Go and get yourself a coffee at Lucia’s and I will meet you in half an hour. We will sort this out. Don’t do anything yet.Promise me.Don’t go to the police yet.I want to make sure you are safe.”
“You shouldn’t get involved.I don’t want you getting hurt.”
She hugged me and put me inside the lift.
“I won’t I promise.I know who can help us.Just please wait and don’t do anything.And get some ice on that.”
Not wanting to go home I did as she asked.Sitting outside in the clouded humid summer sky under a large umbrella in a restaurant that also doubled as a café in the morning, I sipped at a latte.Lucia’s was my usual haunt at lunchtime with Lana.The café come restaurant was situated in a small square of shops and other restaurants making me feel comforted by the people milling around. Everything was moving in slow motion and I was still too dazed to even make a decision about going to the police. Then I received a call from Lana.
